Clearing her throat, she snatched the tears away and stood up straight, facing him with a determined glint in her eyes. “I’ll save the fancy wedding for someone I’m in love with.”
A painful knot formed in his gut, and he refused to acknowledge it. He didn’t want to be the object of her affection. Those days were long gone. Never again would he pine for the prom queen. His objective couldn’t be muddled with emotions.
“Fine. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning so we can go to the courthouse.”
Lana’s chin lifted slightly. “Fine.”
Lucky dipped his gaze. “See you in the morning.”
He felt her eyes watch him as he left the porch and headed for his car. When he lifted his hand to wave goodbye, she was already inside.
Chapter Seven
Sometime during the night, Lucky developed a conscience. Well, he’d always had one, but as he dressed for his wedding that morning, it was rearing up and slapping him over the head. What was he thinking?
His mother hadn’t raised him to be a manipulative monster or to seek revenge against a man he was likely never to see again. She also hadn’t raised him to take advantage of a woman he used to love.
But was he taking advantage? He’d laid all of his cards out on the table, and she knew the deal. He offered his protection in exchange for the one thing he’d always wanted: Lana.
Strengthening his resolve, he finished buttoning his dress shirt and put on his tie. He was only hours from his goal and nothing would stop him now, conscience or not.
As he got out of his truck in front of the station, he realized he probably should take the day off. They hadn’t discussed anything after the wedding, but with it being Friday, he felt he owed it to her to take her on a short weekend trip away.
And there went his conscience again.
He stepped inside the station and all eyes focused on him.
“Hey guys,” he announced, trying not to feel like a germ underneath the microscope.
“What are you all dressed up for?” someone called.
Lucky took a deep breath. It was now or never. “I’m getting married today,” he said on his exhale, trying not to look at anyone in particular.
Stunned silence met his declaration. He glanced up from rearranging the pens on his desk and saw Gretchen give him a knowing smile.
“Lana Stevens,” he said for those who were confused.
“Are the rumors true, Sheriff?”
He debated the best way to handle this, but came up empty. Keeping as close to the truth as possible would be best.
“I’m marrying Lana because she’s pregnant, yes.”
Everyone seemed to accept the fact and went back to their work. For a moment, he wondered if this whole thing was worth it. But the image of Lana’s twinkling eyes and mischievous smile told him whatever time he could manage with her would be worth it.
And with that, he locked his conscience away. Hopefully for good.
Gretchen approached him once he was gathering his things to leave. He’d taken care of a few last minute cases that had come across his desk during the night.
“Sheriff?” she asked quietly. “Do you have a ring for today?”
Lucky’s head shot up. “Crap.” He absently patted his pocket, looking around for a ring that couldn’t possibly be there.
“I think the jeweler down on Fifth Avenue is open this early.”
“No, it’s okay. I already have one. I just left it at home.”
Making quick work of what he had left to do, he ignored the catcalls and pats on his back as he left. He informed Gretchen he would be taking the weekend off and left her with some things to take care of before she left for the day. He peeled out of the parking lot. Lana was going to think he wasn’t coming this morning. Debating whether or not to call her, he decided against it. Hearing her voice might cause chivalry to kick in. He was trying desperately to forget she wanted a nice wedding.
It was also hard for him to do what he was about to do. Giving Lana his grandmother’s ring wasn’t exactly what he’d envisioned when his grandfather had given the set to him from his deathbed. Lucky had promised him he would give them to the woman he loved, and he wouldn’t succumb to fickle tendencies. They would belong to one woman and one woman only.
Lucky considered the irony of it all.
Rushing back to his house, he went to his safe and grabbed the rings. He was back out the door and on his way to Lana’s house in less than five minutes. When he pulled into Lana’s driveway, he saw the curtain fall back into place at the front of the house.
It wasn’t more than a second later the front door flew open and Ally came bounding toward his car, a determined look in her eyes.
“Don’t you do this to her, Sheriff. She can’t handle another bad marriage.”
Lucky’s hands rose as if she pointed a gun at him. He wasn’t even out of his truck yet.
“I plan to be a perfect gentleman.”
“We both know you didn’t get her pregnant, and letting everyone else think so might seem nice, but I know better. There’s something in it for you.”
Lucky carefully eased out of his truck, but said nothing.
“’Fess up, Sheriff.”
“First off, we’re practically family, so call me Lucky.”
“Don’t you mean call you Jack?”
Lucky cringed. That wasn’t his name anymore. He never wanted to be associated with that name again. “I’m Lucky.”
“Why are you doing this?” Even though she was young, she packed a pretty powerful punch with her raised eyebrows and crossed arms. A lesser man might have backed down.
“This is between me and Lana. I don’t have to explain things to you.”
Her lips formed a thin line, and reminded him of her elder sister yesterday when she had tried to drown him.
“Then you might want to explain to my sister why because she’s been crying all morning.”
Her words felt like a punch in the gut. Crying? Why?
