“I could find you a dozen women who are grateful for that,” Mack retorted.
Destiny laughed. “Oh, I managed to do a little better than ashes and switches.” She smiled at Melanie. “Even at this age, they’re little better than greedy hooligans on Christmas morning. I don’t know how I failed them.”
“You didn’t fail us,” Richard assured her. “You taught us the joy of giving…” He paused, then added with a grin, “And receiving.”
When Melanie spotted the mound of gifts under the tree, she knew he hadn’t been kidding. To her amusement, the three men began tossing the boxes around until there was a little pile beside everyone there, including her. She added her own gifts to their piles, then watched as they tore through paper with an eagerness she would never in a million years have expected from this sophisticated family.
When Richard realized she hadn’t opened the first gift, he nudged her. “Hey, you need to get started.” He plucked a small box from the pile beside her. “How about this one?”
Melanie took note of the inept wrapping job and concluded it was from him. Something about the size of the box made her decidedly nervous. She made a great show of shaking it, then slowly removing the paper as the others watched and waited expectantly.
When she saw the velvet jeweler’s box, her heart skipped, then lurched into a frantic beat. “You didn’t,” she whispered, her gaze on Richard.
“Open it,” he commanded gently. “Please.”
Inside, she found a diamond the size of a small boulder. Melanie stared at it in shock.
Ever since their phone conversation a week earlier and the hints he’d subsequently dropped, she had been expecting Richard to do something to catch her completely off guard, but she’d never anticipated anything like this.
She gulped, then looked into all those happy, expectant faces. She couldn’t do this. She just couldn’t.
Before she could think about it, she dropped the ring, jumped up and ran from the room.
Richard found her outside, taking great gulps of icy air. “Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.
“No, I’m not okay,” she replied, her voice shaky. “What were you thinking?”
“That this would be the perfect time to convince Destiny that we’re serious.”
“You should have warned me.”
He sighed. “In retrospect, I should have.” He studied her intently. “You really weren’t expecting an engagement ring? Not even after all the hints I dropped?”
She shook her head.
“Think you can put this on and go back in there and fake being deliriously happy?” he asked, holding out the ring.
Melanie backed away, hands clasped behind her back. “Even if I were willing to agree to a phony engagement, which I’m not certain I am, I can’t wear that.”
“Of course you can.”
“What if I lose it? What if it gets stolen?” she asked.
Richard shrugged. “It’s insured. Besides, we need a ring like this for the engagement to be convincing.”
Melanie regarded him with dismay. “You never struck me as the type to go for ostentatious jewelry.”
“I don’t. Destiny does.”
“Are you sure about that? She strikes me as a very classy woman.”
“She is, but a ring like this will definitely get her attention.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “Richard, I’m not sure how much more of this I can take,” she said honestly.
“I know. Just think of the satisfaction you’ll feel when you get to throw this back in my face. I’ll probably end up with a black eye or a bloody nose.”
Vaguely cheered by that prospect, she nodded slowly. “Okay, then. I’ll wear the ring.” She let him put the monstrosity on, then hefted her hand in the air and studied it. “It’s a good thing this is just a game.”
“Isn’t it, though?”
But even as he said it, Melanie thought there was an odd expression of regret in Richard’s eyes. It made her see something in Richard she’d never expected to see…vulnerability. It reminded her of something Mack had said to her back at the beginning of this farce, that Richard needed someone who could see past his defenses. Now that she had, she realized that was even more dangerous than anything that had happened between them up until now.
Chapter Twelve
Richard stared at Destiny and Melanie huddled together in a corner and concluded that his aunt had bought the phony engagement hook, line and sinker. He was surprised by how guilty that made him feel. He forced himself to examine why that was, but the answer was fairly obvious. He’d never before gone to such elaborate lengths to get even with Destiny for meddling. Usually he just took her interference as a fact of life, something she did out of love—annoying but essentially harmless. He had no idea why he’d felt compelled to go to such an extreme this time. He had a feeling it had a lot to do with his conflicted feelings for Melanie herself.
“Guilty conscience?” Mack inquired, regarding him with amusement.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Richard said, not in the mood to share his soul-searching, even with his brother.
Mack shrugged. “Fine with me, though if you were to ask, I could probably help you sort through all these pesky emotions you’re feeling about now.”
“When did you turn sensitive?”
“Scoff if you like, but I have more experience in this area than you do, big brother. I have shaded the truth on more than one occasion to evade Destiny’s scheming. I’m not especially proud of it, but sometimes I’ve found it to be a necessity.”
“No question about it,” Richard said. “I’m just not sure that’s a plus.”
Mack gave him a knowing look. “You actually believe Destiny is buying all this, don’t you?”
Richard was stunned by the suggestion that Destiny wasn’t being taken in. “Of course. Just look at her. She’s practically gloating at having won so easily.”
“Ha!”
Richard frowned at his brother. “What the hell are you suggesting?”
