Million Dollar Marriage

by Maggie Shayne

  She shook her head. “It’s still kind of mean to get their hopes up. Maybe you should tell them the truth.”

  “Are you kidding? They’d crucify me.”

  “You’re exaggerating.”

  “No way. You should have heard them all warning me away from you at the party. You’re far too nice a girl for the likes of me, and they all know it.”

  She shook her head, a little wave of guilt rising up inside her. “They don’t know me at all.”

  “They know enough. I agree with them on that.”

  “Oh, Holden, don’t be—”

  “And if they knew I’d somehow convinced you to go along with this scam, they’d be furious. Hell, I wouldn’t blame them.”

  She looked up fast. “Doesn’t anyone give a grown woman credit for having the ability to make up her own mind and face the consequences?”

  He grinned. “They’re mostly of the opinion that even a grown woman is helpless against the snake-in-the-grass charm of Cameron Fortune’s firstborn son.”

  Her brows went up. She almost smiled. “Guess I’ll be the one to prove them wrong then, won’t I?”

  He nodded, but she saw the doubt in his eyes. And she felt her own doubts creeping into her heart.

  When the wood was all piled, they dragged the smaller limbs and scraps down near the lake, and piled them there. Holden said they’d make for a nice bonfire once they’d had time to season, and Lucy had a moment of anticipation when she’d actually felt herself looking forward to coming back here with him, sitting beside the lake in front of a roaring fire. It would be…

  It wouldn’t happen. And it would be a mistake to start thinking about future times, future visits, future anything. She had no future with Holden. She had to remember that.

  When the work was done, they returned to the cabin, tidied the place up and packed their things. And by lunchtime, they were ready to head back to the real world. Her interlude with Holden was over. And she had to admit to herself that she’d relished every moment of it.

  Holden wasn’t worried. He knew his mother wouldn’t let him down. She never had. He and Lucy stopped for lunch at a dirt-road diner they found on the way back home, and once they’d ordered, he excused himself to head to the bathroom. But instead he headed outside, where he leaned against the slab-sided building with a view of its single gas pump, and called home.

  Mary Ellen answered the phone.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Holden? Good Lord, son, where have you been?”

  “Out at Lake Kingston. Listen, um, something happened. I would have liked to have talked to you about it first, but so much was going on….”

  “Yes, it has been crazy here.”

  “Is there any word on the baby yet?”

  He heard his mother’s sigh, could picture her eyes clouding with worry. “No. Not a thing. Sam is doing all he can, but—”

  “Sam?”

  “Sam Waterman,” she said.

  Holden never had cared much for the way Uncle Ryan’s head of security looked at his mother. The woman was a widow, for crying out loud. And hearing her refer to Waterman by his first name made Holden’s hackles rise just a little. Made no sense, he realized. Hell, as lousy as Cameron had treated her, she’d certainly been faithful the whole time he’d been alive. She’d done her time, earned her happiness.

  But Sam Waterman? Hell, she could do better.

  “So, what is it you want to tell me?” his mother asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  Holden sighed. “I guess there’s no way to do this except to just come out and say it. I, um… I got married.”

  Silence. Absolute stunned silence.

  “Mom?”

  “Holden Cameron Fortune,” she said, and he knew he was in for it. She never used his middle name unless she was furious with him. “If you think for one minute that you are going to bring one of those tramps of yours into this house…into this family—”

  “I married Lucy Brightwater.”

  Again silence. Then, “Claudia’s doctor?”

  “Yes.”

  There was a long, slow sigh. “Oh, Holden. Oh, Holden, tell me this isn’t some kind of game you’re playing with her. She’s such a sweet girl…. Holden, do you love her?”

  “I married her, didn’t I?”

  “That is not an answer.”

  “Look, I’m calling from the middle of nowhere, and Lucy’s waiting. I just wanted to let you know. We’re on our way home now, and I think it would be nice if the family would…do something to show Lucy she’s welcome.”

  A long pause. “That’s…awfully thoughtful of you,” his mother said, which he figured was her way of saying, “That’s totally unlike you, Holden.”

