“What does that mean?” Amalia asked.
Rather than tell her, Chaz decided to show her. Throwing back his head, he let out a guffaw he knew would be heard all over the restaurant. Candace and Scott got the idea and joined him, but Amalia wasn’t so quick on the uptake.
Scowling, she asked, “What is funny?”
Still chuckling, Scott, her self-appointed interpreter, said, “This situation. Don’t you find it amusing?”
Amalia just looked confused. Candace must have taken pity on her, for she changed the subject. “You have a very striking face. Are you a model?”
“No, I was a guide. But soon I will be Mrs. Vincent.”
It was Candace’s turn to be confused. “Mrs. Vincent?” she repeated with a questioning look at Chaz.
He shrugged. “She thinks she’s my mother.”
Scott laughed, but Amalia scowled again. “Not your mother. Your wife.”
“I thought you already had a wife,” Candace said.
Chaz shrugged, unwilling to go into the whole sordid mess again. “Scott will explain while I make a phone call.”
“To who?” Scott asked.
“Who knows what he has planned for the day? I figure we’ll have more flexibility if we follow them in our own car, so I’d better rent one.” Besides, his idea to make Kelly think they were having loads of fun didn’t seem to be working anyway.
“I have a car here,” Candace said eagerly. “We can use it.”
Chaz considered that for a moment. “Do they know your car?”
Her shoulders slumped. “Yes, I’m afraid they do.”
“Then it would probably be better to rent one. We want to be as inconspicuous as possible.”
Scott took out his wallet, pulled out a couple of cards, and handed them to Chaz. “Here, rent it in my name.”
“That’s not necessary—I have plenty of cash.”
“But do you have a credit card? Or a driver’s license?”
Scott had him there. Once again, it was the little things that tripped him up. “No, everything expired while I was gone and I haven’t had a chance to renew them yet.”
“Well, you can’t rent a car without them, so just use mine. Don’t worry,” Scott said, grinning, “I’ll let you pay for it.”
“Good.” To Amalia, Chaz said, “I’ll be right back,” to keep the woman from following him, then he left Scott to explain the whole mess to Candace while he found a phone.
* * *
As Chaz left, Candace felt more confused than ever. “You’re Kelly’s brother?” she asked Scott.
“That’s the rumor.”
“But why are you going along with this?” She gestured vaguely, wondering why he had joined them in trying to ruin Spencer’s day with Kelly.
“For the same reason you are. I don’t think they’re right for each other.”
“I see.” She couldn’t agree more, but she hadn’t expected Kelly’s family to feel the same way. For the second time that day, hope swelled within her. Maybe this marriage wasn’t as set in stone as she had thought. She needed to know more. “Can you tell me what the situation is?”
Her hopes rose even more as he explained that Kelly might not be legally married to Spencer. Even if the marriage was legal, Candace now had a fifty-fifty chance that Kelly would choose her first husband instead of Spencer. Those were certainly better odds than she’d ever had before.
She glanced at Spencer and Kelly. Unfortunately, they looked very comfortable together. And Spencer was so handsome, so urbane, so sophisticated, how could any woman not choose him?
Stop thinking negatively, she admonished herself. Kelly had chosen Chaz once. Maybe she would again. After all, it wasn’t totally out of the realm of possibility that she still loved her first husband.
Renewed determination surged through Candace. She was being given a second chance, and it was up to her to take advantage of it. But how?
As the waiter delivered their meals, Amalia suddenly spoke up, asking, “Where is Chaz? Why is he not back yet?” She looked around suspiciously, as if she suspected someone of making off with him.
“He’ll be back soon,” Scott said. “Don’t worry—he’s not likely to miss a meal.”
Amalia looked as if she wasn’t sure she believed him.
Why was this woman so determined to have Chaz? And what could Candace do to deter her? To distract Amalia, Candace asked, “You spent the last five years in the jungle?”
“Yes. With Chaz. I must marry him.”
