The Million Dollar Catch Bundle

by Susan Mallery

  “And that’s what you’re smiling about?”

  “No. But Todd was great. By yesterday we were feeling better. He asked me to stay—in the guest room. So we had dinner and watched a movie and then, well…”

  Willow’s eyes widened. “Ohmygod! You had sex with Todd Aston the Third. I’m going to get a million dollars!”

  Marina held up both hands. “Number one, I’m not marrying him, so you can let your dreams of the million dollars go. If you’re so hot to open a nursery, talk to Kane. He would do anything for you.”

  Willow shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m going to raise the money on my own. If you’re not willing to marry to get it for me, then I’ll get a loan or something. Which, by the way, is so not the point. You had sex with Todd?”

  Marina smiled. “I did. It was great. He’s nothing I’d imagined. I like him.”

  Willow moved close and hugged her. “That’s great. Yea for you.”

  “It’s not great. It’s weird and uncomfortable and we’re not going to be together that way again.”

  Willow stepped back and stared. “Excuse me? You’re glowing. I’ve never seen you glow before. No one walks away from glowy sex.”

  “I will. We both will. We talked about it and this is the most sensible plan. Look, we’re already related by marriage through Grandma Ruth. It’s going to happen again when Julie and Ryan get married. Todd is in our lives forever. A relationship with him wouldn’t go anywhere.”

  Willow returned to her plants. “Why not? He’s single, you’re single. That’s an excellent start.”

  “We don’t have anything in common. We’re from different worlds. On a more basic level, he doesn’t trust women at all. Having heard about his past, I kind of don’t blame him. And I’m not totally healthy in that area, myself. I have issues.”

  Willow collected another plant. “You’re not Mom. You’re not going to lose yourself in a man.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “You don’t, either. I know you’re too scared to try. You’ve always chosen safe guys. Guys who adored you but who could never, in a million years, actually touch your heart. You’ve never risked falling in love, so you can’t know what you’ll do. None of us want to be like Mom. None of us want to give up everything for a man. So don’t. Be strong. Be your own person. But take a chance.”

  It was really good advice. A sensible person might even consider it. But in this case, Marina refused to be sensible. There was too much to lose.

  “Even if I let myself fall for him,” she said. “He’d never love me back. He refuses to get that involved.”

  “There’s always a first time.”

  “Not for him.”

  “You’re wrong,” Willow told her. “There’s a first time for everyone. Look at Kane. But you have to be willing to take the chance. You can’t find perfect happiness unless you’re willing to risk the pain. Is a half life of being safe really worth never finding your soul mate?”

  Marina thought about their mother. Naomi had only ever loved one man and she’d spent her entire life having her heart broken by him over and over again.

  “The soul mate thing is highly overrated,” she murmured.

  “No, it’s not,” Willow insisted. “But love does require faith. If you can’t have that, you’ll never know. What if Todd’s the one? Are you really willing to let him walk away? At least Mom spends some of the time happy. When Dad’s with her, all is right with the world. If she didn’t have those moments of joy, the rest wouldn’t be worth it.”

  Marina wasn’t convinced those brief moments were worth anything. Not when the pain was so great and there was no escape. She’d lived her whole life without a soul mate and had done just fine. It would be a whole lot easier to get over what she’d never had than to risk being destroyed by a man determined to never give his heart.

  Eight

  Todd checked his watch. He’d arrived a couple of minutes early for his meeting with Marina at the bridal shop, but he wasn’t worried about her keeping him waiting. She wasn’t the type.

  He’d wondered if seeing her again after their long night together would be awkward, but now that he was here, he only felt anticipation. Not a good thing, he thought grimly. She wasn’t the type to play the no-strings game and he wasn’t willing to accept anything else. Even for her.

  So he would forget what happened and look at her only as his cousin’s fiancée’s sister. A distant acquaintance. Someone he liked, but didn’t care about. Wasn’t interested in. Wouldn’t get involved with.

