by Eve Gaddy
As if he would take the ring back from her. Not a chance in hell. But wisely, he kept his thoughts to himself.
They went back inside and walked out with the engagement ring Tucker had chosen and two plain gold wedding bands that he decided he’d better let her have her way about. Maggie stated categorically that she wouldn’t wear “the rock,” as she referred to it, to work. She wanted something plain, that she felt comfortable with. Something that if she lost or damaged, she wouldn’t have a heart attack over. So he gave in.
There would be other arguments, he felt sure. But he’d won the battle of the engagement ring. Oddly enough, he found he liked seeing his ring on her finger. Maybe this marriage wasn’t as bizarre of an idea as he’d thought at first.
SURREPTITIOUSLY, Maggie looked at her left hand. The diamond sparkled, even in the dim, romantic lighting of the classy seafood restaurant Tucker had suggested they go to, to eat and discuss the rest of the wedding plans.
Tucker had told the clerk to put the ring in a small velvet box, then insisted Maggie let him slide the rock on her finger once they went back to his car. She’d been a little afraid that he’d kiss her. He hadn’t, but instead of being relieved he’d acquiesced to her wishes, she was conscious of a vague feeling of disappointment.
The rock was gorgeous, the kind of ring any woman would kill for. A ring totally unsuited to a hardworking, firmly middle-class cop. Maggie had never felt more guilty in her life.
She shot him an irritated glance. Damn it, why couldn’t he have been poor? Or at least middle class, like her? “I didn’t ask you to marry me because you’re loaded, you know.”
Tucker looked up from the wine list he was studying and smiled. “I know. I wouldn’t have agreed to marry you if I thought you were after me for my money.”
The waiter came back and Tucker ordered a bottle of wine for them. White, because that’s what she liked. Maggie had a feeling he wouldn’t let her pay for half of dinner, either. “Is that why you haven’t ever married? Because you think women are after your money?”
“I don’t think all of them are. But I know for a fact at least one was.”
“Sounds like there’s a story there.”
The waiter had returned and Tucker let him open the wine, pour out a taste and then, when he nodded, pour them both a glass. He took another sip of wine and set his glass down. Maggie sipped hers and sighed. Whatever it was, it tasted like liquid gold.
He smiled cynically. “Yeah, there’s a story.”
“You don’t want to talk about it.”
“Maybe some other time. Right now I think our time would be better spent talking about the wedding. We need to tell both our parents, obviously. Do you think your parents will want to have the wedding at their house?”
Maggie didn’t have to think long about that. “No. They had my sister’s wedding at the house and my mother swore never again. She was a nervous wreck and the house was in shambles afterward. On top of that, somebody’s kid broke the TV and my dad was so angry he didn’t speak to Lorna for a month. Let’s just go down to the JP.”
“I have a better idea. We’ll have the wedding and reception at my parents’ house.”
Maggie goggled at him. “Are you insane? Have the wedding at the mansion?” She remembered his parents’ home from high school, when Tucker had parties.
“It’s not a mansion.”
“In my book it is. Your mother will freak. She’s going to freak anyway, isn’t she?”
“They’ll be surprised. But they’ll deal with it. Don’t worry, I’ll handle my parents. We’ll tell both sets of parents tomorrow night. We can plan the wedding and reception with my parents then.”
She started to argue but he wore the same determined expression as when he’d decided to give her the rock. Damn, the man could be stubborn. “Okay, if it’s all right with your folks we can have the wedding there, but there’s no need for a reception. Aren’t we just having family?”
“Family and a few friends. It won’t be large. There’s not enough time. We’ll just call a few of our friends and ask them. I want to ask my partner and his wife and my secretary and her husband. You’ll want to ask your chief and his wife, I’m sure. And whoever else you work with that you want to come. We can make out the list tonight when we get back.”
Her head was whirling. She hadn’t realized everything would be so complicated. She hadn’t thought things through at all. For a smart woman she was starting to realize she’d been incredibly dumb about this whole thing. Fortunately, the waiter came back and took their order, which gave her a little time to compose herself.
