Joanna envisioned the inevitable chaos with a shudder. The prominent Fortune clan would be horrified by her gaffes, the charity disappointed and Ryder’s standing in the business community harmed. No, she wasn’t about to limit her brilliant, ambitious man’s future by legally saddling him with a defective spouse. Her.
There was a place for her in his life as Ryder’s girlfriend, just as there was a place in his company for her as his receptionist. Joanna accepted, even embraced her roles. After all, she had finally successfully corrected the idiot-assistant problem by becoming a good receptionist. It would be stupid beyond imagining to reverse her current excellent relationship with Ryder by turning a good girlfriend into the idiot wife.
“I never expected this, Jules,” Joanna whispered. It was a relief not to have to pretend with Julia, who needed only to look at her younger sister’s face to interpret her state of mind.
“You don’t have to go through with it if you don’t want to, Joanna.” Julia took Joanna’s hand and gazed into her eyes. “If you’d like, I’ll say there’s been a misunderstanding and we’ll go home. You know that Michael and I will stand behind you, no matter what.”
Joanna knew that. Julia didn’t require a faux engagement to save face in front of the Fortunes. But Ryder did!
“Joanna, there you are!” Ryder had finally spotted Joanna, surrounded by her family, and he worked his way through the crowd of relatives to her side. “I was starting to worry that you’d had second thoughts about marrying me and hit the road,” he said as the other Fortunes engaged in indulgent laughter.
It was clear that they shared a collective familial viewpoint. No woman in her right mind would have second thoughts about marrying one of them.
Joanna glanced around her, at all the smiling, expectant faces. Ryder’s parents were jostling their way through the group, their faces aglow with pride and happiness. And there was Ryder…
Joanna met his eyes, which somehow were both determined and pleading at the same time. “Here’s the ring, Joanna.” Ryder removed it from the box and took her left hand in his.
“Joanna, honey, I meant what I said,” Julia murmured in her ear.
Joanna knew. Her sister had already proven that she would stand by her through thick and thin…and dumping a Fortune in front of a bevy of other Fortunes definitely fell into the realm of “thin.”
She just couldn’t humiliate Ryder that way! Joanna’s heart clenched. She loved him so much, she would do anything to spare him pain or sorrow or shame. Right now accepting the ring in front of the assembled Fortunes was the only option available. Later she would make Ryder see reason, she would convince him that ending their bogus engagement was in his best interest.
“I love you, Ryder,” she said, her eyes shining with emotional tears. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close, nuzzling his neck with her lips.
There were aahs and applause from their audience as they watched Ryder slip the simple but elegant diamond engagement ring on Joanna’s finger.
“A toast to the happy couple!” Kate exclaimed exultantly, and seemingly out of nowhere an army of waiters appeared with champagne and crystal goblets. Even the fourth generation of young Fortunes were included in the toast, with ginger ale and colorful plastic cups.
Joanna and Ryder spent the rest of the day playing the part of the newly engaged couple for the other guests. It wasn’t until the picnic had ended and all the Fortunes dispersed that the two of them were finally alone.
“This is the happiest day of my life, Joanna,” Ryder said as he drove to his apartment.
Joanna heaved a sigh. “Ryder, let’s drop the act. We’re the only two here, and we both know that we’re not really engaged.”
“You’re wearing my ring, and we announced our engagement to both our families, the Fortunes and the Chandlers,” countered Ryder. “That’s as real as it gets, Joanna.”
Her eyes misted. “You are so manipulative, mentioning the Chandlers—” She swallowed hard. “There are only two of us left—Julia and me—and you know how much I…I—”
“Michael’s daughters are half Chandler,” Ryder reminded her. “I’d say the Chandlers are definitely regrouping, and our own kids will add to the number. Joanna, I know you only accepted my ring so you wouldn’t embarrass Julia today but—”
“Embarrass Julia?” Joanna gawked at him. “Is that what you think?”
