The Wedding Planner

by Millie Criswell

  “Unfortunately neither my mother nor I have the resources to pay for such an operation, let alone the expenses we would incur during her convalescence.” She’d been told by her mother’s insurance company that the cost for such an operation could exceed one million dollars, and that they would only cover a very small portion. “I appreciate your coming, but—”

  Stepping forward, Dr. Cushman reached for her hand. It was warm and comforting, and she decided that even Marcus Welby could have taken lessons in bedside manner from the older man. “We understand about financial considerations, Miss Baxter, which is why I think you should speak to Mr. Morgan before making any decision.

  “It’s necessary for Dr. Robertson and me to return to Baltimore within the hour, but we can make the necessary arrangements in a matter of hours to have your mother transported to Johns Hopkins once you give the word.”

  Meredith stared transfixed at the doorway for several moments after the doctors departed. Her fondest hope—to save her mother’s life—had just been laid before her.

  But at what cost? And she wasn’t thinking about money.

  “I won’t marry you, Adam, even if you pay for a heart transplant,” she told him flat-out, ignoring his startled, somewhat wounded expression. “So if that’s your motive in doing this—”

  “Dammit, Meredith, but you make it hard for a man to right an old wrong.”

  “And you make it hard for a woman not to believe you don’t have ulterior motives. After all, you’ve gone to some rather unusual lengths to convince me to marry you.”

  “That’s true, but this situation doesn’t have anything to do with the other.” He turned toward the credenza behind him. “Would you care for a glass of wine?”

  “All right.” It was a little early in the day, but what the heck? Maybe alcohol would render everything crystal clear. Adam certainly hadn’t as yet.

  Seating herself in one of the wing chairs flanking the fireplace, she took the glass he offered, waiting impatiently while he seated himself in the other. “It’s ‘later,”’ she reminded him, needing answers to her many questions.

  Adam was uncertain how Meredith would react to his taking control of such a delicate situation. She already thought him too presumptuous, but he decided to take his chances, anyway. The surgery would benefit not only Louise Baxter, it would also lighten the burden on Meredith’s shoulders. It couldn’t have been easy for her having her mother’s life placed in her hands and not being able to do a thing to save it.

  “Your mother apprised me of the circumstances surrounding your father’s death. It seems she holds Morgan Coal Mining and Manufacturing responsible for events leading up to and succeeding Henry Baxter’s demise.”

  Oh, Mother! What have you done?

  “And after a bit of investigation I have to agree that we were partly to blame.”

  His admission moved her, as did his willingness to accept responsibility for something that happened a long time ago, something he had nothing to do with, something that in reality was no one’s fault but the Almighty’s. And Meredith wasn’t about to cast blame in His direction.

  Reaching out, she touched his hand. “Nonsense. You’re not to blame. My mother is bitter because her life didn’t turn out the way she’d planned. She misses my dad, hates being ill, and it’s colored the way she looks at things.”

  “Nonetheless, I feel we owe her.” He explained at length what his investigation had uncovered thus far, then added, “I’m sorry, Meredith, for what you and your mother had to endure because of our oversight. My company should have been there for you. It’s never been our policy to treat employees callously, as your father was apparently treated.

  “Morgan Coal Mining and Manufacturing is a company with a heart, and we’d like to give that heart to your mother. It won’t make up for your father’s death, but—”

  “Adam! I…I don’t know what to say.”

  “Please say you’ll accept my apology and forgive my father for his lack of action in this matter all those years ago. Allistair Morgan was a hard man, uncaring at times to his own family, but he always held the highest regard and admiration for the people who worked for him, and I’m sure that included your father.”

  “I do,” she said softly, her eyes filling with tears. “And I thank you for wanting to make things right. But that doesn’t mean I hold you responsible for my mother’s heart condition or my father’s death, Adam. I certainly don’t expect you to pay for a heart transplant, though it is the nicest thing anyone’s ever offered to do for me. I apologize for having suspected you of having an ulterior motive. I was wrong.”