“That our beloved aunt still has the upper hand, that she knows exactly what you’re up to and that she is playing along till you dig yourself in so deep you’ll never get out. Trust me, this engagement will be real before all is said and done. Destiny will see to it. She’s a pro, my friend, and you are a rank amateur when it comes to this kind of scheming.”
“You can’t be serious,” Richard said, even though it made a convoluted kind of sense. Destiny was sneaky enough to do something like that, to give him and Melanie enough rope to hang themselves or, more precisely, to tie themselves together permanently.
“Have you figured out a way to extricate yourself from this once things get out of hand?” Mack inquired.
Richard nodded, his gaze now riveted on the two women across the room. What the devil were they talking about? For all he knew the two of them were in cahoots, plotting against him. Maybe Melanie had been in on the scheme from the beginning, Destiny’s scheme that is, not his. Good God, he couldn’t even keep the schemes straight anymore. Mack was right. He needed a well-formulated escape plan. Fortunately he’d considered that.
“Of course I have a plan,” he told Mack. “You know I never go into anything unless I have an exit strategy.”
Mack rolled his eyes. “This isn’t a business deal.”
“Yes, it is,” Richard said, then felt ridiculous. “Okay, in a way, it is. Melanie and I have an agreement.”
“In writing?”
“Of course not.”
“So if she changes her mind and decides she likes being engaged to you, that she wants to be married to you, you’re prepared for that? Or do you have lawyers on standby ready to break this verbal contract the two of you have?”
“Yes,” Richard said, then decided that wasn’t an admission he was prepared to deal with. “I mean no. No lawyers. Mack, you’re making my head hurt. This is a straightforward arrangement. Melanie and I give Destiny what she wants, proof that we’re t
ogether—”
“It’s an illusion,” Mach reminded him.
Richard scowled and kept talking. “Then we break up. I mope around for a while until Destiny finds some other poor woman to try to foist off on me.” He grinned at Mack. “Or until she decides you’re the better candidate for serious romance.”
Mack shuddered. “Bite your tongue.”
Richard warmed to that scenario. “Yes, indeed. I think that’s the way it’ll go. She’ll be furious that I’ve messed this up, decide I’m totally hopeless, then give up on me. She’ll turn to you, then Ben. Given Ben’s current attitude toward the opposite sex, I’ll be a doddering old man before she gets back to me again.”
“You are so delusional,” Mack said. “Even Ben sees Destiny’s scheming more clearly than you do and he’s oblivious to most of her flaws. He was still laughing his head off when he left here.”
That caught Richard’s attention. “Ben’s gone? When did he leave?”
“Ten, fifteen minutes ago. He slipped out as soon as Destiny’s attention was otherwise engaged.” He laughed uproariously at his own pun.
Richard was not nearly as amused. He was also worried about his brother. “Why didn’t you try to stop him from leaving?”
“Have you ever tried to stop Ben from doing whatever he’s set his mind on?” Mack asked. “He’s the most stubborn of all of us, and that’s saying something. Lighten up. He came today and he actually let down his guard for a while with Melanie.”
Richard wasn’t comforted by the positive spin. “I hate that he’s exiled himself to that isolated farm of his.”
Mack sighed. “He needs time, Richard. What happened with Graciela nearly destroyed him.”
Richard frowned. “It wasn’t his fault.”
“He blames himself anyway.”
“He needs to listen to reason,” Richard said impatiently. “You’ve told him that. I’ve told him that. I’m sure Destiny has repeated it ad nauseam. Maybe I should have another talk with him.”
“No,” Mack said with surprising vehemence. “Destiny’s right about this one. Ben needs to heal at his own pace. He doesn’t have your thick skin or my cavalier attitude toward life. One day he’ll wake up and put the entire tragedy into perspective, but it won’t happen until he’s ready. If we push him, he’ll just dig his heels in deeper. Next thing we know, he’ll put a lock on the front gate out there and refuse to let any of us in.”
Richard knew Mack was right, but his heart still ached for Ben. Graciela Lofton hadn’t been worth all this pain and anguish. No woman was, he thought until he caught a glimpse of Melanie laughing at something Destiny had said. He found himself sighing.
Maybe one woman was worth it, he conceded. Melanie was smarter than he’d initially given her credit for being, sexier than hell and a good sport. It was an admirable combination, one he hadn’t run into often.
So why the hell was he so dead set on pushing her out of his life just to make some elaborate point with Destiny?
For a few hours Melanie allowed herself to get caught up in the fantasy. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from the disgustingly ostentatious ring that Richard had slipped on her finger. A part of her actually felt this awful kind of letdown that it was only there temporarily.
Not that she wanted this particular ring, not that she even wanted to be engaged to Richard for real, she told herself staunchly, but it would be nice to have that kind of permanent connection to somebody. To know that he’d be there for her in a crisis, to fall asleep in his arms, to make love to. When was the last time she’d had that? During her ill-fated affair with yet another boss and the closeness then had been as much of an illusion as her supposed engagement to Richard was. She sighed heavily, drawing Richard’s attention.
“Are you okay?” Richard asked, glancing at her quickly as he drove toward her place.
“Just tired,” she said. “Trying to keep all the threads of our story straight wore me out.”
