Mail-Order Cinderella (Fortune's Children: The Grooms Book 2)

by Kathryn Jensen

“Oh, I had brunch this morning with the pastor. He couldn’t make room in his schedule without bumping another couple. So I’ve decided you’ll be married in the garden at the ranch.”

  “That would be lovely,” Julie agreed.

  “I also lined up the caterer for the reception and gave Adele the job of booking the photographer and a string quartet.”

  Julie shook her head in amazement and swallowed over a growing lump in her throat as they walked through the mall bustling with shoppers. “You’re going to so much trouble. This must all seem so strange to you, the way Tyler and I are rushing this marriage.”

  Kate chuckled. “Oh, don’t apologize, my dear. Tyler has never done anything the easy way. He has a mind of his own. When he decides he wants something, he goes after it, and, more often than not, gets it. You, apparently, are what he wants…and he’s not willing to wait.” She smiled delightedly. “I think it’s rather romantic, myself. Being desired that fiercely by a man. It’s no small thing.” Kate winked at her. “But you must know that.”

  He doesn’t desire or love me, she wanted to say. This is all a farce. Don’t be taken in. But the warning was as true for herself as it was for Kate. If she wasn’t careful, she’d end up believing the fantasy. And what then? If she ever came to her senses, the pain would kill her.

  With the gown chosen and all other details under control, Kate whisked Julie off to a light lunch, then to a spa located at one end of the mall. Here Julie was treated to a makeover under Kate’s personal direction. She gave up trying to convince Kate she didn’t want anything drastic done to alter her appearance. The woman was on a mission; she was not to be deterred.

  Kate consulted with the hairstylist, colorist, manicurist and massage therapist. Then they all went to work as a team. By the end of the afternoon, Julie had been trimmed, tinted, buffed, toned and wrapped in a blue silk dress Kate had plucked from the adjoining boutique while Julie was trapped in the stylist’s chair.

  “I don’t feel like myself,” she sighed as they left the shop to the approving oohs and ahs of the staff. “I’m a fraud in fancy duds and someone else’s hair.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Kate said. “You’re simply making the most of what you have, and the effect is charming. Utterly charming, my dear.”

  “Do you think Tyler will…will like me like this?” she breathed.

  Kate picked up her pace. “Do you like the way you look?”

  “Well, I—I really don’t know,” she stammered. “It will take some…yes, I guess I do.”

  “Then what Tyler thinks is of little importance. He loves you and he’ll learn to appreciate the things you do to make yourself feel and look attractive.”

  Julie’s stomach sank. If Tyler’s reaction depended upon his loving her, she was lost. As surely as she knew the difference between Chaucer and Shakespeare, she understood that Tyler’s feelings for her didn’t even approach love.

  What in the blazes, Tyler wondered as he watched a young woman climb out of Kate’s car, had Kate done with his prim fiancée? The anger subsided as he observed the slim beauty pulling shopping bags out of the car.

  Tyler had worked all afternoon at corporate headquarters, but he’d found it difficult to concentrate on any one task. He’d imagined Julie being dragged from store to store by whirlwind Kate, then dropped off at the condo by mid-afternoon to fend for herself. He’d told himself he should at least check on her, maybe take her for a drive across the desert to fill her time. But when he’d arrived at the condo, there was no sign of Julie. He’d been ready to start driving around town to look for them, when Kate’s car had pulled up.

  Although he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what changes had been woven by his grandmother’s spell, he decided they were generally pleasing changes. Just enough to enhance Julie’s best features. Her hair was trimmed and styled in a slightly shorter coiffure that framed her face in a smoothly glistening cap of chestnut-brown, slightly redder than its natural shade.

  Her makeup was the most clever of all. It wasn’t overdone or garish. A pale shade of taupe eye shadow and liner only highlighted her eyes. Coral lipstick accentuated her full mouth. A sweep of color and shading brought out cheekbones. She even seemed to have acquired a subtly provocative lilt to her walk as she juggled bags and followed Kate up the walk, smiling and laughing at something his grandmother had just said.

