by Helen Conrad
“Charm!” She rolled her eyes. “That’ll be the day.”
“You know you like me. I can tell. You kissed me back when I kissed you. So there.”
She shivered, looking uncomfortable. “Yesh, well, I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Really? Then why did you do it?”
She hesitated, then looked up candidly. “I wanted to know what it would be like to kiss you. I’ve never really kissed anyone I liked before.”
He grinned, understanding fully that she meant she felt attracted to him. Then his grin faded as he realized the full ramifications of what she was saying.
“Wait a minute. Jackie, are you telling me you’ve never….” He was about to say, had sex, but somehow he couldn’t use that term with her. It didn’t seem fittin’. “Are you telling me you’ve never made love with a man?” he asked instead.
She responded brightly. “Of course not. I’m not married, am I?”
He gazed at her, stunned. What century was it again? “You don’t have to be married.”
“No. But you should be.”
“Oh.” That was clearly what she believed, and it pretty much put a kibosh on his vaguely forming plans. It seemed she wasn’t going to be open to setting up temporary housekeeping in the woods with him. Pity.
“I come from a long line of religious people. We believe in marriage. It’s pretty much the basic element of our lives.”
“Really? How come you’re not hitched yet?”
She drew in her breath sharply, as though he’d offended her with his direct question. Setting her pretty mouth, she went on, ignoring his question.
“My people settled this land over a hundred years ago. Those were the days, you know, when Mormon men had lots of wives. My great great grandfather was Mormon. He had five of them.”
“Five wives.” He shook his head. “I’ve never understood that. Why would any of those women put up with a system like that?”
“It was often a matter of compassion.”
“What?” He stared at her, wondering if she understood what he was talking about. She gazed back, eyes clear and intelligent.
“Sure. In the early days, women outnumbered men something fierce. Men kept dying in wars. There just weren’t enough men to go around. So as a society, they had to make a choice. Should the women be doomed to a sad and lonely life as spinsters, or worse, as fallen women who only caught a bit of love with another woman’s husband on the sly, or should they set up a way to let all the women have the benefit of a home and a proper family. And a man.”
“I guess it makes sense. But it still sounds like hell on earth.” He shuddered, thinking of his own two sisters. “There was probably somebody talking every minute of the day…,” he murmured, appalled, but she didn’t hear him.
“Now my daddy had three wives,” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Three wives? Isn’t that illegal these days?”
“Not all at once, silly. First there was Craig’s mother. She died of cancer. Then there was Troy and Jeremy’s mom. She ran off to the city because she couldn’t stand it out here in Utah. Then there was my mother, Trixie. She died when I was five.” She smiled at him. “Daddy gave up about then. He just didn’t seem to have a lot of luck with wives.”
Michael nodded, impressed and horrified at the same time. “I can see why he might hesitate to try it again.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “But most people have better luck. I’m sure you and Carrie Ann will be very happy together.”
“No, we won’t.”
“But… .”
“I’m not going to marry her.”
She sighed again, shaking her head. “I think my brothers are of a different opinion on that score.”
“You can’t make me marry her.”
“Sure we can. Easy as pie.”
He shook his head, squinting at her in amazement. “Have you done this before?” he demanded.
She looked startled. “Done what?”
“A shotgun wedding.”
“Oh sure. It’s part of our heritage out here in the country. It’s the glue that holds our families together. Without a little force behind the good advice on marriage, we would be in the same sorry shape you city folks are in. You aim low, you won’t hit any targets. You see what I mean?”
He grimaced. “I get you, and in some ways, I agree. But it won’t work this time. Because I’m not the father of that baby.”
“Too bad. You’re the one she wants.”
He was getting frustrated now, about to tear his hair out. He looked at her and felt the anger ebb away. She was so hard and soft at the same time, so deliciously smooth, so sweet and so feminine, his breath caught in his throat as he gazed at her. “How can I marry her,” he said softly, eyes burning, “when all I can think about is how much I want to make love with you?”