  His good intentions lasted right up until she burst into the bridal shop, looking rushed and five kinds of gorgeous.

  “I know, I know,” she said as she stepped inside and grinned at him. “I’m a minute late. How you must resent me for treating you so badly. Next thing you know I’ll be making you hold my purse while I try on clothes and call you snookums.”

  He laughed with her and their gazes locked. Within seconds the rest of the world ceased to matter. There was only this moment and the woman in front of him.

  Wanting made him hard and need made him step toward her. The sensible part of his brain was outvoted. The only thing that made sense was Marina in his arms.

  One of them moved first. He didn’t know if it was him or her and it didn’t matter. But before he could reach for her, a fortysomething saleswoman walked up to them and sighed.

  “How wonderful,” she said. “I can always tell when a couple is really in love. You two have brightened my day.”

  It was like being dropped headfirst in a big, icy pool of reality. He stepped back. Marina did the same and then they avoided looking at each other.

  Great, he thought grimly. Now things were going to be awkward. He’d never wanted that. Making love with Marina had been the most fun he’d had in a hell of a long time. Not just the sex, although that had been record-setting. But just hanging out with her. Relaxing, being comfortable.

  “We’re, ah, not getting married,” Marina said with a smile that looked more forced than happy. “I’m Marina Nelson. You’ve spoken with my sister Julie. She’s the bride who’s hiding out in China right now and making everyone else do her dirty work for her.”

  “Oh, of course.” The woman looked between them. “My mistake. I’m Christie.”

  Todd introduced himself and they all shook hands.

  “I have some ideas of what your sister might like,” Christie said. “She was very specific about all her no’s, which makes things easier. I understand you’ll be trying things on and then getting her feedback?”

  Marina nodded.

  “That’s fine. Usually we don’t allow brides to take pictures until they’ve actually put a deposit on the dress, but Julie made special arrangements with the owner, so we’re good on that. You have a camera?”

  Todd patted his suit jacket. “Right here.”

  “Good. All right, Marina. Let’s dress you up like a bride. I understand you and your sister are about the same size and height?”

  The two women disappeared down a hallway. Todd found a comfortable chair and a table full of financial and sports magazines. A few minutes later Christie appeared and asked if he would like anything to drink.

  He accepted the offer of coffee, then settled in to read. But he couldn’t seem to concentrate on the article. Instead he remembered Marina’s teasing expression when she’d first walked into the shop and felt a return of the pleasure he’d felt at that moment.

  What the hell was up with that? he wondered. Liking her wasn’t one of his rules. Wanting more was even worse. He knew the danger inherent in the situation…the betrayal that would follow. It always had. No woman was to be trusted.

  But for the first time in years he found himself wanting to break his own rules. To see if maybe, possibly, Marina was different, even though he knew she couldn’t ever be.

  Marina fingered the incredibly soft fabric of the wedding gown. Except for the basics, like cotton versus leather, she knew nothing about mate
rial. Only that whatever this one was, she wanted it in her life always!

  Christie came into the dressing room and smiled. “You look beautiful.”

  Marina grinned. “I know you say that to all the brides, but right now, I don’t care. I feel amazing. I love how this dress feels and moves.”

  Christie fastened the buttons Marina couldn’t reach, then held open the dressing room door. “Come see how you look.”

  Marina had come in wearing jeans and a T-shirt, feeling frazzled, rushed and weird about seeing Todd again. But dressed in this flowing confection of a dress, she felt beautiful and girly and like a princess. Even the borrowed high heels, compliments of the salon, had fit.

  She stepped in front of a three-way mirror and gasped. The dress was perfection.

  The fitted, strapless bodice clung to her and made her look impressively chesty. At the waist, the dress cascaded down to the floor in layers and layers of fabric, each row shaped and draping like a flower petal, including the three or four foot train.