  “I just want her to be comfortable with us. She hasn’t had any family around her in a long time, and I think it would mean a lot to her.”

  “Of course it would. All right. I’ll see what I can put together. What time should I expect you?”

  “By seven, I imagine.”

  She sighed again, into the phone. “Holden…we’re going to have a long talk, you and I. Soon.”

  “I expected as much.”

  “Be good to her, son. She’s not the kind of girl you’re used to. She’s…she’s a lady.”

  “I’m well aware of that. But I have to say, I’m glad you are, as well.” He turned to peer through the smudged window, and saw Lucy sitting alone at the table. The waitress was bringing their food. “I have to go, Mom. Let me just run through what I’d like waiting for her, and then I’ll have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Yes. I’ll see you then. Don’t worry about a thing, Holden. I’ll take care of it.”

  “I knew I could count on you,” he told her.

  “Always,” she whispered.

  She was, Lucy told herself, an idiot. Just because the pretty, big-haired waitress was ogling Holden openly, and just because he had been gone for so long, and just because she had reappeared only moments before he had, did not mean the two of them had been making out in some storage room somewhere.

  So why was that what she was thinking?

  Holden sat down, smiled. “Sorry I took so long. Had to make a call.”

  “That’s all right.” It wasn’t, but it should be. She had no business keeping tabs on his every move.

  The waitress appeared at once, to refill his coffee cup, and her smile was wide and sexy, and her eyes were suggestive and riveted to him. “Is there anything else I can get for y’all?” she drawled, including Lucy with her words but not with her eyes.

  “I’m fine, thanks.”

  “You sure are, sugar.” She winked, and sauntered away, her big butt swinging all the way across the diner until it vanished behind the counter.

  Holden was good. He didn’t even watch her go. Pretending not to notice the flirting, he dug into his food, sipped his coffee. But Lucy noticed. Every few moments she glanced across the room to see that hungry woman’s eyes on him. And she was getting madder by the minute.

  It was stupid. It made no sense whatsoever. And she felt it anyway. Jealousy. Blazing hotter with every sidelong glance.

  “Something wrong with your sandwich?” Holden asked her.

  “It’s fine. Why?” She dragged her gaze away from the woman to focus on him. There was not even a hint of guilt in his eyes. Well, maybe that was because he didn’t feel any.

  “You haven’t touched it,” Holden said. “I’ll send it back.” He lifted a hand. “Hey, waitress?”

  “Holden, no, I told you it’s fine.” But Big Hair was already wiggling her way back over here at the speed of light.

  “What can I do you for, hon?”

  Lucy rolled her eyes. Holden’s gaze slid from Lucy’s to the waitress’s, and back again. “You sure the sandwich is okay?” he asked Lucy again.

  “Yes. It’s perfect.”

  Holden shrugged, and smiled up at Big Hair. “Never mind. False alarm.”

  “No trouble at all, sweetie.” She
’d pulled her pen out of her hair, in preparation to write down his wishes, Lucy supposed. Now, she dropped it. Deliberately dropped it. And when she bent to pick it up, her blouse gaped open revealing cleavage of Grand Canyon proportions.

  The fury spilled over. Before she could even try to reason with herself, some crazy woman took over Lucy’s body, and she lifted her hand, and bumped her water glass. It tipped, and the ice water splashed right where it should, soaking that big hair until it went flat.

  The waitress shot to her feet with a squeal.

  “Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry,” Lucy said.

  The waitress yanked off her apron, and used it to dab at her hair.

  “I really do apologize,” Lucy went on. “Are you all right?”

  She finished dabbing, eyed Lucy with malice, but then caught Holden’s glance and calmed herself down. “That’s all right, hon. It’s only water.”

  She gave her apron a shake, then tied it around her waist again. “Can I get you anything else before I go get the mop to clean this up?”

  “Yes, actually, you can,” Lucy said, a sweet-as-light smile on her face, her voice sugarcoated. “I’d like some more coffee. That is, if you’re done waving your chest underneath my husband’s nose now.”

