The Best Bride

by Susan Mallery

  “You’re right. I have to keep telling myself that. At least I have my daughter here.” She touched Hannah’s hand.

  “A girl,” Kyle said. “The first one in four generations.”

  “You’re not going to start with that silly legend again, are you?” Hannah asked. “You don’t really believe it, about girls being born when Haynes men are in love?”

  Jordan grinned. “We’re not sure it’s only Haynes men, so you’d better be careful.”

  She opened her mouth to tell him it wasn’t likely to be a problem, then quickly caught herself. She’d nearly forgotten that no one knew her marriage was a sham or that she and Nick had never been intimate. Even if their kiss had been hot enough to make her bones melt and her…

  She forced her mind away from that erotic train of thought just in time to notice Craig handing her four sheets of paper.

  “What are these?” she asked, staring at the legal-looking documents.

  “We’re transferring stock to you.”

  “Stock in what?”

  “Austin’s company,” Travis explained. “The four of us own forty-nine percent. Years ago, when he was first starting up his research firm, he needed capital. We gave him all we had in exchange for shares in the company.”

  Kyle grinned. “It’s been a hell of an investment, Hannah. Austin is brilliant. We want you to share in that.”

  She continued to study the papers. “I don’t understand. Why would you do this?”

  “You’re family,” Jordan said as if that answered everything.

  “I couldn’t,” she said, confused by the gesture. What was going on?

  Louise gave her a look of concern. “Don’t be so quick to turn down the shares. Austin’s company might be private, but it’s worth millions. The shares pay a generous dividend.”

  Hannah looked at her brothers, then at the woman who had given birth to her. Too much was happening too fast. “This is impossible,” she said and thrust the papers at Craig. “You know so little about me. I could be an awful person, a fraud. You can’t just give me this.”

  Craig touched her hand. “You’re family,” he said as if that explained it all.

  But she wasn’t. Not really. She was a fraud and an awful person. She was lying about her marriage—deceiving them all. If they knew the truth…

  She couldn’t bear to think about it. “No,” she said, rising to her feet. “I just can’t. It’s not right. I know you don’t understand, but it’s true.”

  She felt burning behind her eyelids and knew tears threatened. She refused to cry in front of them. Most of the time, she refused to cry at all, but it didn’t seem as if she was going to get a choice in this matter.

  “Hannah?” Louise said.

  “What’s wrong?” one of her brothers asked. She wasn’t sure which one. She didn’t bother to look up and figure it out.

  “Excuse me,” she said and fled the room.

  * * *

  Nick found Hannah huddled in a corner of the wide porch. There was a beautiful restored antique swing, but she’d ignored that in favor of a plain straight-back chair tucked next to the kitchen window.

  She had her arms wrapped around her body, her legs pressed tightly together. From the porch steps, he could feel her misery. As he walked closer, he saw the traces of tears on her cheeks.

  She looked up as he approached. He saw the visible effort it took for her to pull herself together. Her shoulders straightened and she quickly wiped her face.

  “Louise said I’d find you out here,” he told her as he moved next to her and leaned against the porch. He glanced up at the blue sky. “It’s a great afternoon. Warm, but not hot.”

  “Lovely weather,” she murmured automatically. She twisted her fingers together and stared at her lap.

  Her thick hair, pulled back in a sensible braid, gleamed in the bright light. Hannah was strong and capable, but right now she needed a good hug and maybe a couple of kisses to put the color back in her cheeks. He was just the man to do it, if only she would let him.

  But he knew Hannah; she was prickly and stubborn. She would rather bleed to death than admit she’d been hurt and wanted comfort.

  “Did she tell you what happened?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

  “Yes.”

  Louise hadn’t gone into details, but Nick heard enough to get the picture. Hannah wasn’t reacting well to her instant family. She felt guilty about lying to them, confused by her mixed emotions. Their offer of stock shares had been more than she could handle.

  “You probably think I’m crazy, right?” she asked. “I should just take the stock shares and pocket the proceeds. So what if I’ve been given them under false pretenses?”

  “What’s false? You’re Louise’s daughter and their half sister.”

  “But I’m not really your wife.”

  “A small detail.”

  She glared at him. “Maybe to you, but I don’t act like that. I don’t lie to people, cheat them, steal from orphans.”

  He raised his hand. “I’ve never stolen from an orphan in my life. Don’t you think you’re being a little overly dramatic?”

  “Okay. Maybe just a little.”

  “Holly said they’ve got a couple of bikes. Why don’t we go for a ride?”

  Hannah sniffed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Your alternatives are to go back inside and face your brothers or go to the gatehouse and be alone with me.”

  He didn’t bother pointing out that they would be alone on the bike ride. He figured in her book, that wasn’t nearly the same as being along in a small gatehouse.

  For a moment, he hoped she would opt for the apartment. An afternoon of passionate lovemaking was just what she needed to take her mind off her troubles. After the kiss they’d shared the previous evening, he was having some troubles of his own—mainly getting his mind off her. Without wanting to, he could feel her in his arms and taste her sweet kiss.