  There was a hint of pearl in the fabric and it made her skin glow. The style would hide Julie’s pregnancy, but was still elegant and to-die-for.

  “Wow.”

  She glanced up and met Todd’s gaze in the mirror. She smiled and spun in a slow circle.

  “You like?” she asked.

  She couldn’t tell what he was thinking but she definitely liked the way he had to swallow before speaking.

  “Incredible. Both the woman and the dress.”

  Man, did he have all the good lines, she thought, feeling herself react to his words and his presence.

  Christie moved in and began tugging on the dress. “The style is flattering to many body types, although if your sister is built like you, then this should work perfectly. She needs one that’s ready to go and this one is available. We’ll clean it and get it altered right before the wedding. Can you move in it all right?”

  Marina took a couple of steps. The dress swayed gracefully. “It’s so fabulous.”

  “Good,” Christie said. “Now let me put up the train and we’ll see if you can dance in it.”

  Dance? Marina looked at Todd again. “Can you dance?”

  “I’m practically a professional.”

  “Liar.”

  “Try me.”

  Christie looped the train, fastening buttons and hooks until there was an impressive bustle in the back. Then Todd stepped close and swept Marina into his arms.

  She told herself none of this mattered, that it wasn’t real. She was helping her sister, nothing more. Yet as they danced to an imaginary song, she felt something stir deep inside of herself. Something dangerous and wonderful and more than a little scary.

  She made the mistake of looking into his eyes and found herself wanting to get lost there. His fingers tightened on hers. She shifted slightly closer. The layers of the beautiful dress kept her from feeling his body against hers, which was a serious drag.

  “So lovely.”

  The comment came from an only slightly familiar voice. Marina looked up to see her grandma Ruth standing in the entrance to the bridal salon.

  “Hello, my dears,” the older woman said as she approached. “I know, I know, I’m not to meddle, but when Julie e-mailed that the two of you would be here this afternoon, I couldn’t resist.”

  Todd released Marina and walked over to his aunt.

  “Ruth,” he said in obvious affection, then bent down and kissed her. “Watching Marina trying on wedding dresses isn’t meddling.”

  “I’m sure Julie will be delighted to have one more opinion,” Marina told her, then hugged and kissed her grandmother as she did her best not to feel or look guilty. She stepped back and turned in a slow circle. “What do you think?”

  “That you’re very beautiful and so is the dress.” Ruth smiled at Todd. “Have you taken pictures?”

  “Not yet. We were seeing if Julie could dance in the dress.”

  Was it Marina’s imagination or had Ruth’s eyebrows gone up just a little?

  “An excellent idea,” the older woman said. “I’m sure Julie appreciates your thoroughness.”

  Marina had the sudden thought that somehow her grandmother had guessed she and Todd had slept together. Heat burned on her cheeks as she tried to convince herself that wasn’t possible. No one knew. Well, Willow and eventually Julie and maybe Ryan, but no one else.

  Marina posed while Todd took several pictures, then she escaped back into the dressing room. She eased into a second gown, this one also strapless, but with a lace bodice and shirring across the waist. The skirt, a stunning, smooth silky material with an inset of embroidery and lace, fell in a sophisticated A-line that spilled into a train.

  Ruth stepped into the dressing room. “Another winner. Julie’s going to have a difficult time choosing. But that’s the problem to have. Here, dear, let me help you with the buttons.”

  “Thanks. There are a lot of them.”

  Ruth stepped behind her and began fastening the cloth-covered buttons. “You and Todd looked very special together, dancing. While I always hoped one of you girls would fall for him, I’ll admit I thought it was little more than the dreams of an old woman.”

  Panic welled up inside of Marina. “You’re not old,” she said by way of a very pitiful distraction.

  “Thank you, dear, but that’s not the point. I offered you and your sisters the money as a way to spur competition, but I see now I only needed to let nature take its course.”

  Marina’s mouth opened, then closed. Her brain froze and she had no idea what to say.