She changed the subject. “Do you want to come see Grace with me tomorrow? I have a meeting set up in the morning and I thought you might want to be there, too.”
“Sure. Let me know what time and I’ll arrange my schedule. Have you made any headway locating her mother?”
“No, not yet. So far every lead has fizzled. The woman could be anywhere by now. She’s gone underground and it’s hard to find them when they do that.” Guiltily, Maggie acknowledged that she didn’t want the cops to find the mother. Grace deserved better than a mother who had abandoned her.
“When do we start the process for applying to be foster parents?”
“I have some of the paperwork, which I’ve already started on, but I do need your input on some of it. We have to take a course they call pre-training, to certify us in child care. Then they’ll want a caseworker to come out and assess us, and our home. I have a long list of the kind of questions they ask. It’s pretty intense.”
It occurred to her she hadn’t thought their living arrangements through, either. “Do you mind moving into my house?” She looked at him and her heart sank. He just smiled and shook his head.
“Afraid not, Maggie. You’re going to have to move in with me.”
“Why? Because your house is bigger?”
“Partly. It just makes sense to live in the newer house.”
Newer, bigger and nicer, she thought, but she didn’t say it. “I’m not selling my house. I like my house. Besides, I’ll need it after we get divorced.”
“I agree, there’s no need to sell it. Why don’t you just rent it out?”
She could do that easily enough. Rentals were scarce in Aransas City so they rented out almost immediately whenever one came up.
The waiter brought their salads. They ate in silence for a moment and then Tucker said, “Where do you want to go on our honeymoon?”
Honeymoon? “Oh, no,” she said, laying down her fork. “No way. I gave in on the ring. I gave in on where we have the wedding. I even gave in on the house. I’ve given in on every damn thing you’ve mentioned. But we are not going on a honeymoon. Absolutely not.”
He gave her a pitying look. “Yeah, babe, we are.”
“Stop calling me ‘babe.’ It’s annoying. Read my lips. No honeymoon.”
Tucker put down his fork and looked at her with exasperation. “You’re not being logical, Maggie. If we’re getting married because we’re in love—which, I have to remind you, is what we want everyone to think—then we’d want to take a honeymoon. It doesn’t have to be long, just a few days. Are you working this weekend?”
“No.” She snapped the word out, along with a death look.
“Good. Then ask your chief for a few more days off and we’ll go on a honeymoon.”
The waiter cleared their salad plates. “Your main course will be right out,” he said, and poured more wine.
Maggie gulped some and glared at Tucker. Why had she never realized what a control freak he was? If he thought he was calling all the shots in this phony marriage, he had another think coming.
Preferring to brood in silence, she waited until the waiter had set their main course in front of them before she spoke again.
“We’re not in love. In fact, I don’t even like you right now.”
Tucker laughed. “You’re just mad because I’m right. Why don’t we go skiing? Have you ever been?
”
Maggie took another drink of her wine and tossed her hair over her shoulder with a twist of her head. “Oh, sure. I go to Switzerland every year and ski the Alps.”
His lips curved. “Switzerland’s too far. I like Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We can fly into Dallas Friday night and there’s a direct flight out the next morning. I’ll see if I can get us in at the condo where I usually stay. Failing that, my partner has a second home there and I don’t think they’re using it this weekend.”
“I don’t have any ski clothes. And I don’t have time to buy them.”
“Don’t worry about it. My partner’s wife is about your size. I’m sure she’ll lend you whatever you need. And then we’ll rent equipment for you there. You’ll like it, you’ll see. You’re athletic, so I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly.”
Maggie leaned forward and pinned him with the look she usually reserved for low-life scumbags she interrogated. “You’re insane. Completely insane.”
He laughed again. “Loosen up, Maggie. It’ll be fun.”
Fun? A romantic honeymoon with Tucker, the very appealing man she’d sworn not to go to bed with. What had she gotten herself into? And what had she dragged Tucker into?
“Tucker?” He looked up from his plate and smiled at her. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”
“Cold feet, Maggie?”
