Had Paula decided on her next move? Jared wondered. Had she called Faith to tell her what the next phase of her plan was going to be?
Jared stood under the hot spray of the shower trying to think of a way to stop Paula. Faith was the key. Somehow he had to get her to tell him what they were planning. But how?
Shutting off the shower, he stepped out onto the mat and reached for the towel hanging on the rail. After drying himself, he wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror.
Jared lathered the lower half of his face, then picked up the razor. He stopped to stare at his reflection. He’d often overheard women comment on his good looks, but he could see nothing out of the ordinary in his appearance.
An old girlfriend had once accused him of being too good-looking, of having too much charm. Did he have enough charm to entice a woman to share her innermost secrets?
Jared smiled. Maybe it was time to put this socalled charm of his to the test.
From the moment the doorbell rang announcing Maggie and Dylan’s arrival, followed a few minutes later by Stephanie and Dave, Faith knew the evening would be a success.
As she’d predicted, Nicky woke soon after their guests arrived, and when Jared brought his son downstairs, his face beamed with pride as he accepted congratulations from his friends.
Maggie and Stephanie took turns feeding Nicky his bottle. Faith shooed the men out onto the sundeck, where they cooked dinner and argued over the prospect of Nicky and Dylan junior becoming hockey or basketball players.
Faith put Nicky to bed around seven, and it wasn’t long before they were all seated at the dining-room table enjoying the delicious barbecued salmon.
Conversation flowed easily during the meal, and while Faith was careful to keep her contribution to a minimum, she soon got over her nervousness, silently acknowledging that Jared’s friends were warm, wonderful people.
She especially noticed the chemistry between Maggie and her husband, Dylan, their shared smiles and secret glances.
While the women cleared away the dishes, the men wandered through to the living room, and it was then Faith asked Maggie how she and Dylan had met.
Maggie related an extraordinary tale, confessing to having had a crush on Dylan, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and favorite nephew of her father’s new wife, from the first moment she set eyes on him.
When her father and Dylan’s aunt perished in a plane crash, Dylan had come to Grace Harbor to attend the funeral. During that highly emotional and heartbreaking weekend, he and Maggie had made love.
The next day Dylan had been called back to his base, and as he neared San Diego he’d been involved in a car accident, resulting in a total loss of his memory.
Nearly nine months after the accident, Dylan, following the only lead he had to his past, a letter he’d received from Jared regarding his aunt’s will, had returned to Grace Harbor in the hope of jarring his memory.
He’d come face-to-face with Maggie, pregnant with his child, but he hadn’t recognized her. Through the strength of her love for him and the birth of their child, Dylan had eventually recovered his memory, and they’d found each other again.
After hearing Maggie’s wonderfully romantic story, Faith found her thoughts turning to Jared. All evening she’d had the feeling he might be seeking to reconcile with Paula, to put their relationship on a more intimate level.
He’d been more attentive than usual, more considerate, drawing her into conversations, gently teasing her and finding excuses to touch her. Faith tried to tell herself it was all for the benefit of their guests.
But when they rejoined the men in the living room Jared instantly rose from the easy chair, to cross to her side. When she felt his arm go around her to pull her against his muscular frame, in a loverlike gesture, her legs threatened to give way.
For the next hour as they sat chatting to their guests, Faith grew increasingly aware of Jared’s slow yet deliberate seduction.
Sitting next to him on the love seat, she could feel the pressure of his thigh against hers, a pressure that sent the blood humming through her veins.
And when his fingers deliberately skimmed her shoulder, and his breath fanned her cheek as he leaned over to make a point, she was aware only of the ripple of desire that chased through her, making her weak with longing.
Jared’s smile told her he knew exactly what he was doing, and the effect he was having on her. And the fact that this subtle but deliberate seduction was taking place in full view of his friends made it impossible for Faith to do anything to stop him.
“It’s been a lovely evening,” Maggie said some ten minutes later. “But I think it’s time I took my husband home. We don’t want to be too late for the baby-sitter. Otherwise she might not sit for us again.”
“We’d better hit the road, too,” Dave said, rising from the easy chair.
“Thanks for a great dinner. The company wasn’t bad either,” Dylan quipped, giving Jared’s arm a friendly punch.
“It’ll be your turn next time,” Jared countered.
“Deal,” Dylan replied, then turned to Faith. “Thanks, Paula, for everything. I have a feeling your husband is anxious to have you to himself,” he teased gently, sending the blood rushing to her cheeks.
“You got that right,” Jared answered softly. Putting his arm around Faith, he drew her against him, dropping a featherlight kiss on her mouth.
Dizzy from the sensations suddenly spiraling through her, Faith had little memory of the next ten minutes. All she was aware of was Jared’s arm around her, of his body pressed against hers, of the tingling warmth lingering on her lips and of the desire slowly building inside her.
The sound of Jared closing the front door brought her out of her daze. Her first instinct was to escape, to run for the sanctuary of her room, because though it broke her heart to admit it, Paula was the one Jared thought he was seducing. Paula was the one he wanted.
Before she could take even one step, Jared turned her to face him.
“I think we both need this, don’t you?” he said.
