“But I’m certain it’ll look good on the Lindens’ behalf,” Kane added bitterly.
Megan clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sob of despair working its way out of her throat. Tears burned her eyes, and the room began to spin.
Oh, Lord, what had she done?
Closing her eyes and bracing herself against the wall, she frantically searched her mind for something, anything, to remedy the awful predicament she’d gotten Kane into. She’d never forgive herself if she was the cause of tearing father and son apart, not to mention the resulting scandal that might hurt Andrew.
Then, like a godsend, an answer to their problem floated into her mind. Her solution was outrageous, but necessary to save Kane’s reputation and keep Andrew where he belonged-with his father.
Not giving herself time to rethink her plan, she quickly picked up the tray of refreshments and strolled into the living room. Tension swirled between the adults. Kane looked at her, and the devastation and misery lining his pale face gave her the courage she needed to execute her plan.
Focusing all her hospitality on Mrs. Henderson, she placed the tray on the coffee table and sat next to Kane, so close that her thigh pressed against his. She didn’t miss how he subtly shifted away so they weren’t touching. “Has Kane had a chance to tell you our exciting news?”
The woman frowned and peered at her over her glasses. “What news is that?”
“Megan,” Kane interrupted, his voice low with warning. “I don’t think Mrs. Henderson cares about that news.”
He didn’t want her help. Well, he didn’t have a choice. “Oh, quit being so modest,” she said sweetly as she poured lemonade into their glasses with a surprisingly steady hand. “You know everyone is going to find out sooner or later.”
“What are you talking about?” Mrs. Henderson persisted.
She gave Kane a quick look that implored his trust before glancing at the social worker. “Well, Kane and I have been corresponding for a year and half, and he’d just asked me to marry him before you walked in on us. I’ve accepted his proposal.”
The woman’s brows rose so high they practically blended with her hairline. Skepticism shone in her eyes.
Ignoring her quivering insides, Megan smiled at Kane, who sat motionless beside her. The calm before the storm, she thought The only clue belying his shock was his hands, fisted on his thighs, and the muscle ticking in his cheek.
“Isn’t that right, honey?” Megan asked, knowing Mrs. Henderson would want him to confirm her claim.
His mouth thinned into a tight facsimile of a smile. Megan held her breath, waiting for Kane to either expose her lie or seal their future.
What seemed like an eternity passed. Then, as if finally realizing he had no other possible alternative if he didn’t want to lose his son, the word wheezed out of him. “Yes.”
Recovering, Mrs. Henderson softened her dour expression. Her face mellowed in approval. “Well, I honestly don’t know what to say!”
Megan looped her arm through Kane’s stiff one, knowing there’d be hell to pay once Mrs. Henderson left. It didn’t matter, because she’d saved Kane and Andrew a ton of heartache.
Looking at her husband-to-be, she smiled adoringly. “How about congratulations?”
CHAPTER SIX
IMPOTENT fury raged through Kane. He expected steam to blow from his ears. He itched to plant his fist in something solid, to relieve some of the outrage simmering in him.
After making sure Mrs. Henderson had pulled her car out of the drive, he slammed the front door and charged into the living room. Megan stood at the window overlooking the front yard, arms crossed over her chest.
His temper came to a head and a violent trembling reverberated through his body. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She winced at his sharp tone and glanced at him. Her brilliant blue eyes were filled with a wealth of emotion, none of which resembled regret “It was the only thing I could think of that would keep you and Andrew from being separated.”
“Dammit, woman, I never asked you here, and I sure as hell don’t need you meddling in my life!” He moved across the room toward her, his strides long and quick. Considering his furious. tone and ominous expression, he was more than a little surprised she didn’t scurry in the opposite direction. Instead, she stood her ground, that chin of hers lifting mutinously.
Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he released a harsh breath that eased some of the tension banding his chest. He knew she’d meant well, but… “For God’s sake, Megan. Marriage? What in the world were you thinking?”
“She’s not filing the complaint,” she replied defensively.
“No, but that woman thinks we’re getting married,” he said, stabbing a finger in the direction Mrs. Henderson had followed less than five minutes ago. “In a matter of hours so will the rest of the town. Then what are we going to do? Did you ever stop to think about the consequences of your brilliant plan?”
“Yes.”
“Really?” he drawled, unable to help the dry, biting sarcasm in his voice. “And how do you propose we get out of this little predicament you’ve gotten us into without making both of us look like the liars we are?”
She drew a deep breath. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but maybe we should consider it.” The words tumbled out in a rush of expelled air.
His stomach knotted with apprehension. “It?”
“Marriage,” she clarified.
His heart slammed against his rib cage. The thought of sharing the kind of intimacy intrinsic to marriage made him break out in a cold sweat. “Not only is that a crazy idea, it’s totally insane.”
She slowly approached him. “I don’t think so.”