  “As much as I’d like to marry you, Meredith, I would never hold your mother’s failing health over your head. I hope you give me more credit than that. Besides,” he added, grinning, “I’m not giving up on the idea of marrying you. I just have to find another way to convince you.”

  Deciding in that instant that Adam Morgan’s heart was worth another shot, Meredith set down her wine, crossed the small distance between them, then plopped herself onto his lap, circling his neck with her arms, much to his surprise and, judging from the rock-hard response of his body, delight.

  He might not realize yet that he loved her, but no man went to as much trouble for a woman as Adam had gone for her and not possess some feelings. It gave her hope.

  “Why don’t you kiss me for starters. It always gets me in the mood for other things.” Her smile was deliciously naughty, her eyes twinkling at his shocked expression.

  “Other things?”

  She loosened his tie and began to unbutton his shirt. “I suggest you lock the door, Mr. Morgan, or Mrs. Fishburn’s going to get an eyeful.”

  He jumped to his feet, carting her to the door with him. “You constantly surprise me, Meredith.”

  “And you, Mr. Morgan, are without a doubt the most exasperating,” she kissed his chin, “the most difficult man—” she moved her lips to his mouth “—I have ever encountered.”

  “Thank you,” he said, sweeping his tongue over her teeth before lowering her onto the sofa. “That’s music to my ears.”

  “You’re impossible.” She trailed her tongue down his bare chest.

  “Mmm,” he conceded, then bared her breasts and lapped at her nipples.

  “Arrogant.” Her hand moved to cup him and she squeezed gently.

  “Meredith!”

  “And very…very…hard…very hardheaded indeed, Mr. Morgan.” She tugged down his zipper, releasing the pulsing member and clasping it in her hand.

  “Two can play at this game, Miss Baxter.” Beads of sweat formed on his upper lip as Adam reached under her skirt to find another surprise—thigh-high stockings, which were no impediment to his destination. Tearing off the wisp of material covering her, he palmed her with slow, circular motions until she grew wet.

  “Adam!” Her groan of pleasure filled the room.

  Unable to wait any longer, he entered her quickly, plunging into the depths of her core, their mating fast, frenzied and fulfilling. When they had both felt satiated and floated back down to earth, Adam kissed her softly on the lips and sighed the sigh of a man totally contented with the world and everything in it.

  “You’re very special to me, love. I hope you realize that.”

  Her dreamy smile was one of pure satisfaction. “I’m beginning to suspect.”

  Suddenly the grandfather clock chimed two, and her eyes, which had been closed, flew wide open. “I nearly forgot.” Pushing at his chest, she sat up, “I’ve got an appointment in thirty minutes,” then began a frantic search for her underwear.

  With a somewhat guilty expression, Adam brought forth her panties—what remained of them, anyway—dangling the wispy scrap of black lace from his forefinger. “I guess I got a little carried away in the heat of the moment. You’ll have to go without these.”

  Her face flamed as she stared at the torn remnants of what used to be Victoria’s Secret’s bargain of the month. Her skirt was quite short,
and she was likely to pull a Sharon Stone if she met the Weavers without anything beneath it.

  “I’d offer you a pair of mine, but I don’t think they’d fit.”

  The smile she shot him took away not only his self-satisfied smirk, but his breath, forcing him to lean back against the sofa. “I hope you spend the remainder of the day thinking about me without a stitch of clothing on beneath this suit.” A black lace bra, which matched the underpants, landed squarely on his head. He took it in his hands, staring wide-eyed at it, then at her. “Have a nice day, Adam,” she said before departing.

  HE WATCHED HER LEAVE. Damn, but she was a fine-looking woman, Curtis thought. She wore no bra, he could tell. And he wanted nothing more than to have his fill of her.

  And he would. Soon.

  Now that he’d thought out a plan, there was no way he was going to leave Meredith Baxter out of it.

  Soon, he thought. Very soon.

