Harlequin Special Edition July 2013 - Bundle 1 of 2: Marooned with the MaverickHer McKnight in Shining ArmorCelebration's Bride

by Christine Rimmer

  “Who says it isn’t right?” he demanded. “We’re friends. I like you. You like me. We’re good together in bed.”

  All of that was too true, except the part about her liking him. It was so much more than that. “I appreciate the offer. You’re a good man. But—”

  “What?” He stood straight, clearly bracing himself for the answer.

  “I want a husband and partner. A relationship. Not a McKnight in shining armor.”

  “That’s not what this is. We’re having a baby, and that child deserves a family.”

  “Family has many definitions besides marriage. And you don’t need to do me any favors.” She picked up her purse and pointed to the bag of frozen peas on the table. “Put that on your face.”

  Before he could say more, Ellie walked away. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t want to listen, but there were tears in her eyes and she wouldn’t let him see. Marriage was a good offer, but she wanted more.

  She wanted Alex McKnight to love her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day Alex was in a foul mood when he got home from work, even fouler than it had been when Ellie moved out of his house. He walked in the kitchen where Martha was cutting up vegetables and made a conscious decision not to take it out on her.

  “What’s for dinner?” His tone was very pleasant, he thought, considering how close he was to putting his fist through a wall.

  Knife in hand, she glanced up at him. “Chicken piccata.”

  It was Ellie’s favorite, and the fact that he knew put his bad mood on turboboost. “You do know I’m not crazy about that?”

  “But Ellie is.”

  “She’s not here.”

  “Okay. I can put this away for tomorrow if you’re taking her out to dinner.” She reached into the cupboard for a plastic storage container.

  “There’s not going to be a dinner out,” he informed her.

  Martha turned, and there was a disapproving expression on her face. “Why not?”

  “Why would I?”

  “Because the two of you have things to talk about, what with her having your baby.”

  “How the hell do you know that?” he demanded.

  “I work here.” The look on her face said, Duh. “I know things.”

  Of course she did, but apparently not quite everything. “She’s gone.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know. She moved back to her apartment. I helped her pack.”

  “No.” The emptiness in his gut got a little bigger, a lot deeper. “She left town.”

  “I didn’t hear that.” The housekeeper’s eyes showed her surprise, but there was no satisfaction in scooping her. “How do you know?”

  “Adam Stone told me. Her brother took her home to Texas, and she dropped the key to her apartment off with Jill before they left. She said her work at the clinic was done.”

  Alex knew there was some truth in that but figured more likely she was done with him.

  “So, what are you going to do about her?” Martha put her fists on her hips and waited for his answer.

  “This isn’t about her.”

  “Oh?”

  “She’s just another woman who ran out. But she’s carrying my child. That’s what this is about. The relevant question would be what am I going to do about the baby.”

  Her mouth pulled tight for a moment. “Nice shiner. I hear her brother gave it to you.”

  “Just once could something happen in this town that everyone doesn’t know about?”

  “Next time you might want to take the fight inside where the construction crew doesn’t have a front-row seat.”

  He glared at her. “It was a lucky punch. And he was dead wrong about the situation.”

  “So you’re not the guy who got his sister pregnant?”

  “Not on purpose.” Damn that ancient condom. And Ellie had been an eager participant. She’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted her. Hell, he still wanted her, which made no sense since she left without a word to him. “It just happened.”

  “When you play the game, you have to be ready to accept the consequences.”

  “Who are you? My mother?”

  “I’m as close as you’ve got,” she snapped back. “Can you blame her brother for defending his sister? If some Romeo got Sydney pregnant, what would you do?”

  He admitted, if only to himself, that she had a point. “Let my brother, Ben, deck him,” he said angrily.

  “Ben’s a doctor—a surgeon. Can’t take a chance with his hands.”

  “What about mine? I work for a living.”

  “Not with a hammer anymore.” Martha folded her arms over her chest as her gaze narrowed accusingly. “What did you do to Ellie? Besides get her pregnant, I mean.”

  “What makes you think I did something?”

  She shrugged. “Educated guess. That girl fit in here in Blackwater Lake. She loves this place like she’d been born to it. She left in an awful big hurry, and my gut’s telling me she had a good reason. The only good reason I can think of has to involve you.”

  “Don’t see how. I did the right thing. I asked her to marry me.”

  Interest sparkled in her eyes. “What did she say?”

  “That I was just being noble.”

  “Ah.”

  He was pretty sure that didn’t sound good. “What does that mean?”

  “It’s for you to figure out.”

  Definitely not good, he thought. “Since when am I the bad guy? You do know I sign your paycheck, right?”

  “Oh, please...” The glance she gave him was all kinds of pitying. “You can’t get along without me.”

  “No one is indispensable.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Ellie is a good woman, with a good heart.”

  What the hell did that mean? Martha Spooner never had good things to say about the women he saw. And she’d had a lot to say about his ex-wife, none of it good.

  “Who are you and what have you done with my housekeeper?”

  “I have no idea what you mean.”

  “Ellie left me. Shouldn’t you be on my side?”

