Tempting Fate

by Lisa Mondello

  “Oh, there you go upstaging me, big shot,” Maggie teased. They continued to play for a few bars until they both broke into uncontrollable laughter.

  Maggie's giggles were infectious. Jonah couldn't remember a time he'd ever felt so drugged with laughter just having a plain old good time.

  Something had changed in him. Some gaping void had been filled by this delightful woman laughing with him.

  Tears were in her sapphire eyes, overflowing the brims and sticking to her thick dark lashes. He reached over to wipe away the moisture. It was just a soft brush of his thumb across her cheek. An innocent move in many respects. But the spark of energy that one bit of contact sent bursting through him rivaled electric shock. Heat burned through him, settling deep in the pit of his belly, sparking a fire even lower.

  It was an innocent move. One that should have been over and done with in the span of a second, yet Jonah let his fingers remain on Maggie's face, brushing the deepening color of her cheek with his thumb, allowing his fingertips to graze her silky skin, warm and soft and moist to his touch. Her bright eyes deepened in color reminding him of a cloudless sky at dusk, and the little gold flecks of light sprinkled in her irises of her eyes were like stars dotting the sky.

  His gaze drifted to Maggie's full lips, a rosy pink color all on their own. Last night they were ruby red to match the provocative dress she'd worn to the charity dinner. She'd stolen his breath away with the mere sight of her. He'd seen the way Cameron had looked at her and immediately he felt the need to claim this woman as his own, despite the fact that the only claim he had was legal, not emotional.

  But right now his emotions were running as wild as his body. With the quick flick of her tongue, Maggie moistened her lips and he knew he had to kiss her. He would definitely kiss her. Because the thought of doing anything else at that moment seemed outrageous.

  He bent his head, looking into her eyes to gauge her response, to see if she'd pull away. Instead, her eyes drifted closed. She tilted her chin up, parting her waiting lips just slightly, and he took the offer. She tasted of sugar and smelled of apples and fresh soap from her morning shower. Her lips were soft and full against his, hungry and greedy all on their own.

  He dug his hands into her hair, pulling her closer to him in a desperate need to feel her body pressed against his. He'd wanted to kiss her last night, both when he'd seen her glide down the staircase wearing that incredible red dress, and again later in the limo. And now she was in his arms, pressing against him until he thought he'd die with need.

  As if reading his mind, knowing he needed more of her, Maggie reached up and wrapped her arms around him, lacing her fingers behind his neck. It would be so easy to lift her up and gently place her in his lap, let her know the growing desire swirling through him, achingly hot and painful.

  But he didn't do it. He held himself back because somewhere in the back of his mind was a nagging doubt that maybe he shouldn't be kissing Maggie this way. Maybe having her in his arms, delving his tongue deep into the sweetness that she was offering would only crumble the very neat and tidy walls they'd constructed at the onset of their relationship.

  He needn't have worried. As his body and mind waged war over the rightness and wrongness of what felt so very natural, Maggie abruptly pulled away.

  “Oh,” she said, clutching her stomach with both hands. She peered up at him, her lips swollen and moist from their kiss, and he wondered why he'd even had the slightest dilemma in kissing her. He wanted her again, in his arms, her small body pressed firmly against his.

  With a quick intake of breath, her expression changed from shock, to wonderment...to joy.

  “The baby kicked,” she said, moisture filling her eyes.

  He didn't respond. He'd forgotten. He'd actually forgotten that there was a baby right here with them the whole time he was kissing Maggie and thinking about how much he wanted to...

  “I've felt the baby move before. Mostly fluttering and tickle movements. But this was an honest to good kick right in my gut.”

  Maggie's whole face beamed. Jonah loathed himself for the pang of jealousy that clutched his heart.

  She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. Heat spread through him with the memory of her body pressed up against his, her arms wrapped around his neck, her soft sweet lips...

  He looked at her face and knew immediately that although his body was still reeling from the cosmic jolt of lightning that kiss evoked, for Maggie it was long forgotten. Her dark eyes twinkled with the spark of a new flame, for that of her unborn child.

