Maggie and Kate exchanged a grin, knowing how Pop would have reacted to their aunt’s statement. Then Kate reached out to squeeze Susan’s hand. Her new sister was a beautiful blonde with a sweetness that made Kate love her, too.
A knock on the door interrupted them. Maggie stepped over and opened it slightly. “Yes? Oh, Will.”
“Is everyone dressed?”
“Yes, come in.” She stood back and Will, looking incredibly sexy in his tuxedo, entered.
Kate sucked in her breath as he moved closer to her. When he took her hand in his and carried it to his lips, she squashed the urge to wrap herself around him and offer her entire body for his kisses
“You’re beautiful, honey. More beautiful than any other woman in the world.”
Kate told herself he was putting on a show for her family, and doing a darn good job of it, but her heart expanded with excitement.
“I brought you your wedding present.”
She jerked her hand away from his. “But I don’t have one for you. I didn’t think—”
“I don’t need one.” He shoved a small box into her hands and waited expectantly.
She had no choice but to open it. Inside were diamond ear studs that complemented her engagement ring. Kate didn’t think they were cubic zirconia this time. She knew her fiancé a little better by now.
“They’re lovely,” she whispered, overwhelmed.
“The perfect touch,” Maggie added. “Put them on, Kate.”
Kate did as she was told, knowing Maggie was right, but she was reluctant to accept them. A gift like earrings should be given in love, she stubbornly told herself, not as part of a pretense that was growing more complicated every day.
“Time to greet our guests. Ready?” Will asked, reaching out for her hand again.
She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, looked at her sisters and aunt and finally took his hand. “Of course.”
“Ladies, Kate will come up to change at eightthirty. I assume you’ll all assist her?”
“Shall we synchronize our watches?” Maggie asked flippantly, a big grin on her face.
Kate was surprised. Maggie, normally quiet, seemed at ease with Will. Everyone laughed and moved to the door.
Time to begin the party.
Will checked his watch. Almost time. He turned slowly, looking for Kate. Ah. There she was, moving toward the house, Maggie at her side.
“Can’t keep your eyes off her?” Peter Jacoby, an old friend, asked. “Can’t say I blame you. She’s a beauty. Her sisters aren’t bad, either. Obviously a good gene pool.”
Will grinned at him. He’d noticed Peter hanging around Susan much of the evening. “Glad you appreciate my taste. How do you feel about being best man?”
Peter appeared pleased. “Done. But what about Charles? I thought you two—”
“He’s giving the bride away. Kate’s father died about three months ago and she has no male relatives.”
“I see. Well, I’d be pleased. Have you set the date yet? I’ll need to mark my calendar,” he said with a grin.
“No need. The date is now,” Will said, appreciating his friend’s stunned expression. Stepping into the gazebo, he approached the mike that had been set up there. Earlier, he’d introduced Kate to everyone in the very same spot.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?”
He made his brief announcement, causing an uproar of talk among their guests. His mother had pasted a brave smile on her face, the first smile he’d seen since he’d sprung his surprise on her that afternoon. She’d been sure the entire evening would be a disaster.
Instead everything had gone quite smoothly.
“Now, if you’ll be patient for a few minutes, we’re going to transform our engagement into a wedding.”
That was the signal for the caterers to bring out the cake and the party rental people to set up the chairs, forming an aisle on the dance floor. Will asked two other friends to join Peter as his groomsmen.
The minister stepped forward, shook hands with Will and took his position on the top step of the gazebo. Will saw Maggie wave from the door and he, in turn, nodded to the man in charge of the music.
He and his groomsmen, along with the minister, faced the door and Tori, holding her bouquet of pink roses, began to walk slowly toward them. Will drew in a deep breath.
He was getting married.
Susan appeared in Tori’s wake, a trembling smile on her lips. Then Maggie stepped forward.
There was a pause and the wedding march began. Charles stood beside the door and offered his arm to Kate as she appeared in a white gown.
Will didn’t pay much attention to fashion, but he knew the wedding dress made Kate look like a princess. Everyone stood and turned to look at her, and his heart swelled with pride.
A fluttering veil drifted from her head, surrounding her slim shoulders, framing her beauty. When she reached his side, he took her hand from Charles and drew her close. He could feel her fingers trembling on his arm and he squeezed her hand slightly.
She looked at him, a smile tilting the corners of her lips, but her hazel eyes were serious. And questioning. He remembered her attempt to back out of the marriage. But all he’d had to do was mention the money and she’d agreed.
His cynical thoughts helped to steady his breathing. The marriage was a business deal. He mustn’t forget that.
The minister led them through the service. Will had taken care of both rings, giving his to Maggie earlier. Kate seemed surprised that he would wear a ring, but she slid it onto his finger, her fingers cold against his skin.
“Now you may kiss your bride,” the minister said with a smile after the service was completed.
His bride. Will wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to hers. At least this part of the ceremony was rehearsed. Kissing Kate was something he did well.
