Bride by Mistake

by Shank, Marilyn

  A CD of smooth jazz played in the background, creating a dreamy atmosphere. “Where’s the classical music?” he asked. “What, no Bach or Beethoven?”

  Liza planted her hands on her hips and glared. “Will you stop quizzing me, Zach Addison? If you prefer, I’ll play The Unfinished Symphony and fry you a hamburger.”

  He held up his hands in protest. “Not necessary,” he said, realizing he’d better back off. “To be honest, the jazz is a welcome change from Mozart.”

  “All right then. Now relax and enjoy your dinner.”

  Zach pulled out Liza’s chair and they took their places at the table. His first bite of chicken divan tasted even better than it smelled. “Mmm,” he said. “This is fabulous. Maybe you should stop practicing law and become a chef.”

  Her green eyes glistened and a smile curved her lips. “Thanks for the compliment.”

  “Hey, kiddo, you earned it.”

  Zach’s conversation with Jeff had encouraged him to test the waters with Liza, to try and enjoy their evolving relationship. He planned to start right after dinner. First a little hand-holding, then graduating to something more intimate. Like kissing Liza again. Just the thought made him lightheaded.

  “Would you like dessert now or later?” she asked when they finished their meal.

  “I’ll force myself to wait.”

  Zach stood and began clearing the table. “Forget that,” Liza told him. “Let’s go into the living room. We have a lot to straighten out.”

  Her mood seemed suddenly somber as she led the way and settled on the couch. When Zach started to join her, she said, “Sit over there. I want to look at you while we talk.”

  Zach felt a stab of disappointment. Intimacy of any kind seemed impossible, since Liza had assigned him a seat across the room. Far out of touching range.

  And the frown that creased her forehead told Zach more trouble lay ahead. He sighed. He was getting used to trouble.

  CHAPTER 6

  ZACH BRACED HIMSELF. Judging from the expression on Liza’s face, bad news was coming. And fast.

  “I’m not sure I can continue as your fiancée,” she said softly. “The pretending is more difficult than I expected.”

  Zach’s stomach clenched at her words. This was worse than he’d imagined. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” he told her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “As a lawyer, aren’t there times when you think your client might be asking for too much? Or taking an unfair advantage?”

  She nodded.

  “But you still represent that client, don’t you? And present their case in the best possible light?”

  “Of course I do. That’s my job.”

  “Would you say you ever manipulate the truth?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “That’s all we’re doing here, Liza. Stretching the truth a bit.”

  She sniffed. “We’re not discussing my professional life, Zach. We’re talking about the pretend world you and I are creating. A world that’s spinning out of control.”

  “I know I’m asking a lot, Liza, but you did agree. And things are going well. Extremely well.”

  Her cheeks reddened. “For whom, Zach?”

  “For Gram. You and I are helping fulfill her dream. And besides that, she thinks you’re wonderful. Since your first visit to her house, Gram’s been happier than she has in ages.”

  Liza leaned forward. “But look what’s happening to us. We’re destroying our friendship in the process.”

  “Maybe friendship isn’t all there is for us. Maybe we were wrong about that.”

  Zach searched Liza’s face for validation. When he’d kissed her this afternoon, he knew she’d felt the same excitement he had. As Zach studied her now, he would swear the passion was still there, simmering just below the surface.

  Liza looked away, stood, and began to pace. “When I agreed to help you, I didn’t know how challenging it would be. I didn’t understand that being with you, and pretending to care about you, would seem so…”

  She stopped and her gaze locked with his. “So real.”

  Zach stood and strode toward her. “Neither of us expected that. How could we? We’ve been buddies for years. And we both thought that would never change.” Zach shook his head. “Believe me, it’s the surprise of a lifetime.”

  A frown creased Liza’s brow and her mouth pursed in a tantalizing way. Zach thought seriously about kissing her right then and there. If she melted against him the way she had this afternoon, it would prove their relationship had changed.

  He gripped her shoulders. “Maybe we shouldn’t fight it. Maybe we should just run with it and see what happens.”

