Bride by Mistake

by Shank, Marilyn

  Meg expelled the breath she’d been holding. She must remember the ways in which she and Liza differed—and there were many. If she wasn’t more careful, she’d earn a degree in backpedaling before this week ended.

  “What can I get the lady for lunch?” asked the waiter.

  “I’ll have a Cobb salad, no meat. Better stick to the straight and narrow,” she told Zach.

  Her fiancé ordered a sirloin steak and garlic mashed potatoes. Just the name of the entrée made Meg drool. As they waited for their food, Zach reached into his sport-coat pocket and handed her a printout that was several pages long. “Read over this agenda. I’ve planned our romance very carefully.”

  Meg’s eyes widened as she stared at the detailed schedule. “Are we pretending to be engaged or merging two corporations?”

  He smiled. “What did you expect from a couple of left-brained people like us?”

  True. Zach and Liza were left-brained. But Meg was as right-brained as they come.

  She glanced at the schedule. Under “Activities,” Zach had listed dancing at the country club, an interview with the editor of the local paper for an article on the wedding, and much more. The final event was, of course, Eloise’s surprise party. She sighed as she realized that each activity had its own set of goals and objectives. Just looking at Zach’s schedule gave her a headache.

  “This is more carefully plotted than most novels,” she said as she finished reading and the waiter brought their food.

  Zach frowned. “I thought you’d be impressed, Liza. You’re the most thorough person I know. And a true stickler for details.”

  “Normally, I am. But in this situation, we should be more…” Meg gazed into Zach’s smoky-gray eyes and lost her train of thought. What had she been about to say?

  “We should be more what?” he coaxed.

  “Um, more spontaneous. We should definitely be more spontaneous.”

  Zach threw his head back and laughed. “Are you kidding me? You don’t have a spontaneous bone in your body, Liza. You’re the most compulsively organized woman I know.”

  Oops. Liza was the meticulous planner while she, Meg, was spontaneous. Another personality difference reared its ugly head.

  “I’m meticulous when I write a legal brief,” she said, “but our pretend engagement is a different ball game. This is a people thing, Zach, and it can’t be meticulously planned on paper. We’ll have to put our hearts into this project to make your grandmother believe that we love each other. And that we plan to be married.”

  Zach’s smile vanished. “You surprise me, Liza. As I’ve watched you climb the corporate ladder, I’ve sometimes wondered if…” He broke off midsentence. “Never mind.”

  “No, go ahead. What have you wondered?”

  Zach took Meg’s hand, and his warm touch turned her emotions topsy-turvy. “Don’t misunderstand me. But when you play the role of ruthless attorney on your way to a partnership, I sometimes wonder if you have a heart inside that beautiful body.” He squeezed her hand companionably, which only accelerated the turmoil. “It’s obvious that you do, Liza. A very tender heart.”

  Oh, she had a heart, all right. And right now it was beating so furiously it was probably visible above the neckline of her sundress!

  Meg’s cell phone rang and she pulled her hand away. Good thing. She needed a wake-up call. “Will you excuse me a minute, Zach?” she asked.

  “Certainly.”

  “Hello,” she said. Her voice sounded shaky and breathless, and she hoped she could concentrate.

  “Meg, honey? Is that you?” When Meg heard Martin’s voice, she almost knocked over her water glass.

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  “Are you and Liza eating in a tearoom like you always do?”

  “Actually, we’re at a café on the Plaza,” Meg said, trying to make her voice behave. “Listen, can I call you back a little later? In an hour or so?”

  “Sure thing, sweets. I’ll talk to you then. Enjoy your time with your sister.”

  “Thanks. I will.”

  Meg’s hand shook as she stuck her phone in her purse. She took a steadying breath trying to get her heart rate back to normal.

  “Important business?” Zach asked.

  “Very,” she agreed, knowing it was. “But I’ll handle it later.”

  As Meg looked at her lunch partner, a flood of guilt hit her like a tsunami wave. She had just lied to her boyfriend. Never once in their relationship had she told Martin anything untrue. But how could she explain that she wasn’t having lunch with Liza? She was Liza now! At least in Zach Addison’s eyes.