  “I say again—she had a good reason.”

  “Why are you sticking up for her? You never did for Laurel.”

  “Mrs. McKnight.” She sniffed as if there was suddenly a bad smell in the room. “That witch was wrong for you.”

  He’d expected her to say the woman he’d married was a liar who’d used him then cheated in a different way with the guy who’d fathered her baby. Now Alex was going to be a father, and Martha was siding with the woman carrying his child.

  The question had to be asked. “So you think Ellie is right for me?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Okay, this is me asking if you think she is.”

  Martha held up her hands. “Don’t drag me into this.”

  “Since when do you not have an opinion?”

  “Since now. Only you can decide who is or isn’t right for you.” She put the plastic container of chicken in the refrigerator then walked out of the room.

  This thing with Ellie wasn’t supposed to get complicated, Alex thought. It was just having fun. A fling. By definition that meant short-term, and when she left no one would get hurt. They’d go back to their regularly scheduled lives she’d said. But he experienced the flaw in the plan when she’d moved back to her apartment. Missing her so much he ached from it had taken him completely by surprise.

  The first time he’d reached for her in his bed and came up empty he got angry, then just felt empty. The same thing happened every time he walked into a room in this house expecting to see her and she wasn’t there. Deep inside he knew this place would never be the same without her in it. The devil was that he had no idea how to make everything go back to the way it was.

  And now she was pregnant, and there was no doubt in his mind that he was the baby’s father. Part of him was happy to have another chance, but mostly he was ticked off that she’d left town. No, there was nothin
g easy about this at all. And he was definitely not having fun.

  Martha came back in the room and said, “Bye, Alex. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “No, you won’t. Ellie and I have some things to work out.”

  “And how are you going to do that?”

  “I’m catching a plane to Dallas.”

  The smile on his housekeeper’s face was pure approval. “That’s the spirit.”

  * * *

  Ellie loved her parents’ home in an affluent suburb of Dallas. She’d loved growing up here with the dark-wood floors, serene earth-tone walls and crown molding on the high ceilings. The sofas were plush, and the dining room table could easily hold thirty people for a dinner party.

  Her childhood bedroom upstairs had its own bath and a queen-size canopy bed with ruffled bedskirt and pink comforter. There were enough shams and throw pillows to choke a Texas-size herd of longhorns. In Blackwater Lake, seeing and talking to her brother had made it seem incredibly important to go back home, but now she wasn’t so sure. She hurt deep inside from wanting to see Alex, to be with him. He had her cell number and knew where to find her, but so far there wasn’t a word from him.

  Hastings and Katherine Hart knew they were going to be grandparents. Linc would have told them, anyway, so she’d broken the news the day before yesterday, as soon as she’d seen them after coming home from Blackwater Lake. Thirty years ago her mother had quite a promising acting career before she’d married then immediately became pregnant with Ellie’s oldest brother. But performance art must have been instinctive to her, because it was impossible to tell whether the woman felt happy, excited or disappointed at the prospect of becoming a grandmother. And her father must have caught the performance bug from his wife, because he was also impossible to read.

  They’d just finished dinner, and the three of them were having coffee in the family room. Well, her parents had china saucers and cups filled with the dark, rich-smelling stuff, but not so much for Ellie. She’d seen an obstetrician—the Harts knew people, including doctors, and had pulled strings to get her right in—and he’d recommended against it. As much as she liked her coffee, she felt it wasn’t wise to ignore the professional advice. But when Ina Wheeler, the Harts’ longtime housekeeper, had brought her a bowl of mixed fruit while Hasty and Kate had chocolate cake and ice cream, she’d been a little crabby.

  “How are the strawberries, Suellen?” her mother asked.

  “Yummy.” She glared at one, then stabbed it with her silver fork and popped it into her mouth.

  “It’s so good to have you home.” Kate took a delicate bite of cake, then put down her fork and wiped her mouth on the cloth napkin.

  Her mother was in her late fifties but looked twenty years younger. A lot of people thought she was Ellie’s sister—they were of identical height, and both had deep blue eyes and the same hair color, light brown with highlights. Of course they both went to the same exclusive Dallas salon. Kate’s hair was razor-cut in an edgy bob while Ellie preferred longer layers.

  “Your mother is right. We’ve missed you.”

  Her father had finished his dessert and set the empty plate on the dark-wood coffee table where Ina almost instantly whisked it away. He was in his early sixties, with pale blue eyes and gray hair. His wife said it only made him more distinguished. Theirs had been a love affair since the moment they met, but Ellie had never understood giving up a profitable career to marry and have children.

  Now her perspective was different. She was pregnant, and single. There was no choice for her about working. She planned to support herself and her child. She’d only ever wanted her family to be as proud of her as she was of them, and sponging off the folks wasn’t the way to do that.

  There were two wing chairs facing the fireplace, with love seats flanking them. Her parents were side by side in the chairs and her father crossed one leg over the other. “Your mother and I have been talking, and we think it would be a good idea for you to stay here with us.”

  Ellie had been there since returning from Blackwater Lake, but that morning she had mentioned her intention to return to her condo close to the Hart Industries building in downtown Dallas. “You mean just one more night?”