Her gaze never wavered from his, mesmerizing him. He couldn’t recall ever knowing a woman so unselfish, so caring or generous. A woman more concerned about his and Andrew’s welfare than her own. Her selfless sacrifice touched him deeply. He was a fool for pushing her away, for refusing something so sweet and tempting and infinitely precious, but he’d be a bigger fool if he allowed her to permanently insinuate herself in their lives. Megan would want to know all his secrets, would do her best to discover his biggest flaw. And when she did, he’d have to deal with her shock and her censure. He never wanted to see the softness in her blue eyes harden with resentment.
“Aw, Megan,” he said, “I know what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate the offer, but marriage isn’t the answer.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asked softly.
Her persistence both amused and irritated him. “Because I’m not husband material, and I don’t want or need a wife.” But Andrew did need a mother, and that thought buzzed around his conscience like a pesky gnat, forcing him to acknowledge everything Megan could offer his son.
“What will happen to Andrew if we don’t get married?” she asked, her hands twisting anxiously at her waist. “Will Mrs. Henderson still give the Lindens temporary custody?”
Probably, he thought, unable to ignore the anger and bitterness the thought evoked. He moved to the living room window, braced a forearm on the casing and watched Andrew kick a soccer ball around on the front lawn. God, it would kill him to lose his son, the one person who made a difference in his life.
He sighed heavily. “Once you leave, I’ll handle Mrs. Henderson, so don’t worry about Andrew.”
“How can I not?” she said, her voice rising in anger. “Kane, what happened this afternoon was my fault.”
He glanced over his shoulder, giving her a halfhearted grin. “Like Mrs. Henderson said, I was a willing party.”
“If Andrew becomes torn in a custody battle as a result of what happened, I’ll never forgive myself.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Especially if we have the ability to spare him that kind of heartache.”
“Megan,” he said softly and with more patience than God gave a saint, “marriage won’t solve my problems with the Lindens.” No, there was too much old hurt and blame between the
m. If anything, marriage to another woman would give the Lindens another reason to resent him.
“Maybe not completely, but they won’t ever have any grounds to file for custody.”
True, he thought, knowing that would be one advantage to being married. Andrew would have all the maternal in fluence he currently lacked. Another advantage would be a warm, willing wife in his bed, and a shared passion Kane knew he’d never tire of. Desire stirred within him at the image of making love with Megan, of burying himself so deeply in her body that he forgot all the differences that separated them.
But in the light of dawn, reality had a nasty habit of putting everything into its proper perspective. Their differences were vast and very complicated. His guard would have to remain intact to protect his pride. He would have to keep his emotions withdrawn.
She was willing to sacrifice so much, and he had nothing substantial to offer her in exchange. His simple way of life couldn’t much compare to her life in Seattle.
That thought brought to mind an interesting question. “You have a life in Seattle. Why are you so willing to give it up for a small town like Linden? There’s nothing for you here.”
“Andrew is here,” she said simply.
He shook his head in amazement, baffled at how one little boy could mean so much to her that she’d relocate without a moment’s pause. “But your life is in Seattle.”
She gave a short laugh that held more sadness than humor. “My life consists of a shared apartment, a few friends and a career that can relocate as easily as I can.”
“I just don’t get it, Megan. There are plenty of beneficial reasons for me to marry you, especially where Andrew is concerned, but what’s in this for you?”
Her mood suddenly turned somber. “The chance to raise a child.”
He frowned, not understanding her logic. “You don’t need marriage for that.”
“No, not in this modern age of single parenting and artificial insemination,” she agreed wryly. “But I don’t want to be a single parent, and artificial insemination sounds like such a cold process. What I want, what I’ve wanted since I was a young girl, is a family, and that’s what you, Andrew and I can be.”
She made it sound so easy. Too easy. “How come you didn’t have a family with your ex-husband?”
“Because he didn’t want one.”
“That’s why you’re divorced?” he said, guessing.
“Yes. He decided his career in the legal field was more important than having a family, and having a family was too important to me to stay in a childless marriage.” Moving to the couch, she held his gaze steadily, sincerely. “I love the kind of warmth and closeness I share with Andrew, especially since I never had that as a child growing up in foster homes. I know this might sound silly to you, but after years of feeling so out of place, I’ve finally found a place where I feel like I belong.”
“In Linden?” His voice was incredulous.
A small smile touched her mouth. “I never did like the city, but that’s where I was raised and that’s where my ex-husband wanted to stay. It’s so clear and beautiful here, and such a different way of life. Slow. Unencumbered. Wholesome.”
“Try living here your whole life,” he said cynically.
Her expression turned soft and wistful. “I wish I had.”
Their gazes holding, something connected between them. If she’d grown up in Linden, would they have been friends? Or would she have kept her distance like most of the other women? Would he have married Cathy, or would he have fallen hard for Megan and her warm, accepting ways? He couldn’t help but think how different their lives might have turned out if they’d known one another…couldn’t stop the image of her round with his child, excited about the prospect of having a baby. His baby.
“Now that I’ve bared everything about myself,” Megan said, “you know why I wouldn’t hesitate to marry you, move out of state and be with Andrew. I love him very much, and you know I care for you.”