  THE HAIRS ON THE BACK of Meredith’s neck prickled, and she paused by the car door, key in hand, squinting against the sun at the woods across the road from Adam’s house. She saw nothing but green-leafed trees, thick underbrush and birds flitting from branch to branch, but she still had the distinct feeling someone was watching her.

  For days she’d had the uneasy feeling of being watched. Even at home behind locked doors and drawn drapes she felt as if eyes were upon her. It was silly, she knew, and obviously stress related. She’d been working hard on a number of weddings, and her mother’s deteriorating health, combined with Adam’s unrelenting pursuit, had taken its toll.

  Turning back toward the mansion, she saw Adam standing at the window and breathed a sigh of relief. She returned his wave, chiding herself for her overactive imagination. Then, checking her watch, she muttered a colorful epithet under her breath and plunged into the driver’s seat, forgetting her imagined fears for the reality of meeting her persnickety client, Fran Weaver, without any underpants on.

  And if that wasn’t scary enough, the subsequent meeting she would have with her mother this afternoon. The meeting that could save Louise Baxter’s life, if she could convince the stubborn woman to have the transplant operation.

  PAUSING OUTSIDE her mother’s room, Meredith crossed herself, even though she wasn’t Catholic, said a brief prayer that Louise would be reasonable for a change and entered, forcing a huge smile to her face.

  Smiles could hide lies very effectively, and her mother could always detect when Meredith was lying. Today she intended to tell a whopper.

  “Hi, Mom! How are you feeling? Better I hope.”

  Louise’s eyes widened in surprise. “What are you doing here so early? I wasn’t expecting you till later.”

  Reaching behind her back, she brought forth a bag with the colonel’s cheery face on it, and her mother licked her lips. “I’ve brought some illicit fried chicken for us to share. I’ve got some good news, and I thought we should celebrate.” There was nothing her mother liked more than fried chicken, and Meredith wasn’t above using a bit of bribery to soften her up.

  “Lock the door,” Louise cautioned, casting a nervous glance in its direction. “If Nurse Mullins comes in and sees what we’re eating, she’ll put me on a diet of beef bouillon for weeks.”

  They settled themselves at the small maple table like a couple of treasure-laden pirates, and Meredith served up the bounty, pushing a paper plate toward her mother. “You mentioned good news,” Louise said between bites, unable to hide the pleasure on her face at eating something so wickedly unhealthy for her.

  Meredith began her fabrication. Soon her mother would be able to eat all the fried chicken she wanted, and Meredith knew the lies would be worthwhile. “Adam Morgan’s secretary contacted me today. Apparently she found an old insurance policy on Dad while cleaning out some files.”

  “An insurance policy? But I thought we’d received all of his benefits after his death.”

  “So did I, but apparently we were wrong. The documents are old but still in force. It seems Dad left you a tidy sum of money.”

  Louise’s eyes widened, and she set down her forkful of coleslaw. “How tidy?”

  Meredith grinned. “Enough to pay for a heart transplant.”

  “But, but—That’s an awful lot of money, Merry.” The shocked woman’s face whitened more than usual, her hand flying to her chest to cover her rapidly beating heart. Meredith knew a moment of concern, but then her mother’s color returned.

  Reaching out across the table, Meredith clasped her mother’s hand. “It’s what we’ve been praying for, Mom. Your chance to get well, be normal again, kick the dust of this place off your shoes.”

  Tears filled the woman’s eyes. “I hardly know what to say, what to think. An insurance policy.” She shook her head. “It’s unbelievable.”

  “Aren’t you the one who’s always telling me that God works in mysterious ways?” God and Adam Morgan, Meredith thought. An intriguing combination if ever there was one.

  “I may live to see you married yet, Merry.”

  Kissing her mother’s cheek, she replied, “It’s okay to be optimistic, Mom, but let’s not get carried away about the marriage thing, okay? I’ve got more important things to worry about, like getting you well.”