“She’s pregnant,” he tried to dismiss. “Hormones are probably getting the best of her.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Sheriff. But just remember, you might have everyone else fooled, but not me.”
Lucky resisted the urge to grin and was saved from saying anything more when the screen door screeched open and Lana stepped outside. His breath stole from his body momentarily and he forgot to breathe. He could feel Ally’s gaze on him but he was incapable of taking his eyes off his bride.
Lana wore a white sundress with her long, dark hair curled into luscious waves that rested against her breasts. On her feet were strappy stilettos and her painted red toes peeked at him. He remembered from high school the shape of her legs and wished the dress wasn’t so long so he could catch a glimpse of them.
“Ally,” Lana gently chided. “Go inside. Daddy said he needed help making lunch.”
Lunch? Was it lunchtime already? Lucky glanced at his watch. Sure enough, it was nearing noon.
Once Ally was inside, Lucky looked back to Lana. The telltale puff under her eyes led him to believe that her sister hadn’t lied. She had definitely shed tears this morning. Her long lashes were spiked with moisture. Even still, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
“You look amazing,” he murmured.
“Let’s get to the courthouse, shall we?” she asked, whizzing by him with her head held high and climbing into his truck. Her lack of enthusiasm ate at him, but he was no more excited to be marrying a woman he barely knew.
“I’m surprised your dad and sister didn’t want to come,” he said, trying desperately to get her talking.
“Just so you know, I asked them not to. I told them about your offer to help me with James, but I left out why you wanted to help me. I figured it would be hard enough for them to watch me marry someone they barely knew.”
“They know me.”
“Only as a public figure. And all I can say is that if you hurt me in any way, you’
re going to have the fury of my father and sister on you. They both swore to me this morning they would never let me be controlled by a man again.”
Lucky tried not to be offended. Any family would feel the same way about their daughter.
“What about you? Will you be controlled by a man again?”
For the first time, Lana’s eyes met his, albeit briefly. “No. And if you think you can, I’ll divorce you so quick your head will spin.”
Finally, Lucky felt himself relax. “So why were you crying?”
Lana’s gaze wandered to the passing scenery. “I don’t have much to be happy about these days.”
“Come on, marrying me isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened to you.”
She said nothing but sat there twisting the end of her hair around her finger. His conscience reared again.
“I’ll try my best to make you happy, Lana.”
“I hope so.”
“And I’ll treat that kid like it was my own.” With the situation growing out of hand so quickly, he’d barely had time to think of the baby that would be coming along in just under seven months. Without thinking, he reached over and took her hand. Kissing her fingertips, he reveled at the softness of her skin and the sweet smell that marked her. “We’re just friends, Lana. One day at a time, remember?”
Deliberately, she took her hand away and nodded solemnly.
Lucky couldn’t stop the heavy feeling settling in his chest. If this was any indication of how their life would be together, they were already doomed.
*****
“So, I kinda arranged for us to go away for the weekend,” Lucky announced once they were sitting in his car outside the courthouse.
Lana looked down at the beautiful wedding ring set on her finger and felt guilty that she’d allowed such a kind gesture. But to be fair, she hadn’t even known rings would be exchanged until he had pulled them out of his coat pocket.
“You mean … like a honeymoon?” she asked carefully.
“Well, yes and no. Not a traditional one. Just thought it would be nice for us to go away and get to know each other a little better.”
Lana shot him a wry smile. “Aren’t we supposed to do that before we get married?”
Lucky’s masculine chuckle caused her insides to tense. She tried not to look at him, but when she did, she was floored at the strength and beauty emanating from him. A man like him didn’t deserve to be so handsome.
“Touché,” he agreed. “It’s not a huge deal, really. I just reserved a cabin for us on the mountain. I have to be back at work on Monday morning.”
Despite the fact he tried to downplay the arrangement, Lana couldn’t help but feel touched, and it angered her. She didn’t want to be touched, by him or anyone else. For once in her life, she wanted to hide behind the walls she’d carefully erected and stay there until her heart healed.
But here she was, married again to someone who readily admitted there was no love between them, and she had done it without blinders on. At least with James, she could say she’d loved him and had just chosen to ignore the signs that had warranted warnings from her friends and family. This time, no one had tried to stop her and that alone made her want to scream.
Some people just never learned from their mistakes.
When push came to shove, Lana knew she had married Lucky for the protection he could give her baby … a baby she wasn’t even sure she wanted. She could never have an abortion or give it up for adoption, but she questioned her willingness to love a child that had James’s blood running through it. Daddy had told her everything would be clear to her when she held her baby in her arms, and she was relying on that piece of advice to get her through these difficult days.
“So what do you say?” Lucky asked, taking her hand. She didn’t like it when he did that. Not only did it stir to life feelings better left dormant, but it also showed that he felt like he owned her. No man would ever own her again.
“About what?” she asked absently.
“The cabin. You feel like getting some fresh mountain air for a couple of days before we get back to reality?”
