Newlywed Games

by Mary Davis

  Bruce smiled, then raised his eyebrows. “I think our food has just arrived.”

  After the waiter left and they blessed the food, her mother stared at Bruce, still awaiting an answer from him.

  Bruce glanced at Meghann for help. She had none to offer. After all, her mother wasn’t talking to her. She shrugged her shoulders and abandoned him with a sweet smile.

  “Well…we aren’t sure yet. We don’t want to rush into anything. Hasty decisions are often the wrong ones.”

  “You liked the place, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” he said reluctantly.

  Meghann nodded with a congenial smile.

  “Was there anything wrong with the place?” Mom asked, her eyebrows raised in determination.

  Meghann shook her head. “It was perfect.”

  “Nothing that couldn’t be remedied.” Bruce seemed a little uncomfortable.

  Meghann sensed he could feel himself being backed into a corner. How was he going to wiggle out of this?

  “Then you have to move fast before someone else decides to buy it out from under you!” The woman gained inertia with each word. “You don’t want to lose a find like that? To find a house you both agree on and like is nothing to be trifled with. Do you know how rare it is? Just like that—boom! You found your dream home.”

  Well, at least Mom has found her dream home, or should I say her dream home for us—or me—oh, whatever.

  “So, what do you think? Are you going to let this pass you by, or are you going to jump on it?”

  Bruce looked from his persistent pseudo-mother-in-law to his conspicuously quiet make-believe wife.

  Meghann held up her hands in mock surrender. “She’s not talking to me, remember?”

  He looked a bit stunned, then swung his gaze back to her mother. “I guess I’ll call the realtor when we get back and get the ball rolling. I’m easy to please. If Meghann likes it, that’s good enough for me. Any house where she is will feel like home.”

  Touché! She was sure her mom liked that little declaration of love and devotion. It wasn’t what she’d expected him to say, and somehow she sensed he knew it. He’d said the opposite of what he knew she wanted because she hadn’t gotten him off the hook. Well, she had tried at the start, but he refused to go away. Fortunately, he was good at thinking fast on his feet, even if he was sitting down.

  “I hope you know you’ve only made matters worse,” she said later that evening after her mother had gone to bed. “You’re egging Mom on. She’ll be impossible to live with now. She’s like a dog with a bone.”

  “You could have spoken up.”

  “Yes. And you could have gone away on an imaginary business trip.”

  He fell silent at that, and Meg looked at him, surprised to see a hint of something—was it hurt?—in his eyes. His question seemed to confirm her suspicions. “Why are you always trying to get rid of me?”

  She hugged her knees against her chest. “I’m not.” At his pointed glance, she inclined her head. “Not really. It’s just that lying to my mom is one thing, but I feel awful about dragging you into this. I never meant for you to know what I’d done, let alone have to take part in it!” She realized her voice was trembling and looked away from his gentle eyes. She gave a small laugh. “You probably think I’m a scatterbrained dimwit.”

  “Meg.”

  She didn’t respond. She couldn’t.

  “Hon, look at me.”

  Even if she’d been able to resist the endearment, she couldn’t withstand the utter tenderness in the request. She met his gaze.

  “Meghann, it was my choice to get involved in this. Basically I knew what I was getting myself into. I can handle it.”

  She didn’t doubt that in the least. Bruce Halloway could handle whatever came his way.

  “As for you being a scatterbrained dimwit, I figured out a long time ago that women think differently than men and just accepted it. It’s what makes women so interesting. You always keep us men guessing. I find it remarkable that a woman can have so many thoughts going in different directions and still remain functional. It must take a higher intelligence.”

  Hah! He could have at least said she wasn’t a dimwit.

  “I am only a lowly man, your humble servant, and cannot fathom the intricate workings of a superior mind.” He concluded with a sweeping bow.

  She laughed at that. The man was a nut sometimes but a charmer at all times. And for all that he was spreading his foolishness on thick, she was glad he wasn’t eager to dash off the scene.

