The Inheritance

by Marie Ferrarella

  “Maybe we should get our stories straight, then.”

  “Good idea.” He nodded, crossing back to her. “Why did you tell her that you knew me before?”

  She wished he’d stop looking at her like that. She liked it a lot better when he was looking somewhere else. It gave her stomach a fighting chance to settle down. You’d think she was some kind of silly schoolgirl, she upbraided herself, instead of a woman talking to a man five years her junior.

  Five years separated them, she thought suddenly. Five years and an entire galaxy. He was a Maitland, after all, and she was just a question mark. A question mark whose parents hadn’t wanted any part of her.

  Greer summoned her best detached, corporate manner. “Because Mrs. Maitland’s a very shrewd judge of character. She knows I’m not the type to fall head over heels for someone in a matter of a few hours.”

  He wasn’t as convinced about that as she apparently was. There was something in her eyes that told him Greer Lawford might very well do that cartwheel into romance that she was so scornful of.

  “And what type are you?” he asked, his voice dropping low.

  She knew he was speaking so softly because he didn’t want to wake the little girl in his arms, but it really unnerved her; his voice seemed to creep in right under her skin and caress the very core of her.

  She tried to think about something else. “The type who measures twice before she cuts once.”

  He smiled, amused at the utilitarian comparison. “Like a carpenter.”

  Her eyes held his as she tried to maintain her ground. “Like a cautious person.” Then, turning on her heel, Greer led the way to the back. There were two bedrooms in the guesthouse. She was going to have to see about getting a crib brought into this one.

  Rafe carefully placed Bethany in the center of the bed, then began dragging over the armchair that was in the corner of the room. It wasn’t going to be enough to form a barricade. They’d passed a small kitchen on their way to the bedroom.

  “Watch her while I get some chairs,” he told Greer as he walked out.

  He brought all four chairs, two at a time, into the room, surrounding the bed so that Bethany wouldn’t roll over and fall off.

  “I’ll have a crib brought in,” Greer promised.

  He nodded at the information. “Won’t keep her from falling off now, though, will it?”

  “No,” she murmured, beginning to leave.

  “Was she right?”

  The softly spoken question stopped her. At the doorway, Greer turned around to look at Rafe and was surprised to find that he was beside her. It took her a second to get her bearings.

  “About what?”

  “About you being an orphan?”

  She hated that word. Hated it because it had haunted her for most of her childhood and adolescence. Hated it because it made her feel so lonely. “My past isn’t part of the bargain.”

  “It is if the judge asks.” That, he told himself, was the only reason he was asking her personal questions. But if he were being truthful with himself, he would have admitted that a part of him was curious about this strange lady that fate had thrown his way. “All I’m asking for is the same information you’ve obviously already given my aunt—provided you weren’t being resourceful at that time, too.”

  Greer took offense. He thought she’d lied to Megan.

  Well, why wouldn’t he? She was lying now, wasn’t she? What else would he think? She hated this netherworld she was suddenly in, all for the best of reasons.

  “There was no need to be. And I told her in a moment of confidence because I both like and respect your aunt.” She tried to look as indignant as possible. “When I can say the same for you, I’ll tell you.”

  For the first time since she had met him, he laughed. The sound was deep, resonant and went right into her bones like a well-aimed arrow. Greer could feel something stirring inside her, a tantalizing yearning that took her completely by surprise.

  “You’re a feisty one, Greer.” There was a touch of admiration in his eyes as he looked at her. “A lot more feisty than I first thought.”

  She knew she shouldn’t be reacting to this as if it were a compliment, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “That would be because you were judging a book by its cover.” And she knew full well what her “cover” looked like. “A lot of people are guilty of that.”

  “A book, eh?” The laugh had subsided into a smile that was almost lethal. “Something tells me you’re not the quick read I thought.”

  This was ridiculous. In another minute, she was going to be guilty of trapping herself in the scenario she’d outlined for Megan. Granted, the man brought new meaning to the word sexy, but sexy men were not in her realm of attainment and she knew that. If there was ever going to be a man in her life, he was going to be a male counterpart of her. Solid, steady and, most likely, another book whose cover people misread.

  “No,” she informed him, “I’m not. Now, is there anything else you need?”

  He didn’t need to pause to think. “Diapers and baby food.”

  She hadn’t thought of that when she’d called last night and left orders to stock the refrigerator. Just like she’d overlooked the crib.

  You’re slipping, Greer.

  “Right.” She hated that he’d caught her in a slip-up, though he didn’t seem to be gloating. “I’ll get right on it.”

  Something within Rafe egged him on to tease her, but that would have come under the heading of “cruel,” he decided. That skittishness he noticed about her seemed to have returned in full bloom. He could see it in her eyes as she reached the front door.

  So he remained where he was, letting her open the door and make good her retreat.

  “I’d appreciate it,” he told her just before she shut the door again.

  “That is one odd lady,” he murmured quietly to himself, turning away.