“Frozen. I hadn’t realized it would be so complicated. I didn’t think things through very well.” She shook her head. “This is so not like me.”
Tucker covered her hand with his. Her left hand, the one wearing the ring he’d insisted on buying her. “You’ve been focused on your goal. You want the baby, don’t you?”
“You know I do.”
“And you believe your chances of getting to keep her will be much better if we’re married, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then let’s get married. Maggie,” he said, squeezing her hand gently. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t want to.”
She stared at him for a long moment, then smiled reluctantly. “Okay. But I hope you don’t regret it.”
“I won’t. And I don’t think you will, either.”
Maggie shook off her uneasiness. Focus on the goal, she thought. Keeping Grace. And don’t think about the possibility that marriage with Tucker Jones might be nothing like she expected when she’d first proposed.
CHAPTER SIX
“CAN I GET YOU something to drink?” Colleen Barnes asked late the next afternoon after she’d shown Tucker and Maggie into the living room. “Tea or something stronger?”
She looked a little bewildered, Maggie thought. And why shouldn’t she since Maggie hadn’t told her parents anything beyond she was bringing someone to see them. She’d kept the ring hidden, so she wouldn’t have to explain immediately, but maybe that had been a mistake.
“No, thanks, Mom. We can’t stay long.” They had to face the dragon lady next, which was her private name for Tucker’s mother. She knew she ought to be past it by now, but Eileen Jones had always intimidated her. It didn’t matter that Maggie was a grown woman and a cop to boot, Eileen could make her feel like an unsophisticated kid with one condescending look. The last time she’d pulled the woman over for speeding came to mind.
“Frank, turn that TV off, you hear? Maggie wants to talk to us.”
Maggie’s father looked irritated but he muted the TV. It was tuned to his favorite station, the Fishing Channel. “What in Sam Hill is this about, Maggie? You’ve never brought a man over here before. Not since you’ve been grown, anyway.”
She shot a glance at Tucker, who was clearly struggling not to laugh. Great, her father was grumpy and her mother bewildered. She should have told them by herself. She decided just to get it over with. She thrust out her left hand to show them the rock. “I’m getting married. This Friday.”
“Huh.” Frank glanced at the ring, then sent Tucker a speculative look. “You don’t say.”
“Married?” her mother repeated blankly, staring at Maggie’s hand. “To Tucker?”
Tucker took her right hand and squeezed it. She didn’t dare look at him because they’d both burst out laughing. “Of course, to Tucker. Why else would I bring him?”
“Isn’t this kind of sudden?” Colleen said, looking from one to the other. “We didn’t even know you were dating anyone, Maggie.”
“Say what you mean, Colleen.” Her father looked at Tucker. “Is she pregnant?”
“Not to my knowledge,” Tucker said.
Maggie squeezed his hand, hard. “Of course I’m not pregnant.”
“I’ve been asking Maggie to marry me since I moved back to the area,” Tucker announced, as if he wasn’t speaking a bald-faced lie. “Yesterday she finally said yes.”
“And we decided there’s no reason to wait,” Maggie said hastily. They had discussed what their story would be, but now that Maggie heard it spoken out loud she thought it sounded lame. Oh, well, she thought, that couldn’t be helped now. “So we’re getting married this Friday. At Tucker’s parents’ house. I’ll let you know the details later.” Unless his mother flipped out and they had to change plans. They should have eloped. Gone to Vegas and tied the knot there. Too late now, they’d chosen their course.
“Do you have a dress, honey?”
Maggie smiled at her mother. “Not yet. Will you go with me to look tomorrow? I’m working the morning shift, but we can go tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’d love to. I’ll make a list of bridal shops.”
“It’s informal. I want a short dress, so we can just go to a regular shop.”
“Bridal shops have short dresses, Maggie.”
The dress was the least of her worries. “Whatever, we’ll decide tomorrow.” She got up, pulling Tucker with her. “What’s wrong, Dad?”
Frank frowned at both of them and rubbed his jaw. “Do I have to wear a suit?”