  “He just did it again. Did you feel it?”

  He shook his head, forcing his smile to remain, not wanting to take away any of the joy she felt at this new experience.

  Something he wasn't a part of, he reminded himself. Not really. This was Maggie's baby, her joy. And that was just fine with him.

  Or it should be. Except somehow Jonah suddenly felt like he was on the outside looking in. He didn't want to be a daddy and wasn't going to be. He was only giving this child his name and then they would go their separate ways. He knew first hand that a handful of postcards and snapshots from some remote place wouldn't make him a real daddy.

  Her expression was still glowing. “I guess maybe it's too soon for you to feel anything.”

  “I suppose.”

  Maggie released Jonah's hand. Abruptly, he sprung from the piano bench, leaving all the warm fuzzy feelings she had from his scorching kiss behind. Lord, but when he had kissed her so passionately, it was like brandy flowing through her body, heating her with a fire so strong, she'd been unable to break free. And didn't want to. But now she was cold. Only the radiance of feeling her baby move inside her kept her warm.

  Kissing Jonah had been incredible. One minute they were laughing hysterically, and the next thing she knew she was locked in his embrace, clutching his shoulders as if she couldn't get enough of him. She didn't want to let go, she wanted...she wanted him.

  Fear coiled in her stomach. She'd never wanted a man so strongly in her life. It wasn't just her. She'd seen the desire burning strong in Jonah's dark eyes, the way the rise and fall of his chest betrayed his fight to stay in control. Yeah, he'd felt it, too.

  But kissing Jonah wasn't part of their deal, marriage or no marriage. No matter what she was feeling now...

  Wordlessly, Jonah bent down and snatched up the towel he'd dropped by the bench before they'd started to play. Before they shared that mind blowing, all-consuming kiss.

  “I need to get to the office,” he was saying, but as if she had the physical power to do so, she tried to push his words away. And failed.

  Her heart plummeted. He was running away. From her. And her baby. Hormones hadn't altered her mind any to know that this sudden change in Jonah happened at the exact moment her baby decided to make himself known by kicking her.

  She stifled a sigh. She desperately wanted Jonah to stay with her, for them to share the afternoon together and laugh like they'd just been. But where would that lead?

  “Will you be gone long?” she asked, her voice filled with disappointment. It wasn't his fault. She was the one with emotions out of control.

  Jonah cleared his throat. “There is a lot of paperwork that needs to get done so we can get started on the new Haven House. There's no need for you to wait dinner for me. I may be home late.”

  “Oh.”

  Maggie let the silence linger a moment, and dragged her eyes away from his gaze when it became too unbearable.

  Jonah cleared his throat. “Before I forget, I've invited Cameron over for dinner tomorrow. It's nothing formal.”

  You mean like the sudden formality between us now? She wanted to voice the words, but in the end couldn't muster enough courage for them.

  “Would you mind if I invite my mother, too?”

  He gave her a wry grin, which did wonders to ease the tension wedged between them. Since the day of their wedding, Rhonda had made her disapproval of certain arrangements very clear. The
biggest being separate beds. No matter how hard Maggie tried to convince her mother that this was not a conventional marriage, Rhonda insisted that married couples belonged at least in the same bedroom, preferably under the same sheets. She was determined to stretch their yearlong agreement into a lifetime if it killed her. And she took her unrest out on Jonah every chance she could.

  Maggie had to admit Jonah had been a sport about it. Rhonda was not a woman to be matched. Maggie knew exactly why her mother behaved the way she did. She wanted Maggie to have everything she never had when Maggie's father left her. She wanted her daughter to have a happy life, free of care and full of love. And Maggie couldn't find fault with her mother for that no matter how much she disapproved of her behavior.

  “I promise to make her behave. I'll even tell her it was your idea,” she said, offering up her sweetest smile.

