Bride by Mistake

by Shank, Marilyn

  Zach felt both relieved and perplexed as he mopped his brow with his handkerchief. “You gave me quite a scare. Next time, will you please explain what the problem is?”

  “Of course, dear. I promise,” Gram said, not looking the least bit penitent. “But since you’re here, why not join us for lunch? I called Liza early this morning and invited her for crepes.”

  The table, Zach noted, was set for three. And there sat Liza O’Malley, looking like sunshine personified in a yellow-and-white sundress. His heart skipped double time just looking at her.

  Zach frowned. “As you know, Gram, I usually work through my lunch hours.”

  “Can’t you make an exception? Just this once?”

  While feelings of concern still tugged at Zach’s heart, he also felt hoodwinked. He’d just been framed by his eighty-four-year-old grandmother!

  “Sit there, dear. Across from Liza,” Gram said.

  Not wanting to be rude, Zach joined the women at the table. Liza’s auburn hair looked more lustrous than ever. More tousled too, but the look became her. And another low-cut sundress? His friend was making radical changes in her wardrobe—of which he heartily approved.

  To his dismay, Zach couldn’t drag his eyes off Liza. If this kept up, he’d have to make an appointment with his friend Jeff Thomason, a psychiatrist by trade. Maybe a shrink could explain this crazy attraction. And tell him how to stop it.

  As Maria served crepes and a fruit salad, Gram chatted with Liza as if she were her long-lost granddaughter. Zach mostly listened, still baffled by the rapport between them. When he had cooked up this little scheme, he never imagined it would work so well.

  An hour later, Zach had endured all the chitchat he could tolerate. “I hate to have to leave such delightful company, but I need to get back to the office.”

  “Me too,” Liza added.

  Gram stood. “Thank you both for coming. I must confess I’m ready for a nap. Will you children see yourselves out?”

  Zach shot out of his chair. “Here, Gram, let me help you upstairs.”

  “There’s no need, darling. We’ll talk later. Good afternoon, Zachary. Good afternoon, Liza, dear.”

  “Good afternoon, Eloise. Thanks for a lovely lunch.”

  Gram bestowed a radiant smile on them both and left the room.

  Zach shook his head as he watched her go. It seemed Gram wasn’t willing to leave courting Liza up to him. She obviously wanted to speed up the process.

  As Zach helped Liza from her chair, her lavender scent drew him like a high-powered magnet. It wrapped around him and held on tight, in the process scrambling every synapse in his brain.

  He’d better see Jeff right away. Maybe a shrink could put a stop to these unwelcome feelings that wouldn’t go away. And tell him how to get his good friend back.

  Meg breathed in the fresh air as she and Zach left the comfortable elegance of Eloise’s home. She tried to ignore how handsome Zach looked in his charcoal-gray suit and silver shirt, and she wished his musky aftershave didn’t wreak havoc on her senses.

  The feeling of Zach’s hand grasping her arm made her pulse skitter and her knees wobble—a reaction his nearness always caused.

  “I’m worried about Gram,” Zach told her.

  “Eloise looks healthy to me,” Meg observed. “Does she usually nap after lunch?”

  “Never. That’s why I’m concerned.”

  “But she says she feels well. Are you sure she’s ill?”

  “I’m positive. Ian pulled me aside two weeks ago and informed me of Gram’s heart problem. He told me it’s serious.”

  Once again his eyes shone with a sadness that tugged at Meg’s heart. She placed her hand on his arm. “I’m really sorry, Zach. I know how much you and Eloise love each other.”

  “The hardest part is that I’m not supposed to know she’s ill. Gram made Ian promise he wouldn’t tell me.”

  Meg sighed. “More pretending.”

  “Yes, more pretending,” he affirmed. “Listen, do you have a minute before you go back to the firm? I’d like to show you Gram’s rose garden.”

  Meg had all afternoon. All week, actually. As Zach steered her down the cobblestone path, his touch and his powerful presence set off tiny explosions inside her body—ones she seemed powerless to prevent.