  For several moments Liza seemed to consider his suggestion. But then she shook her head. “I can’t do that. There are too many complications. And it just isn’t right.”

  A look of resolve shone from her green eyes, and her voice was firm. Authoritative. She spoke like the no-nonsense attorney she really was.

  Zach stepped back. Maybe he’d been mistaken. Maybe Liza didn’t feel the passion and excitement he’d felt. Had he assumed something that wasn’t true?

  “So friendship is all you want? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  “Yes, Zach. That’s what I’m saying. It’s the only—”

  Zach reached out and touched his fingers to Liza’s soft lips. “Don’t say any more. You’ve made yourself clear, Liza. Crystal clear. Let’s say good night and skip the ambrosia.”

  Meg felt like kicking herself. Really hard. All afternoon she’d planned to tell Zach the truth: that she wasn’t Liza. She’d set the stage with a good meal, and when the man sat captive before her, Meg couldn’t bring herself to do it. She couldn’t bear to see disapproval in his amazing eyes. Zach would hate her for fooling him. Like he’d hated Denise.

  Meg sank onto the couch, wondering where her well-planned, basically happy life had gone. When she’d come to Kansas City she’d needed a break from Meadow Springs and the stress of her job. But instead of escaping, she had stepped into a far more complicated world, one that would cause heartache if she didn’t stop pretending.

  A few minutes later the phone rang. Maybe it was Zach! If it was, she would tell him the truth. She wouldn’t hedge a moment longer. No matter what the consequences, she would tell him the real story.

  But when she picked up the receiver, she didn’t hear the sexy voice she’d longed to hear. “Meg? It’s me, Liza.”

  “Well, I hope you’re satisfied,” Meg snapped. “You’ve totally ruined my vacation. And to make matters worse, Zach hates me.”

  “Zach hates you? What are you talking about?”

  Meg told Liza about the conversation with Zach, about her attempt to confess—which backfired—and his hasty retreat.

  Liza sighed. “You were right, sis. We should have told him you were filling in for me.”

  “I strongly suggested that,” Meg said crisply. “But, of course, you paid no attention.”

  “I thought this would be easier, Meg. Really I did. My mistake, huh?”

  “Yep, your mistake. A mighty big one.”

  Again, Liza sighed. “I hate to tell you this, but I have more bad news. Since I’m the only attorney representing our firm, I can’t leave the convention quite yet. I’ll break away as soon as possible, Meg. Look, I’m really sorry.”

  Meg felt a flush heat her cheeks. “Now why doesn’t that surprise me?”

  “Can we let things ride a little longer?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Promise me something, Meg.” Liza’s voice sounded gentler now. And genuinely caring.

  “What?”

  “That you won’t mope around all day tomorrow—nursing your broken heart.”

  “Will you stop it?” Meg snapped. “My heart isn’t broken. But my self-esteem is badly bruised.”

  “No, sis. It’s a heart thing. Definitely a heart thing.”

  “Good night, Liza,” Meg said, anxious to end the convers
ation. “Get home as soon as you can.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, the minute I know something.”

  After they hung up, Meg thought about Liza’s comments. She’d only spent a few days with Zach—not nearly long enough to fall in love with the man. Or to have a broken heart.

  Funny, though. It felt that way.

  When Meg awoke the next morning, she pulled the sheet over her head, unable to face the sunshine flooding through Liza’s bedroom windows. The vacation she’d longed for had morphed into a soap opera. Even television writers couldn’t invent the craziness she’d experienced since arriving in Kansas City.

  She dozed fitfully until the telephone startled her awake. It must be Liza. Leave it to her early-bird twin to disturb her sleep.

  “You don’t have to check on me,” Meg snapped. “I’m not sitting around nursing my broken heart.”

  After a short pause a male voice said, “Hey, I’m glad to hear it.”

  Uh-oh. This time the voice on the phone was deep and sexy. And it belonged to Zach Addison!

