Rocky Mountain Bride (Roberts of Silver Springs Book 4)

by Nadia S. Lee

  She looked down at her finger, admiring the gorgeous pearl and diamond ring. She’d never dreamed of any particular engagement ring, but this was just perfect, because it came from Sam.

  Time to call the parents and just tell them. Although her mom had hinted Lina should give Jared another chance, this was a better option. Surely her mom could see Sam was the one.

  Are you sure? Maybe you should call her tomorrow.

  Or maybe just text her.

  Lina shook her head. What was up with her? Catalina had been negative about her being with Sam, but that was before. Things were different now with the proposal. He wasn’t just some guy, but her fiancé, the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with.

  Before she talked herself out of it, she went to her room and dialed her mother’s number. Catalina answered almost immediately. “Finally! Do you need money for a plane ticket?”

  Lina’s hand tightened around the phone. “I’m getting married, Mom.”

  “Hold on.” She could hear her mom sit up, a chair squeaking, her clothes scraping against the desk. “What?”

  “I’m getting married. Sam proposed, and I accepted.”

  “You accepted without discussing it with us first?”

  Lina pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a moment. “I’m twenty-six. I don’t need your permission.”

  Her mother sighed. “So you said yes?”

  “Yes. I love him.”

  “But you love Jared, too.”

  “No, Mom. I never did. I just thought I did.”

  “What’s the difference? How do you know your feelings for Sam aren’t you just thinking it?”

  “Because I’m wiser and more experienced now. It was good for me to get out of the little bubble I lived in all my life.”

  “Lina! You’re making a terrible mistake. Did Sam tell you he loves you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did he tell you why he loves you?”

  “Of cour—”

  “Did he give you the usual spiel about your beauty and personality?”

  Unease unfurled in her chest, and she tried to cling to the warmth his proposal had elicited, but it was impossible, not when her mother was using that horrible “break the witness” tone.

  “Did he mention anything about money?” Catalina continued.

  “What money?”

  “I knew it!” her mother cried triumphantly. “I knew it!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I didn’t want to tell you this, because your grandmother wanted to keep it quiet until after your marriage. But she left you a fifteen-million-dollar trust.”

  “A what?”

  “Unbelievable, I know, but you were her favorite. She left Jolie the vacation house in the Hamptons, but you got the nicer deal.”

  “Did you just say fifteen million? That’s crazy.”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought I just got the Aston Martin. How come I never heard about the other part?”

  “There was a sub-clause in the will. Your grandmother wanted to keep the money part quiet so you’d marry for the right reasons, and fortune hunters wouldn’t be after you. You know how eccentric she was about certain things.” Catalina always made it clear she was still miffed about the way her husband’s mother hadn’t left him anything, opting to divvy up the estate among the grandchildren only.

  “What ‘right reasons’?” Lina asked, staying focused on the situation.

  “Love or some such.” Catalina snorted. “You can’t touch the money unless you marry or turn thirty, whichever comes first.”

  “Was Jared aware of the trust?” But as soon as the question left her lips, Lina knew. Of course he had to have known, since all their assets and liabilities were listed in the prenup they’d signed. Her parents had negotiated and drafted it personally for her, and she hadn’t looked at it too closely, knowing they wouldn’t have left anything out.

  “Yes, as Sam obviously does. He’s a clever lawyer. If you know where to look, you can find the information.” Catalina tsked. “Come home, honey. That little town isn’t for you. Go to counseling with Jared.”

  “Why should I go counseling? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “I know, but to work things out. He can’t do it alone.”

  “I don’t care if he can or not. I’m not interested.”

  “Lina…”

  “I don’t believe this!” Anger heated her face, and she blinked away furious tears. She wasn’t going to cry just because her mom wasn’t on her side. This was her happy day. “You still want me to work it out with him? Aren’t you even the slightest bit upset at the way he humiliated me?”

  “Of course. Of course I am. His behavior was inexcusable. But what’s done is done, and you don’t want to let a momentary lapse ruin the rest of your life. You both need to move on.”

  Lina clenched her hands. “I did move on. I left him! And I am not going back to him. Ever.”

  “Lina, be reasonable. You want to be with someone who’s like us, not like Sam. He only wants your money. Ask him. See how he reacts.”

  “This conversation is done, Mother. You can call me when you’re ready to accept that I’m through with Jared.”

  She hung up, shaking. The revelation kept circling in her head, and she couldn’t focus on anything.

  Of course Sam didn’t love her for her money. That was ridiculous. He…

  You don’t need the money.

  He’d said that after Jolie’s visit. Unless he’d known about her inheritance, why would he have thought that?

  Slowly and carefully, like an old, arthritic woman, Lina came out of the room and went downstairs, where Sam was reading some paperwork. He looked up with a smile, then immediately frowned. “Lina, are you all right?”

  “I just spoke with my mom.”

  He didn’t say anything, but his gaze was intent on her face.

  “I have to know something before we…before I…” She ran a trembling hand over her cheek and mouth. “Before we go any further.”

  “What is it?”