  Spending more time with this man is the height of stupidity, her conscience declared. And Meg heartily agreed. She must tell Zach who she really was. This stroll in the garden gave her the perfect opportunity.

  Meg smiled. “I have time for a quick peek.” But all she really wanted was to escape to Liza’s condo. And to stop pretending.

  They followed a stone walkway into the heart of a garden. Everywhere Meg looked she saw rosebushes heaped with blossoms—some red, some pink, and others a delicate shade of peach. Some plants were earthbound while others climbed up stately white trellises. Their heady fragrance filled the air with sweetness.

  “This is magnificent,” Meg said softly. “So many different varieties.”

  “Gram prides herself on her roses. She tended them herself until just last year, when she hired a gardener.”

  They walked toward a wrought-iron bench and sat down. Zach turned toward Meg. When his dark eyes locked with hers, she stopped breathing altogether.

  “Liza, I need to ask you something. Something important.”

  Liza! She was sick and tired of being called Liza!

  She squared her shoulders. “Go ahead. Ask your question.”

  As Zach sat so deliciously close, Meg’s heart raced faster than a greyhound at the starting line. And when he reached out to touch her shoulder, she felt certain a bolt of lightning penetrated her skin.

  “The last few days I’ve felt our relationship changing. Do you feel it too?”

  Meg couldn’t lie to him again. Not about something as important as this. “Yes, Zach. I feel it too.”

  He exhaled heavily. “Good. I thought I was losing my mind.”

  Electricity seemed to spark all around them. Zach’s gaze still held her close, so close that Meg felt frozen in time and space.

  “What changed, Liza? Can you explain it to me?”

  Zach had just provided her with the perfect opportunity. He’d set the stage, and all she had to do was say three words. I’m not Liza. How hard was that?

  But those words came with a price tag. Zach would recoil from her the moment she told him she wasn’t Liza. She’d tricked him—just like his ex-wife had. And Zach had never forgiven Denise for what she’d done.

  Meg cleared her throat, searching for an explanation to satisfy him. “Maybe we’re experiencing a paradigm shift,” she said.

  “A paradigm shift?”

  “Yes. We’ve had one type of relationship for years, and now it…” She didn’t know how to finish the sentence.

  “Now it what?” he probed.

  “It’s changed, Zach. Our relationship has changed.”

  He stroked her shoulder with his thumb, and his gentle caress made her skin tingle. “Would you ever consider me as more than a friend?” he asked, his voice sensual and husky.

  Meg wanted to scream, “Oh, yes! Yes, yes, yes!” But she didn’t dare. Martin Landsburg, her almost-fiancé, wouldn’t approve of her dating another man!

  “That’s not possible,” she said softly.

  Judging by the look in Zach’s eyes, he wouldn’t be easily put off. He studied her intently, and then he leaned toward her. Meg knew if she didn’t act quickly Zach would kiss her. While she wanted to stop him, she seemed powerless to resist.

  Zach slipped his arms around her, and when his warm mouth claimed hers, Meg felt an eruption of joy so powerful she could scarcely contain it. She found herself drowning in Zach Addison—drowning in the strong arms that held her so incredibly close. She loved his musky scent and the delicious taste of him. Clean. Sweet. And a tad like strawberry crepes. For several miraculous moments, they kissed with abandon.

  Then almost as quickly as the kiss began, it
ended. Zach sprang to his feet and raked a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Liza. I’d explain this if I could. Obviously, I’ve lost my mind.”

  Zach paced in front of Meg like a caged lion. All she wanted him to do was sit down and kiss her again. Obviously she’d lost her mind too.

  She must tell Zach the truth: that their relationship was one big farce. That she wasn’t now, nor would she ever be, Liza!

  But not here. Not tucked in the heart of his grandmother’s garden. She’d tell him somewhere she felt safe. On her own turf.

  “Zach, can we have dinner together tonight?”

  He whirled to face her. “You want to have dinner with me? After what just happened?”

  “Yes. We need to talk this through and work things out.”

  Zach nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. Shall I pick up Chinese?”

  “Don’t bother. I’ll cook.”

