Bride by Chance

by Marilyn Shank

  Liza opened her mouth then closed it again. As an attorney, it must be tough for her to remain silent. But at this point Martin didn’t much care what she thought or felt.

  She stared at the torn tissue in her hands, and a single tear slid down her cheek. “I didn’t know attorneys cried so much,” he said.

  She sniffed. “I almost never cry—not even in sad movies. The last time I cried this hard I was six years old and my best friend was moving to Texas. Oh, sorry. I’m not supposed to talk.”

  Martin didn’t want to chat with the woman. He needed to say his piece and get out of here. “So tell me the truth, Liza. Did you honestly think you were helping Meg by butting into our lives?”

  She shrugged and pointed to her mouth. Oh, yeah. He’d told her not to talk. “Short answers are fine.”

  “Yes, I honestly thought I was helping Meg.”

  “And you kept up the pretending because you wanted her to have time to fall in love?”

  “Right.”

  He shook his head. “Well, it didn’t take long. Did your broken engagement with Travis prompt you to start this charade in the first place?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Lordy, lordy. Now he wanted Liza to explain in detail why she’d chosen such a heartless way to interfere. But he’d forbidden her to speak so that wasn’t going to happen.

  He cleared his throat again. “And you honestly believe Meg will be better off with this Zach character than with me?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “And you didn’t give a damn that you broke my heart in the process?”

  Liza sprang to her feet. “Hold it right there, mister,” she snapped. Then she paused and caught his gaze. “Permission to speak?”

  “Granted.”

  “Maybe I didn’t give much thought to how you felt in the beginning. All I wanted to do was protect my sister. But that changed, Martin. It changed radically.”

  “You expect me to believe you? After all the pretending?”

  “No. But I am telling you the truth. You can choose whether you believe it or not.”

  “And when did things change?”

  She gave his question serious thought. “When you kissed me.”

  “That makes no sense at all. I kissed you about thirty seconds after I walked in the front door.”

  Liza planted her hands on her hips and glared. “You asked me when my attitude changed, and I told you. It changed when you kissed me.”

  He stood and took a step toward her. “So you started caring about my feelings right after we kissed?”

  “I did.”

  “That’s hard to believe since you kept right on pretending. You wrote my speech as Meg and accompanied me to the fair as Meg. The barn dance, everything we did together, you did as Meg.”

  Liza threw her arms up. “What could I do? Tell you I was Meg’s twin sister? And that I was pretending to be her because she was busy falling in love with another man?”

  “At least that would have been honest. Aren’t you attorneys supposed to tell the truth?”

  He started to pace. And when he stopped, he said, “Look we’re just wasting our time. It was a mistake to come here.”

  As he headed for the door, Liza called out. “Martin, wait! Please wait!”

  He whirled around to face her. “What do you want?”

  “Just a little more time. I’d like you to really understand what I’m saying before you go. This is the last time we’ll see each other, and I can’t bear for things to end like this.”

  Confusion made clear thinking possible. Martin raked a hand through his hair and said, “I’ll stay five more minutes. But I really need some coffee.”

  “I’ll be glad to make you some. Just sit down a minute, and I’ll be right back.”

  As Liza headed for the kitchen, Martin dropped onto the couch, and Lancelot sprang into his lap. “You’re the only loyal member of the O’Malley family, Lancelot,” he told the pup. “And I’m going to miss you a lot.”

  * * *

  Liza measured the coffee into the filter then paced as she waited for it to brew. Her heart raced with anticipation. If she could sway juries with her logical arguments, maybe she could get Martin to see that she wasn’t the Wicked Witch of the West. And that her only goal had been to help her sister.

  At least the deception was over. She’d tortured herself about it the whole time she’d been in Meadow Springs. If she could only smooth things out a bit with Martin, she’d be satisfied.