  Getting dressed up had always been against his principles. He supposed that because both his parents set such store by outward appearance, he’d rebelled against it. Given a choice, he much preferred the freedom of jeans to the confinement of “monkey suits,” which to him were not just tuxedos but jackets and any trousers that required a crease in them. He had found a suit jacket, trousers and matching shirt laid out on his bed when he’d come out of his shower this evening. Someone had come into the room while he was showering and left them for him.

  He didn’t know if he liked a place where people slipped in and out unannounced, leaving things in their wake. He was a man who valued his privacy above almost all else. To him it was far more precious than any silver that had once been mined in the fields that overlooked Virginia City.

  Still, this was all about Bethany, not him. He couldn’t expect Greer to live up to her part of the bargain if he didn’t honor his. Besides, there was his aunt. Getting on her good side didn’t seem like much of a trick and he could sure use her support when the time came. He had a hunch that it would handily tip the scales in his favor.

  He was, to use his parents’ vernacular, in a win-win situation. As long as he didn’t blow it.

  That obviously meant monkey suits, he thought, resigned. With a sigh, he donned the shirt, the pants and then the jacket. It didn’t surprise him that they all fit as if they’d been made for him. It was in keeping with the efficiency of the place.

  He eyed the tie that had been placed alongside the rest of the clothes. There was no way he was going to put it on no matter what was at stake. In his opinion, ties were too much like nooses, and he saw no point in wearing one.

  The person who’d come in with his clothes had also put both diapers and a small pink-and-white dress for Bethany in what was to be the baby’s room. He didn’t bother opening the refrigerator. He just assumed that there was baby food on the shelves now. It seemed that his aunt thought of everything.

  Either that, or her able-bodied assistant did.

  His mouth curved slightly. Too bad Greer wasn’t quite that—able bodied.
Although, to be honest, he wasn’t all that sure just what kind of body existed beneath her schoolmarmish clothes, other than thin.

  He wondered what she’d wear to this mandated dinner party.

  Shrugging, he dismissed the thought. Didn’t matter to him what she wore or didn’t wear. He just wanted all this to be over with. That included the family court hearing that was hanging over him. He shook his head. For a man who liked the simple life, things had gotten mighty complicated in the last month or so.

  Bethany began kicking her feet, letting him know that she was awake with energy to spare. Time to get her dressed, he thought. “Hi there, sleepy-head,” he said, leaning over to pick her up.

  The knock he heard at the front door succeeded in irritating him. He had his hands full of baby and wasn’t about to leave her to admit anyone. Whoever was on the other side of the door was just going to have to wait until he was finished.

  The knock came again, this time a bit more loudly. “What?” he bit off, not expecting to be heard. “People can’t seem to leave anyone alone around here,” he said more to himself than to Bethany. The baby gurgled in response.

  A minute later, he heard the door being opened and Greer calling out. “Hello? Are you in here?”

  “In the back with Bethany,” he responded, raising his voice. And then he lowered it again. “Talk about lack of privacy.”

  The next minute, Greer stuck her head in, her expression hesitant. “Hi, I just thought you might need some help.”

  Now that she offered, he could use some. Dressing Bethany in something other than practical rompers had proved to be a challenge. “How are you with frills?” he asked, without looking up.

  Greer crossed to the bed. “Fair to middling.”

  “See if you can ‘middle’ this.” Straightening, he gestured toward the small moving target on the bed. “I can’t get the buttons closed. She’s wiggling too much.”

  Greer caught her lower lip between her teeth, thinking of her first encounter with Bethany. But this didn’t appear to require any holding, so maybe she was on safe ground this time.

  “Put her on her tummy and you might have better luck.”

  He gestured toward the bed, taking a step back. “Feel free to have a go at it.”

  The instant he said it, Bethany rolled over onto her stomach and began to work her way up to the headboard—sideways. Greer made a lunge for her and caught the baby by the leg, keeping her from making good her escape.

  “You’re a regular wiggle worm, aren’t you?” Gently, she brought Bethany back down, then, very methodically, she made quick work of the five buttons that had defied Rafe’s fingers.

  Standing back and watching, Rafe had his first opportunity to actually look at Greer. Like her other clothes, what she wore in the evening could be described as tailored and practical. She was wearing a long navy dress whose straight skirt fell to her mid-calf. It made him wonder if there were any curves at all beneath the material. So far, he hadn’t been given a clue. Didn’t all women have some kind of curves?

  She could feel his eyes on her just by the way the room had begun to grow warmer. Straightening up, the baby in her arms, she turned to look at him. “What are you looking at?”

  His eyes swept over her one last time before coming to rest on her face.

  “Do you own anything that, you know, doesn’t use up two bolts of material?”

  Immediately self-conscious, Greer shifted the baby as if to use the small body as a shield. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.” Her mouth felt dry. “I dress accordingly.”

  “According to what?” he couldn’t help asking. “Camping Tents R Us?”

  She could feel her face growing red. She didn’t need this, didn’t need to feel as though she were still the charity case left in the last pew of the church.

  “Look, the bargain didn’t include you insulting me.” She thrust the baby at him.

  Taking Bethany, he still managed to catch Greer’s arm to keep her still. “I’m not trying to insult you, I’m just being curious. Don’t you have something more, um—” Words had never been his long suit. “Girl-like?”