  Cold sweat misted over her skin. She didn’t know what she’d do if he said yes—or worse, no. “Did you know about my…trust fund?”

  Chapter Twenty

  Sam watched Lina intently. Something had definitely happened, and the smart money had Catalina Vogel saying something to undermine Lina’s happiness. Catalina might be a brilliant woman, but she had very little warmth or heart. “Yes.”

  “How? When did you find out?”

  “Jolie mentioned it once in passing when I was in Manhattan. She saw the will lying on your father’s desk and read it.” She’d been so bitter when she’d spoken of it. She’d thought her grandmother had been unfair—if not outright senile—except there had been no grounds to challenge the way she’d decided to divvy up the estate.

  “So that’s why you told me I didn’t need money.”

  “Right.”

  “Did you know I couldn’t touch it unless I turned thirty or got married, whichever happened first?”

  “No, I didn’t know that part. Just that you were going to get fifteen million.” He got up and stepped toward her.

  She hugged herself and shook her head. “I don’t know what to think.”

  Squatting before her, he covered her shaking hands with his. Her skin was cold and clammy to the touch, and he hated Catalina for ruining what should have been a happy moment. “Then remember the facts. You know I’ve never cared about money. If I had, I wouldn’t have come back here. I would’ve stayed in Manhattan, billing hundreds of hours. My love for you won’t change if you decide to give every penny of the trust away. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, not your money.”

  She looked down at him, her eyes glassy. Fear sliced through him, like the time when he’d been young and stupid and reckless and almost lost control of his car speeding down a winding mountain road. His life was careening, off the path he’d envisioned, and he wanted des
perately find a way to make it stop.

  “I think everyone wanted me for my money…money I didn’t even know I had,” she said suddenly. “Crystal told me I was being used when she and I spoke after…you know. At the time, I thought she was making excuses. Now I can’t help but wonder if she wasn’t.”

  “Lina.”

  Tears dripped from her eyes, trailing down her pale cheeks. “I want to believe I’m right to love you. I want it so bad it hurts. But I’m also afraid—what if I’m making a mistake? What if I’m letting my love for you blind me?” She sniffled. “I’m not the smartest or the most lovable person. I’ve made horrible blunders before. What if I’m doing it again? I’m too much in love with you to think clearly about any of this.”

  If anybody had told Sam it would hurt to hear Lina tell him she loved him too much, he would’ve laughed…but now it wasn’t funny. Her bewilderment and pain were too raw. He pulled her into his arms, and she clung to him.

  “You are most definitely lovable, and you’re most definitely intelligent and wonderful.” He tightened his hold. “Will you trust me?”

  “My heart wants to.” She blinked away the tears. “Yes.” The answer came shaky, but that was enough.

  He rested his forehead against hers, grateful for her honesty and faith in him. “All I’m asking for is a couple of days. And I’ll prove to you that you aren’t making a mistake by loving me.”

  “Okay. But how are you going to do that?”

  “First, you’re going to sign a letter of engagement.”

  She pulled back. “You want me to hire you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can go over your situation.” Sam had a suspicion, but he didn’t want to share it with her until he knew for certain. “I presume there was a prenup.”

  She nodded. “Of course. I have a copy on my phone.”

  “Great. That’ll be a good start.”

  “But I’m not sure what it will show. My parents worked on it personally, and it’s ironclad.”

  “Have you read it?”

  “I barely skimmed it and signed. I mean, I trusted them to represent my interests.”

  “I understand, but let me read it anyway. I think there may be a surprise or two, and if there is, I’ll find it for you.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, then hugged him tightly. “I’m sorry I ruined our happy day.”

  “Shhh… You didn’t ruin anything.” He ran a soothing hand down her back. “This is still going to go down as the second happiest day in my life.”

  She leaned back with a small frown. “What’s the happiest one?”

  He kissed the frown away. “The day I put a wedding ring on your finger.”

  * * *

  The next two days, Lina felt like she lived in a stranger’s skin as she waited for Sam to do his lawyer thing and find the proof he’d said he’d find. She kept staring at the engagement ring, pulling it off, then putting it back on. Even the idea of having her finger bare of the symbol of her and Sam’s commitment seemed like a gross violation. But what if he couldn’t find anything? Would she stay with him, or…?

  Have faith.

  She did. But what if he couldn’t prove what he’d said he would?

  She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that her grandmother had left her that kind of money, or that her family had hidden it from her so completely. On the other hand, it explained Jolie’s hostility and anger. It probably gave her a sense of satisfaction to belittle Lina’s lack of job skills. Catalina had hurried through the prenup meetings, and Lina couldn’t help but wonder if her parents had wanted to hide the trust from her, which legally had to be listed as her asset in the contract.

  Lying in bed, she gazed at the ceiling and tried to think. The only thing that had changed about her circumstances was the money—or more precisely, her knowing about it. Would Sam feel differently about her if he hadn’t known about her trust?

  He’d always been on her side, even defending her from his own mother when she’d found out who Lina was. If he’d been only interested in Lina’s money, he would’ve had his family push them together. He would’ve betrayed his true intent somehow.