The rest of the evening passed in a haze for Kate. Will kept her close to his side, his hands touching her, guiding her, holding her.
Making her want him.
They received congratulations from everyone. In fact, if Will had hoped to upset people by their surprise wedding, he’d misjudged his friends. They seemed charmed by the event. Even Miriam seemed pleased. Perhaps because she was receiving a lot of praise for organizing a wedding in three days.
Kate and Will exchanged grins when they overheard her taking credit for everything. Will pulled Kate closer and whispered into her ear, “I think my mother is enjoying herself.”
“I bet you didn’t think that would be her reaction to your sudden marriage,” Kate teased.
“Ah, but I knew she’d come to appreciate your many attributes, honey,” he returned, then kissed her neck.
She shivered and tried to move away, but he pulled her against him to dance to the slow waltz being played.
Even as they danced, people patted them on the shoulders, congratulated them and told them what a wonderful couple they made.
“Where are you going on your honeymoon?” someone asked.
Kate deferred to Will. She’d barely taken in the idea of the marriage. A honeymoon when they weren’t—she couldn’t even conceive such an event.
“We’re going to postpone a trip,” Will said easily. “We’re both involved in some complicated business right now. I guess we’ll honeymoon right here.”
The man winked at Will. “The place doesn’t matter anyway. My wife and I never got out of the hotel room until it was time to get on the plane to come home.” With a chuckle, he walked away.
Kate kept her gaze on Will’s shirt studs, trying to calm her breathing.
“Interesting,” was Will’s comment, but he pulled her closer to him, so they touched from shoulder to knee.
Interesting? That was his only comment? Kate had never considered herself to be particularly interested in sex. Her brief foray into it had not been terribly earth-shattering, but since she’d met Will Hardison, things had changed.
The craving he inspired in he
r was all-consuming. And frightening. She hadn’t realized she could want a man that much. It was an out-of-control sensation that made her feel vulnerable. And she didn’t like it.
Even now, if Will swept her into his arms and marched upstairs to his bedroom, she doubted she’d have the strength to protest. Even though she knew their—their marriage would end in one year. Will had been quite clear about that.
Was she masochistic?
Her worrying had to be put aside as guests began to depart. She was weary and glad to see that the evening was ending. But she was also concerned with what would happen when she and Will were alone.
Will stood aside and watched Kate say goodbye to her sisters and aunt. They were the last guests to depart. His mother had just left.
He added his words to Kate’s, telling them how much he’d enjoyed meeting Kate’s family. And he had. Maggie and Susan were delightful. Her aunt Lorraine, however, had reminded him a lot of his mother. In fact, the two women, at first competitively comparing their importance, had, by the end of the evening, appeared united in their plans for the future.
Will shuddered. That was all he needed—another woman to push him into society. He’d have to rely on Kate to intercept Lorraine’s efforts.
Kate closed the door behind her family and turned to lean against it. “It’s been quite an evening.”
“Yes, Mrs. Hardison, it has. But everything went well.”
Her teeth settled into her bottom lip as she heard her new name on his lips. She hadn’t thought about her surname changing.
“Ready for bed?” he asked.
Kate’s head snapped up, and she stared at him.
“Separate beds, of course. I haven’t forgotten the rules,” he assured her. Indeed, he suddenly stepped back, putting several feet between them.
“Yes, of course. I have to meet the contractor at the diner tomorrow at eight.” It helped to concentrate on fundamental things like redoing the diner.
“Good thing we’re not indulging in a night of riotous sex then, isn’t it? I’ll go into the office. The party has taken a lot of my energy this week. I can make up some time.”
They nodded at each other, but Kate noticed Will didn’t let his gaze linger on her. She turned and headed for the stairs, hearing his footstep behind her.
How unromantic to be climbing the stairs in her wedding gown, the man she’d married following her, with no touching, no talking...nothing.
She paused at the door to her room. “Good night, Will.”
A lopsided smile added to his charm. “Good night, Kate.”
Their wedding night was over before it began.
Five days later, Will counted himself lucky. He’d scarcely seen Kate during that time. She worked long hours at the diner. He’d stopped by once, to discover a transformation had taken place, but she’d scarcely spoken to him.
When he’d offered to take her to lunch, she’d refused. Too busy, she’d said. But he noticed she tensed up whenever he was around.
At home, he scarcely arrived before midnight, when Kate was already in bed. He couldn’t handle cozy evenings together. He was at his most susceptible then.
“Will, can I show you something?” Brian asked from the doorway.
“Sure, what is it?”
To his surprise, his senior executive stepped forward, holding a tray. On it were several dishes.
“Here’s Jacko Food’s latest frozen offering. I want you to taste it.”
“When did you start handling product development?” Will asked, even as he popped a piece of what appeared to be crust with some topping on it into his mouth.
“My staff was interviewing employees, and this product came into the discussion. It seems the owner’s daughter developed it. Everyone hates it, but they’re afraid to say anything.”
“So we’re going to take a loss because of nepotism?”
“Unless they change the taste of it, I think we will. Did you like it?”