He nodded, his jaw tight. “I can relate to that.”
“How? You spent most of the afternoon huddled with Mack. He knows we’re lying. I was with Destiny, who had a million and one questions about our plans.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That you caught me completely off guard today, that we have no plans.”
“Sounds reasonable. What was so tricky about that?”
She gave him a withering look. “Are you kidding? Ever heard about nature abhorring a vacuum? Well, Destiny has nothing on nature. She now has lists of her lists.”
“Lists?” Richard echoed, his expression dire. “Oh, God.”
She grinned despite her own trepidations. “I see you’re familiar with her list-making skills. Frankly, I was in awe, and I consider myself to be a halfway decent organizer.”
“What sort of lists was she making?” Richard asked warily.
“Guest lists, caterers, florists, photographers, bridal salons, gift registries. I believe there is also a short list of preferable wedding dates to be checked first thing in the morning with your church. I lost track after that one.” She gave him a plaintive look. “She wants to book the church. Isn’t it some kind of sin to book a church for a wedding you know will never take place?”
Richard forced a grim laugh. “Probably not a sin, but definitely a complication we could live without. You haven’t met our minister. He would not be amused.”
“Oh, and did I mention Destiny has also drafted the engagement announcement for your approval, though I wouldn’t count on her waiting? She seems a bit eager to get it into print.”
“Maybe Mack is right,” Richard muttered under his breath, his gloomy expression deepening.
“What?”
“Mack,” he said. “He thinks she’s on to us and is now determined to push us beyond the brink so there will be no turning back.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Melanie said glumly. She regarded him hopefully. “When can we break up?”
Richard didn’t respond. He merely pulled the car to a stop at the side of the road and set the brake.
“Richard? Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“Well?”
“Give me a minute. I need to think about it.”
Melanie wasn’t about to give him a minute. She wanted a solution and she wanted it now. “This plan is backfiring on us, isn’t it?”
“Could be.”
“Then fix it, dammit.”
He gave her an enigmatic look. “Any suggestions?”
“Tell her the truth,” Melanie said impatiently. “How’s that for a novel idea?”
“I’m not even sure I know what the truth is anymore,” he admitted, his expression oddly wistful.
“I’ll tell you what the truth is. We are not engaged!” she said, her voice rising.
“You’re wearing my ring,” he reminded her mildly.
“It’s fake.”
“I can assure you it’s not.”
She scowled at him. “I mean it doesn’t mean anything. The engagement is a fraud, a hoax, a stupid game.”
“It definitely started that way,” Richard agreed.
Something in his tone stopped her from continuing her own ranting. “Richard?”
He lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes troubled. Then, before she could guess his intention, he leaned across and touched his lips to hers, softly, tenderly. Heat flared as if he’d touched a match to kindling.
They sat by the side of the road, the motor idling, oblivious to the passing traffic, caught up in a kiss that shook Melanie to her very core. She wanted to cling to him, to keep his mouth against hers forever, to taste him, to let that heat build and build until there wasn’t a thought left in her head, until she was only feeling these intense, wicked sensations that he stirred in her.
She hadn’t bargained for this, had told herself a million times not to get involved, not to let down her guard for even an instant. All good resolutions. All wasted. She was involved. She was
in love.
She was doomed.
Even knowing that—heaven help her—she couldn’t seem to stop kissing him. Richard was the one who finally backed away, looking as shattered as she felt. A small, annoying smile tugged at his lips.
“What?” she grumbled.
“That kiss felt damn real to me,” he said.
“It can’t be,” she protested, still trying to cling to some tiny shred of sanity.
“Who says?”
“I do. We agreed—”
He shrugged, still looking vaguely amused. “Things change.”
“But they haven’t changed,” she insisted vehemently. “I won’t let them change. I can’t.”
He blinked at her fierce tone. “Why?”
“I work for you, dammit. I told you I will not be put in that position again.”
He nodded slowly, his expression suddenly shuttered. “So you did.”
His easy acceptance of that should have filled her with relief. It didn’t.
“Please take me home,” she requested quietly.
“No problem.”
Trying to put some professional distance between them, she asked, “Are we going to meet with the finalists for your campaign manager’s job this week?”
He shook his head. “I’m having Winifred postpone that.”
She gave him a sharp look. “Why?” “Let’s just say I’m reexamining my priorities.” She stared at him blankly. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”
Melanie was still pondering Richard’s enigmatic remark when Destiny called first thing in the morning a few days after Christmas.
“Richard tells me he’s given you the day off,” she said cheerily.
“I have other clients,” Melanie reminded her.
“No one works during the holidays.”
Melanie couldn’t deny that. Her phone had been silent for several days now. Even Becky was off at the holiday sales, a ritual she engaged in with the fervor of a true shopaholic.
“I was hoping to catch up on a few things while the office is quiet,” Melanie claimed. What she did not want to do was spend time trying to come up with more believable fibs to feed to Destiny. She felt crummy enough about the growing pile of lies as it was.
Millionaires' Destinies Page 15