In truth, the last thing Lana wanted was to spend a weekend alone with her new husband. She would have preferred to go back to her regularly scheduled life and forget the day had ever happened.
“Sure,” she said against her better judgment. Even though he probably had ulterior motives for marrying her, she found she didn’t want to disappoint him.
“I’ve already got my bags in the trunk. We can swing by your dad’s place to get your things.”
Lana just nodded. A dark cloud settled over her heart. Realistically, she knew that all marriages weren’t like her previous one. She’d told herself many times that not all men were like James, because her father was a wonderful man who loved with all of his heart and put everyone else before himself. But when she thought of a future with Lucky, she saw nothing.
Nothing except that gleam in his eye that spoke of determination and willpower. And maybe handcuffs. The thought made her cringe. Even though he wasn’t hard on the eyes and her body screamed otherwise, she didn’t want to sleep with him. She wasn’t sure she could ever let a man touch her again. His kisses weren’t bad, but to be underneath him and be subjected to his strength scared the life right out of her.
“Earth to Lana,” he said and chuckled.
Unapologetic, she simply said, “You can take me by my dad’s house for my things.”
“Have you thought about when you’ll be moving your stuff to my place?”
“No.” Lana kept her gaze trained on the trees whizzing by. He didn’t say anything for a long time.
“Hey,” he said gently as they pulled into the driveway. His fingers hooked under her chin and forced her to level her gaze at him. He gave her a crooked smile when she did. “We’re kind of … married now. You gonna give me the cold shoulder for the next fifty years?”
He was trying to joke with her. But just like so many other things, her sense of humor was lost.
“We won’t be married for the next fifty years.”
He reared back as though she’d slapped him, but she ignored the tinge of guilt she felt at his expression.
“All right …”
She took a deep breath to speak but he interrupted her. “You don’t owe me any explanations, Lana.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug and let his fingers fall away from her face. “I respect that this is just a business arrangement for you.”
“And you,” she supplied, reminding him that there was no room for tenderness, thoughtfulness, or any other form of affection. She wanted no part of it.
“And me,” he agreed.
Silently, she got out of the car and went inside her childhood home. She figured Lucky would stay in the truck since he didn’t immediately follow her. Her father met her at the door, and with one look, she burst into tears and collapsed into his open arms.
“Oh, baby,” he murmured in her hair. “I’m so sorry you felt like you had to do it. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
Wiping away her tears and sniffing, she looked up into her father’s aging face. “I love you, Daddy. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t feel it was the best option for me and the baby.”
“I know, but I could still protect you. You could get it annulled and that would be the end of it.”
Lana shook her head before he finished. “No. What’s done is done. If things get … bad with him, then we can talk about what happens next. I guess I can’t help but pray that lightning doesn’t strike twice.”
The wisdom and care in her father’s expression caused her to go into another round of sobs, which brought Ally out of her room. She tugged the earphones from ears and narrowed her eyes.
“Where is he? When I get hold of him, I’m going to-”
“Relax,” Lana said with a grin and sniffle. “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, you look real fine.”
“I’m never going to do anything to hurt your da
ughter,” Lucky said from the doorway. With a wide stance and eagle eyes that missed nothing about Lana’s demeanor, she couldn’t help but think he’d been standing there the whole time.
“No, you’re not,” Ally said, walking toward him.
“Ally! That’s enough!” Lana issued and stepped between her and Lucky. Ally stopped her advancement, but her eyes didn’t leave Lucky.
“Sir, I’m …” Lucky started but seemed to be at a loss for words. “I’ll try to make her happy. It may not be a conventional marriage, but that doesn’t mean I won’t respect her.”
Her dad said nothing, which was just his way, but she knew after one glance at him, he was making Lucky squirm intentionally. She fought back a grin.
“I’m not anything like your last son-in-law. I made vows to Lana today I intend to keep.”
Still, her father said nothing, but he crossed his arms in front of him and tapped his foot.
“Lana, we should get going soon. But I understand if you don’t want to go to the cabin after all.”
“What cabin?” Ally demanded, her eyes round.
“He’s arranged for us to have a quiet weekend on the mountain to get to know each other better.”
“I bet he wants to get to know you better.”
Lana was so amused at her ferocious, Chihuahua of a sister that the grin she’d been desperately fighting finally broke through.
“Cut it out, sis. It was thoughtful.” Thoughtful, yet unwanted, she added silently.
That seemed to calm her down. Lana left the room and quickly gathered her things into her suitcase. When she came back out, Lucky laughed at something her father said. As she stepped into the room, Lucky’s eyes roamed her body appreciatively.
“I’m ready to go,” she announced.
“Your dad and I were just talking about you when you were little.”
Lana rolled her eyes.
“I find it interesting you used to eat mud pies,” Lucky teased.
“Daddy!”
Her father just gave a short chuckle and extended his hand to shake Lucky’s. Even Ally gave him a measured shake and quickly backed away. With narrowed eyes, Lana cast Lucky a suspicious glance.
Lucky for Her Page 7