  The woman’s eyes widened. She snatched Lucy’s cup away and stomped off, muttering under her breath.

  Lucy sighed, feeling an immense satisfaction…until she glanced Holden’s way and saw him sitting there, staring at her as if he’d never seen her before today.

  She licked her lips, growing nervous. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve got no right to stop you from flirting if you want to.”

  “Um, yeah, you do, actually. We have an agreement. And for the record, Lucy, I wasn’t flirting. She was.”

  She studied him, wondering what he was thinking.

  Slowly, a grin spread across his face. “You’re just full of surprises, you know that, Lucy?”

  She shrugged. Actually, no one had been more surprised by her actions than she had been. What the hell was happening to her? It was as if this emotional, sexual, jealous woman had been hiding deep inside her all her life, never making a peep until now.

  And now she wouldn’t shut up for a minute.

  Ten

  When Holden pulled into the driveway at the house, Lucy was swamped with a mingled mishmash of feelings and memories. She couldn’t help but recall the time long ago she’d been here before, with Holden. He’d been drunk and she’d been in the throes of teenage adoration. She’d lost her virginity, and later, her pride. He hadn’t even remembered.

  The other feelings were nervous ones. She had to face his mother. Together, she and Holden would tell the woman that her son was married. That she, Lucy, was her new daughter-in-law. Mary Ellen Fortune was a kind woman, but strong, and protective of her own. And Lucy wouldn’t blame her in the least for resenting this hasty marriage, and the fact that she hadn’t even been a part of it.

  It wasn’t going to be a pretty scene.

  She was as prepared for it as she possibly could be. Holden had taken her to her own apartment first, and she’d taken a quick shower, brushed out her hair until it gleamed, applied a light coat of makeup, and donned a chic suit of deep sapphire blue. She felt a bit stronger than she would have felt facing her new mother-in-law dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, her hair in a ponytail. She’d also checked in on Cleo who was in the care of a neighbor and none the worse for wear.

  When they pulled to a stop, Holden got out and hurried around to her side of the car. He opened her door, took her hand, smiled down at her. “Nervous?” he asked.

  “A little.”

  “It’s okay. I’m on your side, remember that.”

  She studied his face, his smile, the warmth in his eyes. He’d been so worried about her feelings toward him changing if they became sexually intimate. But if anyone’s attitude had changed, it was his. He was more attentive, more…gentle with her, than he’d been before.

  She let him tug her to her feet and was surprised when his hand closed around hers as they started up the walk to the huge front porch. But then she stopped and pointed. “Holden, why are all those cars in the driveway?”

  He glanced toward the fork in the drive, where several vehicles were lined up. Shrugged. “There are always lots of vehicles here. Employees and stuff.”

  She frowned at him. “They must be well-paid employees.”

  Again, he only shrugged, and quickened his pace, drawing her up the front steps. He paused at the door, sent her a funny little smile, and then opened it and pulled her inside.

  The house was pitch-dark. “All those cars, and the place looks deserted,” Lucy whispered. She wasn’t sure why she was whispering.

  “Oh, I’m sure somebody’s home. Come on.”

  He pulled her on, through the dim foyer, and into the gargantuan living room she remembered so well. And as soon as he flicked on a light, a chorus of voices yelled, “Surprise!”

  Lucy blinked in shock. A dozen Fortunes, maybe more, stood there smiling at her. Beyond them, she saw gleaming balloons bobbing in the air, anchored in place by long curling strands of ivory ribbon. There were several stunning arrangements of white roses placed around the room and a mound of gaily wrapped gifts piled on a table at one side.

  “I—I don’t know what to say,” Lucy stammered.

  Mary Ellen Fortune came up to her, her eyes warm and welcoming. She reached out to enfold both of Lucy’s hands in both of her own. “Welcome to the family, Lucinda. My lovely new daughter.”

  Lucy’s heart surged up into her throat. Her eyes filled, and the warmth of Mary Ellen’s hands seemed to reach all the way to her soul. “You…can’t know how much what you just said means to me, Mrs. Fortune.”