Her eyes widened but she lifted her chin and stood her ground. “You’re going to have to get over that,” she said. “You can do it. If I can, you can.”
He stared at her. “What do you mean by that?”
She colored and looked away. “I…I let you kiss me. In fact, I wanted you to.” She looked up at him, abashed and sorry. “That was real, real bad.”
He shook his head. “No it wasn’t.”
“Yes, it was. You’re another woman’s man. I shouldn’t have done that and I’m really, really sorry.”
He almost laughed, then realized doing that would hurt her feelings. She really meant it. She was really ashamed. How did someone this pure of heart survive in this lawless modern age? He touched her hair, swept over by a wave of affection for her. “Jackie, it’s no big deal.”
“To you, obviously. But we already know what you are.” Her chin lifted again. “I don’t do things like that. Not ever.”
He leaned toward her, grinning with pure affection. “Okay, Saint Jacqueline. We’ll erase it. Hit the delete button. It never happened.”
Her eyes flashed. “Now that’s just lying. I know what I did and I’m going to have to confess to Carrie Ann.”
“What?” This didn’t sound good. The last thing they needed was to add a catfight to the mix. “Wait, no. You don’t have to. Listen to me. I’m not Jason. My name is Michael, and I’m not going to marry Carrie Ann. I don’t even know her.”
She looked at him sideways. “Is this Michael person married to someone else?”
For just a moment he had a flashback. Julia, his fiance, rolling her lovely violet eyes, twisting her long, crimson tipped fingers through her gold necklace and announcing with an exaggerated yawn, “Re-e-e-ally, Michael. You should have gotten over these childish cravings long ago. But if you must, I suppose you must.”
“Julia, don’t you understand? It’s over.”
“Alright Darling, if you say so. Now run along and get dressed. We have dinner at the club with the Merrchams at seven.”
“No time for dinner, Julia. I’m leaving.” He pointed to his suitcase. “I’m leaving now.”
“But what will I tell the Merrchams?”
“Tell them the truth. Tell Bud he drinks too much and tell Mirriam she should stop hitting on the pool boy.”
“Oh please. Now you’re just being holier than thou. We each have our foibles, Michael. Shall I tell you what yours are?”
He stared at her, wondering how he’d ever convinced himself that he was in love with this woman. What had there been about her? Sure, she was beautiful, rich, elegant. But where was her heart?
“Good bye, Julia. I’m sure you’ll cope.”
That had been a week ago and he hadn’t regretted it for a moment.
But she’d just asked if he was married to anyone else. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “No.”
“Engaged? Pinned? Going steady?”
He hesitated. “Well, I was engaged….”
“Ah ha! See?”
“But I just broke it off. I’m free as a bird.” He flexed his shoulders, feeling the lack of a weight on them for the
first time. “Free as a bird,” he repeated softly, letting his eyes run over her glowing skin and wishing he could use his hands where his gaze was running. There was a magic to this woman. She was unlike anyone he’d ever seen before.
“Jason, you’re such a liar.” She shook her head, her eyes shining as she looked into his. “But you do make me laugh.”
Reaching out, he touched her cheek. “I want to make you do so much more,” he said softly.
She put her hand over his, holding him there. “Like what?” she whispered.
Desire curled like smoke through his body, rising from his abdomen and capturing his soul. His gaze slipped over the beautiful bulge of her breasts, the way her legs looked like a fine sculptors work of art, the way her shorts gaped open and gave him a look at her lacy panties. He wanted her. He felt drugged with wanting her.
“I want to make you moan,” he told her, leaning close and beginning to drop tiny kisses behind her ear. “I want to make you writhe and cry and reach for me.” His hand grazed her breast provocatively and his tongue began a careful examination of her neck. “I want to hear you cry out, ‘Now, Michael. Take me now.’”
“Oh,” she sighed against his skin, her hands reaching under his shirt. She gasped as her hands caressed his bulging muscles and she began to twist sensually in his arms. “Oh Michael!”