  When the coffee was ready, she filled two mugs and carried them into the living room. Instead of sitting across from him, she settled next to him on the couch. She wanted to feel his strong presence and breathe in his delectable scent one more time -- and remember exactly how he looked, since their time together was almost over.

  “Now where were we?” she asked as she handed him the coffee.

  “You were explaining why you found it necessary to connect your sister with a former boyfriend.” His voice reeked with cynicism.

  “That’s right, I was. The reason I kept the pretense going was that Meg needed plenty of time to be with Zach. She needed to compare her relationship with you to her relationship with Zach. If she didn’t get enough time, she would come home and marry you.”

  He starred daggers through her. “A fate worse than death.”

  “You said it, I didn’t.”

  He shook his head. “You must think I’m some kind of low-life jerk.”

  She set her coffee on the table and turned to face him. “You’re dead wrong about that. I happen to think you are the most caring, honorable, wonderful man I’ve ever known.”

  He bit his lip and narrowed his gaze. “And that’s why you made sure Meg didn’t marry me? Because I’m such a terrific guy?”

  “Meg deserves passion in a relationship. Can you honestly say you feel passionate about my sister?” She stared him down as if he were lying on the witness stand.

  He shrugged. “There are levels of passion.”

  “I disagree. Either you feel passion, or you don’t.”

  “That’s debatable,” he snapped.

  Okay, then, Liza thought. The only way to win this case was with hard evidence. She moved closer to Martin. “Hand me your coffee cup.” He did, and she put it on the table. Then she placed her hands on his cheeks, pulled him down to her level, and kissed him. She kissed him more deeply and thoroughly than she’d kissed any man in her life.

  Martin didn’t respond. He sat there like a statue -- immovable and stone cold.

  But she didn’t let that stop her. She’d won tougher cases than this one. You had to wear down your opponent to gain the victory. So she slipped her arms around his neck and traced her fingers along his hairline. While he still didn’t respond, she did detect a slight shiver. But was he repulsed or excited?

  She would have continued kissing him, but knew in her heart her plan had backfired and she’d lost her case. While passion swelled inside her, Martin felt nothing at all.

  Finally, Liza pulled away. She stood, and turned her back to him as embarrassment flooded every inch of her being. “I wanted to show you what real passion feels like, Martin,” she said softly. “But it’s clear that I’m the only one experiencing it. That was a stupid move on my part and I apologize.”

  For several moments, Martin didn’t move a muscle. Then he stood, and Liza felt certain he would head for the door. But to her amazement, he turned her around, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her so passionately she thought she might melt. Unlike Martin, she couldn’t stand there motionless, so she kissed the man back.

  Big time.

  When the kiss finally ended, he said, “You know, Liza, I had passion in my relationship with Melissa. That’s not enough to base a relationship on.”

  While her emotions were reeling from the delight of Martin’s kiss, she had to argue logically. Otherwise all would be lost.

  “I totally agree,” she said as they sank onto the couch. “Without love, respect,
mutual goals, and cooperation, no marriage stands a chance.”

  He nodded. “For once we agree.”

  “When I saw you on the porch tonight, I thought you came back to shoot me.”

  “I gave it serious consideration.”

  “Really?”

  “No, not really. If I go to jail, it’ll be tough being mayor of Meadow Springs.”

  She giggled. “That’s true. You can’t transact all your business by fax and email.”

  When he smiled, the tension started easing from Liza’s neck and shoulders. “Oh, Martin, I’m so glad we’re clearing the air. Now we can part on civil terms.”

  His gaze suddenly darkened. “What do you mean part? We’re not finished yet.”

  “We’re not?” she asked hopefully.

  “Not by a country mile. You know a lot about me, and I know nothing about you. So if I order pizza can we talk some more?”

  Her heart leapt higher than an attack dog clearing a fence. “Of course we can talk. And I’m starving. I cried myself into a stupor this afternoon.”

  His eyes twinkled. “Over me?”

  “Over you. Having you hate me was the worst feeling in the entire world.”