  Louise’s chin, dripping with chicken grease, jutted out mutinously. “I intend to watch you walk down the aisle on the arm of your husband. I also plan to be in the hospital waiting room when you give birth to my first grandchild.”

  Swallowing with some difficulty, Meredith forced a small smile, thinking that after what had occurred between her and Adam this afternoon, her mother could very well get her wish.

  In the heat of the moment, she and Adam had gone sleeveless once again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  While Louise waited anxiously in the Baltimore hospital for an organ match to be found, Meredith did the same at home, filling her time with work, studying the latest information on heart transplantation and spending time with Adam.

  The two had been nearly inseparable since her mother’s departure a week ago, and Meredith felt guilty at being so deliriously happy during the woman’s difficult ordeal.

  To assuage that guilt she called Louise three times a day, without fail, to check on how she was handling things and to offer reassurance. Her mother had put on a brave face, but Meredith knew she was terrified. She planned to visit her during the upcoming long Memorial weekend, and, using the statistics she’d gleaned from her research, hoped to allay some of her fears. Adam and the kids intended to accompany her, which would make everything perfect.

  If only an organ could be located.

  Adam touched the end of Meredith’s nose with the tip of his finger, then pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest. “Will you stop frowning and kiss me? I can’t stand to see you so upset.” If making love could keep her mind off her mother’s condition, then he felt obligated to provide the distraction. He’d never made love to any woman and felt the way he did now—all warm and contented and happier than he’d been in his entire life.

  Was that love? Was he in love with Meredith? If only he knew for sure. He’d even read a few of those romance novels she was so crazy about, to see if they could provide him with the answer. He’d enjoyed them, though he had no intention of admitting that to anyone, but he was still as confused as ever about his feelings for her.

  One thing he wasn’t confused about was his unrelenting desire for her. It was a hunger he couldn’t satisfy, a burning within him that even the coldest shower couldn’t quell. “Make love with me again. I can’t get my fill of you.”

  Caressing his cheek, she kissed him softly on the lips. “I can’t seem to get enough of you, either, Adam. It’s scary how much I want you. But I’m going to be too worn out to visit my mother if we keep this up. I might not be able to walk.”

  She’d been barely awake when Adam had shown up at her door at seven o’clock that morning, holding a bag of mouth-watering croissants and two large cups of gourm
et coffee. Smoldering looks had been exchanged over the hurried meal, then they’d found their way to her bed by seven-fifteen and had been there ever since.

  Grinning, he reached for her breast and began fondling her nipple. His touch elicited a moan. “You won’t have to,” he informed her. “We’re taking a private jet.”

  That moan turned quickly to openmouthed wonder, and she stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “I have a perfectly good car, Adam, and it won’t take long to drive to Baltimore. A few hours at most. I won’t have you spending money needlessly. You’ve done enough already.”

  She intended to keep track of every penny he spent. Someday—maybe when she won the lottery—she’d pay him back. She’d never purposely used another human being for her own ends before, and she wasn’t going to start with Adam, no matter how much money he had or how much he insisted—make that demanded—she take it. Aside from the fact that she loved him too much, that sort of behavior just grated against her upbringing, falling into the “never a borrower or a lender be” category.

  Stretching long legs out in front of him, Adam’s toes hit the footboard of the bed. He frowned. Double beds were just too darn small for his large frame. “Remind me to buy you a new bed. If we’re going to make love at your house, then I need a larger—”

  She knew him too well, and her brow lifted. “Don’t change the subject. I said, we’re driving.”

  Still toying with her breast, as if it was the most fascinating object he’d ever discovered, he ignored her tortured gasps of pleasure and replied, “The kids have been begging for an airplane ride. I thought next weekend would be the perfect time to let them have their fun.” In less than a month Megan and Andrew would be back in court for the final round of custody proceedings. They might as well enjoy themselves now, in the event—

  No! He refused to think in any terms other than the fact that he would marry Meredith and adopt his niece and nephew. He hadn’t wanted to pressure her while her mother was in the hospital, but time was quickly slipping away, as were his chances with the court.