  Jonah ran his hand over his head and rested it on the nape of his neck, chuckling. “It still won't win me any points.”

  She laughed, too. The tension she'd felt just moments ago seemed to fade with the laughter.

  “I'll see you later,” he said. As he turned, he hesitated, staring at her for a long moment with eyes smoldering with the same desire she'd seen when she was in his arms. She fought mightily to keep her body from responding the way it had when his lips crushed hers.

  Without speaking another word, he turned and walked out the door, and the baby kicked again.

  She turned away from the door and looked out the window to the garden. The sun was shining strong making the garden alive with brilliant colors. She quickly swiped away any evidence of the errant tear that trickled down her cheek.

  Wanting to share with Jonah the moment her baby kicked for the first time was as natural as kissing him had been. Except he hadn't felt the same joy she felt. And why would he? Her baby wasn't his. No wonder he looked so uncomfortable when he couldn't feel the same feelings she had.

  She lifted from the piano bench and pressed a finger down on one of the ivory keys. The house was quiet again. She couldn't help but wonder if Jonah would have stayed if she'd kept to their original agreement, keeping their relationship platonic.

  Well, she wasn't going to make that same mistake again. They'd gotten along wonderfully so far. The only time Jonah seemed to retreat was when she forced him into intimacy.

  She hadn't forced him into anything today when they'd kissed. No, he was right there with her. He'd wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  It was the baby he didn't want.

  # # #

  Chapter Ten

  Her mother insisted she put her feet up. Mother's did that sort of thing, especially when their daughters were deep into pregnancy. Maggie supposed it was her turn to be pampered a little. But she wasn't used to taking a backseat in the kitchen, even in Jonah's kitchen. Rhonda and Mary hit it off almost immediately and chatted quietly. About her. This she knew simply because she was rewarded with a harsh look and a quick shoo out the door. And because whatever interesting conversation they were having ceased the moment she stepped into the room.

  Maggie supposed she should have told her mother about her and Jonah's “arrangement”. She'd been genuinely upset about Maggie not having a real wedding. Deep down she knew her mother had hoped for more for Maggie. But really how much better could she have done than marrying Sir Jonah Wallace?

  “What you mean separate bedrooms?” she heard her mother gasped from just outside the kitchen door.

  “She didn't tell you?”

  Maggie could almost see the twisted scowl on Rhonda's face. “With good reason. She knew I have plenty to say about it. What kind of marriage is one with no marriage bed?”

  “Jonah calls it an arrangement. They've cooked up some funny idea about being married for year and that is all. The idea is simply daft.”

  Maggie didn't have to see the steam coming from her mother's ears to know it was there. She could feel it from right outside the door as much as if she were standing right over an angry kettle of bowling water.

  Okay, so she'd neglected to tell her mother that she only planned to be married for year. But that was her business wasn't it? If she and Jonah decided to terminate their marriage of the end of the year as planned, it wouldn't be anybody's business but their own. She hadn't gone into this marriage blindly. Maggie knew exactly what she was trading. Living in the mansion with a wealthy handsome man was no sacrifice if it meant that her baby would have a name and be loved. Or rather feel loved. Her mother and Mary were just going to have to get used to that.

  Maggie push through the kitchen door for the third time and as expected all conversation ceased. The scorching look Rhonda cast her could have set the room on fire. Mary's bright face lit up the room and cooled down the flame. Thank God. She didn't know if she was ready to go ten rounds with her mother about this latest subject.

  “Well,” she said, jumping from the pot to the flame. “My feet feel fine. Absolutely no swelling, or aching. My back is fine too. But if you're really interested, I have to tell you that my fingers hurt.”

  Rhonda immediately turned into doting mother mode. “Are your finger swelling, sweetheart? Maybe we should call your doctor and find out if you're retaining too much water. I'll bet we'll get the answering service on a Sunday, but I'll just call him at home if I have to.”