  “Why don’t you wash off the rest of that mascara while I call the Pizza Palace?”

  “Deal,” she said.

  While Liza wasn’t sure silver linings existed, she hoped they did. Had the emotional storm she’d battled since she’d told Martin the truth passed? And would the sun come shining through?

  As she turned to head for Meg’s bathroom, Martin caught her hand. “What kind of pizza do you like? I have no clue.”

  “Vegetarian. I don’t eat meat.”

  “So that’s why you didn’t touch your meatloaf. And why you turned down the bratwurst.”

  “That’s why.”

  “Hmm. Do vegetarians ever convert?”

  “Rarely. We vegetarians are disciplined people who tend to make lifetime commitments.”

  “I guess that’s not all bad.” Then he leaned toward her and stole another kiss.

  * * *

  The aroma of fresh pizza filled the kitchen. “It’s quiz time,” Martin said as he and Liza sat at the kitchen table, munching pizza and sipping iced tea. He had no idea where this conversation or his relationship with this woman was headed. But he planned to hold his cards close. He’d ask the questions, and Liza could answer them.

  She bit into a slice of pizza and sighed with pleasure. “This is so yummy. Kansas City pizza doesn’t taste this good.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Did you even hear what I said?”

  “Of course, I did. You said it’s quiz time, so fire away.”

  Hmm. Where should he start? Probably with the basics. “What’s your favorite color?”

  “Green and purple.”

  “That’s two colors.”

  “Right. They’re tied for first place.”

  “What kind of movies do you like?”

  “I love watching romances, mysteries, and some action films -- if there’s no blood in them.”

  “There’s always blood in action films.”

  “That’s why I hesitate to mention that genre.” She bit into her pizza again. “This is the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.”

  Was the woman even paying attention? Ever since their discussion about passion and those mind-boggling kisses, Liza had been in la-la land. “Do you like children?” he asked, jumping from trivial topics to a serious one.

  She sipped her tea and nodded. “I love them. Meg’s ballet students have stolen my heart.”

  “It’s one thing to admire other people’s children. That only means you like kids from a distance.” He leaned closer. “Do you want children of your own, Liza?” he asked nervously. After all, she was a career-obsessed woman and close to making partner in a major law firm.

  “Yes, I do. I definitely want children of my own.”

  He felt a surge of relief. “But I wouldn’t want my kids to know their babysitters better than their parents.”

  “Neither would I.”

  “How many children do you want?” he probed.

  “Two,” she replied. “Or five.”

  “Five? That’s a lot more than two.”

  “True. By the time I have two, I’ll know if I want more children or not.”

  Hmm. At least she’d given the matter some thought. “Does your future husband get to vote on the number of children?”

  She arched an eyebrow. “He definitely gets to vote.” She took another giant bite and chewed with obvious pleasure. Then she smiled at him, and his heart skipped faster than the winner of a jump rope contest. “You’re fun to be with, Martin.”

  “Where did that come from? We’re having a serious conversation here. Or haven’t you noticed?”

  She nodded. “I’ve noticed. I’m just not sure why.”

  He leaned as close to her as he could with the table separating them. “Look here, Liza. You and I are strongly attracted to each other, and we both feel passion when we kiss. If we’re considering a long-term relationship, we need to know more about each other. A whole lot more.”

  “Not me. I know a lot about you already.”

  She was, without question, the most exasperating woman he’d ever met. “But you have a distinct advantage. I never pretended to be someone else.”

  She put her slice of pizza down. “That’s fair. So let me tell you a few things about myself that might help. First of all, I’m loyal to the core. If I love something, I never get rid of it. I still wear a sweater Meg gave me when we were twelve. She saved her babysitting money to buy me a white cashmere sweater and didn’t get one for herself. I’ll probably wear that sweater until I’m eighty -- or older.”

  Martin liked that. The day Melissa left him at the altar he’d learned how important loyalty was.

