As they walked along with the Arizona sun on their faces, and the sound of the wind whispering through the pines, Bella pondered their conversation. Her grandfather seemed to really believe they were married. Not only that, he seemed completely fine with the situation. More than fine, he seemed pleased about it. That much he’d made crystal clear.
What was far less clear was how she herself felt. She couldn’t possibly be in love with Colin. Could she?
“You know, Colin, this really is beneath you.” Margaret Bladestone stared at the mule standing between herself and her grandson. “I’d expected better.”
Colin laughed. “I’m sure you did. You always have.” He gestured to the mule. “So, what’s it going to be? Are we going to talk or would you prefer to ride this beast down into the canyon for a few hours?”
“Neither option pleases me.” She took a step back, her facial expression clearly indicating her distaste for the animal in front of her. “However, given the choice, I would prefer to discuss whatever it is that you are so anxious to talk about. First get rid of this beast, and second, find me a cup of tea and a chair out of this infernal sunshine.”
The mule duly discharged, Colin guided his grandmother up toward the historic El Tovar Lodge. He secured a table for two inside the dining room, and with a little financial incentive the maître d' was able to provide them with a degree of privacy. After the tea was served, Colin sat back in his chair. “Now, Granny, I want to hear why you’ve instigated this entire charade that Bella and I are married.”
“Aren’t you?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I can’t figure out what’s in it for you.”
Margaret Bladestone used a set of silver tongs to drop a sugar cube into her teacup. “You sound far too calculating for a man who just recently entered holy matrimony.”
Colin was no stranger to his grandmother’s thrust and parry method of conversation. However, he was in no mood for it today. “Let’s get one thing straight from the start. Bella is off limits to you.”
“Meaning?”
He resisted the urge to hurl his teacup at the stone fireplace. “You understand quite well that I’m warning you to leave Bella alone. If you go after her, you’ll have to go through me and I won’t let you. Am I clear?”
He watched his grandmother take a delicate sip of tea. The woman was infuriating, an absolute ice queen. It was nothing new, she’d been this way his entire life. But now that he’d met Bella, a woman with a genuine smile, a warm heart, and a kind smile, he didn’t know how he had tolerated the matriarch of his family for so long.
Margaret set her teacup down and met his gaze straight on. “I would say the situation is anything but clear. Why you keep insisting that I need to sort this marriage nonsense out is beyond my comprehension.” She raised a delicately arched eyebrow. “You got yourself into this, Colin. Now you can get yourself out.” She paused for a long moment. “If that’s what you truly want.”
And there she had him. What did he want?
Bella. He wanted Bella Johnson. What he didn’t want, and couldn’t tolerate, was his grandmother’s interference in his personal life, especially when her meddling involved Bella. “What do you hope to gain by this ridiculous charade?”
“I have to wonder why you think I’d go to the great lengths of trying to convince you that you are married. Really, Colin, you should know what my schedule is like. I have far more important things to do than conjure up silly stories about you running off with a leggy red-head.”
A tense silence settled between them. Frustration didn’t begin to describe Colin’s feelings. He needed to get a grip on himself. Losing his cool, and his focus, wasn’t going to help him figure out what his grandmother was up to.
“If you’ll remember,” she interrupted his thoughts, “it was Miss Johnson’s grandfather who discovered what you two had done, not I.”
Colin sat back in his chair and watched her with narrowed eyes. “Something about that still doesn’t seem right. But since you bring the subject up, Clive Johnson is off limits as well.”
“Really, Colin, you should hear yourself. Your concerns are ridiculous. You may rest well assured that your new family members are of little consequence to me. I would think your most pressing concern would be how to talk your lovely new bride into signing a post-nuptial agreement. Might I recommend you do that sooner rather than later?”
“Who says I feel the need for a legal agreement?” As surprised as he was to hear himself speak the words, his grandmother seemed far more surprised to hear them.
She set her teacup down in its saucer with a noticeable clinking sound. “Goodness, she has gotten to you, hasn’t she?”
Bella had, but Colin wasn’t about to give his grandmother the satisfaction of knowing just how much. “If you’re indeed right that I’m legally married, then Bella has the right to all the perks and privileges that come with being married to a Bladestone.”
“I’ve never taken you for a fool, Colin. A little too idealistic, yes. But a fool? No. Don’t make me change my mind.”
“As hard as it might be for you to understand, Granny, Bella isn’t like you. She’s not hardwired to compute emotions with dollars.”
“What you don’t understand about women is frightening.” His grandmother pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. “Why don’t you put her to the test? Spend a pretty penny on her and see how much she objects.”
As Colin followed her out of the lodge, he found his certainty that his grandmother was lying about his marriage shaken. She seemed so sure that he’d actually married Bella, she certainly appeared resigned to the idea. His gaze wandered over the breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon but truthfully he had trouble taking in its majestic splendor.
“Go gather up your new wife, Colin. I’ve had about all the family togetherness I can take.”
Finally, something they agreed on.
