Married by Mistake!

by Renee Roszel

  “That’s very—uh—really great...” she murmured.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ON SUNDAY afternoon, the family gathered in the parlor. Stadler stood before the fire wearing a Cheshire-cat grin. Lucy knew trouble when she saw it, and that smile spelled disaster:

  At two o’clock, the inn was quiet since the guests checked out by noon and new arrivals weren’t expected until four. This last day of March was sunny, with a refreshing nip in the breeze, the faint breath of a dying winter. Wood smoke and baby powder scented the air as a fire flickered low on the hearth. Worry tightened Lucy’s stomach. What did Stadler have on his shrewd, obstinate mind?

  Half-blocking the fire, he stood, his hands clasped behind his back, his legs braced wide, as though he was about to give a soliloquy. His eyes were on her and Jack as they sat, holding hands, on the sofa. Lucy tried to ignore Stadler’s piercing stare and concentrated on watching Helen and Damien play with the twins.

  Elissa sat in the leather chair to Lucy’s left. Sareena paced somewhere behind the sofa. At least that’s what it sounded like.

  “Staddie?” The pacing stopped. “Staddie, I thought we were going to Mutton Hollow this afternoon. When are we going?”

  Jack leaned close to Lucy, whispering, “I give her a nine point seven in Olympic whining.”

  Lucy’s lips twitched at his joke. She found his attentiveness pleasant, considering how he’d dismissed her last night when Desiree called. Her fledgling smile faltered when she remembered the passion in his voice, his sexy laugh, his sleepy-lidded eyes while he talked with his lady love. Desiree. She wondered why that thought had come to mind and why it made her feel restless.

  “Ena-pet,” Stadler said, his smile and regard never wavering from Lucy, “we’ll leave soon. I already told you we’d stay for the musical review—”

  “But, Staddie,” Sareena broke in, moving to him, fanning a brochure in his face, “there’s so much cool stuff. It says here it’s a little village in the woods—like a hundred years ago—with real cobblestone streets. And they make baskets and dip candles and you can learn to make apple butter and pig skins.”

  Stadler glanced her way, looking dubious. “They make footballs?”

  Sareena laughed, a high-pitched, squeaky sound. “No, silly.” She waved the brochure at him again. “It says right here that pig skins are a tasty snack food. And there’s bluegrass music, too,” she hurried on, appearing unbothered by his lack of enthusiasm. Grabbing his hand, she squirmed from one foot to the other. “You know how I love bluegrass music!”

  He removed his hand from her two-fisted hold and patted her shoulder. “In a minute, pet. I don’t want to miss the big announcement that Jack and Lucy are about to make.” He transferred his glance from his petulant fiancée to Lucy. “Surely you have an announcement—while the whole family is gathered together.” He looked from Lucy to Jack and back to Lucy, his lips lifting in a knowing smirk. “I’m amazed that you allowed me to be the first to know.”

  Helen and Damien glanced up from their places beside the baby blanket. “What announcement?” Helen asked as one baby girl batted at her mother’s fingers with both tiny hands.

  Lucy felt like giving Stadler a stern look, but instead, she shifted to stare at Jack. He grinned down at her as though the idea of making “an announcement” was exactly what had been on his mind. “Think we should, sweetheart?” he murmured loudly enough for all to hear. Before she could ask what he was talking about, he leaned closer, his lips grazing the shell of her ear, the touch stilling her. “The jerk is calling our bluff, Luce,” he whispered. “We have to do this. Now, giggle.”

  Though Lucy was taken aback by what he said and agitated to think the lie had to go one step further, she allowed a frothy gurgle to escape her throat. It sounded almost genuine.

  Before Jack moved away, he nipped at her earlobe, his echoing chuckle deep and sexy. She didn’t realize her eyes had gone wide until they felt dry and prickly. Her pulse doubled, tripled, and a tingle skidded along her spine that made her shiver. Jack was good at this being-engaged stuff. That little nip at her ear did very peculiar things to her metabolism.

  Partly to embellish on the falsehood and partly because she was irritated at him for the erotic-teeth thing, she gave him a firm nudge in the ribs. “Oh, Jack, you’re so bad,” she scolded, her eyes telegraphing her real meaning, while the grin of a lovesick loon rode her lips.

