Bride by Mistake

by Shank, Marilyn

  “I’m not intense,” he defended, annoyed with both of them. “And I do know how to enjoy life.”

  Gram’s gaze met his head-on. “When did you last see a play, Zachary? Or even a movie?”

  “A few weeks ago.”

  “More like months.”

  “Then you’ll be happy to know that I’m taking Liza to a play tomorrow evening,” Zach announced, hoping the two of them would get off his case. He’d spotted an ad in the morning paper and decided to use it to his advantage.

  Liza caught his gaze. “You are? Where are we going?”

  “To the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival.”

  Liza’s smile practically lit the room. It lit Zach’s heart as well.

  “What a great surprise. Zach is a master of surprises,” she told Gram.

  “You seem to be having quite a liberating effect on my grandson, my dear.”

  Liza practically preened. “Why, thank you, Mrs. Addison.”

  “Mrs. Addison sounds awfully formal. Why not call me Eloise?”

  Zach nearly fell off the love seat. Gram, who always treated strangers with polite reserve, had just put Liza on a first-name basis!

  “I’d like that, Eloise.”

  “Come with me to the kitchen, Liza. You and I will get the lemonade.”

  “Can’t Ian bring the lemonade?” Zach asked, growing more irritated by the second.

  “Ian is otherwise engaged.” Gram’s cautioning tone stopped any further questions.

  As the women left the room, Liza turned and flashed Zach another smile. A downright dazzling smile. And it hit him again—a lightning bolt of excitement that shook him to the core.

  Have you lost your mind? he asked himself as they disappeared into the kitchen. This was Liza—his longtime friend. The woman he’d been buddies with for years. What had changed? Today his reactions to Liza were downright sinful!

  The nonsense had to stop. He’d use this time alone to regroup. To clear his head. And after that, he’d get his friendship with Liza O’Malley back on track.

  Eloise’s kitchen came straight from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Walnut cabinets with etched-glass panels lined the walls, a spacious bay window graced a cheerful breakfast nook, and the stainless-steel cooking area could serve hundreds. “What a marvelous room,” Meg observed.

  “Why, thank you. Would you please get some glasses from the cupboard on your left?”

  Meg selected three crystal tumblers while Eloise took a pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator. “I’m glad that you and Zach are dating. He became quite the hermit after his divorce.”

  Meg nodded, even though she had no idea if that was true. She knew nothing about Zach’s private life, before or after the divorce. Liza and Zach had been on the debate team together and shared many of the same classes. So while Meg idolized Zach, she only saw him occasionally as they passed in the halls.

  “I don’t often share my concerns,” Eloise continued. “But sometimes women understand each other in ways men never can.”

  “I agree with that.”

  Eloise caught Meg’s gaze. “May I speak frankly?”

  “Of course.”

  “Zach seems quite attracted to you.”

  Meg’s heart did a backward flip. Was their acting really so believable? “I…I feel the same about him,” she said. This, ironically, was the first true statement she’d uttered all day.

  “How did you meet your husband, Eloise?” Meg asked, wanting to take the focus off her relationship with Zach.

  Eloise smiled. “It’s quite a story. You see, Horace dated my sister Esther, and I was the annoying kid sister. But one afternoon, Horace came over while Esther was still at work. I entertained him until she got home.” She sighed. “Something magical happened that day.”

  “What was that?”

  “Horace realized I’d grown up.”

  “And he fell in love with you instead of your sister?”

  “That he did. Esther was miffed at first. But then she met Albert, and the four of us loved being together.”

  “How many children do you have?”

  “Just Robert, Zachary’s father. He and his wife, Evelyn, manage our corporate offices in England. Do you like children, Liza? If I’m not prying?”

  “I adore them. That’s why I teach ballet.”

  Now she’d done it! She’d stepped out of her Liza role and resumed her own life. Occupational hazard.

  “So you’re a ballerina?”

  “Of sorts. My friend owns a ballet studio, and I teach a class for her now and then.”

