On Friday Ryan had appointments nonstop until three. Then he buzzed his secretary and told her to cancel everything for the rest of the day. As he’d promised Jessie, he took a pass by the gallery. Penny, the assistant manager, was young, but Jessie had chosen well and trained her even better. There was very little for him to do other than check the accounts and authorize a few payments on Jessie’s behalf. Penny had even taken over the books.
When he got home, Finn didn’t greet him at the door. He hung up his own coat, which was fine with him, though Finn usually insisted on doing his butler imitation, and headed through the house, wondering if Finn had gone out to the store or something. Then he heard the laughter.
He followed the sound upstairs to Jessie’s room. As he neared the doorway, he heard her say, “Ha. Q-U-E-E-N. On a triple-word space, that’s thirty and let’s see, fifteen. Mark me down for forty-five points, Finn.”
“You witch!” Ryan could barely understand the words because Finn was laughing so hard. He knew from experience that his employee considered himself a champion Scrabble player. “I swear those big numbers stuck to your fingers when you dipped into that bag. Rematch tomorrow.” But humor colored his voice.
“You’re on.” Then she caught sight of Ryan lounging in the door. “Hi! Are you early? I just beat the pants off Finn.”
“You won by three points,” Finn said testily. “And only because I couldn’t get rid of that K I drew near the end.” He rose and turned to Ryan. “Sorry I didn’t hear you come in.”
Ryan shrugged. “Understandable. Nothing like getting beaten by a girl to make you concentrate.”
“Hey!” Jessie shook a finger at him. “Chauvinism is uncalled for.”
Finn glared at him. “I’d like to see you do better.”
Ryan laughed. “You’d both clobber me. Numbers are my forte, not letters.”
Finn and Jessie finished putting the game pieces in the box, and Finn rose from the chair he’d set at a small table beside the bed. He replaced the chair and table in their original positions and then took the game from Jessie. “I’d better get dinner started. How does a chicken casserole sound?”
“Great.” As he left the room, she turned to Ryan. “He’s a lot of fun. I could get used to lying around in the lap of luxury all day.”
It shouldn’t bother him that part of the reason Jessie was marrying him was because she knew he could provide for their children and her, he told himself. Hadn’t he used his success as one of the lures when he’d been talking her into it? “Feel free to do that if it makes you happy,” he said. “I don’t care if you never work again.”
Jessie looked horrified. “You may not, but I do. I’ve worked hard to turn The Reilly Gallery into something unique and special. It’s more to me than just a job.”
He nearly pointed out that she’d been more than happy to forget it for the past week, but his rational self reminded him that she’d been too ill to think much at all. What was the matter with him?
He was afraid he knew the answer to that. He had dreamed of Jessie for years, then given up that dream. Now suddenly the dream was tossed in his lap. Part of it, anyway. And though he anticipated the physical part of their new relationship with a need that was nearly painful, it wasn’t enough. He wanted her to want him the way he wanted her. Not just physically but emotionally. He wanted her, body and soul. Heart and mind.
He wanted it all.
Six
The next day was Saturday.
Ryan knocked on the door of Jessie’s room shortly after eight. She knew he’d already been up for an hour, working out in the weight room on the third floor.
“Come in,” she called.
He turned the knob and pushed open the door, looping the white towel he carried around his neck. “Good morning. Shall I have Finn bring up some breakfast?”
Jessie pursed her lips. “I think I’d rather eat downstairs.”
But he stepped forward before she could rise from the bed. “Uh, why don’t you let Finn coddle you this morning? Save your energy.”
“For what?” she asked with a wry grin. “My afternoon nap?”
“Well…” He walked to the bed and stood looking down at her. “Actually, I thought we might go to a wedding today if it wouldn’t tire you out too much.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean our wedding? Get married today?”
He nodded. “No reason to wait, is there?”
She shrugged, shook her head. “No. There isn’t.” She squared her shoulders. “All right. Let’s do it.”