  Zach stared at her a moment then grinned. “Oh, sure. You’ll cook.”

  Uh-oh. She’d resumed her own identity again.

  “Don’t laugh. I’ve been watching the Cooking Channel lately. And I’ve been practicing.”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “So you’re coming out of the closet?”

  “I am.” She was coming out of the closet, all right. About a lot more than just cooking.

  “I want to practice on someone besides myself,” she told him.

  Zach sat down beside her and seemed a bit more relaxed. “I’m game. But I’ll bring my Rolaids and Pepto-Bismol. Just in case.”

  “You’re not funny.”

  “This is how I behave when panic sets in.”

  “You feel panicky?”

  “Confused is more like it. Confused about what’s happening between us.”

  “We’ll settle it all tonight. Right after dinner.”

  Zach’s gaze softened and as his eyes caressed hers, Meg felt color flush her cheeks. He cleared his throat. “May I ask you one question, Liza? One very important question?”

  “Of course.”

  His gaze locked with hers and Meg felt as if their souls connected. “Am I coming over as your good friend?” he asked. “Or as the man who just kissed you?”

  Meg’s heart thudded wildly in her chest. Every fiber of her being wanted to vote for the man who had just kissed her. But she couldn’t. Not when she was practically engaged to Martin Landsburg. And not when Zach thought she was Liza!

  “As the first man, Zach. As my very good friend.”

  The intensity of his gaze faded. “Just checking. I’ll see you at seven.”

  Jeff Thomason, a psychiatrist and Zach’s buddy since high school, sat behind an antique cherry desk in his penthouse office. He leaned toward Zach, who sat across from him in a high-backed chair. “All right, buddy, what’s going on with you?”

  Zach gazed out the office window, wondering how to put the craziness into words. “Have you heard me mention Liza O’Malley?”

  “Several times. She’s your friend.”

  “My good friend.”

  “Right. Don’t you take her to dinner occasionally?”

  “Sometimes it’s dinner and a movie. Or we watch videos at one of our homes.”

  “But she’s never been a romantic interest.”

  “Never.” Zach paused and cleared his throat. “Until recently.”

  Jeff leaned back in his chair and made a tent with his fingers. “Go on.”

  “Circumstances have caused me to spend more time with Liza lately. And I find I’m very attracted to her. Our casual friendship just disappeared.”

  Jeff smiled. “Hey, buddy, it’s not as rare as you think. Lots of relationships start with a solid friendship and turn into love.”

  “Whoa, pal. Who said anything about love?”

  “I’m speaking in generalities. How would you define your feelings toward Liza?”

  Zach considered this. “I’d call it rampant attraction.”

  “And this troubles you.”

  “It troubles the heck out of me.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because I liked our relationship the way it was.”

  “You mean platonic.”

  He nodded. “Liza’s been like my kid sister.”

  “Well, don’t get too upset. These feelings may not last. They could die down as quickly as they flared.”

  Zach sighed. “These feelings have a long way to go before they die down. I’ll cut to the chase, Jeff. I kissed Liza this afternoon.”

  “I see. How do you feel about that?”

  “On a scale of one to ten, I’d rate that kiss at a thousand.” Zach shook his head. “This makes no sense at all. When I’m with Liza, I can hardly drag my eyes off her.”

  “So what do you want to do about it?”

  Zach raked a hand through his hair. Darned if he knew. He wouldn’t be sitting here talking to a shrink, even though the shrink was his close friend, if he had a clue how to handle this.

  He gave Jeff’s question serious thought, then said, “The easiest thing would be to return to the status quo. The good-friends thing has worked for us for years.”

  “Does Liza know you entertain different feelings?”

  “Yes, she does. And the attraction is mutual.”

  “Then just relax the rules a little and see what develops.”

  Zach got up and paced Jeff’s posh office. “I don’t want anything to develop. You know how messed up my life became when Denise left.”

  “I remember.”

  “I honestly don’t know how to handle this, Jeff.”