  It was only when she started up the steps and shifted back into her customary hesitant gait that he was reminded of the painfully awkward young woman he’d taken to dinner. Underneath, she was still just as insecure as before. He relaxed. She wasn’t a threat.

  She was still…just Julie. Julie with lipstick and a new dress. This he could deal with.

  “Good evening, ladies,” he crowed when they walked through the door and into the living room. “Need any help with packages?”

  “Tyler dear, I’m so glad you’re here.” Kate strode across the room with remarkable energy for an octogenarian. She dropped four fat shopping bags on the floor beside the couch, then lowered herself into its tan leather cushions. “I’ll take a glass of white wine, please. What an afternoon! Julie? Wine, dear?”

  “I don’t usually—” She glanced up at Tyler.

  He grinned at her. “If you don’t have any, my dear sweet grandmother may feel obligated to finish off the entire bottle herself.”

  “Well then,” Julie said with a smile, “I guess I should help out.”

  After he’d poured them each a glass of wine and himself a scotch, he settled into his favorite armchair to be a proper audience to their adventures. As Kate babbled on and pulled items from bags, Tyler studied the new Julie with interest. She seemed more animated than he remembered her. Her face brightened, softened, then puckered in concentration as Kate described their shopping triumphs. He found himself enjoying the childish delight Julie seemed to take in a simple gals’ day out, and he wondered if she’d ever allowed herself such a treat. Most likely, she’d never been able to afford a no-holds-barred assault on an upscale shopping mall.

  When Kate at last declared herself exhausted and took her leave, Julie stood at the living-room window, her wineglass delicately balanced between her fingertips, watching the older woman drive off with a look of regret in her soft eyes.

  Tyler was touched. One minute Julie was a lovely grown woman, the next she was a child watching her playmate leave, needing reassurance there would be other days as joyful. Stepping up behind her, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist. “She likes you a lot.”

  “We had such…such fun!” she said with a note of amazement in her voice.

  He laughed. “My grandmother is tons of fun. But she can also be a heap of trouble when her plans don’t coincide with yours.”

  “I think all of her ideas are wonderful.” Julie sighed then turned her head to look up at him over her shoulder. “Except maybe for the gown.”

  “You two argued about the wedding dress?”

  “Oh, no,” she said quickly. “I just had a different opinion of what I should wear.”

  “And are you very disappointed with what Kate chose for you?”

  Julie grinned smugly at him. “I didn’t say I gave in.”

  He was shocked. “You ended up with the gown you picked out?”

  “I knew what I wanted, and Kate agreed that it suited me.”

  He shook his head. “That’s a first. She can be as stubborn as a—”

  “She’s lovely,” Julie cut him off. Another first, he thought. “I had a wonderful day with her.”

  He found himself touching his lips to her hair, inhaling the fragrance of the salon’s shampoo. Strawberries, he thought. Then his attention dropped lower. Her bottom was pressing into the muscled front of his thighs. She shifted slightly within his arms as if she too was aware of the intimacy of their position. She stood silently within the circle of his arms. He told himself to release her, but couldn’t. They watched the sun set behind the mountains. Purple streaks against rose. Her body grew
warmer against his.

  “What are we doing?” she whispered at last.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m…thinking.”

  “About what?”

  “You,” he said. And wasn’t it true? He’d been pondering many things that concerned her all day long. Like how much he still wanted her. And how vividly he remembered last night. Sitting at his desk, he’d imagined the velvet-soft curve of her breast under his palm. He saw her nipple harden and peak. In his heated mind he’d devoured her again.

  “About my new haircut?” she asked innocently. Was there a shadow of playfulness in her tone?

  “No. Just…well, about different things. I came home at three o’clock, assuming you would be back from shopping and might be lonely.”

  “Ah,” she said. He wished he could see her expression but she’d turned her face away.

  “I guess I didn’t need to worry.”

  “I’ve been on my own a long time, Tyler.” She seemed to relax another notch in his arms. Her head rested against his chest. She was a good foot shorter than he. Although he’d always been attracted to statuesque women, he liked the way the curves of Julie’s body tucked neatly into the muscled hollows of his own. “I’m used to finding ways to fill my time.”