  As Meg tried to cover her tracks, she realized how easy it would be to tell Zach’s grandmother the truth. Her real life story. But she didn’t dare. She had a role to play.

  Eloise poured the lemonade and arranged cookies on a hand-painted plate. “I love the ballet too. For our tenth anniversary, Horace gave me a music box with a ballerina on top. I treasured that gift. But I broke it a year after Horace died, and I’ve always been sorry.”

  They arranged the pitcher, glasses, and tea cookies on a silver tray. “May I share a secret?” Eloise asked, her blue eyes twinkling.

  “Of course.”

  “My fondest wish is to become a great-grandmother. But Zach will have to hurry, since he’s my only grandchild.”

  Meg felt her cheeks flush. Did Eloise consider her the candidate to produce said great-grandchild? Meg’s heart skittered like a frightened squirrel crossing the street.

  Eloise winked at her. “Let’s rejoin Zach, shall we? We wouldn’t want him to think we’re talking about him. Even if we are.” Eloise giggled and Meg joined right in.

  As they sat in the sunroom sipping lemonade, Zach squirmed in his chair. And the man hardly said a word. When they finished their drinks, he said, “Liza and I need to run, Gram. We have birthday shopping to do. Any ideas on what to get a lady in her eighties who has everything?”

  “You’ll think of something, dear. You always do.”

  They stood, and when Zach placed his hand on Meg’s back to steer her toward the door, her heart pirouetted like a real ballerina. His warm touch and presence exuded strength and masculinity.

  Eloise hugged them both. “Thanks for coming, children. I hope we’ll meet again soon, Liza.”

  “So do I,” Meg said, meaning it sincerely.

  But what she really wanted was to assume her rightful identity as Meg O’Malley, emotionally stable ballet teacher and Martin Landsburg’s steady girlfriend. But she couldn’t. In a moment of weakness, she’d given in to her twin sister’s demands and become Liza O’Malley, attorney at law.

  And, worst of all, Zach Addison’s fiancée!

  “I can’t believe Gram’s attitude,” Zach said as he and Liza strolled the beautiful Country Club Plaza that he loved so much. J. C. Nichols, who had built the nation’s first outdoor shopping center in 1922, had based the architecture on his trips to Europe. He’d adorned the Plaza with courtyards, sculptures, murals, and artwork with a strong Moorish influence.

  “What about her attitude?” Liza asked.

  “Gram thinks you’re wonderful.”

  Liza looked perplexed. “What makes you say that?”

  “She never asks strangers to use her first name. You made a hit, Liza. Big-time.”

  When Liza’s eyes locked with Zach’s, the inexplicable attraction struck him again, like a boulder falling from the sky.

  “That’s good, isn’t it?” she asked.

  Her amazing eyes seemed to probe Zach’s soul. He frowned. “Yes. Certainly it’s good.”

  “Then why do you seem upset? Didn’t you hope that we would hit it off?”

  “Of course. I’m just surprised it happened so quickly.” Even Zach didn’t know why he felt so troubled. But it related to his attraction to Liza.

  Liza shrugged. “Then maybe you should feel happy instead of surprised.”

  When Liza stopped to examine a window display, Zach was grateful for a breather. He still could
n’t get over his heart-skipping attraction to his good friend. It had kicked in the moment he’d set eyes on her this morning.

  And the way Gram and Liza had bonded was another shocker. Liza had managed to wrap Gram around her little finger. And at the rate things were progressing, he’d be next!

  “Liza?”

  She turned and met his gaze. “Yes?”

  “What did you and Gram discuss in the kitchen? You were gone a long time.”

  “Just marriage and family.”

  Zach raked a finger under his starched collar and tried not to cough. “Whose marriage?”

  “Hers. Eloise told me your grandfather dated her sister first.”

  “Granddad dated Aunt Esther? I never heard that story.”

  “She said she didn’t share it with many people.”

  “But I’m her grandson,” Zach declared. “You’d think she’d have told me!”

  Liza scowled at him. “Are you upset because Eloise likes me? If she doesn’t, our little charade won’t work.”

  “True,” Zach said. But was the charade working too well?