  Casting a glance at Stadler, she was rewarded with a dimming of his cheeky smile. Maybe it was worth taking the lie to this new, inconceivable plateau just to see that.

  “What announcement?” Elissa asked, sitting back and tapping her nose with the rattle she’d been using to entertain Little Elissa Two. “Do you two know which twin is named for me?” Her expression was a burlesque of excitement, as though she knew that couldn’t be the announcement. The remark was calculated to get Helen and Damien to tell her what she wanted to hear.

  Jack laughed. “You have a one-track mind, Elissa. That’s not the only announcement in the world.”

  Elissa sat back, looking put out. “It’s the only important one.”

  “What is it?” Helen asked as she picked up one fussy baby to snuggle.

  Jack lifted Lucy’s hand and kissed her knuckles. When he did, their eyes met, and Lucy was awed by the tenderness she saw there. The emotion seemed so honest she could almost believe it herself. Except for Desiree, of course. “We’ve decided to get married next Saturday,” he said.

  For some reason, Lucy couldn’t help but smile back. Jack was cute when he lied. His cinnamon eyes twinkled with warmth and humor. Her knuckles still tingled, a keepsake of his kiss. She amended her thought. Jack was cute, period. And the touch of his lips could cause a feminine reaction no matter which miscellaneous body part he aimed at. Knuckles, for heaven’s sake!

  “Of course you two are getting married next Saturday,” Elissa said, her shrewd lawyer face set. “I knew that already.” She shifted to look at Stadler. “You weren’t the first to hear.” Making a production of turning disdainfully away from him, she faced Jack and Lucy and smiled. “My darling sister asked me to be her maid of honor. Didn’t you, sweetie?”

  Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but Helen added, “And she asked me to be her matron of honor.” She touched Damien’s thigh. “Here’s the best man.” She threw her husband a kiss, which he caught and put in his pocket over his heart. Swinging toward Lucy and Jack, Helen looked quite believable when she asked, “Who didn’t know?”

  Lucy smiled, amazed at her sisters. When they decided to carry out a fraud, they were amazing. She blessed them both. Surely, seeing how casually they all accepted the fact that Lucy and Jack were going to be married in a mere six days, even Stadler would get the idea and go. She lifted her chin and tossed her ex-fiancé a look that asked, “Who’s got egg on his face now?” Resisting the lure of Stadler’s sensuality seemed easier when she was safe in the midst of her family—and good, solid Jack was holding her hand.

  “Staddie?” Sareena tugged at his sleeve. “I think I’ll take my guitar. It says here they let guest performers wander the streets and play for free.” She smiled around at the rest of the gathering. “I’ll have a chance to perfect my style.” She shifted to look at Lucy and Jack. “Oh, and congratulations. You’re very cute together.”

  “You noticed that, too,” Jack murmured as the small woman sprinted from the room.

  “What exactly is Sareena’s style, Stadler?” Elissa stood, straightening her skirt, the rattle in her hand accompanying her movements. “No, don’t tell me.” She tossed the toy onto the white baby blanket. “I’ll read about it in the morning paper.” She straightened, then made a sweeping move in the air with her hand. “I can see the story now. ‘A woman was pelted to death with apple butter and half-woven baskets after an impromptu concert at Mutton Hollow caused outraged visitors to take up arms in self-defense. No charges have been filed. According to police officials, the incident is being called ”justifiable h
omicide”.’”

  Stadler’s expression grew hateful. “What has Sareena ever done to you, Elissa?”

  “Why—she found you attractive, of course.” Kneeling, she gave each of her nieces a kiss. “I’d better check with Jule to see if the room’s ready for the Wilsons. Ta-ta.” At the parlor door, she turned back. “Oh, by the way, Jack. There’s a three-day waiting period for getting married here in Branson, so you two had better get on down to the courthouse and apply for your license in the next day or so.”

  Jack grinned. “Yes, Mother.”

  As the tall redhead disappeared, Sareena dashed back, panting, her guitar case clutched in her hand. The image of a grunge rocker in slashed jeans and flannel shirt, the petite brunette had added a new accessory. A nose clip. And there was a pink streak in a section of her hair that stood straight up between her eyes. “Ready, Stad?”