  “I suppose so.” Suddenly he wanted to be the one to fill her time, at least this corner of it. “What do you want to do for dinner?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll make something for us, if you like.”

  “That’s right, you enjoy gourmet cooking. And I enjoy eating. I wouldn’t mind taking you out, though.”

  “I’d rather stay in tonight.” Her voice sounded a little breathless. “If it’s all the same to you. You know, get used to the kitchen,” she added quickly.

  “Of course.”

  “Tyler?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can’t cook if you don’t let go of me.”

  “Oh.” He quickly released her but felt disappointed when she easily moved out of his arms leaving an empty, cool space down his front. He turned away quickly, a silent curse stopping at his lips, hoping she wouldn’t notice the telltale ridge beneath his jeans’ zipper.

  Suddenly he felt shy around her—a new sensation for him. Women had never made him feel awkward before, maybe because he’d always felt in control. The more he saw of Julie, the less in control he felt.

  “Let me see what you have in the fridge for ingredients,” she said brightly, practically skipping out of the room in her enthusiasm.

  He stood where he’d been, facing the window and looking out at the darkening horizon. But his mind was no longer on the rouged skyline of Pueblo. Every one of his senses was tuned to the woman banging around happily in his kitchen. He knew exactly where she was by the sound of her footsteps across the tile—moving around the breakfast bar, opening and closing the squeaky pantry door, heading for the refrigerator. The refrigerator door wheezed open. She would be standing in front of it now, tapping one toe while picking out promising ingredients. He could almost see the frown on her pretty face as she studied with disapproval its sparse contents. The door shut.

  “Well, you do have a sirloin steak in the freezer!” she called out. “And a few potatoes in the pantry. If you don’t mind canned veggies, I think we can have a fairly acceptable meal.”

  “I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” he said quickly, although steak, spuds and a quiet evening in his own home without having to put on a show for a date sounded incredibly appealing.

  “Cooking for two is no more trouble than cooking for one,” she pronounced cheerfully. “I don’t eat beef very often, but if I do I like to splurge on a really good cut of meat. This baby looks scrumptious.”

  “Then steak it is,” he said, crossing the living room to the kitchen doorway. He watched her take the frozen packet from the freezer, unwrap the meat, place it on a plate then slide it into the microwave. “You’re not going to nuke it, are you?” he asked in horror.

  “No, silly. I’m just defrosting it.”

  “Oh.” Leaning against the doorjamb, he let his glance follow her as she moved around his kitchen, searching out what she needed, shaking her head occasionally at something that seemed to bother her about his limited collection of seasonings. He found it impossible to take his eyes off her. Whereas she was ill at ease around strangers and in public places, here, in his kitchen, she was mistress of her domain.

  Within a few minutes she’d located a bottle of cider vinegar, some hard lumps of brown sugar, powdered ginger, garlic powder and tamari soy sauce. She blended them into an aromatic marinade with which she doused the steak. He wanted to tell her she was ruining a perfectly good piece of meat, but held back, curious to see how it would turn out.

  When the meal was ready, they brought their plates to the small golden-oak table at one end of the kitchen. He lit a candle and placed it between them. Julie’s eyes glowed when he dimmed the electric light overhead. He sat down across from her.

  “Sure looks good,” he said, speaking of more than the food.

  She grinned back at him and cut a nibble from one corner of her portion of steak. When she chewed, she closed her eyes and savored it. Tyler ached to lick the juice from her lips.

  It seemed remarkable to him that he actually was able to taste the meal. As good as it was, his attention was held by Julie, not the food. She was a wizard with a plain hunk of beef! When she at last placed her fork and knife across her plate and pushed back her chair to stand, he stopped her with a hand over hers.

  “Sit still and finish your wine. You cooked; I’ll clean up.”

  “But you don’t need—”

  “Fair is fair,” he said firmly. “This is a partnership, remember?”

  Julie studied Tyler’s expression for a moment, then sank back down into her chair thoughtfully. “Yes,” she said softly, “I remember.”