Chapter 9
Upon their arrival back in Las Vegas, Bella insisted on accompanying her grandfather back home to the wedding chapel. She could tell by the look on Colin’s face that he was surprised but, to his credit, he acquiesced without a word of protest. As she slipped into the back seat of the taxi, she smiled at her grandfather. “Did you enjoy your day, Grandpa?”
“Well, I tell you, that Grand Canyon is always a wonder to behold. Did I ever tell you that I took your grandma there for our honeymoon?”
Bella smiled. “Yes, I remember. You said it was as far as you could go without running out of gas money.”
He chuckled. “It certainly wasn’t a cruise to the Caribbean but we sure had a nice time. Not like you and your new husband. You two need to go away for a little while.”
It was on the tip of Bella’s tongue to remind him that Colin wasn’t her husband. At least she didn’t think he was. But her grandfather thought so, or was pretending to anyways. Bella watched as the cab left the airport and headed toward the strip. What she hated most about this situation was not knowing if her grandfather was being dishonest with her. The thought that he was made her feel queasy. Clive Johnson had always been the one person in her life that she could count on for the truth. The thought that this might no longer be true was a reality she wasn’t prepared to face.
“Why don’t you go to Hawaii? I hear it’s a popular place for honeymooners.”
“I can’t go on a honeymoon, Grandpa. Not until I get some things squared away.”
He nodded. “That’s right, the other day you mentioned getting married properly. I hope you’ll let your old grandpa give you away this time.” He pulled out his wallet as the taxi came to a stop in front of the Hopeful Hearts Chapel. Once he paid the fare and they were standing on the sidewalk, he continued. “I assume you’re getting married here at the chapel, aren’t you, Bella honey?” He unlocked and held the door open for her. “We can’t let Wesley Jenkins have all the fun.”
“I can’t plan that far ahead yet, Grandpa.” Bella headed for the kitchen, desperate for a cup of hot c
offee. “I want to talk to Mr. Jenkins first.”
“Oh, he’ll come to your vow renewal if you invite him,” she heard her grandfather call after her. “Wesley loves a good party.”
While she was waiting for the coffee to brew, Bella unloaded the dishwasher and ran a clean cloth over the kitchen counter. Being back in the tiny kitchen, performing familiar tasks, was enough to make the events of the last few days feel like a confusing dream. She leaned against the kitchen counter, comforted by the smell of coffee and the familiar pattern of tiny yellow roses on the wallpaper.
She’d always wanted to marry and have children. She’d wanted to give them what she’d never had, two stable, devoted parents who loved not only their children, but each other. Like any woman, she’d dreamed of the kind of man she’d wanted to marry. Someone who was handsome. Someone who was kind. Someone who was intelligent. Someone who made her heart feel safe, as well as someone whose presence excited her. Someone just like Colin.
Her cell phone pinged, notifying her that she had a text message. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. It was Colin. ‘Miss you’ the text read. She sighed.
“Was that your husband checking up on you already?” Clive stood in the doorway, a knowing smile on his face.
Bella waved her grandfather into the kitchen. “Yes, it was Colin.”
Clive took down two mugs from the cupboard and set them on the counter. He added a dash of milk to his cup. “I expect he’s missing you. So let’s have a cup of coffee and get you on your way back to your husband.” He poured coffee into each mug. “You’re probably going to want to pack up a few more things to take with you, aren’t you, sweetie?”
Bella accepted the steaming mug. “Actually, Grandpa, I was thinking of staying here.”
Clive’s protest was instantaneous. “No, ma’am, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You two kids belong together. You’re married and you should go back to your husband.”
Bella took a deep breath and strove to keep herself composed. Her grandfather had had ample time today to give her an indication that he was in cahoots with Margaret Bladestone. But he hadn’t shown as much as a hint of duplicity. She’d always known her grandfather to be an honest man. What experience would he have with being deceitful? None that she knew about.
With sudden clarity, Bella realized that a part of the reason this situation was so hard was that she’d always gone to her grandfather for help. This time, however innocent he may or may not be, he was a part of the problem. Which meant that this whole wedding chapel mix-up was hers alone to deal with. No, that’s wasn’t right. It was Colin’s as well. The two of them needed to stick together to find a way to the truth.
“What’s wrong, Bella honey?” Clive’s face mirrored concern. “Is there something I should know? Has Colin done something that-”
Bella didn’t let him finish his sentence before she cut him off. “No, he’s been wonderful.” She smiled. She couldn’t help it when she thought of Colin. “I know I haven’t known him long, but he’s a good man.”
“I should certainly hope so. I can’t imagine you running off with any other kind of man.”
His words sounded jovial to Bella’s ear but they still stung. The fact that anyone who knew her could imagine her running off to marry a man she barely knew was embarrassing.Clive laid a gentle hand on her arm. “Is there some reason you’re reluctant to go back to the hotel tonight, honey?”
She shook her head. “No, not really, it’s just that I, oh, I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Try.”
She thought for a moment. “I don’t think I fit into Colin’s world.” Which didn’t really matter if they weren’t married, but if they were, it did matter. She buried her head in her hands. It was all too overwhelming. She said as much.