  “What shall we buy Eloise for her birthday?” Liza asked.

  “Let’s check out Halls department store. It’s her favorite place to shop.”

  They entered the lavish lobby and strolled the aisles together. As they walked through the section with jewelry and accessories, Liza pointed to a shelf of music boxes. “There it is, Zach. The perfect gift for your grandmother.”

  She pointed to a crystal and gold box with a ballerina poised on top. “Why a music box?” he asked.

  “Your grandfather gave her one on their tenth anniversary. Unfortunately, Eloise broke it the year after he died, and she’d love to have another one.”

  Zach couldn’t believe his ears. “How can you possibly know that?”

  “Eloise told me. When we were talking in the kitchen.”

  Zach shook his head. “You know more details about Gram’s love life than I do. And you’ve known her less than an hour.”

  “What can I say? We’re kindred spirits, Eloise and I.”

  Zach shook his head. When a clerk came to assist, he said, “We’ll take this music box. Would you gift wrap it, please?”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  As Zach watched the clerk wrap the present, he felt more bewildered than ever. Liza had made their pretend relationship real to Gram. Why, she’d practically convinced him they were dating. The woman should be an actress, not an attorney!

  “Shall I choose a card for her?” Liza’s green eyes met Zach’s again and the stirrings cranked up another notch.

  He cleared his throat and nodded. “Good idea.”

  As Liza walked toward the greeting cards, Zach tried to rein in his runaway emotions. When Denise had betrayed him, he had gone into hibernation, and it had taken a year before the sense of gloom lifted. Even now, keeping his distance from women was a primary objective.

  But since the moment he’d parked his Lexus in the parking tower, Zach had wanted to tuck Liza’s hand in his and escort her around the Country Club Plaza—a privilege he had no business entertaining.

  With a touch of melancholy, he remembered the evenings when they’d watched movies, popped corn, and laughed and talked together. Being with Liza was like hanging out with a pal. Or a best friend.

  Until he’d asked her to marry him. Theoretically, of course. But it may as well have been the real deal. That marriage proposal had changed everything.

  Meg felt relieved when the shopping trip with Zach ended. As they stepped out into the fresh air, she breathed deeply, hoping to regain her composure. And she’d thought her stress level was high before she left Meadow Springs. Nothing could have prepared her for this kind of stress.

  “Since we’re right here on the Plaza, we could stop by Helzberg’s,” Zach suggested.

  She turned to face him. “What for?”

  He shrugged. “If we plan to announce our engagement at Gram’s party, you’ll need a ring. We could look at some while we’re here.”

  Meg tried not to shiver or fall over or embarrass herself in any other manner. Zach’s comment, while earthshaking, made sense under the circumstances. “I suppose you’re right.”

  “So you’re game?”

  “Um, sure. Why not?”

  He flashed that amazing smile that made her tingle inside. “Good. Let’s go pick out an enormous diamond for the third finger of your left hand.”

  “The ring doesn’t have to be enormous,” Meg protested.

  “Gram will expect it to be.”

  They walked for several blocks and Meg spotted a sign that read HELZBERG DIAMONDS. As they entered, a platinum blonde in a white designer suit greeted them. “Good afternoon. How may I help you today?”

  “I’m buying a diamond for my fiancée.” When Zach flashed Meg a “we’ve got a secret” grin, her heart whirled like a weathervane in a windstorm.

  “You’ve come to the right place.” The saleswoman removed a tray of rings from a locked case and carried them to a display table. “Please have a seat.”

  Zach and Meg settled into high-backed green velvet chairs as the clerk placed the tray in front of Meg. Sun rays from the window made the diamonds sparkle like lights on a Christmas tree. “Do you see anything you like?” the woman asked.

  Meg swallowed hard. “Don’t you have some that aren’t so…so…”

  “So what?” Zach asked.

  “So huge,” she murmured.

  “Just try them on,” he said. “We’ll find the perfect ring.”

  With trembling fingers, Meg selected the smallest stone, which still weighed in at several karats. She held it in her hand but wasn’t sure what to do with it.