  Meg’s pulse raced as she shifted into a sitting position. “What do you want, Zach? We settled everything last night.”

  “I must talk to you, Liza. It’s important.”

  “There’s nothing more to discuss.”

  “Listen, I know the pretend engagement has caused problems. And we both let our emotions get in the way. But I stayed awake last night and analyzed the situation. And I found the perfect solution.”

  “You did?” Meg asked, doubting that was even possible.

  “I did.”

  “Then tell me. I’m listening.”

  “I’d rather discuss this in person. Can you take an early lunch hour so we can talk?”

  Meg didn’t like the way her heart skittered when Zach issued the invitation. Not one single bit.

  “That isn’t a good idea,” she told him.

  “I know you’ll like my suggestion, if you’ll just listen. Let me pick you up at your office at eleven thirty, and we’ll talk.”

  Meg’s resolve started to weaken. “I won’t be at the office,” she said, putting her Liza hat back on. “I’m working from home today.”

  “You’re kidding. You never work from home.”

  “Now and then I do.”

  “Then I’ll pick you up at the condo. You’ll like my idea, Liza. It will solve everything.”

  “All right,” she relented. If Zach had found a way to defuse her simmering emotions, she’d better hear him out. “See you at eleven thirty.”

  “Thanks. Bye, Liza.”

  “Good-bye.”

  Meg’s heart did a happy dance as she scrambled out of bed and headed for the shower. To her chagrin, she felt giddy about seeing Zach again. And the sensation lingered while she dried her hair, applied her makeup—with extra care—and donned her best slacks and new green blouse.

  Better watch yourself, her conscience cautioned. She’d been up front with Zach last night—at least partially. For once she’d acted out of reason, not emotion.

  But she’d felt perfectly miserable ever since! Until Zach called and coerced her into seeing him again. Was Liza right? Meg wondered. Was she falling in love with Zach?

  Meg told herself firmly that falling for Zach would be the biggest mistake of her life. She was practically engaged to a man who took relationships seriously. Martin Landsburg shared all of Meg’s goals and dreams for the future—unlike Zach Addison. Marriage and family weren’t on that man’s agenda.

  “Hurry home, Liza,” Meg murmured as she dabbed on her favorite perfume. As soon as Liza returned, Meg could head back home to Martin. Ironically, the stress she’d felt about the ballet school didn’t seem so troubling now. She would deal with it. What she most needed was to stop pretending and resume her normal life.

  Meg sighed. That might be tougher than it sounded. Would she remember how normal life worked?

  Zach arranged for a long lunch hour and then called Leona, his housekeeper, and asked her to pack a picnic lunch. What he was about to propose, if overheard in public, would make people think he’d lost his mind.

  And he’d probably agree with them.

  Zach hoped Liza wouldn’t abandon her role as his fiancée. She’d seemed so troubled last night, she might opt to quit. But they couldn’t stop now. Even if Liza wasn’t interested in him romantically, which she’d made perfectly clear, she had agreed to pose as his fiancée, and a deal was a deal. As a lawyer, Liza knew you followed through on agreements or there were consequences. But Zach had high hopes that this new approach would smooth out their problems and appeal to Liza’s business sense as well.

  Liza came out to the car when he drove up. She wore tan slacks and a forest-green blouse that brought out the emerald in her eyes. Just looking at the woman took his breath away.

  “Hello, Zach,” she said.

  “Hi, Liza. Hop in.”

  “So what’s this brilliant solution you’ve come up with?” she asked as she climbed into the passenger seat.

  “Let’s discuss it over lunch. I thought we’d go somewhere quiet. Like a park instead of a restaurant.”

  She shrugged. “Fine with me. It’s a lovely day.”

  Zach drove to Swope Park and parked in the shade of a sycamore tree. “Grab that blanket, will you, Liza?”

  She reached in the backseat for the blanket Zach had pulled off his linen closet shelf. He grabbed the picnic basket and led her to a grassy hillside looking down on a rushing creek. “Is this okay?”