He nodded tersely, continuing, “But I love you, and now that we’re engaged, even faux-engaged, I’m going to prove to you that marrying me is exactly what we both want and need, Joanna. Give me the chance to do that, baby.”
She sighed again, not certain where to begin. “If you think Julia would be embarrassed if I’d publicly turned you down—or even if I’d run out of the place screaming—you don’t know my sister. She would back me all the way. Ryder, I wanted to save you from humiliation. Your whole family was there, I couldn’t—I had to—I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Ryder pulled the Range Rover into the parking garage of his apartment building. Joanna’s words kindled a spark of hope that he hadn’t expected to feel so soon. “You took my ring so I’d save face?”
“Of course.” She looked down at the diamond sparkling on her finger. “It’s a beautiful ring, Ryder,” she said softly, “but I…you—” She shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to compose her thoughts. “Ryder, I’m not the woman you need for a wife, you need a woman who can—”
“I need you. You’re the only woman I need, the only one I want. Ever, Joanna.”
He braked the car to a stop and turned to her. “Joanna, I am so sorry I said things that caused you to think that I don’t truly value you and adore you, because, sweetheart, I do.” He tried to swallow around the lump lodged in his throat. “You’re everything to me. Everything I’ve ever wanted and needed in a woman, in my wife.”
He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, like he never wanted to let her go. “Please make your yes a real one right now, Joanna. Let’s make our bogus engagement the real thing.”
Joanna clung to him, kissing him, trying to explain why she’d consistently refused his proposals, why keeping her as his girlfriend instead of making her his wife was in his best interest and in his company’s best interest, too. Loving him as much as she did, she honestly had his best interest at heart, she explained fervidly.
Ryder shot down each of her assertions one by one, his counter-claims matching hers in intensity and sincerity. They entered his apartment, too involved in their discussion to more than vaguely notice that they were headed into the bedroom.
They stopped at the foot of the bed and looked at each other.
“Have I convinced you yet, Joanna?” Ryder asked hoarsely. “Because I’ll stay up talking all night if I have to. Until I make you believe that you’re perfect for me, because you are. Until you know that we belong together forever, just the way I do.”
Joanna looked up at Ryder and down at the rings on her fingers. Her mother’s ring and Ryder’s ring. The past, the present and the future.
Did she dare risk it? Joanna wondered. Julia loved her, defects and all. Was it possible that Ryder might feel that way about her, too? He seemed utterly convinced that she was perfect for him. Should she keep trying to talk him out of loving her? He didn’t look ready to agree.
“I’m tired of talking, Ryder.” Decisively Joanna moved into his arms. “Show me how much you love me. All night.”
Ryder gladly, passionately complied.
Epilogue
Another Christmas, another Fortune family party.
Kate surveyed her clan, many gathered around the huge Christmas tree. The young parents particularly enjoyed showing the babies and toddlers the bright strands of twinkling lights. A posse of school-age children exuberantly played some kind of running and hiding game that involved plenty of delighted shrieks. Kate savored every minute of it.
Across the room she spied her great-nephew Ryder and his fiancée
Joanna holding hands and gazing out the window at the lightly falling snow. They were deep in conversation, perhaps discussing their upcoming wedding, which Kate knew was scheduled for the second of March.
Kate admired Joanna’s red dress with the eye of a fashion maven. The silky material shimmered in the candlelight, and the sexy elegant style flattered her petite figure. It was the type of dress Kate would have favored herself, if she were twenty-something.
She and Sterling approached the younger couple.
“Ryder, I know we probably shouldn’t be talking business in the middle of the party, but I was hoping you would look over some papers I have in the den,” Kate said, her eyes twinkling. “Bring Joanna with you, of course.”
The four gathered in the den, where Kate handed Ryder a pen and a document transferring complete ownership of Fortune’s Design to him. “Just sign there, and Fortune’s Design is yours free and clear, Ryder.”