  Why, oh, why had she let Liza talk her into playing substitute sweetheart to her high-school crush? While Zach could pull it off with no difficulty, Meg doubted she could manage. How could she pose as Zach’s bride-to-be without handing him her heart in the process?

  CHAPTER 2

  ZACH STUDIED LIZA across the table as they finished their cheesecake. Liza had definitely changed. And it was more than just the haircut. Her gaze collided with his and Zach felt a jolt of excitement that shocked him to the soles of his Gucci loafers.

  Liza’s green eyes widened. “Is something wrong?”

  “Not wrong, exactly. Just different.”

  “What do you mean, different?”

  “I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s that dress you’re wearing.”

  Zach had forbidden his eyes to stray to the tantalizing neckline of Liza’s sundress. But he’d practically had to stare cross-eyed at his nose to pull that off.

  He and Liza had enjoyed a casual friendship since high school. And he’d never felt attracted to his good friend. Not once.

  Until today.

  As if Liza read his mind, her hand flew to her breast. That distracted him even further.

  Liza frowned. “What’s the matter with this dress?”

  “Nothing. But you usually wear business suits. Solid-colored ones. On the rare occasions you do wear a dress, it has a high neckline. Always.”

  Liza flushed, and Zach thought she might cover that tempting cleavage with the tablecloth. He hoped that wasn’t the case.

  “It’s summer,” she defended. “Besides, everyone needs a change now and then.”

  “I’m not objecting, Liza. You look amazing.” A nervous laugh escaped his lips. “That dress makes me wish I didn’t think of you as my kid sister.”

  She bit her lip and her brow furrowed. “Zachary Addison. Watch your language.”

  “Can’t you take a little joke? You and I decided years ago that all we’ll ever be is friends.”

  “And don’t you forget it,” Liza affirmed—a bit too vehemently, he thought.

  “How are things at the law firm?” Zach asked. He’d better reroute this conversation and fast.

  “As busy as ever,” she said noncommittally.

  “I’m surprised you could get this weekend off. But I’m glad, because we’ll need the time to figure out our game plan.”

  She sighed again and seemed troubled. He’d probably upset her with his comments about her wardrobe.

  “Liza?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You should wear dresses like that more often,” he said quietly. “They make you look…”

  Zach paused. As he assessed Liza, she seemed positively transformed. She radiated a glow he’d never seen before. Or at least never noticed. Had he been blind?

  “How does it make me look?” she asked. Liza’s amazing green eyes probed his for an answer.

  “Soft,” he finally said. “Soft and feminine.”

  She squirmed. “So you didn’t think lady lawyers could look soft and feminine?”

  “Of course I did. But you usually go for the classic look. Dark colors, conservative styles, long sleeves.”

  “I know I do. It’s professional.”

  He wasn’t making things better, Zach realized. “Look, all I’m saying is that you look terrific in that dress. Do you plan to sue me?”

  She sni
ffed. “Probably not. Thanks for the compliment,” she added. A slight smiled played at her mouth.

  Zach had never really noticed what a nicely shaped mouth Liza had. Full lips and slight dimples that surfaced when she smiled.

  “You’re welcome.” Zach grinned at Liza, but she didn’t grin back. Normally they joked and kidded like the great pals they were. But not today. Liza’s guard was definitely up. Zach hoped this pretend engagement wouldn’t spoil their friendship.

  “Are you still dating that architect from St. Louis?” he asked, trying to make polite conversation—and for the first time ever, he felt a stab of jealousy.

  Liza bit her lip. “Sort of. Off and on.”

  “What’s his name again?” Zach quizzed.

  She hesitated a moment and then said, “It’s Brett Sampson.”

  “Sampson’s not coming to town soon, is he?”

  She frowned. “I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

  Zach cleared his throat. “Because an appearance by your real-life boyfriend could complicate our engagement.”

  Liza lifted her gaze to meet Zach’s, and those luscious eyes filled with resolve. “I’ll take care of my boyfriend, don’t you worry. Believe me, Zach, he’s my top priority.”