Not if Candace could help it. Chaz had to be free for Kelly. “But how did you keep your skin so flawless and your hair so shiny?” Amalia couldn’t have repaired the damage that the jungle must have inflicted in such a short time.
Amalia shrugged. “The little ones find things for me.”
“Little ones?”
“The pygmies who captured them,” Scott clarified for her, with amusement in his eyes.
“I see. What . . . things?”
Amalia elaborated, explaining how she had sent the little ones out to fetch different flowers and plants so she could experiment until she found just the right combination to make sure she remained beautiful. The picture that emerged was of a vain, selfish woman who had been spoiled and indulged much of her life because of her beauty.
Candace smiled to herself. She knew the type only too well—she had dealt with many of them in her career as a fashion magazine editor. She knew how to handle them. Perhaps she could find a way to help Chaz rid himself of Amalia . . . and get Spencer to take another look at Candace while she was at it.
* * *
Satisfied that something had finally gone right, Chaz returned to the table to discover their meals had been served. “It’s all arranged,” he told them. “The car should be here when we’re ready to leave.”
Candace put her fork down and gave Chaz a half smile. “That’s quite a story Scott just told me. No wonder you want to avoid the reporters.”
Chaz nodded, and dug into his meal, savoring the hearty burger and crisp, salty fries. Damn, he’d forgotten how good a burger could be—almost as good as sex. He didn’t even pretend to join in the conversation around the table as he concentrated on eating. And on watching Kelly.
Just as Chaz suspected, her lunch was definitely of the frou-frou persuasion, with lots of finicky little courses and glasses of wine. Worse, Kelly seemed to be impressed by it. Was this the type of thing she liked? If so, Chaz certainly couldn’t compete. Hell, he considered it classy when he used mayo instead of ketchup on his burger.
Depressed, he signaled the waiter and asked for their check. Candace and Amalia weren’t through yet, so as Chaz charged the meal to his room, he explained, “I just want to be ready when they make their move.” He paused for a moment. “In fact, it wouldn’t hurt to check on the car, too. Scott, why don’t you come with me. Candace, can you sort of hang around and eavesdrop to see where they’re going? I figure they’ll be more worried about me overhearing and won’t notice you.”
“Of course,” Candace said.
“What about me?” Amalia asked. “What do I do?”
“Go home,” Chaz said bluntly, then turned and left.
Scott grinned at him. “Tsk, tsk. Now, that wasn’t very nice, was it?”
Chaz shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what I say. She’ll do what she wants anyway.” Maybe if he ignored her long enough, she’d go away.
Hearing the determined clicking of heels behind him, Chaz glanced backward. Sure enough, there was Amalia, closing in for the kill. “See?”
Trying to ignore her, he found the rental car agent in the lobby and passed over enough cash to rent the car for the rest of the week. He handed the keys to Scott and said, “The car’s out front. Since I don’t have a license, you drive.”
Luckily, he had rented a car big enough to hold four. Scott got into the driver’s side and put the key in the ignition. “Now what?” he asked.
“Now, we wait,” Chaz said. “Candace w
ill tell us what to do next.”
Sure enough, Candace came hurrying out, her head turning both ways as she searched for them.
Chaz gestured her over and she settled in the back seat with Amalia.
“Did you find out where they’re going?” Chaz asked.
“Yes—Spencer made reservations at The Cliff House for dinner, and he asked the desk clerk for suggestions on local sights. It sounds like they’re going downtown to see some museums and do some shopping. They’re getting a cab now—all we have to do is follow them.”
Sure enough, they headed downtown. Scott stayed far enough back that they wouldn’t be suspicious, and parked a block away when the cab let Deuce and Kelly off on Dale Street. They spent the rest of the afternoon following them around the Fine Arts Museum, the Pioneers Museum, a horde of antique shops, and every hoity-toity and artsy shop in Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs.