Ryder and Joanna exchanged rapt glances, then hugs. Next they hugged Kate in turn, and Joanna threw her arms around Sterling. When Ryder appeared ready to do the same, Sterling pointed to the papers. “Sign, my boy. Right there on the dotted line.”
Ryder signed. He was now the bona fide owner of Fortune’s Design. The company was his—and Joanna’s. He felt almost dizzy with joy.
“Aunt Kate, there are no words to thank you,” Ryder began.
“I never wanted words. I wanted action. I wanted results, and that’s exactly what you provided, Ryder. Fortune’s Design is thriving. You’ve taken an ailing company and turned it around in a year, showing true business acumen.”
“He’s shown lots more than that—Ryder has heart,” Joanna piped up, gazing proudly at him. “Fortune’s Design is going to carry a line of life-skills products. Ryder contacted one of my friends from the rehab center who’s designed a bunch of adaptive devices to make things easier for the physically impaired. Fortune’s Design will bring them to the market, even though they’re not high-profit items.”
“The company has a stable of high-profit items,” Ryder assured Kate. “But the life-skill products will enhance the quality of life for a small, defined market and—”
“You’re putting your profits to good use for a good cause,” Kate interjected. “Plus you found a remarkable, lovable young woman to share your life with. I’m so very proud of you, Ryder.” She hugged him again.
“This past year has been the biggest adventure of my life,” Ryder declared as he and Joanna walked hand-in-hand along the corridor, back to the party.
She glanced up playfully at him. “Just think, Ryder, you didn’t have to go off to the diamond mines and fight thugs for adventure, simply working in an office with me provides plenty of hair-raising thrills.”
“Joanna, every day with you is an adventure, in or out of the office. And I’m not being glib, I mean that sincerely. You interest me in a way nobody else ever has. Or ever will,” he added earnestly. “I love you, Joanna.” He stopped to draw her close in a shadowed alcove.
They were about to kiss when a group of children ran by, shrieking.
Joanna and Ryder broke apart, laughing, mutually conceding that this was not quite the time or place for romance.
“Think we’ll have our own little rug-rat zooming around with the pack one of these years?” Ryder asked, gazing down at her with love-filled eyes.
“I hope we’ll have at least two little zooming rugrats. How soon do you want to start?”
“How about on our wedding night?”
“I could be pregnant at next year’s Christmas party.” Joanna was delighted. “Or maybe even be here with a newborn!”
“And I’ll be telling you that the past year has been the biggest adventure of my life.”
Ryder swung Joanna up in his arms and kissed her, oblivious to everything and everyone but her.
THE CHRISTMAS CHILD
Linda Turner
Prologue
The Fortune Corporation headquarters was decorated for Christmas and crawling with Fortunes. Just about the whole family was there to celebrate Kate’s eightieth birthday, and they were doing it up in style. The food was first rate, the wine flowing and an internationally known soloist sang near the towering Christmas tree in the room. Music fit for the gods floated through the building, setting a festive mood.
Standing off to the side by himself, his hands in his pockets and a scowl on his lean, chiseled face, Hunter stared at the crowd of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered around Kate and wondered what the hell he was doing there. Oh, he was family—he carried the name—but he’d never considered himself a real Fortune, and he doubted that the family ever had, either. People didn’t like to claim bastards as kin.
Not that the Fortunes had ever cut him dead—they had more class than that. But they’d been talking about him in whispers for years, and he couldn’t say he blamed them. He was the black-sheep son of a black sheep, and he’d been raising eyebrows from the moment his father learned of his existence when he was twelve. It had been a shock for both of them.
Thinking back to the first time he’d laid eyes on his old man, Hunter had to grin. He’d gone at Daniel Fortune like the wild Indian he was and punched him right in the gut. Grieving for his mother, Grace, who had just died, and seething with resentment, he’d blamed his father for his mother’s death, for all the years that they’d scrimped and saved and fought just to get by on the reservation. There’d been a time when the Fortune money could have at least made life bearable for them, but that time was lost forever with his mother’s death. He hadn’t cared that Daniel Fortune was his father, he’d wanted nothing to do with him.