Any protest she might have made was forgotten as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that robbed her of breath, and stole her heart away.
The world careened out of control, and all Faith could do was hang on for the ride. Exciting! Electrifying! Erotic! That was the only way to describe what was happening. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this, and she never wanted the kiss to end.
It seemed so outrageous, impossible in fact, that one dynamic kiss could catapult her so swiftly to the edge of reason.
She wanted Jared. Wanted him with an intensity that shocked her. And it was obvious he wanted her, too.
No. The denial came from somewhere inside her head as she remembered she wasn’t the woman he wanted at all... He thought she was Paula!
Pain sliced through Faith, and somehow she found the strength to pull away.
“Jared, please stop!” she said, her breathing ragged.
“Why?” Jared’s voice was a hoarse whisper of need.
“You don’t understand,” she went on, struggling to break free of his embrace. “I’m not Paula! I’m her twin sister, Faith,” she blurted out. Drawing a steadying breath, she braced herself for his anger and outrage.
Her words were met with silence.
“Did you hear what I said?” she asked, puzzled by his lack of response.
“I heard you,” Jared replied on a sigh as he released her. “I know who you are,” he told her. “I’ve known it for a while. Now tell me something I don’t know. You heard from Paula today, didn’t you? What is she up to? She’s planning to steal Nicky away from me, isn’t she?”
Chapter Eight
Faith staggered back, stunned by Jared’s revelation.
“You know I’m not Paula?”
“Yes, I know you’re not Paula. You’re Faith Nelson, her twin sister.”
Faith blinked. “But, how...?”
Jared quickly explained how he’d learned the truth
. As Faith listened, she wasn’t sure whether she was relieved or angry that he’d known her identity for some time.
“Let’s continue this conversation in the living room, shall we?” he suggested. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”
As Jared ushered her into the room, Faith tried to gather her scattered thoughts. In a matter of hours she’d gone from being soundly kissed by a man she’d grown to admire during the past few days, a man she believed was married to her sister, to learning he wasn’t married to Paula after all and he’d known almost from the outset she’d been impersonating her twin.
“Brandy?” Jared asked as he crossed to the coffee table containing the tray of liqueurs.
“No, thank you.” Faith dropped into the easy chair.
Jared poured himself a brandy, and after taking a generous sip moved to stand in front of the replace.
“Paula called this afternoon while I was out, didn’t she?” he repeated.
Startled, Faith glanced up to find Jared staring at her intently. “Yes.” There was little point lying.
“What’s she up to? What scheme is she planning next?” Frustration and anger colored his tone. “If she thinks I’m going to stand by and let her take my son without a fight, she’s mad.”
“She is Nicky’s mother. She loves him,” she protested. But her voice lacked conviction, and even as she spoke the words she wasn’t sure she actually believed them.
Jared snorted. “You don’t believe that any more than I do. Paula loves Paula, period, and she isn’t any more interested in raising her son than in taking up swimming lessons. She’s only interested in using him, or you, or anyone for that matter as long as she ends up getting what she wants.”
Faith’s breath caught in her throat. Jared’s analysis of Paula was decidedly astute.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” he challenged.
“Don’t you think you’re painting rather a harsh picture of her? Paula is ambitious, and yes, she is selfish at times, but that’s human nature. We’re all guilty of selfishness now and then,” she defended. “Besides, you must have seen something appealing about her,” she added bluntly, and watched as color crept up his neck and face.
“Point taken,” he acknowledged. “But from the moment she told me she was pregnant, I knew she had her own game plan. And I was right.” He downed the remainder of the brandy.
“Jared—”
“She didn’t want Nicky,” he interrupted, his tone brutal. “She signed a paper granting me sole custody of the baby. Everything was going according to plan until she ran off.
“All I could think of was she’d suddenly had a change of heart. But I’m beginning to wonder if she even has a heart,” he added bitterly. “If it takes everything I have, I’m prepared to fight to keep my son right here with me where he belongs.”
Faith heard the fierce determination in Jared’s voice, as well as the fear lurking just beneath the surface. She hadn’t until now realized how deeply he loved Nicky, and she was hard-pressed to offer up any argument.
“All I know is Paula said she’d be here sometime tomorrow. She wants to talk to you, to try and sort things out,” Faith told him, wishing she could offer Jared some reassurance.
“And you believed her?” Jarred scoffed.
Faith flinched. She kept telling herself he had every right to be furious with her, every right to think she wasn’t telling the truth.
“If you want me to leave, I’ll understand,” she said, and rose from the chair.
Jared darted her a startled glance, and for a moment Faith glimpsed an emotion in the depths of his eyes he quickly masked. “What’s the point?” he countered.
“I should have told you who I was from the start. I’m truly sorry.”
“You may have been living a lie,” Jared said, “but for what it’s worth, I believe you were only doing it for Nicky’s sake. I doubt he’d be such a happy, contented baby if you hadn’t been here to take care of him. For that I thank you.”
Faith felt a warmth spread through her at his words. Looking after Nicky had been both a joy and a comfort. Paula’s arrival tomorrow would change everything.
“It’s late, and I’m rather tired,” Faith said, suddenly weary.