  She suddenly sat up. Her grandmother hadn’t left her the money so she would doubt the man who loved her and second-guess her decisions. The inheritance was there so she would be financially secure. She could donate every penny of it, and Sam would still love her, still want to marry her. He’d said so.

  What he was doing… It was just like her, trying to prove herself to her family so they would love and approve of her. She’d taken all the social science and math and logic courses they’d pushed on her so she could be a Harvard-educated lawyer. But none of that had been enough, she hadn’t made the cut and she’d only ended up miserable and feeling like a total failure. She shouldn’t put Sam through the same sort of trial, ever.

  Gasping, she jumped off the bed and rushed downstairs. She had to talk to him now.

  Sam was just getting up, placing his laptop on the coffee table. “Lina, I—”

  “No!” She rushed up and put a hand over his mouth. “Don’t say anything. I have to say something first.”

  He nodded mutely.

  She dropped the hand. “Don’t bother with the prenup.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t bother trying to prove anything. It was dumb of me to want proof of your love. Love is something you feel…and it’s up to me to believe in your love or not.”

  He studied her warily. “I don’t understand.”

  “What I mean is… Either I believe you love me or don’t. I can’t…” She tried to calm down and organize her thoughts so she didn’t sound like a loon. “You said people show their true selves when they’re under a lot of pressure, and I feel like I’m being unfair to you because I’m under this…crazy pressure. But I should’ve never made you feel like you had to prove your love or else. That’s not the kind of love I feel for you or want between us.” Her mouth was suddenly so parched that she could barely get the words out. “I trust you, Sam. And I love you. I’m not going to make you jump through hoops.”

  “But Li—”

  She raised a hand. “No. Listen to me. If I’ve misjudged you—and for the record, I don’t think I have, but if I did, then I made a mistake. But I’m not letting fear dictate my life.”

  The smile he gave her was blinding. “You humble me, Lina.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “And I swear to you, your trust and love will never be misplaced. But when you were coming down, I was about to go up to your room to tell you what I found.”

  “But—”

  “I think you need to know.”

  She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff. “What is it?”

  He pulled her closer, and they sat against each other on the sofa. “It’s not pretty…although I suspected something when you told me about the prenup.” He scrolled down the screen on his laptop until the document hit almost the seventy-five-percent mark. “Your trust was to be divided between your parents and Jared once you were married.”

  She gasped.

  “Your parents would’ve gotten two million, and Jared would’ve taken the rest.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Sam nodded. “It’s right here.” He highlighted the relevant portion with the mouse. “I’m sorry.”

  She read the legalese over and over again. She might not have a law degree, but she wasn’t stupid, and she could make out what it was saying without legal help. “Why would they have done that?”

  “Your parents are overextended, and one point seven mil should take care of it.”

  “How is that possible? They make money hand over fist.”

  He shrugged. “Manhattan’s an expensive city.”

  And her parents loved to live well. Lina covered her face with her hands. “Oh my God.”

  No wonder her mother had harped on her reconciling with Jared. The prenup was worthless if she didn’t marry h
im. Tears sprang to her eyes. It hurt to realize her parents cared more about saving their own hides than her happiness.

  “I can’t believe she told me you were the one who’s using me and wanted me for my money…” She stood up. “Do you mind if I…make a call? I don’t think this can wait.”

  He nodded, squeezing her shoulder.

  Blinking away the tears of hurt, she went upstairs to call her mother. Catalina answered.

  “I can book you a direct flight to JFK. First class. Just tell me when.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Put Dad on the phone too, so I only need to say this once.”

  “Watch your tone, Lina.”

  “You do not understand how much restraint I’m exercising, Mom.”

  “I knew you were a drama queen when you decided to study drama rather than something more practical.”

  Lina bit her lower lip. She didn’t trust herself not to say something she would regret later.

  Soon both of her parents were on.

  “Hi, Lina,” her father said, sounding impatient. “Please make this quick. I have a deposition to review.”

  Of course he had something more important to do. Not even getting the two million would trump that, not when he was dealing with his disappointing daughter. “This won’t take long. And I’ll be doing most of the talking. Keep your questions and comments until I’m finished.” Lina gathered herself. “First, I’m not marrying Jared. Ever. Second, I’m going to marry Sam. Third, I read the prenup, and if you needed money, you should’ve just told me.”

  There was a pause. “Lina, that document is long and quite complex,” her father said. “I doubt you understood much of it.”

  The condescension was unmistakable. You’re too stupid. Always have been.

  “I have a lawyer of my own to look out for my interests. Surely you won’t say Sam Roberts is incapable of deciphering a prenup.”

  A stunned silence stretched, then finally her mother said, “Ridiculous. He’s trying to control you.”

  “No. The only people trying to control me are you. If you needed money, you should’ve told me rather than trying to manipulate me.”

  “It was for your own good.”

  “How is marrying a man who was doing my maid of honor fifteen minutes before the ceremony for my own good? Explain that to me, will you? Because no matter how I look at it, it’s a horrible deal.”