“No, it’s terrible.” He picked up the packaging, which was also on the tray, and studied it. “Snack-0-squares?”
“Everything they make has an ‘o’ in its name.”
“So what do you suggest?”
“I thought maybe you could ask Kate.”
Will’s face froze,. careful not to show the panic he was feeling. Consult Kate? That would involve going home at a reasonable time, spending an evening with her...not touching her. “I see. I suppose I could.”
Brian grinned. “If she has any ideas, we could counter their nepotism with a little nepotism of our own.”
“Right. Leave it with me, and I’ll get back to you in a day or two.”
When he left work that afternoon, at his regular six o’clock instead of the late nights he’d been pulling, he carefully carried a sampling of Snack-O-squares in his briefcase. There were other ways to handle this product development problem, but Brian seemed to think Kate would be the correct answer.
He saw the surprise on her face when he entered the kitchen a few minutes later.
“Hi. Not working late this evening?” she inquired.
“Sort of. How about you?”
“I was too tired to keep going, so I decided to take the night off. Besides, Betty called to let me know we’ve been receiving gifts. A huge load came today. She’s filled up the living room and suggests we start opening them.”
“Gifts?
“Yes, I feel bad about them,” Kate said. “Could we leave them wrapped and send them back at the end of the year?” She wore an anxious expression that made him want to reassure her. He reached for her without thinking, then abruptly drew back.
“No, I think we’d better open them. And write thank-you notes. Have you ordered any stationery?”
She stared at him. “Why would I do that?”
“It would make your life simpler. Order some thank-you notes tomorrow with our return address already printed. They’ll send the bill to me.”
She grimaced but nodded.
“Have you eaten? We could go out to a restaurant—”
“Betty left something in the fridge. I told her I’d warm it up and clean up afterward. It’s a chicken casserole that looks good. And I can fix a salad.”
It sounded like a cozy evening. “Great. I need some help with something, too. If you don’t mind, I’ll go grab a shower and change. Then I’ll come down and help put supper together.”
A cold shower. It was going to be a long evening with Kate in a T-shirt and cutoffs, her sassy red curls pulled back in a ponytail that highlighted her cheekbones. And soft red lips.
Already his body was stirring, responding to her smile, her big hazel eyes. Where was his control? Okay, so he’d make it a long cold shower.
Twenty minutes later, he came down the stairs to find Kate had dinner ready.
“Do you mind eating in the kitchen? I’ve gotten used to having my dinner at the table each night.”
“No, of course not. Uh, I’m sorry I haven’t been here to eat with you. But I’ve been very busy.” He watched her reaction, expecting pouting or complaints.
Instead she set a bowl of salad on the table and took her seat. “No problem.”
They ate in silence for several minutes before he asked about the changes at the diner. She responded, telling him of the events of the day. Several times she made him laugh with her stones.
“And you? Did everything go well today?” she asked.
“Well, about two this afternoon, Brian brought me a sample of Jacko’s latest product.”
“What is it?”
“A Snack-O-square.”
By the time she’d asked her questions and he’d tried to answer them, they’d both finished eating. And he’d relaxed. Kate was such pleasant company, in addition to being sexy as hell.
He fetched his briefcase and withdrew the package of Snack-O-squares. Kate took it, carefully reading the ingredients before she looked at the actual food. Once she’d bitten into it, she frowned, making such a comical face th
at Will laughed.
“Let’s see, shall I guess your opinion?”
“Maybe you’d better not. But surely you won’t market it?”
“It’s a touchy situation. The owner’s daughter created it. And she’s his pride and joy. Brian wondered if you could improve on it.”
He saw the spark in Kate’s eyes at his request. She immediately began to brainstorm and gather supplies from the refrigerator. Enlisted as her assistant, Will stood next to her as she experimented. There were numerous taste tests, where she fed him tidbits and he, resisting the urge to draw her fingers into his mouth, sucked on them one at a time.
They finally abandoned the project—with a promise from Kate to continue working on it—so they could tackle the gifts piled in the living room.
An hour later, after producing a long list of gifts and their donors, Kate sighed. “I’m glad women’s lib makes it possible for you to write half of these.”
“Wait a minute. I didn’t agree to anything like that.”
She chuckled. “Oh, yes, you did. When you arranged a marriage to benefit you as much as me. It’s not hard. I’ll order the stationery tomorrow. We can each set a goal of thank-you notes for each evening.”
“I’ll be working late,” he said abruptly.
Something in his voice, or maybe even his words, upset her for the first time that night. “Fine!” she snapped. “Write them at the office.”
She jumped up, amid the pile of wrappings, and headed toward the door.
“Kate, wait!” he protested, on her heels. He caught her at the door and pulled her back toward him.
“What do you want?”
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ll do my share.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly, but she didn’t look at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed.”
He checked his watch. Somehow, sitting with Kate, laughing and opening presents, he’d lost track of time. But it was almost midnight. “Yeah, I’ll come up, too.”
Marry Me, Kate Page 12