  She’d responded with the passionate heat of a sensual woman. He wanted to explore all the possibilities their mutual attraction suggested. If that wasn’t an option, he was willing to settle for a bike ride.

  “A ride sounds great,” she said, standing up and heading toward the porch stairs.

  She moved with the easy grace of a natural athlete. Long legs, swinging arms, swaying hips. When they’d walked the bikes out to the driveway, she climbed onto hers and began pedaling.

  “I haven’t done this in years,” she called over her shoulder. She wobbled a little, but by the time they reached the end of the long driveway, she was steady and pedaling easily.

  Nick rode next to her when traffic allowed, dropping behind when cars approached. Sunday afternoon in Glenwood was quiet. He could hear families playing together outside and smell the tempting aroma of barbecues. Leafy green trees sprouted in front of houses and along the sidewalks. Some of the graceful branches stretched across the street and touched.

  After about fifteen minutes, they reached a large, grassy park. There were picnic benches, a baseball diamond, more trees and a pond complete with a score of little ducks and toddlers offering bits of bread.

  Hannah came to a stop and straddled her bike. She smiled at him when he caught up. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright. “Thank you,” she said. “I needed to get away. This is great.”

  She wore a peach short-sleeved shirt tucked into worn jeans. Nothing fancy or obviously provocative, yet looking at her was enough to make him want her. He watched the rise and fall of her chest as she caught her breath. Her lips parted and he caught a glimpse of white teeth. A couple strands of hair had slipped free of her braid.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said without thinking, then could have kicked himself.

  Hannah reacted predictably. She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. I expected something more original out of you, Nick. Are you losing your touch?”

  He was and she was the reason. Not that she would believe him if he told her the truth. “Si
mply stating the obvious,” he said lightly, then glanced around the park. “What do you think of Glenwood?”

  “Seems nice. Kind of small and quiet.”

  “Great when you’re a kid or a parent, hell for teenagers. There’s not a whole lot to do.”

  “You sound as if you speak from experience.”

  He motioned to an unoccupied bench by a jogging trail. They left their bikes at the edge of the grass and strolled toward the bench.

  “I grew up in a town like this,” he said. “It was a little north of Santa Barbara, close to the beach. Everybody knew everybody else, just like here.”

  She settled next to him on the bench. He looped his arm around her shoulders. When she started to squirm away, he whispered, “It’s just for show, sweet thing. Don’t panic.”

  It was as much a lie as his claim of an audience of children the previous night. Not exactly noble, but he was working against the clock. Besides, Hannah kissed pretty hot for someone who was not even supposed to like him.

  “What was your family like when you were growing up?” she asked.

  He played with a loose strand of her hair, drawing it back from her face and fingering the cool, silky curl, then tucking it behind her ear. “Small. My mom died when I was born and I didn’t have any brothers or sisters.”

  She exhaled and leaned against him. “My brothers said some ugly things about their father…my father, I guess. No one has told him about me. They haven’t come out and said it, but I get the impression they think he won’t care about me.”

  “Children, even when they’ve grown up, want their parents to be perfect. You have that mental image from all those years ago. You imagined a wonderful, loving family and it’s difficult when reality doesn’t match the dream.”

  She nodded slowly. “Louise is great. Not at all the mother I’d pictured, but terrific all the same. I don’t know what to do about getting in touch with Earl.”

  “You don’t have to make a decision today or even this week. You can think about it for a while, you know.”

  “You’re right. I suppose I’m feeling pressured to do it all now.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Thanks, Nick.”

  For that moment, it was real. There wasn’t any caution in her eyes, no hesitancy, no judgment. He told himself she leaned against him because she wanted to. Because he offered her comfort, and maybe because he turned her on.

  His whole life was a fraud, yet he lived it as if it were real. Why not this situation with Hannah? Why should it be any different?

  “What was your father like?” she asked.

  He let his fingers trail down her cheek. She didn’t protest or pull back. Maybe it was just part of the game, but right now he didn’t give a damn.

  “When he was sober, he was the best dad in town. We’d play ball, go fishing, build a fire and cook dinner down on the beach.” He smiled at the memories. “He was always there for me.”

  If, he reminded himself. His smile faded. If his father didn’t start drinking. “When he was drunk, he was a mean son of a bitch who picked a fight with anyone.” Even a seven-year-old kid. He had the broken bones to prove it.

  Hannah straightened. Her dark eyes widened. “He beat you.” It wasn’t a question.

  He shrugged. “Sometimes. He’d go on the wagon for a couple of months, then one day he’d reach for the bottle. I never knew when it was going to happen. Once, when I was ten, my dad came home really drunk. He staggered into the house. I got up to see if he was all right. I had a dog. Chester. A big ugly mutt. My dad tripped over Chester and got mad. So he tried to shoot him.”

  Nick spoke the words calmly, but inside he could still hear the sound of the bullet being chambered. “I had to give him to a friend. Later my dad said Chester could come back, but I knew better. The next time my old man would probably pull the trigger.”

  “No!” Hannah placed her hands on his chest. “That’s so horrible. I’m sorry. Did you hate him after that?”