  “Actually we thought it could be a permanent arrangement.” Her mother stirred sugar into her coffee. “Think how lovely it would be to turn the bedroom next to yours into a nursery.”

  “You don’t want to deal with a crying baby.” The gesture made her emotional, but she couldn’t afford to go soft right now. Hopefully they would grab the excuse she was handing them on a silver platter and let this go.

  “Have you seen the size of this house?” her father joked. “You’re in the other wing. We won’t hear a thing.”

  “You’d have your privacy and also support with the baby. If necessary,” her mother added.

  “It’s a very generous offer. I’ll think about it.”

  “That means no.” Kate’s tone was matter-of-fact, without anger or judgment.

  “Why would you go there from what I said?”

  “Because I study people and body language. That habit goes back to my time on the stage. I’m also your mother and I know you better than anyone. Since you were a little girl, if there was something you didn’t want to do that’s what you’d say. Very passive-aggressive, by the way.”

  And a good coping skill in order to avoid a knock-down, drag-out fight. She was impressed that her mom had noticed. Did one need acting skills to be so observant, or was it a mom thing? Ellie hoped she would know her own baby that well.

  She smiled at them. “I’m not avoiding the issue, but it really is a big decision.”

  “I understand.” Kate looked at her husband. “But I’m sure your father doesn’t.”

  “Hell, no, I don’t understand.” He set his cup and saucer on the table. “I just want to protect my little girl.”

  Parental protective instincts were something she was starting to get. When the OB doctor had said that everything looked normal and fine with the baby, she’d been very relieved.

  “You still look tired, Suellen. At least stay here with us a little longer so you can get some rest. We can make sure you eat right, too,” her mother said. “And I don’t want to hear that you’ll think about it.”

  “I really should get back to my place. But I very much appreciate the offer.”

  The sooner she got into a routine that didn’t include Alex, the better off she’d be. And maybe she was punishing herself for yet another personal mistake. The penance was doing this on her own; the reward would be confidence and self-respect. That was very important to her and the whole reason she’d taken the job in Blackwater Lake to begin with.

  Before her parents could try to change her mind, the doorbell rang and Ina called from the kitchen, “I’ll get it.”

  Her father looked at his watch. “I wonder if that’s one of the boys.”

  The boys being her brothers—Linc, Cal and Sam, from youngest to oldest. “Since when would they ring the bell? Don’t they just walk in?”

  “Yes,” her mother agreed. “And it’s a little late for anyone to come calling.”

  The housekeeper in her gray dress with the white apron was very different from Martha Spooner, who wore jeans to work. When she came back into the room, she announced there was a man there to see Ellie.

  “Did he give his name?” her dad asked.

  “Alex McKnight.”

  “The baby’s father,” his wife said. She didn’t look happy.

  Hastings stood. “I’ve got a thing or two to say to him.”

  Ellie’s heart started pounding so hard it almost hurt. The expression on her father’s face was a lot like the one Linc had worn before throwing that punch.

  Ellie stood, too. “Don’t you hit him, Dad.”

  “I didn’t plan to. Your brother already took care of that.”

  She wasn’t reassured. “I want to speak to him alone. This is my problem and I’ll handle it.”

&nbs
p; Her parents studied her for several moments then her mother nodded. “We’ll be right upstairs, and Ina is in the kitchen if you need any help.”

  “It will be fine,” she lied. The kind of help she needed they couldn’t give her.

  Then the three of them walked into the spacious entryway with twin curving staircases where Alex waited. The sight of him went straight to Ellie’s soul and filled it up. He was wearing slacks and a matching jacket with a light blue dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck.

  It was a good look, but she missed the jeans, T-shirt and work boots. He was also wearing a still-colorful bruise on his cheek, the mark proving that her honor had been defended. Probably her father wouldn’t approve if she walked over and caressed that shiner the way she wanted.

  “Hello, Alex.” She moved closer. “These are my parents—Hastings and Katherine Hart. This is Alex McKnight.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Hart, Mrs. Hart.” He held out his hand, but neither accepted the peace offering and he let it fall to his side. His mouth pulled tight for a moment before he said, “I’ve come to see Ellie.”

  “We know.” Her father’s voice held barely controlled fury.

  The sooner she got him alone, the better. “Mom and Dad were just going upstairs.”

  “Not voluntarily,” her father said.

  “Come along, Hasty.” Her mother took his hand and without another word the two of them went up the left staircase leading to the second floor.

  “We can go into the family room,” Ellie said.

  The house was big but she knew that if you stood in the right spot upstairs, conversations could be overheard. Ellie heard his steps behind her and she desperately wanted to take his hand the way her mother had done with her father, but she didn’t have the right. A proposal without love didn’t change what she and Alex had, which was nothing. The fling was over. He was only here because of the baby. The fact that he was here was something, anyway.

  Alex stopped in front of the fireplace and looked around. “This is quite a place.”

  “Yeah. It’s where I grew up.” She couldn’t stare at his face hard enough. “How’s the eye?”