  He reached for the ring. “Allow me.” And then Zachary Addison did what he’d done in all of Meg’s teenage fantasies. He slipped a diamond ring onto her finger. “That wasn’t so painful, was it?” he asked.

  Meg’s heart pounded wildly. The stone glistened on her hand, looking brighter than the North Star. “Oh, my,” she said. “Oh, my, my, my.”

  Gibberish. Pure gibberish.

  “Here, try this one.”

  As Zach slid the next ring onto her finger, the scent of his musky aftershave and his warm hands touching hers made Meg’s legs quiver. Good thing she was sitting down and had gravity on her side.

  Zach insisted she try on every ring in the tray. His extended touch nearly put Meg in a coma.

  “I like this one.” He picked up a princess-cut diamond circled by emeralds and slipped it on her finger. “You should always wear emeralds, Liza. They match your eyes.”

  Meg couldn’t believe Zach had selected her favorite ring. “I like it too.”

  He turned to the clerk. “This is the ring. We’ll take it.”

  “Does the lady want to wear it?”

  “Of course she’ll wear it,” Zach affirmed. “Liza’s an engaged woman now.”

  Meg’s head spun. Even her high-school fantasies involving Zach had never been this good. She smiled a shaky smile. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen,” she said.

  Minutes later, the ring that cost more than Meg’s car was paid for and firmly affixed to her left hand. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d get caught up in this fantasy—and start to forget she had a steady boyfriend back home.

  She felt giddy with excitement as they left the store. A diamond the size of Texas glittered on her finger, and a handsome prince escorted her to his waiting chariot—a top-of-the-line Lexus. Had she stumbled into a fairy tale?

  It’s pretend, Meg reminded herself. Strictly pretend. But as she gazed at the magnificent piece of jewelry, Meg almost felt engaged.

  You are almost engaged, an inner voice warned. To Martin Landsburg.

  Oh, yeah—Martin. Meg had almost forgotten her real-life boyfriend. While Martin didn’t set off fireworks inside her, he was a stable, caring man. Maybe he wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous like Zach, but he was good-looking. And steady.
And most important of all, he shared Meg’s dreams of home and family.

  She sighed. If she was going to do Liza this favor, she must learn to separate fantasy from reality.

  Zach Addison is fantasy.

  Martin Landsburg is reality.

  Hopefully she could keep the two straight!

  CHAPTER 3

  ZACH SLIPPED ON a pair of linen slacks and a tailored shirt and examined his image in the mirror. Too dressy. Tonight was the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, not dinner at the American Restaurant.

  He changed into khakis and a dark green pullover and drove to Liza’s condo. He whistled as he drove, undeniably excited about the evening ahead. This is not a date, he told himself—just another step in his plan to make Gram’s last days happy ones.

  Liza opened the door wearing white slacks and a green silk blouse that rivaled her eyes for color. And Zach had to remind himself again that this was not a date. Twice.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Yes. Let’s go.”

  “Wait a minute. Where’s your bag of stuff?”

  Her eyes met his questioningly. “Was I supposed to bring a bag of stuff?”

  “You usually do for outdoor events. You know, mosquito repellant, poison ivy lotion, a box of Band-Aids in varying sizes, and a tube of antibiotic cream.”

  Zach saw Liza blink several times in rapid succession. He’d never noticed how her eyelashes curved gently and sensually skyward. Or that her eyes were the most fascinating shade of emerald he’d ever seen. Then Liza’s eye twitched again. He’d never seen her eye twitch until yesterday. And it had happened several times.

  “I didn’t pack a thing,” she said. “Tonight, we live dangerously.”

  Zach shook his head. “Did you have a personality makeover when I wasn’t looking?”

  “No, why?”

  “You seem more relaxed. More laid-back than usual.”

  “If you prefer, I can grab Band-Aids and ointment from the medicine chest. And I’ll try to be more neurotic. I aim to please.”

  “Nope, not necessary. Besides, there’s a pharmacy nearby. In case of a mosquito invasion.”