“That’s it,” he encouraged. “Say it again.”
He was tasting every bit of her that he could reach, falling into a trance that meant he needed her to breathe.
“I want to hear your need the way I feel my own. Say it! Say you want me. Say you’ve got to have me.” He kissed her mouth hard and her hips began to churn. Drawing back, he stared down at her. “Say it!”
“Oh!” She pulled away from him, her eyes wide with shock, and he could see that she’d just felt things she’d never felt before. He could take her now. He was sure of it, and his whole body and soul throbbed hard with the need for her. He knew he could have her.
But should he?
Hell no. Of course not. It would be cruel and selfish and he was beginning to care too much for her to do that to her.
Rising to his feet, he swore loudly, obscenely, and stomped a few paces out from their hiding place, trying to work the ache out of his system.
Jackie stared after him. At first she was afraid she’d made him angry, and then she realized he was being a gentleman, and she wondered, for half a second, if she really wanted him to do that.
But of course she did. She knew what they’d been doing here was wrong in so many ways. She was actually beginning to believe that he might not be Jason Black. In fact, she was beginning to hope it. Because if she was honest with herself, she had to admit she could easily fall for the guy. There was something about him that called to her in a way no man had ever done before.
There were times when she liked a man, times when she even thought he was handsome, or sexy, but once she got to know him a bit better, the flaws always came out. And then she shrugged and dumped the poor jerk and went on with her life.
But something told her this was going to be very different. Did he have flaws? Oh, no doubt about it. But somehow she understood that the flaws were going to pale next to the overwhelming virtues he came equipped with. He was certainly the most handsome man she’d ever met, and his kisses were pretty hot, too.
Funny thing—but she couldn’t imagine him with Carrie Ann. Little Carrie Ann and this gorgeous man? No. It didn’t work for her. So maybe she was going to get lucky for a change. It was about time something good came her way.
“I think they’re coming,” he called back to her from his position on the cliff.
He could see the road below. Cars were converging on the house. One of them disgorged a pretty little redhead in a wedding dress. He groaned, looking back at where he’d left Jackie.
“I guess we’d better go down and face the music,” he told her. “I’d hate to be late for my wedding.”
Now that all the players were assembled, Michael had high hopes of vindication from the get-go. Little Carrie Ann would take one look at him and say, “Who’s he?” and this would be all over.
Jackie led him in through the kitchen door and they paused to listen before they went into the room where everyone seemed to be congregating. There appeared to be an argument going on and it was hard to sort it out. Everyone was talking at once and all the voices were spiraling up as each person tried to make his point.
“Oh bother,” Jackie exclaimed, pushing open the door. “Hey everybody. We’re here.”
The room went silent as all eyes turned their way. Three of Jackie’s four brothers were there, along with a preacher holding a Bible and the little redhead. Her eyes were fixed on Michael’s face immediately, and a look of shock came over her.
“Are you Carrie Ann?” Michael asked, wanting to get to the heart of the matter as soon as they could. Smiling at her, he waited for her to nod and ask who he was. But she didn’t do that. Glancing back at one of the brothers with an angry glare, she turned and walked right up to Michael, slipping a hand into the crook of his arm.
“Hi Jason,” she said in a stagy voice for everyone to hear. “I’m so glad you made it. Ready to get hitched?”
Michael turned to look at Jackie. She looked back, her dark gaze clouded with trouble and confusion. Then she turned away.
“Jackie…..” He reached for her, pulling away from the redhead. “Wait, Jackie…”
Suddenly all he cared about was that Jackie know the truth. Nothing else mattered—not the murderous looks on the faces of the brothers, not the triumphant smile on Carrie Ann, not the bewilderment of the preacher. Just Jackie.
Before he reached her, one of the brothers had grabbed him by the shirt and swung him around, nearly knocking him down.
“Jeremy!” Jackie cried. “Don’t….”