For the most part, Chaz and his hangers-on just stayed in the car and watched, though Candace and Amalia really seemed to enjoy the shops. Chaz even spent a little time in some of them himself, picking up a few things for his date with Kelly. But Amalia didn’t seem to get the concept of not being seen, and they were constantly ducking down under displays and pulling her around corners to avoid being spotted.
As evening approached, Kelly and Deuce finally seemed done with shopping and headed toward the restaurant.
“Is this all we’re going to do?” Candace finally asked. “Just follow them around all day?”
“I guess,” Chaz said. He had had vague plans of sabotaging their outing, but thought better of it as the day progressed. “I’m not sure what we can do without coming across as . . .” He paused, searching for suitable words.
“Cretins? Fools?” Scott supplied helpfully.
“Yeah,” Chaz agreed, though he would’ve chosen a different description. Besides, he was sure they’d been spotted more than once. Deuce was probably just waiting for him to pull something so he could look good in comparison, trying to be the better man. It would work, too. Damn it.
Chaz hated it when he had to play nice, especially when the stakes were so high. “I’m just checking out the competition, to see what I have to do to win.”
As they pulled up to The Cliff House and got a good gander at the Victorian elegance, Candace shook her head. “I’m not sure you can. This will be very hard to top.”
Really? Chaz thought but didn’t say it aloud. Today had to be one of the most boring of his existence. Did women really like this kind of stuff?
As they walked into The Cliff House dining room, Candace and Amalia sighed over the decor. Chaz couldn’t see anything special about it—just another expensive, ritzy place designed to part a man from his money. He sighed, too, wondering how much this would set him back. “Uh, maybe we should skip this one, huh? They’re bound to notice us. There’s a McDonald’s just up the street. . . .”
He trailed off as Candace and Amalia gave him glances full of disgust.
“What?” Didn’t everyone like Big Macs?
“It’s okay,” Scott said. “I don’t think they’ll notice us. The waiter seated them in that secluded alcove by the fireplace.”
“Oh great,” Chaz muttered. “Rub it in even more.”
Grinning, Scott said, “Don’t worry, it’s my treat. I’m tired of walking and driving, and a gourmet meal sounds very good right about now.”
“Yes,” Candace said. “Let’s stay.”
Amalia chimed in, saying, “I like it here.”
Chaz allowed himself to be persuaded, and even let Scott choose his meal. Scott probably didn’t want to be embarrassed by Chaz’s plebeian food choices.
The meal was excellent and the wine superb. But it left Chaz with a mellow glow that just depressed him more. If he enjoyed it, imagine what Kelly was thinking right now. Maybe Candace was right. Maybe he didn’t have a chance of competing with all this. But he sure planned to try. He would just have to play to his own strengths, that was all.
Finally, the meal was over and they followed the couple back to the hotel. Ah, good. The evening was over. Maybe now Chaz could find something interesting to do, especially since Amalia finally tired of the game and went off to bed. The other three followed Kelly and her escort to the elevators, not caring if the two knew they were there or not.
But as the elevator doors closed behind the couple, Kelly cast Chaz an annoyed glance and took Deuce’s arm. Worse, the man had the nerve to look smug about it.
What the hell did that look mean? Was Deuce planning on romancing her in the honeymoon suite?
Over my dead body.
Though Scott had already hit the button to call the elevator, Chaz punched it again, urging it to hurry up. His imagination worked overtime as he thought about what Deuce was doing to Kelly in the elevator. Probably the same thing Chaz would do if they were alone together. Damn it.
Finally, another one arrived and when it opened on the third floor, Chaz hurried down the hall, only to see Deuce and Kelly vanish into her room without a backward glance.
No way. This was not going to happen. Chaz barreled forward, ready to break down the door if necessary, but Scott grabbed his arm.
“Wait a minute, Chaz. Think about this.”
“Think, hell. I’m gonna kill him.”
“No, you’re not,” Scott said in a reasonable tone, though Candace looked as unhappy as Chaz felt.
Chaz glared at him. “Give me one good reason why not.”
“Because then Spencer would win.”