  He couldn’t look at her beautiful face and watch the compassion soften her features. Knowing she cared would be dangerous. He stared out at the green grass and trees. “I always understood it wasn’t really his fault. Taking the first drink was, I guess, but what happened later—that wasn’t my dad. He was sick. I guess I learned early not to trust anyone. After Chester, I avoided getting attached.”

  “Is that why you operate outside the law?” He glanced at her sharply. She pulled back and covered her mouth. “I’m sorry. I spoke without thinking. I didn’t mean to pry.”

  He didn’t know what to say without blowing his cover. Despite everything that had happened, he hadn’t turned to a life of crime. The thought had never crossed his mind. His past was the reason he became a cop. To make it right. But he couldn’t tell her that.

  “I am sorry,” she said.

  “No big deal. Ask whatever you like. After all, we’re married and you’ve seen me naked.”

  His statement got the expected results. She laughed and flushed slightly. The dark mood was broken.

  “I believe I paid for that,” she said. “Five whole dollars.”

  “I gave you a break because we’re friends.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “What would you charge a stranger?”

  “That would depend on her intentions.”

  “Somehow I think the worse her intentions, the less expensive the price.”

  He turned his head and brushed his lips against hers. The desire was immediate, as was his reaction. He ignored the pressure in his groin and the need to pull her closer and make love to her. “Exactly.”

  She laughed again and stared up at him. He read the invitation in her eyes. Did she know it was there and what she asked? He didn’t think so.

  “Hannah, you’ve got a real chance here,” he said. “Don’t blow it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your family. They’re willing to accept you with open arms. They don’t want anything and they won’t hurt you.”

  She visibly withdrew, sliding back on the bench and putting distance between them. She folded her arms over her chest. “They offered me stock. Just like that. Apparently, Austin owns this successful company and they’re all shareholders. They each signed over shares to me so I could have a part of it, too.”

  “What’s so odd about that?”

  She looked at him as if he were as crazy as the rest of them. “They don’t know the first thing about me.”

  “Three of your brothers are cops. They’re used to assessing people fairly quickly. Besides, I’m sure it wasn’t difficult in your case. You’re just like them.”

  “I am not. I’m different.” She turned her face away. “This family stuff is highly overrated.”

  The words were a lie. He found the truth in her defensive posture. She desperately wanted to believe in her newfound family. She wanted to be a part of them, to belong. But she was afraid. Afraid that she didn’t know how to start and maintain a connection. Afraid that if she cared about them, they would reject her, just like everyone else in her life had done.

  He wanted to tell her it was going to be all right, but she wouldn’t believe him. She needed him to show her the way. Then he smiled slightly as he imagined what she would say if she knew he felt she needed guidance from him of all people. She would verbally chop him up into little pieces and serve them for supper.

  But she wasn’t going to make it on her own. He would have to subtly set things right and there was only one way to do that.

  Stay a while longer.

  It wasn’t a problem. He couldn’t go back to Southport Beach until he’d heard the all-clear from Captain Rodriguez. Hannah might put up a fight, but he figured he could handle her. This was a short-term commitment and he did that well. It was the long-term emotional stuff that gave him trouble.

  He and Hannah made a good team. She had the skills to fit in; she just didn’t know how to use them. He had the skills and the knowledge, but he didn’t bother. In a way, they were similar.
They both avoided relationships. She was afraid to be rejected; he refused to ever be hurt that badly again. Neither was willing to trust.

  Hell of a mess, he thought and rose to his feet. “I’ll race you back,” he said. “Winner gets to see the loser naked.”

  She jumped up and jogged toward her bike. “Give me a real incentive to win, Nick. Something I care about.”

  He grinned. “Tough decision, huh? Do you go slow and flaunt yourself in front of me, or go fast and get to see me again?”

  She didn’t answer, but as she pedaled past, he caught a smile on her lips. His spirits lifted. Now that he didn’t have to leave tonight, he could afford to take his time with Hannah and seduce her slowly, the way she deserved.

  For starters, he was going to let her win this race.

  * * *

  Hannah glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the dining room. It was 8:36. Two minutes later than the last time she’d checked. Most of the dinner dishes had been cleared and the children excused from the table. Only the adults remained to linger over coffee.

  Sandy leaned back in her chair and folded her napkin. “I have to thank you, Hannah. In the past couple of days, our family has spent more time together than we have in months. I’ve really enjoyed these large dinners and being with everyone. We tend to get busy with our own lives and forget how lucky we are to have all this.” She motioned to include everyone in her dining room, as well as the children playing upstairs.

  “I agree.” Elizabeth smiled. “It’s been a treat.”

  Travis pushed his chair back. “Yeah, yeah, it’s been great. But if you girls are going to get mushy, I think we men had better leave the room.”

  “Not so fast.” Elizabeth grabbed his arm. “You men are in charge of cleaning up. Remember?”

  “Anything for you, love.” He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth, then picked up the rest of the plates. “Come on, men. Let’s get to it.”

  In the confusion of everyone standing up and either clearing the table or moving into the living room, Hannah took another peek at the clock, then moved toward Nick. “I have to talk to you,” she said quietly.

  “I should help with the dishes.”