  He gave his petite fiancée a tolerant smile. “Coming, Ena-pet.”

  “Will you two be checking out in the morning?” Lucy looked around in alarm, shocked to discover the question had come from her own lips. And worst of all, she’d sounded panicked. The idea of going to the courthouse and actually—well, she didn’t want to go that far. Was it against the law to apply for a marriage license when you had no intention of getting married? Maybe never in your whole life? She just wanted Stadler to leave, give her the time she needed to think, to heal. She didn’t want to go around applying for marriage licenses.

  At her tremulous question, Stadler turned. “Leave? Tomorrow?” His sandy brows rose as though the idea had never occurred to him. Lucy held her breath, expecting the worst, but hoping for a miracle. “Actually, the season is just starting here for many of the performers, and Sareena can learn so much about country and mountain music from watching them.” He smirked at Lucy—the smirk of a snake, if a snake could smirk. “And I’ve been wanting some quiet, out-of-the-way place to work on a play I’ve been tossing around in my mind. I don’t have to be back at the university until May. I think this place would be perfect.”

  Lucy felt groggy from lack of oxygen. He couldn’t have said what she thought he’d said. He couldn’t mean he planned to stay—until May! No, surely he would go with Sareena to wherever she lived—hopefully on another planet.

  “Naturally, I wouldn’t want to miss your wedding, Lucy-pet.” Stadler gave Jack a speculative look. “I certainly wouldn’t want to miss that.”

  Jack squeezed Lucy’s hand, clearly communicating that she must be brave, hold on. “That would be—nice,” she mumbled.

  “I knew you’d be happy, Lucy-pet.” Stadler’s conversational tone didn’t fool her. The sarcastic jerk! “And since this is the slow season in Branson, Elissa can use the extra money, I’m sure.”

  Jack sat forward, but didn’t relinquish her hand. “We could make it a double wedding, Tinsley.” He grinned. “What about you and Sareena joining us at the altar?”

  Dismay jolted through Lucy, but Jack’s hold tightened, warning her not to strangle him just yet.

  “Staddie!” Sareena squealed. “Could we? Oh, it would be killer to get married in this cute town.”

  Stadler’s smile disappeared. When he turned to his animated fiancée, he almost, but not quite, recovered his pleasant expression. He grasped her pointed chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Remember, Ena-pet, you said you wanted a big church wedding. And your mother’s wedding dress needs altering. You have so much family in St. Louis.” Lifting the hand from her chin, he slipped the nose clip from her nostril and tucked it into his jacket pocket. Shaking his head, he appeared almost fatherly. “You wouldn’t want to deprive your parents, all your aunts and uncles and your three sisters from sharing your joy. You’d never forgive yourself.”

  Sareena’s face fell. “Oh—oh, Staddie.” She shrugged bony shoulders, her features pinched. “We’d be mean to do that. You’re right.” She took his hand. “You’re always right.” Turning toward the door, she tugged. “Let’s go, Stad-muffin.”

  Once they were gone, Lucy pulled from Jack’s hold and vaulted up to glower at him. “How could you suggest that we have a double wedding? That would have been tough to fake!”

  He relaxed back, looking up at her. “It was a bluff, Luce. I didn’t think he’d take me up on it. I thought he might face the fact—”

  “You thought?” She smacked his knee hard. “You do way too much thinking, pal!”

  Helen laughed, placing her fretful baby daughter against her shoulder. “Okay, so now that we have a wedding to plan...” She indicated Jack with a nod and gave Lucy a look that said, “Don’t you want to tell him that you two are destined to marry?”

  Lucy gasped at the silent, dangerous message. She dropped to her knees beside her sister. “Don’t you dare, Helen!”

  “Dare what?” Jack asked.

  Damien only chuckled.

  That night, Lucy was on her way downstairs to her room when she caught sight of Elissa pacing in the reception hall. “Anything wrong?” she asked.

  Elissa spun around, looking strung out. “Oh, it’s you.” She sagged against the reception desk. “I was waiting for Stadler.”

  Lucy was startled. “Really? Why?”