  “And to me, family comes first. I’ve handled lots of divorces where the couples put work and personal gain above their spouse. That’s a recipe for disaster.” Her green eyes were on fire now. “I will never put work ahead of my family. Never, ever!”

  As she stopped to take a breath, he realized Liza had addressed his deepest concerns in a few concise sentences.

  “Let’s see, what else? Oh yes, my favorite flowers are red roses. That’s why I was enthralled when I saw them growing up the porch rail of your cabin. Of course, it was your cabin that really shocked me. I’d figured you built tiny ones with outhouses in the back.”

  Martin shook his head and smiled. He opened his mouth to ask another question but Liza held up her hand. “I didn’t get to speak for a big part of the evening. So if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to finish.”

  He nodded. “Run with it.”

  “It’s important for you to know that I’m in love with you, Martin Landsburg -- deeply and passionately in love with you. But I won’t pursue this relationship. I’ve been manipulative since the moment we met, but that’s over now. I’m just thankful you’re starting to forgive me for the awful things I did.” She slanted a concerned glance his way. “You are, aren’t you? Starting to forgive me?”

  He must be, Martin figured. He wouldn’t be sitting here eating pizza with the woman and asking her the most personal questions ever if he hadn’t forgiven her. “Yes, Liza. I’ve forgiven you. You saved both Meg and me from a platonic marriage. And I now realize I want more than that for myself -- and for Meg, too.”

  She beamed at him. “That’s great. I won’t have to carry guilt around with me for the rest of my life. Oh, and by the way, my birthstone, mine and Meg’s, is the amethyst. That’s why I absolutely love the engagement ring you bought for me. I mean for Meg,” she amended, and the sparkle in her eyes dimmed.

  “I bought that ring for you.” He wasn’t sure if that statement shocked him or Liza more.

  “How can you say that? Didn’t you pick the ring out months ago?”

  “I had Ernie hold it for me. But I couldn’t make myself buy it until I met you, Liza. One kiss ch
anged everything.”

  She sobered now. “I know. It was love at first kiss. For me, that is.”

  “For me, too.”

  But now that he felt love and passion, and the woman he wanted to spend his life with sat across from him eating pizza, Martin felt more frustrated than he’d felt in his entire life. He got up and started pacing. “I have the worst possible luck where women are concerned.”

  Her eyes shot open wide. “Me? You consider me the worst possible luck?”

  “No, not you, but look at my track record. First, I fall for Melissa Jackson who couldn’t commit if her life depended on it. And then I meet your terrific sister who is loyal, beautiful, and talented and would make a wonderful wife. So I try to convince myself I don’t need passion to be happy. And I would have pulled it off if you hadn’t shown up and pretended to be Meg.”

  He stopped and walked over to Liza’s chair. “Could you put that pizza down for a second? At least until I talk through my life crisis?”

  She put it down. “Of course.”

  He took Liza’s hands and pulled her to her feet. “Then, finally, finally I meet you—someone I do feel passionate about, someone I love...”

  “Hold it right there. Did you just say that you love me?”

  Uh-oh. For someone who’d planned to hold his cards close, he’d plopped them on the table in plain sight. “I think I did. And I didn’t realize it until I said the words.”

  Liza nibbled on her lower lip and flashed him a coy glance. “Do you really mean it? Or are you caught up in your emotions?”

  He pondered her question. “I really mean it. I mean it with all my heart.”

  Her eyes sparkled with joy. “As I told you earlier, Martin, I love you, too. With all my heart.”

  A jolt of pleasure hit him like runaway lightning. “Do you mean that? Or are you just caught up in your emotions?”

  “I mean it. I love you more than I thought I could ever love a man.” She paused, and a slight frown creased her forehead. “Now where does that rotten luck part come in?”

  “You know as well as I do that long distance romances don’t last. And with you about to make partner and me hoping to be the next mayor of Meadow Springs, when would we see each other? Once a month, when one of us catches a red eye flight?”