“Of course you have to wear a suit. You wore a suit to Lorna’s wedding and didn’t complain.”
“Yes, he did,” her mother said.
“Don’t fit anymore.” He sighed heavily. “I guess I could see if my burying suit fits.”
She looked at Tucker and had to bite her lip. Great. Her dad was wearing his funeral suit to her wedding. Not a good omen, that.
They barely made it to the car before they both burst out laughing. “Oh, my God,” Maggie finally said, wiping her eyes. “I don’t know how I kept a straight face.”
“It was tough,” Tucker agreed as he started the car. “I was doing okay until the part about the burying suit. And his expression when he said it was priceless.”
“At least that’s over with,” Maggie said.
“One set down, one to go.”
Yeah, the ones she was worried about. “What if your mom freaks out?”
“She’s not going to freak out. That’s the third time you’ve said that. Why are you so nervous?”
“I’m not nervous.” Terrified, maybe. She pulled out her cell phone and said, “Oh, look. The chief called when I had the ringer silenced. I’m sure he needs me to come in.”
Tucker’s glance was chock full of disbelief. “Liar. Good God, Maggie, you’re a cop. You face down armed criminals. Telling my parents we’re getting married should be a walk in the park to you.”
“Huh. I’ll take the criminal any day. I know what to do with them. I don’t have a clue how to deal with your mother. I can’t exactly throw her in jail because she makes me nervous.”
Tucker laughed. “Cheer up. She’s not as bad as you think.”
Wanna bet? she thought. A short while later they pulled up to the mansion. It looked just like Maggie remembered. Big. Imposing. She glanced at Tucker, who was smiling at her. “Let’s get this over with,” she said.
“Okay.” But he didn’t get out. He simply looked at her, focusing on…her mouth. He was staring at her mouth and unless she mistook that gleam in his eyes…Oh, God, he was going to kiss her. And damn if she didn’t want him to.
/>
But he didn’t. He dropped his gaze and said, “Let’s go.”
She’d imagined it, she thought, feeling foolish. They’d agreed they wouldn’t have sex, so why would he kiss her? And why was she so disappointed that he hadn’t?
“MOM, DAD, YOU REMEMBER Maggie Barnes, don’t you?” Tucker said as they followed his father into the living room. Since Tucker had told his mother he was bringing someone with him, she had set out a tray of canapés, arranged almost perfectly on the antique silver platter she used to impress company. Someone—his dad, he was sure—had already eaten a couple, marring the perfect symmetry and no doubt incurring his mother’s censure.
“Certainly. I hope you’re not in trouble with the law, darling,” she said with a laugh. She sat in one of the side chairs and sipped her wine.
His father offered Maggie a hand. “Harvey Jones. It’s been a long time. Basketball, right? You were captain of the girls’ team in high school.”
Maggie smiled as she shook hands with him. “That’s right. I can’t believe you remembered that.”
“I like sports,” Harvey said. “Watched a lot of the games when Tucker was in school, although football was always Tucker’s game. What can I get you to drink?”
“Maggie will have white wine and I’ll take a beer.”
“Coming right up,” he said, and stepped behind the bar. “What’s this about Tucker being in trouble with the law, Eileen? Am I missing a joke?”
His mother had caught sight of Maggie’s left hand and was staring at it with a fascinated and, he admitted, slightly sour expression. “Maggie’s a policewoman in Aransas City,” she said.
“Are you, now?” He handed Maggie her wine and Tucker his beer. “Now that’s an interesting career.”
“Obviously, she hasn’t stopped you for speeding or you’d know that, Harvey,” his mother said waspishly.
Maggie rolled her eyes at Tucker. He grinned back.
“Well, Tucker, what is this about?” Eileen asked. “I had to cancel my meeting with the opera committee since you were so insistent on my being here.”
“I think my news is a little more interesting than your opera committee.” He reached for Maggie’s hand. “Maggie and I are getting married this Friday. We wanted to talk to you about having the wedding here. And the reception, of course.”