  In an uncharacteristic show of vulnerability, Elissa swung her tortured gaze to her younger sister. “I can’t stand it any longer. I can’t stand having him here making you miserable. It’s gone too far. I never thought we’d have to plan a wedding! I’m going to demand that he leave. First thing in the morning.”

  Lucy was amazed and felt a tingle of hope. Could this awful farce end in the morning with Stadler’s departure? She didn’t know how they’d get out of the wedding thing, but she knew Jack would think of some excuse. “But, Elissa, isn’t this sudden?”

  The redhead took hold of her sister’s shoulders. “Not a bit. I’ve been so upset for so long. I’ve tried to hide it, but I can’t put you and Jack through this any longer. I—” At that second, the door opened and Elissa whirled to confront Stadler as he and Sareena came inside. “You have to go, Tinsley,” she said in a rush. “I want you out. Tomorrow morning!”

  Lucy stood transfixed, expecting to see Stadler go all red in the face, to bluster and argue. But he didn’t. He merely leaned against the door and smirked. “I don’t think you really want that, Elissa.”

  Lucy watched her sister pull herself up to her full height. “I own this inn and I insist that you leave. You’re only paid up through tonight, and—”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.”

  Elissa stopped in midsentence, frowning. “What do you mean?” she asked, her tone dubious.

  Lucy became concerned, too. Stadler was a wily man. What did he have on his crafty little mind?

  He strolled over to the reception desk, lounging an elbow on it. “You’d better check your receipts. Yesterday, that Jule person was manning the reception desk. I believe she said you were in town on business. Anyway, I paid her for the rest of April.”

  Elissa visibly paled as Stadler’s triumphant grin broadened.

  “As an ex-lawyer, you know you can’t easily get me out of here. I haven’t done anything wrong and I’ve paid for the room. At least,” he added, his smile going hard, “I wouldn’t recommend that you try.” He took Sareena’s hand and tugged her toward the staircase hall. “Come Ena-pet. It’s been a long day.”

  Without a backward glance, he and his baffled-looking fiancée disappeared upstairs.

  “Elissa?” Lucy managed in a weak whisper. “Is he right?”

  Her features ashen, Elissa slowly came out of her trance and blinked forlornly at her sister. “Oh, I could fight him. But by the time it got through the system, he’d be gone anyway, and he knows it. He also knows I don’t have the time to deal with the paperwork and taking him to court. And worse, he’d sue. I simply don’t have the money for that.” She heaved a gloomy sigh. “I—I’m sorry, Lucy. I should have kicked him out right away. I—I just didn’t think he’d be such a pig.”

  Lucy squeeze
d her sister’s shaky fingers. “It’s not the end of the world,” she murmured, trying not to sound as despondent as Elissa looked. “We’ll get through this.”

  Elissa blinked back tears. “You’re a good person, sweetie.” She hugged her hard. “I don’t deserve you.”

  Lucy hugged her back, but couldn’t force words past the lump of despair in her throat. All hope for a reprieve from this mess was gone for good. The fake marriage was on.

  Lucy felt as though she’d been poleaxed. In a daze, she carried the faxed newspaper article up the stairs to Helen and Damien’s room. She knocked and her younger sister let her in. “Hi...” Helen stopped speaking, her expression closing in concern. “Good grief, Lucy. You look like you’ve just watched your best friend get hit by a bus.”

  Unable to put words to her thoughts, Lucy held out the fax.

  Helen took it, scanned the article, then wide-eyed, looked at her sister. “Wow!” She turned toward Damien, lounging on the bed, feeding one of the twins. The other baby slept beside him. “Look, honey.” She handed him the fax. “It seems that the news of Lucy and Jack’s upcoming wedding has hit Kansas City. One of Elissa’s law school friends faxed this.”

  Damien. read the article, then handed it back, sending Lucy a grin. “Looks like it’s news when a rich restaurateur like Jack Gallagher gets a marriage license.”

  Lucy sank into a straight-backed chair near the door. “I had no idea this would happen.” She pressed her fists to her temples, hoping it would ease the pounding of her head. “This is terrible. Terrible!”

  “It’s not so terrible, Lucy.” Helen came over to pat her sister’s arm. “It’s fate. After all, Jack’s your destiny, and—”