“Great.” He turned and headed for the door. “I’ll get Finn up here with breakfast, then he can lay out something for you to wear.”
Two hours later she sat in a chair outside the office of the justice of the peace. Finn sat beside her while Ryan paced restlessly up and down the hall.
“You look lovely,” Finn said. He fussed with the peek-a-boo lace across the bodice of the dressy suit she’d chosen. “That ivory suit was a wonderful choice.”
She grinned at him, though her attention was still on her husband-to-be, who seemed far more nervous than he should, given the fact that he’d railroaded her into this marriage. “I never expected to wear this to my wedding when I bought it.”
“Oh, dear heavens!” Finn sprang to his feet. “You don’t have any flowers!” He zipped over to Ryan’s side. “I’m going to get some flowers. You cannot get married without flowers.”
“Get a camera, too,” Ryan said. “One of those little disposable ones will do.”
He caught her eye as Finn disappeared. “You heard the man. We cannot get married without flowers.”
She chuckled. “Wanna bet?” Then she looked around. “It feels funny to be out in public again after feeling rotten for so long.”
Ryan crossed to her side and took the seat Finn had vacated. He put his arm around her, hugging her close to his side. “You have no idea how relieved I am to see you feeling better.”
“About as relieved as I am to be feeling better,” she said. “When I scheduled this pregnancy, I didn’t leave any flex time for problems like this. I’ve got to get back to work.”
Ryan was silent for a moment. Then he said, “It’s possible you’re going to have to stick to a modified schedule for some time once you go back, you know.”
“A modified schedule?” She didn’t like the sound of that. Was Ryan going to be one of those husbands who wanted his wife at home? She thought he’d clearly understood her position on that the other day—
“Part-time,” he said. “Until the doctor thinks you’re really fit enough to handle a full schedule. Carrying two babies presents some extra difficulties sometimes.”
“Once I get past this queasy stage, I’ll be fine.” She couldn’t let herself believe otherwise. Her store needed her. And she needed it. She’d worked so hard to make her business what it was, to support herself, to be a success. If she didn’t get back in there soon, all that would be in danger.
As she was mulling over the dark thoughts, Finn returned. He carried a bouquet of orange blossoms and made them pose for a ridiculous number of pictures on the small camera he’d bought while they waited.
Finally the doors to the justice of the peace’s chamber opened. A beaming couple came out, holding hands, with several people behind them, and Jessie swallowed her nerves as Ryan took her hand and led her inside.
The ceremony didn’t take long at all. Her hands shook as she placed the wedding band on Ryan’s finger and accepted hers from him. His hands were cool and steady, and he put an arm around her as they spoke their vows. When he kissed her, he kept it brief, but the telling pressure of his lips and a quick wisp of his tongue across her bottom lip turned her bones to jelly.
After the ceremony, she glanced up at him covertly. Could Ryan really be her husband now? He met her eyes and in his, she saw the warmth and reassurance she realized she’d craved. She’d been so afraid this was a mistake, so afraid Ryan would regret marrying her. So afraid he’d be
thinking of Wendy today. But as they signed their names to the license, all she saw in his expression was pleasure and a confidence that steadied her. Finn snapped pictures and tossed a few handfuls of orange blossom over them as they exited the chamber. Then Ryan carried her back to the car and took her home to bed again.
Alone, as the doctor had ordered.
It was hardly the wedding day she’d hazily imagined when she’d allowed herself to consider that she might someday marry. But because it was Ryan who’d slid his ring onto her finger, it became the perfect wedding.
She went back to the doctor the following week.
As Ryan had predicted, she got edgier as she began to feel better. She’d begged him twice to take her down to the gallery “just for a quick look around,” but he’d refused, telling her the doctor would let her know when she was allowed on her feet again.
She walked into the doctor’s office, though Ryan had carried her out to the car, and he could feel her impatience with the restrictions.