  If only he would realize what she had…that this was the perfect point for him to kiss her.

  Not unless he really wanted to kiss you, just to kiss you…after all, your mom’s not here to impress.

  He leaned toward her, and she felt her pulse jump. Reaching down, he cupped her face…his thumb caressed her cheek…and her eyes started to drift shut.

  “I should be heading off.”

  Her eyes snapped open at that, and she watched, incredulous, as Bruce stood and stretched. “Your mother is probably asleep, so there’s no reason for me to stick around.” He glanced down at her, as though waiting for her to say something to prove him wrong. But she just shrugged. “Nope. No reason at all.”

  He nodded slowly, then made his way to the door. “See you tomorrow, then.”

  “Right. Tomorrow.”

  She watched him leave, then lowered her head until it rested against her knees, glad he hadn’t wasted any time in leaving.

  She’d hate for him to see her sitting there with her dashed hopes in a crumpled heap at her feet.

  Twelve

  UPON ARRIVING HOME A FEW DAYS LATER, BRUCE PARKED HIS car in the underground garage and waited by the elevator. He had gone to the office early, so he hadn’t encountered either one of the Livingston women this morning. He longed to see Meghann’s face. He missed her.

  He’d done his best to concentrate at work—he really had—but his mind kept drifting back to her. He relived their kiss over and over, her soft lips, the scent that was uniquely hers. He knew the experience would haunt him until he kissed her again. He wondered when he’d have his next opportunity.

  When indeed?

  Sorting out his feelings wasn’t easy. He’d liked her before this charade, and his affection for her had now grown to where he cared deeply for her. Even—dare he admit it?—was falling in love with her. He’d always felt God would let him know, would show him when his heart was being given away forever. Now he realized it was something that happened slowly, gradually…and completely.

  He thought about her all the time, wanted to hold her in his arms and kiss her again. Would she let him if her mother weren’t there to see it? She seemed nervous and uneasy whenever they were alone. It was as though she were afraid to be alone with him and tried to make sure they weren’t.

  The elevator doors opened and Meghann stepped off, which was a pleasant surprise. She seemed taken aback to see him.

  “You’re home. I wasn’t expecting you yet. Mom’s still sleeping. Try not to wake her. She had a restless night.” She was rambling; she must be nervous about something.

  “Where are you off to?” He made the question as nonthreatening as possible.

  “I’m just going to run a few errands. I won’t be long.”

  That sounded like a dismissal. “Since your mom is sleeping anyway, how ‘bout if I play chauffeur?”

  If he’d hoped for a pleased reaction, he was in for a disappointment. A slight hint of red tinged her cheeks, and she shook her head quickly. “Oh. No. That’s okay. I can manage. I don’t want to trouble you.”

  She was trying to ditch him. Well, he wasn’t going to make it easy for her. “No trouble at all. I insist.” She opened her mouth; it looked like to protest. He wasn’t going to give her the chance. “We’ll take my car.” He motioned for her to walk in the direction of the cars.

  She reluctantly walked to his silver gray Infinity, stopping at the passenger door. She looked worr
ied, biting her bottom lip.

  Walking up behind her, he pointed to the cover hiding a sports car next to his other car. “I thought we’d take the ‘Vette since it’s only the two of us.”

  “The…what?” She stared at him, clearly perplexed.

  He liked throwing her off balance. He went to the back of the cocooned car and pulled up the cover, exposing his red Corvette. Walking around the car, removing the cover, he freed the car of its wrapper. He drank in a deep breath as he stared at it. It was a beauty.

  “1978 red special edition Corvette convertible with custom chrome mags, fuel injected L-88 engine with duel chrome pipes, hurst five-speed overdrive surrounded by smoke gray imported leather interior.” He ran his hand along the sleek body. He glanced up at her, expecting to see how impressed she was; instead, she looked as if he had just spoken to her in a foreign language. Maybe he had, but this was his baby and he knew every square inch of her.

  “How…? Where…? This is your car?”

  He nodded.