The courts, however, hadn’t given him any say-so in the matter and, like it or not, he’d been placed in his father’s custody. And Daniel, to his credit, had done his duty by him. A man with itchy feet, he hadn’t given him a traditional home, but he’d taken Hunter with him all over the world and given him an education that he never could have gotten staying in one place.
But although Hunter had inherited his father’s nomadic spirit, their relationship had never been a smooth one—too many years had passed without either knowing the other for a solid bond to develop between them. They had, however, made peace with time. He went by the Fortune name now, but he’d never really felt the family connection and didn’t think he ever would. Because in his heart a part of him would always be Hunter Lone Eagle, son of his mother’s people.
So why the hell was he here? He was just barely part of the clan, and even then, not an immediate relation. Kate was his great-aunt, and although he was fond of the old girl, he’d seen her little enough while he was growing up. Why was it so important to her that he be here to celebrate her birthday?
“What’s going on, Kelly?” he asked Kate’s social secretary, Kelly Sinclair, as she joined him on the fringes of the crowd. A pretty girl with blond hair and eyes that were the deep blue of an autumn sky, she’d always treated him like he was just as much a member of the family as old Ben Fortune himself, and he appreciated that. “Kate doesn’t do anything without a reason. Why did she want me here?”
Shrugging, she said lightly, “You know Kate—she loves her secrets. And why shouldn’t you be here? You’re part of the family, too.”
He snorted at that and would have made a comment, but then Kate started handing out gifts just as she always did at her birthday parties. Amused, Hunter couldn’t help but smile. Someone should have told Kate years ago that since it was her birthday, she was the one who was supposed to be getting presents, but she got a real kick out of surprising unsuspecting members of the family.
“Hunter? It’s your turn. Kate would like to talk to you in private for a moment.”
Taken aback, he blinked, sure he must have misunderstood. “My turn? What are you talking about? Kate has something for me?”
“I certainly do.” Kate came up beside him, grinning. “In fact, I think you’re the only one who could handle this particular project. I bough
t a construction company last year in Wyoming that needs your troubleshooting skills. It’s been in the red for months now, for one reason or another, and I think you’re just the man to turn it around. Get it in the black by the end of the year, and it’s yours.”
Stunned, Hunter just stared at her. He didn’t doubt that he could do the work. He’d worked odd jobs all over the world, everything from construction in L.A. to oil rigs in the North Sea to lumberjacking in Canada. But a year? He never stayed anywhere for longer than three or four months before he got the urge to see what was over the horizon. How was he going to stay in Wyoming for a whole damn year?
One
The second that Naomi Windsong opened the front door and saw the tribal policeman standing on the front porch of her small house, her heart stopped in her chest. He had bad news—she could see it in his eyes. “Did you find Laura? Is she hurt? Oh, God, what is it? Please, just tell me!”
Young, barely old enough to be let loose on the female population of the reservation, Officer Hawk looked like he would have rather been anywhere else but where he was. But he faced her bravely and said reluctantly, “No, ma’am. I’m sorry. We haven’t found her yet. But there has been a break in the case. Mr. Barker’s car was discovered on a deserted road in Elk Canyon. Unfortunately, there was no sign of him or Laura.”
“Elk Canyon!” she exclaimed. “But isn’t that a box canyon that only leads up into the mountains? Why would James leave his car there?”
“He had to know he was a marked man as soon as he kidnapped Laura from her day care,” he explained. “So the first thing he’d want to do is ditch his Jeep. The cutoff to Elk Canyon’s only a mile from the day care, and it’s a secluded area. A smart man would have had another vehicle stashed there, driven straight to it as soon as he grabbed Laura, then make the switch before the crime was even reported. He could have left and driven right by the police station then, and no one would have looked twice at him. And with no description of the second car or its license plate number, there’s no way for us to track him any further.”
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