  She blew out a breath. “I believe you’re trying for the word feminine.”

  He knew she was lashing out with a put-down, but the attempt was small potatoes. He’d certainly endured a great deal worse from his father.

  “No, ‘girl-like.’ I figured you’d work your way up to feminine once you got the knack of it.” He cocked his head. “You’ve got nice lines, woman. Don’t be afraid to show them.”

  He was talking to her as if she were some kind of Thoroughbred. Well, she wasn’t. She was the kind of animal that was hitched to a plow and got the job done. Still, she supposed that maybe he wasn’t trying to be insulting. Horses were what he knew, she consoled herself.

  “I’ll take it under advisement,” she murmured.

  He bit back a laugh. She made everything sound as if it were going on in the boardroom. He began to really wonder about the woman he’d conned into this agreement. What was she like away from work? Did she know how to kick back, or were her nights only spaces of time she marked off while waiting to get back to work the next morning? He’d known a few people like that, people who had no lives except the one they’d hired onto.

  “Thanks for the supplies,” he said by way of making peace.

  She nodded. “I’m glad the clothes fit.”

  He’d meant the food and diapers, not his clothes. “You sent them over?”

  She nodded. “I didn’t want you to feel out of place.” That hadn’t come out quite right, she realized. “Everyone dresses for a formal dinner,” she explained.

  She was looking out for him. He found that amusing. “Thanks.”

  How was it, he wondered, that this woman could pick out a man’s clothes, but hadn’t a clue as to what was attractive when it came to her own way of dressing?

  Or was it that she was purposely trying to maintain her plain appearance?

  As he walked out of the guesthouse, Bethany in his arms, he realized that he was more than a little curious to find out the answer to that.

  Chapter 6

  Greer snuck a look in Rafe’s direction, trying to gauge his reaction as he stood stoically beside her, holding Bethany in his arms, a few minutes later. At first glance, there appeared to be a sea of people within the room they’d just entered.

  She knew how she’d feel, confronted with this many new faces, most of whom were related to her either directly or by marriage. Having a family—a real family, not one that would be gone at the end of the month, or three, or six because the county had found another place to deposit her temporarily—was something she’d always dreamed about. Greer knew that if she’d ever found herself in Rafe’s place, she would have been nervous about what they thought of her.

  But one glance at Rafe’s face told her that her reaction wasn’t even remotely shared by him. Judging from his expression, all he appeared to have was a passingly mild interest in the people gathered.

  Didn’t meeting these people for the first time affect him? It was affecting her by proxy, she thought, and she wasn’t even related to them.

  Megan, wearing a soft blue dress that showed off the same graceful figure she’d had as a young girl, saw them first.

  “You’re here at last,” she declared, delighted.

  Conversation abruptly stopped within the room. Megan exchanged a few words with the distinguished-looking gentleman standing beside her, her long-time lawyer, friend and confidant, Hugh, before sailing across the room to them. She smiled at Greer before slipping her arm through Rafe’s.

  “Greer, I’m afraid I need to steal this handsome man away from you. But just for a moment.” She winked. “I promise.”

  Megan sounded as if she were unofficially asking her permission. How odd was that? Greer thought, a sliver of pleasure wriggling through her. The older woman made it sound as if Rafe actually belonged to her.

  As if anyone
ever would, Greer thought with a sudden wave of regret that popped out of nowhere.

  “Of course,” she murmured, taking Bethany from Rafe before stepping back. He looked at her in surprise, then nodded his thanks. After a second, Bethany settled comfortably against her.

  “They don’t bite,” Megan promised Rafe in a whisper before turning her face toward the gathering. “Everyone, this is Rafe, your cousin,” she announced, looking from one group of young people to another, all of whom were completely unfamiliar to Rafe. But she meant to change that right now. “All except yours, of course,” she added addressing the qualifying remark to the two couples who were off to the side of the room.

  Rafe took it to mean that they weren’t relations, or at the very least, that they belonged to another branch of the family that was separated from his by divorce, pestilence or whatever it was that severed family ties. He wondered just how long he would have to endure this evening before he could make his apologies and safely withdraw. He preferred his conversations one on one, or better yet, not at all.

  His eyes swept over the gathering quickly. There were a great many people in the room, sixteen of Megan’s children and their spouses if he didn’t count his aunt and Greer. He realized that Megan still had her arm threaded through his and was gently but firmly steering him toward the foursome she’d singled out.

  Megan took a deep breath before making the introductions, though she knew that on the part of her two oldest children, none was really necessary. They’d been eagerly awaiting this moment for some time now.

  “R.J., Anna, this is your half brother, Rafe.”

  The boredom that had been hovering, waiting to overtake him, disappeared as surprise suddenly leaped into Rafe’s veins.

  “Hey, hold on a minute.” Pulling his arm away from his aunt, he stepped back until he had all of them, including Megan, within his direct line of vision. He was only vaguely aware that Greer, still holding Bethany, had come to his side. “Just what the hell are you talking about?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he pinned Megan with a look.