  “You’ll have to figure that part out yourself. But I’ll give you my opinion, friend to friend.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Don’t fight this change. You’ve done your share of suffering, thanks to Denise. It’s time you get past the trauma and start dating women who are genuine. Women who tell the truth, and who value you as the great person you are.”

  Zach flashed a slight smile. “You aren’t going to turn all mushy, are you?”

  “Wouldn’t think of it. Just give this a little more thought. Try and relax around Liza and see what happens. That’s the best advice I can offer.”

  Zach nodded. “It’s worth considering. And I’ll send the check where?”

  “Nowhere. Anytime you want to talk about Liza or anything else, you know I’m available.”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  They shook hands and Zach left for the office. The conversation with Jeff had helped a little. At least Zach had confided his concern to another human being—something he rarely did.

  His friend’s words rang in his thoughts. It’s time you get past the trauma and start dating women who are genuine. Women who tell the truth, and who value you as the great person you are.

  As he considered Jeff’s advice, Zach wasn’t sure he should take it. The pain of Denise’s deception suddenly hit him again with surprising force. While he wasn’t brooding as much as he was two years ago, the hurt still lingered and made him cautious about letting romantic feelings build out of control.

  Zach knew one thing for certain. He didn’t want to fall in love again. He’d given his heart once and it cost him more than he could measure. He was still paying the price.

  Zach picked up the bouquet of flowers he’d brought for Liza, climbed out of his Lexus, and rang the bell. As he stood on her porch, he felt like he was sixteen again. He gripped the flowers so tightly he’d probably squeeze the life right out of them.

  Liza answered the door wearing a filmy, light-green outfit that clung to her in an enticing way. Her auburn hair curled softly around her face and her lavender scent filled Zach’s senses. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

  “Hello, there,” he said.

  “Hello, yourself. Come in. I’ve been cooking all—” She stopped abruptly and amended the sentence. “Actually, I prepared some of the food ahead of time. And froze it,” she added as a footnote.

  “I see.”

  “You,
um, brought flowers.”

  “Yeah, I did. Since I’ve brought them before, I figure we’re still playing by the rules.”

  Zach handed Liza the bouquet and felt relieved when she accepted it. His hand had grown sweaty from the intense clutching.

  “They’re lovely. Come in and I’ll put them in water.”

  Zach followed Liza through the condo and was relieved to see everything in place. There was no evidence of the recent pandemonium. As they passed the dining room he noticed that the table was set with a bright blue cloth, yellow dishes, and cloth napkins. Another surprise.

  “What happened to the paper plates?” he teased.

  “As I told you, I now watch the Cooking Channel.”

  He leaned against the counter and watched Liza open one cupboard after another. After she’d banged nearly every door in the kitchen, Zach said, “Top left. Next to the fridge.”

  She cast a cautious glance his way. “How do you know where my vases are?”

  “I saw you get one out the last time I brought you flowers.”

  She chuckled nervously. “Guess I’m on edge tonight. About cooking for you.”

  “No more than I am. The last meal you fixed proved hazardous to my health.”

  Liza arranged the flowers in the vase far more artistically than usual. “Really? I seem to have forgotten,” she said.

  “You mean you blocked it out. After all, I ended up in the emergency room.”

  Her green eyes widened in surprise. “You did not.”

  “Well, I almost did. Those spicy enchiladas nearly destroyed the lining of my stomach.”

  She smiled somewhat stiffly. “Well, you’re safe tonight,” she affirmed. “We’re having chicken divan with brown rice and fresh asparagus. And ambrosia for dessert.”

  Zach shook his head, amazed at the changes in his friend. “Tell me the truth, Liza,” he said. “Did you really cook all this food? Or did you have it catered by World Wide Cuisine?”

  Her smile relaxed a bit. “You’ll just have to trust me. Now sit down while I serve dinner.”

  And serve dinner Liza did. Zach watched with amazement as she arranged the platters on the table. If he snapped a photo, this layout could make a front cover for Better Homes and Gardens. The delicate aromas tantalized his senses. He’d expect this experience in an upscale restaurant, not in Liza O’Malley’s kitchen!