Jared made no move to detain her. Once upstairs, she peeked in on Nicky, who was sleeping soundly. She stood staring down at the child who’d come to mean everything to her, and felt her eyes sting with tears.
She knew it would break her heart to leave Nicky. Taking care of a healthy, happy baby had proved to be a cathartic experience, allowing her to finally come to terms with the loss of her daughter.
But it wasn’t only the thought of leaving Nicky that brought an ache to her heart. In one short week, she’d grown to care for the man who was Nicky’s father. He’d shown her there were still honorable, sensitive and caring men left in the world; men willing to accept their responsibilities; men capable of loving a child, completely and unconditionally.
Faith sat up in bed with a start, wondering what had awakened her. Glancing at the clock on her bedside table, she saw it was a little after six. The chimes of the doorbell suddenly echoed through the house.
Pushing the covers aside, she grabbed her sweater from the foot of the bed. She opened her bedroom door in time to see Jared, wearing only his jeans, hurrying down the hallway.
“Who the blazes can that be at this hour?” he mumbled as he disappeared downstairs.
Faith came to a halt at the top of the stairs, wondering if Paula was their early-morning visitor.
“Sheriff Yates! Good morning. Is there a problem?” she heard Jared ask.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr. McAndrew,” came the reply. “But it’s very important. Do you know a Ms. Paula Preston?”
“Yes,” Jared replied cautiously.
“Your name and address were found amongst Ms. Preston’s belongings. Are you, by any chance, a relative?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Jared hedged. “Why?” he asked before darting a glance toward the stairs.
“Would you happen to know how we could get in touch with Ms. Preston’s family?” Sheriff Yates continued.
“You’d better come in.” Jared stood aside. Glosing the outer door, he turned to see Faith making her way down the stairs, an anxious expression on her face. “Sheriff Yates, this is Faith Nelson. She’s Paula’s twin sister,” Jared explained.
The sheriff removed his hat. Holding it against his chest, he nodded solemnly. “Ms. Nelson.”
“Sheriff, what is it? What’s happened?” Faith asked, sensing from the somber look on the man’s face that something was dreadfully wrong.
“There’s been an accident.”
“An accident? My sister? Is she all right?” Faith took a step toward the sheriff.
Sheriff Yates met her gaze and slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry to have to tell you, miss, but your sister is dead.”
Faith gasped and took a step back. “No! There’s been a mistake.” She darted a frightened glance at Jared. “I talked to her yesterday. She was fine. She’s coming here today. Please, there must be some mistake,” Faith repeated, as if saying the words would somehow make them true.
Jared crossed to where Faith stood shivering, her face ashen, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. Putting his arm around her, he urged her to lean on him.
“Sheriff Yates,” Jared said, turning to the officer. “Could you tell us what happened? Was it a car accident?”
“No,” the sheriff replied. “A call came through to my office a little while ago from a patrolman in L.A. Apparently Ms. Preston had been celebrating with a few friends last night. They’d been drinking in the hotel bar and had moved outside to the hotel grounds, where they started creating quite a disturbance.
“Several hotel guests called the front desk to complain, and the police were called in. When the two patrolmen got there, Ms. Preston, whom they described to be in a highly intoxicated state, had climbed up one of the
large concrete fountains in the garden.”
“What happened?” Jared asked, urgency in his voice.
“According to witnesses, she turned to wave to her friends and lost her footing. She fell, hitting her head on the concrete. She was pronounced dead at the scene.”
“No! No...l” Faith sagged against Jared. She could imagine Paula behaving foolishly, but to risk her life!
“I’m sorry for your loss, miss,” the sheriff said, but Faith was too shocked to answer.
“Thank you, Sheriff.” Jared tightened his hold on Faith.
At that moment Nicky started crying. Faith automatically turned toward the sound.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and take care of Nicky,” Jared suggested. “I’ll be up in a minute, once I see the sheriff out.”
Faith drew a steadying breath, blinking back the tears gathering in her eyes. “All right.” Moving out of the shelter of his arms, she turned and climbed the stairs.
Up in the nursery, Faith deliberately pushed all thoughts of Paula from her mind.
Lifting Nicky from the crib, she held him against her breast and murmured soft words of comfort. Crossing to the rocking chair, she sat down, wondering for a moment if the reason Nicky had awakened was that he’d somehow sensed the horrible tragedy that had befallen his mother.
It couldn’t be true! Paula wasn’t dead! It had to be a mistake! But while her brain tried desperately to deny it, she knew in her heart it was true.
Drawing a deep, ragged breath, Faith fought to keep the pain and sorrow threatening to swamp her at bay.
Though their relationship hadn’t been as close as some twins enjoyed, the realization that she would never again see her beautiful, talented sister, that Paula’s dreams of stardom were lost forever, evoked a deep and profound sadness.
“Is Nicky all right?” Jared’s softly spoken question cut through her musings. Unable to speak, Faith simply nodded. “Should I warm a bottle for him?” he asked.
This time Faith shook her head. Tears were gathering in her eyes, but she blinked them away, fearful that once she started to cry, she might never stop.
The Baby Arrangement Page 9