  This was the Liza he knew. The matter-of-fact, all-business woman with a mind like a steel trap. One who handled difficult problems with ease and finesse.

  Zach winked at her. “That’s my girl.” To his surprise, Liza flushed. A really deep shade of red.

  “Are you sure you’re okay? You can talk to me about anything, you know. We always discuss our problems and make suggestions that might help.”

  “I don’t have any problems to discuss. I’m fine. Perfectly fine.”

  Zach reached for Liza’s hand. When he’d touched her earlier, he’d felt a cascade of emotions he wanted no part of. Surely that had been a fluke.

  Nope, no fluke. It happened again. A surge of excitement shot through him like an arrow released from a bow. “When I decided I needed a pretend fiancée, the only woman I felt comfortable asking was you.”

  Liza gazed at him. She looked wide-eyed, innocent, and lovelier than a Botticelli painting. “Why is that?”

  “Because you and I think alike. And we both understand ‘no strings attached.’”

  He expected Liza to look pleased, but she looked more stressed than ever. Like she might combust at any moment. Zach almost wished he hadn’t asked her to play this role. He’d never entertained romantic feelings for Liza until this morning. What if their pretend engagement stirred up more problems than he’d anticipated?

  Something in Zach’s gut told him to end the fiasco. Right here, right now. The only other woman who’d affected him this way was Denise Jones. Just looking at Denise had made his pulse race and his heart pound. He’d fallen in love with her and married her, and before he knew what was happening, his bride had taken him for every dollar she could get.

  The pain of that relationship still gnawed at Zach. He’d scarcely dated since the divorce. So this strange attraction to Liza was completely unexpected and quite disturbing.

  Zach wished he could turn back the clock and find himself a different fiancée. He didn’t want to wreck his relationship with Liza. He couldn’t afford to lose his pal and confidante. Certainly not by falling in love with her!

  If Zach said one more word about no-strings-attached relationships, Meg would scream! Loudly! While her attraction to the man ranked fifteen on a one-to-ten scale, she couldn’t tolerate his detached attitude toward women and his obvious inability to commit.

  She and Zach were light-years apart. Meg wanted the American dream: one husband, two-point-five children, and a house in the suburbs—goals and objectives that her lunch partner would never understand.

  Not that it mattered. After spending this week with Zach, she would fly back to Illinois, back to Martin Landsburg. And Martin did understand the American dream.

  “I’m going to the ladies’ room,” she announced, needing to get away from Zach, and fast. “Where is it?”

  He chuckled. “Where is it? We’ve come here about a dozen times.”

  Oh, yeah. She was supposed to know these things.

  Meg scanned the dining room but didn’t see any signs. When she noticed two women walking toward the back of the café, she trailed along after them. If they led her out a side door to the parking lot, this charade with Zach would end before it began.

  When Meg spotted the LADIES LOUNGE sign, she breathed a relieved sigh. She entered and leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. How had she lost control of her life in just a few hours? This silly game of pretend with Zach—coupled with her guilt about Martin—made Meg’s head spin.

  An elderly woman gazed at her with concern. “Are you all right, honey?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’m fine.”

  “Didn’t I see you sitting at a table with a very handsome young man?”

  Meg nodded.

  “Is the relationship serious?”

  “Um, yes. We’re planning to be married.”

  The woman smiled. “Good for you. Love is a wonderful thing. My William and I celebrated sixty years together before he died last spring. I still miss him desperately.”

  Meg felt a tug of sympathy. “I’m sure you do.”

  “Treasure your man, my dear. True love is a rare gift.” The woman walked under the archway and disappeared.

  The woman’s comments made Meg feel worse than ever. This lady had had a real relationship with her husband of sixty years, while Meg’s was just a facade. Zach wasn’t her man, and she wasn’t in love with him. Infatuated, enamored, and bedazzled, yes. But she loved Martin Landsburg. Martin was her man—an important fact to remember.

  When Meg rejoined Zach at the table, his smile melted her heart.