“Well, hello,” said the receptionist. “It’s nice to see you in a vertical position today.”
Jessie smiled. “I’m feeling much better.”
When it was their turn, the doctor pronounced himself very pleased. He told her she could work three half days a week until he saw her again in two weeks, near the middle of March.
“But I feel fine now,” Jessie said, clearly unhappy with the doctor’s edict.
The obstetrician merely smiled. “I know. But I don’t want you to overdo it. Once you’ve reached twelve weeks and we see how your body responds without any medication, we’ll talk about working more.”
As they got back into the car to go home, Jessie said glumly, “At this rate my store will be in the red by the end of the year.”
“No way.” He checked for traffic, then swung out onto the street. “Penny is doing a fine job. I haven’t been lying to you.”
“Yes, but I’ve already had to cancel appointments for a loan twice, and who knows when I’ll be able to reschedule them?”
“You’ll be back on your feet again before you know it. And I bet you’ll have a loan soon thereafter.”
She was silent. When he looked her way again, her lower lip was quivering.
“What’s the matter?” He reviewed the conversation. What had he said? Done? The books weren’t kidding when they said a woman’s hormones went crazy during pregnancy.
Jessie took a deep breath and sniffed. “I feel superfluous. I’m not necessary to the gallery.”
You’re necessary to me. The words very nearly popped out of his mouth before he controlled the thought. “You’re necessary,” he said patiently. “Penny doesn’t have the experience or the people skills to court your artisans. She doesn’t begin to have your eye for striking displays and for what works with what. Sure, your products have continued to sell well, largely because they’re unique, quality items that you selected.” He took a breath. “You hired an efficient, organized assistant. Right now she’s doing exactly what you need her to do. Soon you’ll be able to do what you do best again. And once you do, that other shop will be sunk.”
She didn’t say anything, and her lip continued to quiver.
He didn’t know what else he could say to make her feel better, so he concentrated on the traffic, feeling clumsy and awkward. He hoped he hadn’t made her feel worse.
Finally she sighed. “I really hate to admit this, but I’m exhausted. I guess I’d better lie down again when we get home.”
He smiled, relieved that she was recognizing her limits. “You did well today. Tomorrow you’ll feel even better.”
“Tomorrow,” she said, “I’m going to work for a whole half day.”
Three weeks later he took her to her apartment on Saturday morning. It was the first time she’d been in it since the day Ryan had taken her to the hospital. She knew he’d sent Finn over twice to clean it, and the bed had been neatly made with fresh sheets.
“Pack whatever you think you’ll need for the short term,” he told her. “Soon you’re going to need new clothing, anyway.”
She glanced down at her stomach. Although she didn’t have anything to compare it to, she was pretty sure a pregnant mother of a single baby didn’t look like she looked already. She was barely nine weeks and already none of her pants fit. “I’ll put anything I think I can still use in one suitcase and pack the others for you to bring over when you can.”
“Put a sign on anything you want to keep,” he said. “The rest can either go into storage or I can arrange to have it sold.”
“My lease isn’t up until September,” she said. “I’ll put a sign on the things I want to take to your house and we’ll leave the rest here. I’ll have to sublet it, and it’s easier if it’s furnished.”
“That’s not a problem. I can take care of it for you.”
“That’s all right. I’ll do it.” She looked around. “I suppose there really isn’t very much here that I want to take with me. I won’t need furniture.” She fished in her purse for her key ring and detached a key from it. “While I’m packing, you could go down to the storage room in the basement. Stacked against the left wall back toward the corner are three boxes of things I kept after my mother died.”
“All right.” He accepted the key, then took her by the hips and tugged her against him in one quick, unexpected move. “How about some incentive?”
Her heart skipped a beat. His body was hard and exciting against hers, throwing off a heat that nearly scorched her. Did he have any idea how much she wanted him? Tentatively she lifted her arms to his wide shoulders. “I could probably manage that.”