“Of course it is, honey. But what you’re feeling is normal. You don’t have to figure it all out the first day.”
“You said that the first day of middle school too.”
“And I was right, wasn’t I?”
She laughed softly. “You were.”
“Glad you remember, so while I’m on a roll, let me give you another pearl of wisdom. Go pack a few things, I’ll walk you down to the hotel, and you spend the evening with your husband. You know I’m not about to change the locks so you come home anytime you want. But at least make the effort to fit into Colin’s world.”
Bella rinsed her mug and put it in the sink. “Fit in how?”
“Just go back to your husband with an open mind and an open heart. You’ll figure it out from there.”
When Colin heard the double click of the door’s keypad, his heart did a triple take. He’d taken advantage of Bella’s absence to arrange a surprise for her. At the outset the idea had seemed inspired, it was only as he started to survey his options that he realized just how very little he knew about his…what to call a woman who went from fiancée to alleged wife within twenty-four hours?
He stood as Bella entered the suite.
“Who’s that man outside the door?” she asked as she dropped two small duffel bags just inside the entry way.
“Security.” He crossed the room and brushed a kiss across her cheek, pleased that she didn’t pull away. Her hair smelled like fresh ginger and lemon. Blissful. “How did you leave Clive?”
She ignored his question, her eyes intent on his. “Why do we need security? Is your grandmother on a rampage?”
He laughed. He loved that she so often made him laugh or smile. “Heavens, no. It’s not that she doesn’t bear watching but she’s not the violent type.” He led her toward the sofa. “Sit and I’ll fix you a drink.”
But she didn’t sit. “Colin, why is there a security guard outside of the door?”
Suddenly self conscious, he clasped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. Which he immediately regretted, why was he acting like a shady car salesman?
“Colin.”
“Right, sorry, I have a surprise for you. Are you sure you wouldn’t like a drink?”
A wry smile tugged at her lips. “No, thank you. You do remember what happened last time you offered me a drink?”
“As a matter of fact, I don’t. Which is precisely the problem, isn’t it?”
It was Bella’s turn to laugh. She settled onto the couch and kicked off her heels. “What sort of surprise?” She leaned forward. “Do you have news? Did you find out anything about our…what happened the other night?”
“No, no, nothing like that.” He watched as she sank back against the cushions. Now he felt like a prize fool for calling the jeweler in the first place. What Bella wanted was news, action or information, not a bauble. He reached for the jeweler’s tray and sat beside her. He pulled back the velvet cover and heard her gasp at the sight of rows of glittering gemstones.
“Colin, what is this?” She looked at him, with a puzzled frown that he found adorable. “Is this part of your foundation project that you’re supposed to be working on?”
“No. I wanted to buy you a proper ring.”
“Define proper.”
This was the tricky part. Was this an engagement ring, a wedding ring…what? “I wanted you to have a proper ring.”
“So you said.”
Her expression was unreadable. She wasn’t going to make this easy. He should have known. He thought for a moment before he spoke. “I wanted you to have something to remember me by.”
Colin watched an emotion he couldn’t read flit over Bella’s face. What had he said wrong? When she lowered her face, a curtain of hair fell and covered her face. He reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear, his hand lingering for only a moment as it brushed her cheek. His touch caused her to turn toward him.
Colin realized, in one of the most truthful moments of his life, that he could easily lose himself in her hazel eyes. They were a mosaic of green and brown, of desire and uncertainty. The color he appreciated, the emotion he shared. With one last lingering swee
p of his thumb against her cheek, he pulled back.
“Colin, I don’t understand this.”
He decided that the safest bet was to intentionally misunderstand her. To be pulled any further toward her would cause him to fall head first in love. “I’m sorry that I sprang this on you,” he glanced down at the tray of rings and then back at her, “but if you were truly my new bride, you’d have one of these on your finger.”
“But we don’t know that I am.”
“We don’t know that you’re not,” he countered. Four days ago, as he’d boarded the Bladestone jet to come to America, he’d have laughed at the suggestion that he would ever entertain the idea of marriage. Yet here he now was, wishing that he could call Bella his wife.
Bella leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes. “Do you know what I wish for?”
“Judging by your body language, never to see my face again.”
Bella laughed, and then she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “That’s the furthest thing away from what I wish for. But you really don’t need to buy me a piece of jewelry to remember you by. I could never forget you, Colin. Ever.”
He reached for her left hand and held it gently between his. “Please tell me which one is your favorite. This is something I really want to do.”
He nodded his encouragement and watched as Bella turned her attention to the jewelry displayed in front of her. She made a tentative move toward the top right corner and, if he wasn’t missing his mark, it was a vintage garnet ring set in gold and surrounded by tiny pearls that had caught her attention. But she pulled her hand back and a slight frown creased her forehead. “Your grandmother will have quite a reaction to you buying me a ring. She won’t be pleased. But of course, you’ve already thought about that.”
“Nonsense,” he protested quickly, but as much as he hated to admit it, there was an element of truth in her words. And she knew it. She reached out for the largest diamond solitaire and slipped it on.
The Wedding Chapel Page 7