  “We’re not a couple,” she managed to say at last. “Seriously. We’re barely friends. Semifriends, really. Acquaintances. We’re helping with the wedding and that’s all. We haven’t even had our first date yet. That’s not until the wedding.”

  Ruth finished with the buttons and stepped out in front of Marina. “Apparently a date isn’t required. You look very beautiful.”

  Marina muttered something unintelligible, then hurried out of the dressing room as fast as she could on borrowed three-inch heels. Instead of stepping in front of the massive mirror, she hurried to Todd’s side and grabbed his arm.

  “She knows. My grandmother, your aunt, knows. She knows we had sex and I’m telling you right now, I can’t stand it. I’m totally humiliated and you need to be, too.”

  Todd looked unconcerned. “She doesn’t know. She can’t.”

  “Want to bet?”

  Ruth stepped out of the dressing room and Marina moved in front of the mirror. They discussed the dress like rational adults and she did her best to keep from blushing. She even managed a smile while Todd was taking pictures.

  “I’ll send these to Julie,” he said.

  “Great. I think she’ll really love them.”

  Which all sounded normal, but what she was thinking was more along the lines of get me out of here.

  Todd obviously didn’t believe her, because he continued to joke with Ruth, right up until his aunt said, “I suppose a double wedding is out of the question.”

  Todd looked at Marina, then back at his aunt. “You mean Willow and Kane?”

  “No, dear. You and Marina. There’s obviously chemistry. Of course a relationship requires more than that, but passion is wonderful. I had it with your uncle every day of our marriage.” She gave a little laugh. “Well, not every day, but most of them.”

  Marina resisted the need to cover her ears and hum loudly so she wouldn’t hear anymore. Todd swallowed hard and muttered, “There’s an image I’ll never get out of my head.”

  Ruth sighed. “You young people. Never wanting to know about the older generation. You should be happy to know your uncle and I had a wonderful marriage all those years.”

  “I’m thrilled,” Todd told her. “Details not required.”

  Ruth smiled. “That’s all right. I’ve waited a long time for you to find the right girl and now you have.”

  Marina swept past him and headed for the dressin
g room. He followed on her heels.

  “I told you,” she said as she presented him with her back so he could unfasten the buttons. “But no. You wouldn’t listen. You knew best. My grandmother knows we had sex. Do you know how humiliating that is?”

  “It’s worse for me. You never met my uncle, but I knew him all my life. Now I have a picture of the two of them…”

  Marina spun to face him. “You’re not taking this seriously enough. Ruth knows. She’s talking about double weddings. She might tell my mother. I do not want to have a conversation about my sex life with my mother.”

  He touched her cheek. “Then don’t. Look, telling Ruth wouldn’t be my first choice, but she guessed. So what? We know what we want and don’t want from each other. It’s no big deal.”

  Apparently not for him, she thought bitterly, wondering if maybe he was right. If maybe she was overreacting.

  Ruth stepped into the dressing room. “I have to leave, so you two enjoy yourselves. I hope it all works out. Truly I do. Not just because of what I want, but because all that money will really make a difference for your family, Marina. Sweet Willow can buy her nursery at last.”

  Then Ruth was gone, but Marina barely noticed. Instead her attention was riveted on Todd’s face—on the way his features tightened and the distance she saw in his eyes.

  He physically took a step back from her. “I’ll leave you to get changed.”

  Then she was alone in the dressing room. Alone and angry and confused.

  Why had Ruth had to mention the money like that? For a woman who was so set on getting them together, she’d picked the one way guaranteed to keep them apart. IfTodd had a button, it was women wanting him for his money.

  She wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. Talk about unfair. She wasn’t the least bit interested in his millions or billions or however much it was. The bet about marrying him was a joke. He had to know that.

  Except why would he? Given his past, he would think the worst because the worst had always been true.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she told herself as she stepped out of the dress. “We don’t have a real relationship. We’re just friends.”