  She bit her lip, determined to keep her emotions under control.

  “I thought we’d stop by Gram’s after lunch, if you’re free. She’ll need to meet you before we announce our engagement.” Just hearing Zach put that comment into words filled Meg with excitement. This was insanity. She’d have to remind herself regularly that she and Zach were playacting. And that the engagement he was glibly discussing was pure fantasy.

  If any man places a ring on the third finger of my left hand it will be Martin Landsburg, she told herself firmly.

  Certainly not Zachary Addison!

  Zach gripped Liza’s arm and escorted her up the curved stairway leading to his grandmother’s house. As they approached, the door swung open. “Good afternoon, sir and madam,” said Ian, Gram’s butler for the last forty-plus years.

  “Hello, Ian. This is my friend Liza O’Malley.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, Miss O’Malley.”

  “You too, Ian.”

  They followed Ian into the sunroom, where Gram was arranging white irises in a vase. Her silver-gray hair was carefully styled and she wore a white blouse and black skirt. And to Zach’s relief, she appeared healthy.

  “What a delightful surprise,” she said.

  “Gram, I’d like to introduce Liza O’Malley. Liza, Eloise Addison, my grandmother.”

  Liza smiled. “I’ve looked forward to meeting you.”

  “The pleasure is mine. Sit down, children. There, on the love seat.”

  Gram took a seat across from them and curiosity fairly sparked from her eyes. “Have you two known each other long?”

  “Liza and I met in high school. We took a lot of the same classes and enjoyed each other’s company. We still stay in touch and usually have dinner together once or twice a month.”

  “So you’re just friends,” Gram said.

  When Zach leaned closer, Liza’s perfume caught his attention. Instead of the heavy gardenia scent she normally wore, her fragrance was light and smelled like lavender. Much more becoming, he thought.

  “For years we were just friends,” Zach affirmed. “But lately…”

  Gram’s expression brightened.

 
“Lately we’ve started dating.” Zach rarely stretched the truth, so this blatant lie didn’t come easily. And he noticed that Liza’s eye twitched when he made the ludicrous remark.

  Gram smiled. “Now, isn’t that lovely. I often tell Zach there’s more to life than business.”

  Liza nodded. “So true. Some people think only of their careers. And before they know it, life passes them by.”

  Zach suppressed a chuckle. That comment was downright laughable coming from Liza O’Malley, consummate workaholic. Zach wondered if his good friend had taken a blow to the head. She seemed totally different from the woman he’d escorted to Mario’s Italian Kitchen just two weeks ago.

  “What kind of work do you do, my dear?”

  “I teach…” Liza paused, blushed, and started over. “I’m an attorney. I practice at Burns, Logan, and Grant.”

  “And you still manage to enjoy life? Even with such a high-stress job?”

  “Oh, yes. And I have many hobbies. I love the ballet and the theater. In my spare time, I paint.”

  Paint? Zach almost shouted the word but caught himself just in time. Liza couldn’t stand still long enough to apply more than three brushstrokes. She attended the theater once every year or two. And if she’d ever seen a ballet, she hadn’t mentioned it to him.

  Gram nodded and smiled. “You’re just the girl to loosen up my grandson.”

  Zach slipped his arm around his fiancée to make their relationship appear real. When he touched the smooth skin of Liza’s shoulder, a sizzle like an electric current passed through his body. Liza turned wide-eyed to face him. Had she felt it too?

  “I try to loosen him up, Mrs. Addison, but Zach’s awfully…”

  Liza pursed her lips, which suddenly looked downright kissable. Zach gave himself a mental shake. He wasn’t supposed to get caught up in the charade.

  “Zach’s awfully intense,” Liza continued. “He takes life seriously. And while that’s a benefit in the business world—”

  “It’s a drawback socially,” Gram finished. “My, but you’re an insightful young woman.”

  Zach squirmed on the love seat and felt perspiration beading on his forehead. They’d only pretended for a few minutes and he already felt out of control. Why, Gram and his fiancée, who had just met, were psychoanalyzing him!