Chaz pulled his arm free of Scott’s hold, but put off smashing the door down while he thought about it. Scott had a point, but . . . “Who knows what he’s doing in there, to my wife?”
“Probably nothing,” Scott said soothingly.
“Yeah, right.”
“No, really. Think about it,” Scott urged. “They know you’re out here. Kelly wouldn’t dare let Spencer try anything for fear you’ll burst in at any minute.”
“So why disappoint her?”
“Because you’ll only confirm her low opinion of you,” Scott said with a long-suffering sigh.
“He has a point,” Candace said. “I—I think he’s right. If you break down that door, Spencer will look much better by default. I think you have to trust your wife.”
Chaz swore under his breath. Oh, he trusted Kelly all right. It was Deuce he was worried about.
Before Chaz could get any more worried, the door opened and Spencer emerged. He ignored the lot of them and headed toward his room, looking both smug and frustrated.
Okay, so he probably got a kiss, but no nookie.
I can live with that.
But not for long. Kelly had better make a decision real quick before Chaz lost his temper and did something Deuce would regret for the rest of his life.
9
When a knock came on Kelly’s door the next morning, it wasn’t Scott this time, but a hotel employee. He carried in a tray and a large shopping bag and waved away her tip, insisting it was taken care of.
How sweet. Scott was so thoughtful.
She lifted the lid from the plate and realized it wasn’t from Scott at all—this breakfast could only have come from Chaz. A stack of light, fluffy pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream lay on a plate, accompanied only by cranberry juice and coffee. It smelled heavenly.
As she sank into a chair, memories flooded back . . . memories of their honeymoon when they’d had this same breakfast seven days in a row. Her throat closed up and unshed tears stung against her eyelids. It had been one of the best times of her life.
She took a sip of cranberry juice to clear her suddenly clogged throat then impulsively swiped her finger through the whipped cream and tasted it. Yummy . . . decadent. It reminded her of all the creative uses to which Chaz had put that whipped cream. She couldn’t savor the flavor without remembering the taste of Chaz as well.
Warmth flooded through her, and moisture pooled in places that had been dry
as a desert for years.
Incredulously, Kelly stared at her finger. I can’t believe I’m aroused by the taste of whipped cream.
But she could believe that’s exactly what Chaz had intended. Shaking her head, she dug into the pancakes and tried to think of them as merely fuel, not an aphrodisiac. She was only partially successful in that, but at least she sated her hunger. For food, anyway.
No more of that, now.
The breakfast he had sent her was romantic and sweet, but his actions yesterday hadn’t been. She couldn’t believe he’d followed them—along with Scott, Candace, and Amalia no less. What was that all about?
Then again, it was one of the most amusing days she’d spent in a long time. Spencer had done his best to give her a relaxing time, but it had been unintentionally interspersed with comic moments as their followers popped up in the oddest places and disappeared just as fast, trying not to be seen.
All but Amalia, of course. She didn’t care whether she was seen or not, and wasn’t exactly inconspicuous no matter where she went.
To tell the truth, Kelly had rather enjoyed all the attention. Spencer had been most attentive and Chaz flatteringly jealous. Not to mention that kiss they had shared in the closet the day before.
Whew! Kelly used the napkin to fan her suddenly heated skin.
In comparison, Spencer’s enthusiastic goodnight kiss had been rather tepid, though she had to admit he had tried hard. At least he had succeeded in giving her a very nice time yesterday.
She wondered what Chaz had in mind for today. Hmm, maybe there was a clue in the bag.
She glanced at it warily, speculating about what he’d sent. Was it a romantic gift to go along with the breakfast? Her jaw tightened. If he had sent her a negligee, it was going right back to him. She wasn’t about to let him get away with that.
But it was far from being a negligee. Instead, he had sent her jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, sturdy cross-trainers, and a down vest. What . . . ?
Wait—there was a note attached.
You’ll need these today. Pick you up at 11:00.
Love, Chaz.
My Favorite Husband Page 11