  It had seemed to her that this dinner was the most romantic she’d ever shared with a man. Even better than the night at Van Gogh’s. Yet it was equally clear from Tyler’s silence during the meal that he was untouched by romantic thoughts, at least when it came to her. With a shudder she drew her hand from beneath his and obediently sipped the last of her wine.

  “Why don’t you unpack your things,” he suggested as he rinsed their plates and put them into the dishwasher. “Get comfortable for the night.”

  She mechanically pushed herself up from her chair and walked back to the bedroom. Well, she thought, at least he seemed to like my cooking. He’d devoured the marinated steak and oven-roasted potatoes as if he hadn’t eaten in a week.

  She found hangers in the walk-in closet and made space for her new outfits along the far right side, so as not to crowd Tyler’s clothing. Reaching out, she touched a neatly pressed white dress shirt. Silk, she thought, making a mental note for the future. No starch. All of his clothing, even the things he wore to work in, looked expensive. Except for the exquisite items Kate had bought for her, all of her own clothing was practical, well-worn, out of fashion.

  “What are you doing now?” Tyler’s voice asked from the bedroom doorway.

  “Hanging up my new duds,” she said without turning around. Julie ran her hand down the sleeve of a peach-colored sweater dress Kate had insisted they buy. It was the color of ripe fruit. Angora blended with wool and silk. It had felt like heaven when she tried it on.

  “Do you like them?” he asked from closer behind her.

  “Oh, yes.” She nearly purred with pleasure. “Your grandmother has such wonderful taste.”

  “Model your favorite for me.”

  “What?” She couldn’t help laughing as she spun around.

  “Change into the outfit you like the best. Show me how it looks on you,” he insisted. His eyes challenged her; one corner of his lips twisted upward provocatively.

  She felt as if she’d walked into a blast furnace. “Well, I suppose that would be the teal cocktail dress,” she said tentatively. “But you’ll see it soon enough. Your grandm
other said I should wear it to the reception she’s giving so that I can meet the rest of the family.”

  “I’d rather see it now.” He backed off and lowered himself onto the bed. A mischievous gleam flickered beneath the surface of his gray eyes, worrying her. One second he looked boyishly playful, the next he was the Papago brave, stalking his prey.

  He’s just a man, no different from anyone else, she told herself.

  Sweeping the hanger with the blue-green sequined dress off the closet pole, she headed for the bathroom. Just as she reached for the knob, Tyler cleared his throat loudly.

  “What is it now?” she asked with a touch of exasperation.

  “Don’t you think hiding in the bathroom to change your clothing is unnecessary?”

  Julie scowled at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “After all, I’m going to be seeing quite a lot of that pretty body of yours.”

  “My body isn’t pretty,” she snapped.

  Julie was shocked that she’d said it. She’d revealed far too much of herself in that one brief sentence. The expression on Tyler’s face shifted from eager playfulness to puzzlement. He stretched out long and lean on the bed, his boots propped on the foot rail, hands wedged beneath his head, observing her.

  “How did you ever arrive at that?”

  She shrugged, prickling under his scrutiny. “I know my own strengths and weaknesses. I’m a good cook. I’m a hard worker. But I’m no fashion model. I don’t have a tiny waist, long legs or big…well, you know.” She was sure her cheeks couldn’t possibly get any redder.

  “Perhaps,” he allowed, without saying whether or not he agreed, “but my guess is—whatever you’re hiding under those prissy garments is more than adequate to any man’s needs. I’ve already witnessed two of your lovely assets.” His gaze moved meaningfully toward her chest as he pushed himself off the bed again. He was so quick she didn’t have time to react before he’d crossed the room and swept her into his arms.

  The dress fell from her startled hand to the floor. “Wh-what are you doing?”

  He pretended not to hear her question. “I don’t have to see you naked, Julie Parker, to imagine your shape or know how it would be to make love to you. I can feel your body through your clothes even now. You have a very nice shape.” He pressed her to him, touching his lips to the side of her neck. “A damn nice shape. And I know from earlier experience, a man could happily enjoy your sweet breasts for a very long time.”