But was that enough? “I know you do, but-”
“It can be a marriage of convenience,” she suggested in a rush, as if sensing a rejection. “Andrew needs a maternal influence, and I can provide that I don’t mind cooking and cleaning and taking care of the house. I can set up a desk over in that corner and write my books here at home and still be here for Andrew on a daily basis.” She worried her bottom lip, her gaze bright with silent invocation. “Kane, I don’t have any motives other than just wanting to be with Andrew. And I don’t want him to be torn between you and the Lindens.”
He believed her, had seen her with Andrew and knew she’d never deliberately hurt him. She made the whole package sound so appealing, but something dark and deeply buried rebelled, reminding him of another woman’s promises… and her ultimate rejection.
Apprehension closed in on him, clouding his judgment. “I don’t know, Megan,” he said, staring at his hands, clasped between his spread thighs. “I never planned on marrying again.”
“I understand,” she said quietly, though there was enough optimism in her voice to make Kane realize that she didn’t understand his reluctance, or his fears. “But please think about my proposition…for Andrew’s sake.”
Megan watched the large, shadowy figure approach the house. She knew it was Kane finally returning from wherever he’d disappeared to after dinner. Her heart skipped a beat, and her fingers curled around the chain holding up the porch swing.
Had he come to a decision? For the rest of the afternoon and early evening she’d replayed their conversation in her mind. And with her realization that living in Linden and helping to raise Andrew was what she wanted came the acceptance that she was in love with Kane.
The emotion had crept up on her, slowly taking residence in her heart right next to the love she harbored for Andrew. Being in love with Kane was both a frightening and exciting experience, much like being on a nonstop roller coaster. A small smile touched her lips. No doubt life with Kane would be just that, a wild, reckless ride full of dips, turns and surprises.
He shuffled up the steps, and when the light swept over his face, she saw the day’s accumulation of weariness reflected in his eyes. He’d obviously struggled to come to a decision, and she silently prayed he’d realized how much they could offer one another.
He sat on the opposite end of the swing, his weight causing the wood to creak. “Where’s Andrew?” he asked, casting a quick glance through the screen door.
“Taking a bath.”
“Good.” His gaze met hers, dark and stormy with reluctant acquiescence. “Andrew is the most important thing in my life, and I don’t want to lose him, and I don’t want him to be torn between a custody battle between me and his grandparents.”
“I don’t, either,” she said softly.
He rubbed his palms down the denim encasing his thighs. “I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”
“I’m glad,” she said evenly, suppressing the impulse to throw her arms around his neck and express her gratitude with a kiss for the precious gift he was giving her.
He slanted her a wry look. “Yeah, well, before you sacrifice yourself at the altar, there’s a few things I want you to know up front.”
“Okay.” She waited for the first bombshell to drop.
“I’m not in love with you, and I doubt I ever could be.”
She saw past his statement to his subconscious ploy. He was trying to secure those walls of his, erecting them like a steel fortress around his heart. Don’t bother, Kane. I’m gonna spend every day of our married years together proving you wrong.
“Do you care about me?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.
A startled look passed over his features, immediately masked by a frown. “Yes, but don’t mistake it for love.”
She dismissed the warning in his words. Caring was a good enough start for her. “What else do you want me to know?”
“I’m no good at being married,” he said gruffly. “I already told you how disastrous my first
marriage was.”
She glanced at her lap to conceal her smile. She was quickly learning that Kane tried to intimidate her whenever he was feeling vulnerable or threatened. She took it as a positive sign. “I’ll take my chances. What else?”
“The town has their own opinion of me, and my in-laws can’t stand me.” He rested his arm along the back of the swing, stretching his shirt taut across his chest. “By default of marriage, you’ll have to put up with your share of conjecture.
In time, she hoped to remedy the situation with the Lindens. “I already told you I can handle the town’s speculation. As for your in-laws, be grateful you only have one set to put up with.” She pushed the swing into action with the toe of her shoe. “Anything else I need to know?”
“I prefer being alone.” His tone was low but lacked the harshness he would have displayed less than a week ago.
“I don’t believe that.”
“Okay, the nights get cold and lonely,” he admitted, a brief, rakish smile lifting his lips. “Which brings me around to my next stipulation.”
“Which is?”
He fingered a strand of hair near the side of her neck, then gently tucked it behind her ear. “A marriage of convenience is out of the question.”
Her pulse tripped all over itself, and she dampened her suddenly dry lips with her tongue. “Meaning?”
His fingers fluttered along her neck to the pulse thrumming at the base of her throat. The soft, butterfly caress made her nerve endings tingle and the tips of her breasts tighten. He must have noticed her soft catch of breath, because his gaze darkened with a sensual hunger that matched her own.
“Meaning?” she prompted again, her voice husky.
“Meaning, you sleep in my bed, every night, and I want my husbandly rights.”
Those wonderful fingers of his continued their light, provocative dance up the side of her neck, making her shiver and nearly groan.
He smiled. “I want you, Megan. Considering the way you respond to my touch, I believe the feeling is mutual.”
Ready-Made Bride Page 9