  Her eyes darted from one car to the other and back again. He pulled out his keys and dangled them in front of her. “You want to drive?”

  She looked up at him, startled. “Me?” He raised his eyebrows in challenge. When would she ever have a chance to drive a car like this?

  He saw a spark light in her eyes, and she was suddenly more agreeable to his presence. A smile slid across her lips as she snatched the keys from him and unlocked the door, no doubt before he could change his mind. Bruce smiled too as he rounded the car to the passenger side. This would be…interesting…and a challenge, a true test of his commitment to the Lord. He had mentally given over all his worldly possessions, this being the hardest. “Just take it easy, okay?”

  She shot him a wicked smile. “What’s the third pedal for?”

  His stomach tightened painfully. “You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re not serious.”

  Her sudden laughter eased some of his anxiety. She deftly slid it into reverse and backed out smoothly.

  Several small incidental errands later, his curiosity was burning. Why hadn’t she wanted him along? Was she that uncomfortable alone with him? But why? Surely she wasn’t still worried that he’d do something inappropriate?

  Surely not, when you’ve been so circumspect? Kept your distance. Not pressed her on any front.

  At the sarcastic thought, he felt an uncomfortable flush fill his face. Okay, so he’d been a little…assertive. So he’d kissed her. Pulled her into his arms a time or two. Was that so wrong?

  What do you want from her?

  The question took him by surprise. He frowned, turning to look out the car window. What did he want from Meghann Livingston?

  The answer came clear and sure: everything. He wanted everything. Her heart, her love, her devotion…her. He wanted her.

  She’s My daughter, son. Do you deserve her?

  The uncomfortable feeling in his gut grew more intense, but he ignored it. He’d treated her well, done what he could to help with her mother, covered for her, played the role.

  Lied.

  Well, yes. There was that.

  “How can goodness be a partner with wickedness?…‘Therefore, come out from among the world, and separate yourselves from them,’ says the Lord. ‘I will be your Father and you will be my sons and daughters.’ ”

  “Could we put the top down?”

  Bruce jumped at Meg’s question, turning back to face her. He took in her beauty, her sweet spirit, and his heart was pierced.

  Make me worthy, Lord. Help me know what to do. And give me the courage to do it.

  She arched her brows at his silence. “The top?” she repeated. “Can we put it down.”

  He nodded quickly. “Sure. No problem. After our next stop.”

  Said stop was a quick trip into a bakery to get some croissants they didn’t need. She seemed to be making up errands as she went. Was she trying to buy time or just having as much fun driving his Vette as he did? The pleasure he had watching her enjoy his toy was unexpected. He was calm, even though someone other than himself was behind the wheel of his prized car. At least he could know without a doubt that God was working on him in the area of surrendering his possessions.

  “I’ve never been in a convertible with the top down.”

  He glanced up at the sky. “It’s a little cool.”

  “It’s a beautiful day,” she said, extending her hands up to the clear blue sky to convince him.

  “The wind makes it seem colder, but if you don’t mind, neither do I.” He showed her how the vinyl roof detached, and they were off. She wasn’t a careless driver, and he marveled again that he trusted her with his car. But could he truly trust her or anyone fully? Could he confide in her and not have it used against him?

  Meghann pulled into a strip mall a block away and parked in the first available space. “You can stay in the car. I’ll only be a minute,” she said in a rush as she jumped out of the car.

  He stared after her as she crossed the lot. This was it. This was the secret errand. At least now he was sure her resistance to him wasn’t personal. She had put the top down and got out in a hurry to make sure he stayed put. He smiled to himself. It would take more than that to hold him back. He quickly put the top up, retrieved the keys from the ignition, and took off after her.

  Meghann’s attempts to get rid of him amused him. He played dumb and remained her ever-diligent shadow, wondering what it was she wanted to do by herself. He figured he might not find out if he didn’t give her a little space. Suddenly an ugly thought jumped up from the back of his mind: Did she have a boyfriend?