  Mary Ellen’s brows went up. “Of course I do. And you’re to call me Mary Ellen…at least until you feel comfortable enough to call me Mother.”

  One of Lucy’s hands pressed to her chest, as if to calm the erratic beat of her heart. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me, thank your husband dear.”

  Blinking, she turned to look up into Holden’s eyes. “You did this?”

  “I just called ahead—” he began.

  “Holden’s too modest. He was determined to make sure everything would be perfect for you when you arrived.” She lowered her voice, leaned closer. “He must care very deeply for you, Lucinda.”

  Lucy just nodded, battling tears still. She wanted to turn to Holden, wanted to thank him, or hug him, or… But Mary Ellen was pulling her into the crowd of family members, all of whom welcomed her with a warm embrace, or a kiss on the cheek, or a kind word. Claudia was there, and so was Matthew, both of them looking drained and exhausted. Claudia hugged her gently. “We can’t stay, darling. But we wanted to be here when you arrived, and wish you well.”

  “I’m so glad you were. Thank you, Claudia.” Lucy glanced up at Matthew. “Has there been—”

  “Not yet. But it won’t be long now.” His voice was strained, and tiny lines of tension bracketed his mouth where none had been before. “Bryan will be safe in his mother’s arms before we know it.”

  “I know he will,” Lucy said.

  “We don’t want to stay away from the Double Crown for very long,” Claudia said. “In case there’s…any word.”

  Lucy knew it would make little difference if they were at the ranch house, or here, a mere two miles away. But she understood that need to be close, to stay very near the last place they’d seen their beloved child. “I don’t blame you a bit. Go on. I promise, I’ll visit you there soon.”

  Claudia nodded, her eyes damp and painfully red as her mother-in-law guided her away, and toward Holden, who remained near the door, watching.

  Logan appeared, repeating his offer to help her if she needed it. She wasn’t certain just what kind of help Logan thought she might need, but she thanked him for the offer.

  Holden’s uncle Ryan gave her a hearty hug, and Lily welcomed her wit
h a shadow in her eyes. Lucy remembered Lily’s warnings about Holden, and she knew the woman probably thought she was crazy to have married him.

  Vanessa smiled, saying she knew it all along. “I could see there was a spark between you two, even with all that was happening at the christening.”

  Lucy said nothing, and fortunately Holden chose that moment to reappear at her side, his arm sliding possessively, protectively, around her shoulders. He leaned down close to her ear. “Overwhelmed yet?”

  She smiled up at him. What overwhelmed her was that he had called ahead to set all this up.

  Mary Ellen led them all to the formal dining room where a huge dinner awaited. And when they’d finished eating, she rose, the picture of grace. “One last surprise, Lucy. If you think you can bear it.”

  “Another surprise?” Lucy looked at Holden. He looked back, a knowing smile playing with his sexy mouth. “You again?”

  “This one was my idea, yeah. I thought…well, it wasn’t much of a wedding. And you deserve more, so I, um…” He shrugged.

  “Bring it in, ladies.”

  The double doors at the far end of the dining room opened and a cart was wheeled in. Atop it, the most glorious wedding cake Lucy had ever seen towered, layer upon layer, stacked with white pillars in between. Pristine white icing and delicate flowers and vines and even a pair of lighted taper candles decorated the creation. And at the top, two white china doves, nestled together beneath a lacy arch with real bells dangling from it.

  Lucy couldn’t breathe. She rose from her chair without even realizing she’d moved, and went closer to the confection. It was perfect. Perfect in every possible way. Her heart swelled…and yet it ached, too. She felt like a fraud. Everyone had gone to so much trouble to help her celebrate a marriage that wasn’t even real.

  Her tears spilled over this time. She couldn’t hold them in. She looked toward Holden, her gaze locking with his. He got slowly to his feet, came toward her, and picked up the ribbon-decked cake knife. “Shall we?”

  “It’s too beautiful to cut,” she whispered.

  “We took plenty of pictures of it, dear,” Mary Ellen told her. “And we’ll save the top layer, of course. You can’t cut that until your first anniversary.”