  She nodded. “It’s beautiful here.”

  Zach spread the blanket and the two of them set out the salmon salad sandwiches, potato salad, and brownies Leona had prepared. They’d no more than settled when a rabbit shot out of the brush and zipped across their blanket at breakneck speed.

  Liza jumped. “Ooh! He startled me.”

  “I think we startled him.”

  After they began eating, Zach said, “I know you’re upset about the changes in our relationship. And you have every right to be.”

  “I’m glad you understand.”

  “What I asked was unrealistic. But we can fix this, Liza. First we’ll go back to being friends. A platonic relationship and nothing more.”

  “Good,” she affirmed. But Zach thought her eyes dimmed a little as he explained their new status.

  “And we’re going to change our arrangement,” he said. “I plan to pay you for your time, Liza. Handsomely.”

  She arched her eyebrows and her mouth dropped open. “Pay me? You’re going to pay me for pretending?”

  “I certainly am. I’ll double the fee that your top client pays. And it’s retroactive. From now on our pretend engagement is strictly a business deal.”

  When Liza threw her sandwich at him, and it struck Zach squarely in the face, he felt more startled than when the rabbit shot across their blanket. Liza sprang to her feet and stormed off toward a bank of trees while Zach sat there, utterly shocked.

  A moment later he slipped his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped off the salmon salad as best he could. When he’d undone most of the damage, he strode after Liza. She stood with her arms crossed and her back to him, staring at the creek below.

  “What was that for?” he demanded. “My plan makes good sense. I want to reimburse you for your time and trouble, Liza. If you think about it, it’s only right.”

  Liza whirled around. If looks could kill, he’d be laid out at Evans’ Mortuary this very minute. “You thought I’d enjoy being your paid fiancée?”

  “I thought it was a fair way to…”

  “Well, you thought wrong, buddy. Dead wrong.” Her words sizzled like sausages on a hot griddle.

  “Bear with me, will you? What’s so awful about offering you money? You’re providing a service, and I’m…”

  “Providing a service?” she screeched. “That’s exactly what’s wrong with it. It sounds like…like prostitution!”

  Zach sighed. Where had his all-business, unemotional friend
disappeared to? He would expect such a reaction from many women, but not from Liza O’Malley.

  He shook his head. Liza had changed so radically, Zach couldn’t begin to figure her out. What had happened to their easy rapport? And why was Liza so touchy and unpredictable?

  For years now she’d been the only woman Zach felt he could talk to and count on. From the looks of things, that was coming to an end. And fast.

  “Stop being so melodramatic,” Zach said as his patience slipped away. “It’s not like you, Liza. You never overreact.”

  Liza bit her lip and the anger in her eyes intensified. “So now I’m melodramatic, huh?”

  Zach shook his head. “Look, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry my suggestion made you angry.”

  The fire in Liza’s eyes dimmed, but just slightly. She moved away from him and started pacing the creek bank.

  “Look, Liza, if I withdraw my offer, will you forgive me?”

  After several long moments, very long moments, she turned to face him. “I’ll forgive you on one condition. That you never, ever mention compensation again.”

  He nodded. “It’s a deal.” Zach jammed his fists into his pockets. He would never ever understand women. He felt more baffled than Petruchio had when he’d tried to tame Kate.

  “Let’s finish our lunch,” he suggested. “We’ll stick to neutral topics like the weather or movies we’ve seen.”

  Liza nodded and they returned to the blanket. She picked up her sandwich but instead of taking a bite, she stared at him. “You have salmon salad on your chin,” she said.

  “That’s because you zinged me with your sandwich.”

  A smile teased her lips. “Well, you made me angry.”

  “I get that now. Should I apologize again?”

  “No. Just sit still a minute.”

  When Liza reached toward Zach he held his breath. And when she touched his cheek, even though the napkin separated her hand from his skin, he felt a powerful rush of pleasure. He sat stiffly as Liza removed the remaining traces of salmon salad, wishing he didn’t feel like a lovesick adolescent.