  The wave of jealousy that swept through him was so strong it almost knocked him to his knees. For a heartbeat, his mind pounded with angry questions: Was she trying to meet him? How long had she known him? How could he have let her play him for such a fool?

  Then reason whispered through his mind: If she had a boyfriend, surely she wouldn’t use Bruce for her make-believe husband. If Meg had a man in her life, she would have used him when trying to placate her mother, wouldn’t she? The only way to find out was to give her some slack and follow her. He watched her walk halfway down the line of stores. Keeping her in sight, he took note of the store she ducked into at the far end.

  The parking space she picked was as far away as she could get. He strolled down to where she disappeared. Nestled in between a bridal shop and a tuxedo rental store was the quaint jewelry store she entered.

  He peeked through the window and saw her looking in a display case. She appeared to be waiting for one of the two sales people to be freed up from the customers they were helping. She was by herself so she wasn’t meeting anybody. Unless he worked here. Bruce took a closer look at the two clerks; one was an older man in his fifties and the other was hidden behind a customer’s head. But he could see her hand with long painted red nails and multiple rings.

  He ruled out that Meghann was meeting another man, and his jealous tide evaporated. What could be so embarrassing about a jewelry purchase that she needed to keep it a secret? New earrings? A watch battery, perhaps? Top international spy stuff.

  It couldn’t hurt to find out. He opened the door and strode up behind her. “Those are nice,” he said, looking over her shoulder into the display case of pearls.

  Meghann jumped at his sudden appearance. “Wh-what are you doing here?” she said, catching her breath. “I thought you were waiting in your car.”

  He leaned back against the display case, not taking his eyes off her face. “We could have parked closer,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

  She quickly looked back down to the display in front of her. “You could have stayed in the car,” she retorted softly.

  He gazed at the top of her head. “Are you looking to buy or just looking to avoid me?”

  She didn’t respond or look up. He wished he could see her reaction. Looking down into the case that had her rapt attention, he spotted a pair of delicate dangly pearl earrings and point
ed to them. “Those would look nice on you.”

  She looked up at him in surprise.

  “May I help you?” the older male clerk said.

  “Oh…yes.” Meghann rifled through her purse.

  Bruce turned to face the man as well and gave him a smile in greeting.

  “I would like to make a payment,” Meghann said into her purse.

  “Livingston, isn’t it?”

  Meghann stopped her pursuit. “Yes.” She seemed surprised the man remembered her. Bruce wasn’t. She was a woman who would stay in a man’s memory. He should know. After their first meeting at work, he’d tried for months to forget her but couldn’t shake her loose from his head. Or was it his heart? He’d resisted starting a relationship with a subordinate, and finally had decided the best thing he could do was just avoid her altogether. That plan had lasted all of a few days. He thought of her more than ever. So he gave up and decided to ask her out. If it was God’s will for them to be together, then He would work things out. But then the Charmaine Altman Christmas fiasco happened, and she pulled back.

  He studied her as they stood there, waiting. She’s not pulling away now…well, not often.

  Maybe things could work out for them, after all.

  “I remember you,” the salesclerk said. “It’s not often the woman comes in alone to pick out a wedding set. The man, yes, but not the woman alone.” The clerk turned to Bruce and asked, “I take it you approved of her choice, sir? She deliberated over it a long time. I told her she wouldn’t regret spending the extra money.”

  “I definitely approve,” Bruce said and gazed fondly at Meghann.

  “Spoken like true love. I’m Nick Moss.” He extended his right hand. “It’s good to meet you.”

  Bruce clasped his hand. “Bruce Halloway. Nice to meet you, too.”

  Meghann produced the paper she was searching for. The man took the paper. “How does your ring fit?” He looked at Bruce. “She wasn’t sure of the size.”

  “Perfect.” Bruce glanced at his ring, then wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Just like my sweetheart.”

  The man’s smile broadened. “I see you two have already put those rings to good use.” He unfolded the paper and looked from Meghann to Bruce then back to Meghann. “How much did you want to put on this?”