He looked down at her, and his eyes shot a brilliant blue challenge. Suddenly she understood that look. He’d initiated the few kisses they’d shared. Now it was her turn.
Slowly she lifted herself on tiptoe. Dimly she realized she was shaking as she drew near his chiseled mouth—
And then she pressed her lips to his. His mouth was cool and firm, but it warmed, softened as she kissed him gently. His arms came around her and she slid hers up his neck into his hair. And the kiss caught fire. His mouth hardened, plundered. She gasped, and he used it to advantage, sliding his tongue deep inside her tender mouth, bending her back over one arm as she clutched at him for balance. He kissed her endlessly, then slid his mouth along her jaw to her earlobe, and she jerked in shock as she felt his teeth nibbling at the sensitive flesh. Lightning bolts of raw sexual need shot through her; she arched her back, pressing her lower body firmly against him. He was taut and hard and already aroused. Deep within her, an empty ache begged for his fulfillment.
But he was ending the moment, drawing back the slightest bit, his mouth leaving her ear. His breath was a hot rasp against her flesh as he lifted his mouth from her and set her upright again, and his kiss-reddened lips quirked at one corner.
“Whoa,” he said, and his gaze was intense. “Guess you’re sorry you started that.”
Somehow she found her voice. “Not sorry. Only sorry that we can’t finish it.”
There was a full five seconds of silence as his eyes narrowed. “You picked a hell of a time to admit you want me.”
She shrugged. “You picked a hell of a time to start something.”
They stared at each other a moment, then a chuckle worked its way up through Ryan’s chest, rolling out as a rich, sustained shout of laughter. “We’re a pair,” he said, releasing her and strolling to the door.
She stood in the middle of her apartment after he left, one hand pressed against her mouth. He hadn’t touched her that way since she’d been in the hospital. Instead, he’d kissed her on the forehead, rubbed her shoulders and casually held her hand as if she were nothing more than a good friend.
Which she was, wasn’t she? No, darn it, she was his wife! And she wanted him to…to touch her as if she were more than just a friend.
She’d begun to wonder if he would lose interest as she grew rounder and less desirable. But that kiss! That kiss lef
t her in no doubt that he was anticipating the day when the doctor gave her the green light to pursue normal activities.
The trouble was, making love with Ryan wasn’t normal, for her! An involuntary shiver worked its way through her body, lingering deep in her abdomen. She wanted him, and he’d made it more than clear that he wanted her. But where did it go from there? Unhappily she walked into her bedroom and opened drawers, filling the first of her suitcases that Ryan had pulled out and laid open on the bed for her.
He was so very dear to her in so many ways. Not only did they have their childhood memories to draw them together, they had the friendship they’d established as adults. And now they had love.
Her hands stilled on the stack of sweaters she’d just set in the suitcase. No, she corrected herself, they didn’t have love, she had love. Oh, God. She was a fool. Ryan had a healthy lust and affection for her, but his heart still belonged to the dead wife whom she could never replace.
And that was the problem. She wanted to give herself to him in every way there was, to show him how much she loved him with her body even if she couldn’t say the words. But…she was afraid. Unbidden, the look on his face the day they’d left the hospital sneaked into her mind. Deep in her heart, she feared that Ryan would meet someone someday—someone who reminded him of Wendy and whom he could love as he’d loved his first wife.
Forcing herself to move, she resumed packing. There was absolutely nothing she could do about that. And she could hardly expect the man to forego the normal aspects of a marital relationship. She’d simply have to remember the circumstances under which their marriage had been arranged and protect her heart as best she could.
The sound of the opening door jolted her and she dropped the stack of socks into the suitcase in a far more haphazard manner than she usually did.
“Mission accomplished.” Ryan lounged in the doorway. “The boxes are in the car. Want me to start taking down suitcases?” He indicated the ones she had closed.
Billionaire Bachelors: Ryan Page 10