“He deserves a lot worse,” Jeremy snarled, his handsome face distorted by anger and hard with determination.
Jackie drew in a sharp breath and stared at Michael. He stared back, trying to convince her with his steady gaze.
“Listen, jerk,” Jeremy barked, twisting Michael’s shirt tighter. “The lady is ready. You going to come up to the mark, or am I going to have to make you?”
But Michael was still focused on Jackie. “Jackie, wait,” he said again. “This is crazy. I’m not Jason.” He shook his head, searching her eyes. “Can’t you tell? Just look at me. I never saw this woman before. I’m not Jason.”
Jackie was staring at Carrie Ann, who was right behind Michael, her lower lip out in a pout of annoyance.
“Is he right, Carrie Ann?” she asked the girl. “Is he the man who got you pregnant?”
Carrie Ann looked at Jackie, then at Jeremy with Michael in tow. She didn’t say anything.
“Aw, come on,” Michael said in frustration. “Tell the people the truth. I’m not the guy and you know it.”
Jeremy gave the shirt a yank and ripped it apart. He grabbed one side of the tear and twisted again. “You calling Carrie Ann a liar?” he demanded roughly.
Michael shook his head. “I’m not calling anybody anything. I’m just waiting for the lady to give us a little truth. That’s all we need and we can clear this whole thing up. Come on, Carrie Ann. The truth.”
Carrie Ann had tears in her eyes, and then they were streaming down her rounded cheeks. Looking down, she shook her head. “It’s not him,” she said in a broken voice that could hardly be heard. “I never saw him before.”
Jeremy looked dumbfounded. “So…this isn’t that Jason guy?”
Carrie nodded. The preacher handed her a handkerchief and she sobbed into it. “It’s not him. And…and…Jason isn’t the one who got me pregnant anyway. He’s just someone I know in town.”
Everyone stared at her.
Jackie stepped forward and put an arm around her. “Then who did it, Carrie Ann?” she asked softly. “Who’s the father of your baby?”
Carrie Ann looked up tried to speak
but her sobs were coming thick and fast. She said a name, and they all leaned in but no one could understand it.
“What?” Jackie asked again. “Say it louder honey. We didn’t catch it.”
Carrie Ann looked up and took a shuddering breath. “It’s Jeremy,” she said loud and clear. “It’s always been Jeremy. I just couldn’t tell you because…because he doesn’t love me and….”
“Don’t love you?” Jeremy turned bright red. “Course I love you. But you kept telling me you were in love with this guy Jason. I…I thought…”
“I was just trying to make you jealous so you’d get serious about me,” Carrie Ann wailed. “You were always coming by for a roll in the hay, but you never…you never…”
Jeremy had turned a brighter beet red. Everyone was glaring at him now. But Michael was looking at Jackie.
He shrugged. She smiled. He jerked his head toward the door and she nodded. In a moment, they were outside again, running from the house toward the woods.
“Come on,” he said, laughing as they joined hands, still running. “We’ve got things to do.”
“What sort of things?” she called back.
“Love making things,” he responded. “We got interrupted before. We need to finish what we started.”
She laughed, but she pulled him to a stop. “So you’re telling me you want to make love?” she asked.
“Oh baby,” he murmured, pulling her close. “I don’t just want to. I’m going to die if I can’t have you.”
She pulled back and looked him in the face. “So I guess that means we’ll be needing that preacher too, huh?”
His face went blank. “What?”
She looked surprised. “Didn’t I make that clear to you? First comes marriage.”
“Oh no,” he shook his head, chilled by the determination he saw in her eyes. “First comes love, then comes marriage.”
“Then comes Jackie with a baby carriage?” she asked.
“Well, yeah, but only if we get to the marriage part….”
She was shaking her head. “I don’t think you understand what love is,” she told him wisely. “It’s in the heart, not the groin area.”
He looked stricken. “But we haven’t even known each other for a full day yet.”