  Before her mother could dart to the phone, Maggie said, “It's not water retention that's making my fingers ache, Mom. It's the fact that I have been bored silly sitting on the couch with my feet propped up on a nice plump pillow while I drum my fingers against a hard end table.”

  Rhonda face twisted into frown. “You're pregnant. You need your rest.”

  “I'm bored. And you forcing me to relax is only getting me agitated.”

  Rhonda propped her hands tightly on her hips. “Can't a mother worry?”

  “She's only looking out for the best for you and the wee one.”

  Maggie’s shoulder immediately sagged. It wasn't like her to pout, but enough was enough.

  “Jonah and Cam are in the den, talking about some project they are working on. You two are in the kitchen cooking dinner. And I'm all alone. I'm perfectly able to help. And it seems to me the only reason why you two want me to sit down and stay put is so the two of you can have a conversation about me. Since I'm the main topic, I think I should be allowed to be here to participate in the discussion. Don't you?”

  Mary let out a chuckle, and after wiping her hands on her apron, she pulled out the stool from behind the breakfast nook. “If you're so determined to be of use, you can peel some carrots.”

  “Thank you.”

  As Maggie settled into the stool and picked up the vegetable peeler, Rhonda leaned over and whispered, “We'll have a conversation about the separate bedrooms later.”

  Oh, joy. Maggie couldn't wait.

  * * *

  “So once the mansion is in your name will you and Maggie be moving back to England?” Cam asked.

  Jonah had hoped the few minutes with Cam alone in the den would give them the opportunity to discuss business, but the topic seemed to keep turning back to Maggie and his untimely marriage. And before he knew it, his mind wandered to that day in the library when he'd held Maggie in his arms and kissed her.

  He hadn't discussed it with Maggie and didn't intend to now. He'd behaved…totally inappropriate. He had no right to take advantage of their situation like that.

  But the more he tried to forget his growing desire for the beautiful woman he'd married, the more it seemed to haunt him. She and her freckled-faced smile haunted him in ways he couldn't describe.

  Cam was looking at him, waiting for him to respond. Jonah thought about his question for a second. He hadn't really given much thought beyond making sure that the estate wouldn't be sold. He had no plans to move back to England. His home was here in America. Maggie was here. And she'd made it clear she wanted to be close to family.

  Although it was an issue now, it wouldn't be for very long. Once the
year was up, and the estate was his...

  Jonah shook his head. He would think more about it later. But Cam was looking for an answer.

  “Why? Are you thinking of moving in?” Jonah quipped.

  Cam laughed. “I doubt I could find my way around that castle now any better than I did when I was fourteen.”

  Jonah himself had been lost in the house on more than a few occasions when he was a kid. And sometimes on purpose. It had been wonderful place to hide, someplace Mary couldn't find him. He recalled just about every secret passage he would crawl into when he knew he was about to leave for boarding school.

  “What did you have in mind?”

  Cam rolled up the architectural plans that they'd been reviewing and popped them into the canister.

  “I may be out of line, but the mansion stands empty most of the time, doesn't it?”

  Jonah nodded.

  “It seems to me it could be put to good use for the children. The grounds alone would be wonderful. Space like that most of these kids have never seen. The staff doesn't work for anyone there anymore except for a few weeks out of the year when you visit. Have you thought about that?”

  “You're saying we should turn it into a Haven House?”

  “Not we. You.” Cam shrugged and tossed the canister on the end table. “It's your home. Anyway it's just a suggestion.”

  And a good one, Jonah thought. Cam was right. The house was always empty. The staff worked for no one, but kept Wiltshire ship shape at all times. He just didn't know if he was ready to make such a big commitment after all he'd done to keep Wiltshire in the first place.

  “I'll keep it in mind.”

  * * *

  A long string of Sunday dinners piggybacked on top of each other. The pattern of their life was cemented as the leaves on the trees turned from green to a kaleidoscope of gold, rust and amber until they suddenly blew off. The days grew cooler, the nights colder. Jonah spent an increasing amount of time absorbed in work, either at his downtown office or behind his desk at home.