by Jeanne Allan
With a tiny squeak Elizabeth scooted down in the bed and flipped the covers over her head.
Mary opened the door and stuck her head inside.
“Would you do me a favor? Jamie wants breakfast, and I can’t find Elizabeth. She must have gone for a walk.”
“Sure, I’ll go get him right now.”
“Here he is.” Mary opened the door and came in, Jamie in her arms. “I have a million things to do before the wedding today or I’d feed him,” Mary said apologetically. “I’m sure Elizabeth will return soon.”
Worth could feel Elizabeth practically quivering at his side. He didn’t dare look in her direction.
Mary started toward the bed with Jamie. Worth leaped from under the covers. “Here. I’ll take him.”
“Why in the world are you sleeping with your jeans…” Her voice faltered and died as she looked beyond Worth.
Impossible not to turn around and see what had drawn her attention. A nicely-rounded bottom covered in green lay frozen in the center of his bed. In his haste to get out of bed before his mother neared it, he’d tossed the covers too far.
His mother thrust Jamie in Worth’s general direction and said loudly, “Here he is. I’m going now. I’ll be in my room if you need me. Just knock on my closed door.”
Taking Jamie, Worth couldn’t decide whether to hug his mother or laugh in her face. He opened his mouth to explain.
“Morning.” Russ’s voice boomed from the hallway. “Where is everyone?”
Mary jumped, her uneasy gaze shooting to Worth before she scooted toward the bedroom door. “Go away. It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding on their wedding day.”
Worth leaned down and flipped the covers over Elizabeth’s backside.
“Seeing you could never be bad luck.” Russ beat Mary to the open bedroom door. “There’s Jamie. Where’s Elizabeth? I wanted to eat breakfast with my daughter and my grandson.”
“I thought maybe…she likes to walk…” Mary tried to shoo Russ out of the bedroom. “I have a million things to do, and I’m sure you do, too. Worth is going to feed Jamie.”
Jamie was hanging over Worth’s arm, jabbering at the bed. Worth hoped the sounds the little boy was making didn’t sound as much like “Ma Ma Ma” to Russ as they did to Worth.
“I guess I can feed my grandson.” Russ extended his arms, then froze. “Elizabeth?”
CHAPTER NINE
WORTH swung around. A tendril of red hair peeked from beneath the covers, standing out against the white pillowcase like a red flag waving in front of a bull.
“What are you doing in Worth’s bed?” Angry disbelief coated Russ’s every word.
Jamie screwed up his face and started to cry.
“Now, Russ, don’t jump to any wrong conclusions,” Mary said in a soothing voice, patting his arm, “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.”
He pushed away her hand. “What explanation can there be for my daughter sleeping with your son except the obvious one?”
Bouncing Jamie in his arms, Worth looked from Russ’s angry face to his mother’s apprehensive one. A chilling sense of the inevitable hung over him like an executioner’s sword.
“Come out of there before you suffocate,” Russ harshly ordered.
Elizabeth slowly emerged from the covers. Red hair spilled over her shoulders with wild abandon, highlighting flushed cheeks and guilt-filled eyes. She was the picture of a woman who’d been caught in the wrong man’s bed the morning after a night of making mad, passionate love.
Every muscle in Worth’s body tightened, then anger flared at her ability to arouse him even in the most embarrassing and incriminating of circumstances. If she was going to run around in those green pajamas, she ought to fix them so they stayed buttoned, he thought savagely. Catching the direction of his gaze, Elizabeth looked down and immediately clutched the edges of her pajama top together. If Russ had missed their unbuttoned state before, no way he could have missed her convulsive movement.
Jamie had recovered from his fright and chattered happily to his mother as he drooled down Worth’s shoulder. Worth wiped the baby’s chin. Jamie responded with a toothy grin.
No one else grinned. They were frozen in a tableau of shock.
Worth wanted to shout at Russ. He wanted to walk away.
Elizabeth couldn’t have made it clearer she wanted no more favors from him. Let her sort out the mess. Let her placate her father. Explain. If it could be explained.
Worth wanted to point out Russ and Mary had been sleeping together, but he knew Russ would reject the comparison. Russ and Mary had committed to each other. Their wedding today was merely public acknowledgment of that commitment.
Russ was old-fashioned enough to expect the same kind of commitment from a man who slept with his daughter. Worth couldn’t think of any explanation or argument which would change Russ’s mind.
He could hardly say Elizabeth had seduced him. That all he’d been doing was comforting her.
His mother had fixed her gaze on the huge silver belt buckle attached to the belt hanging from the corner of Worth’s dresser mirror. Beau had won the buckle in Ft. Worth, Texas shortly after Beau and Mary got married. Worth had been conceived that night.
Mary Lassiter had raised her children to do the right thing. She wouldn’t say a word to Worth no matter what he did, but he knew how she’d feel about her son acting less than honorably.
His mother loved her prospective husband and she loved her son. Starting her marriage with enmity between the two men would cause her enormous pain. Worth couldn’t put his mother through that.
He didn’t have to like the only choice available to him. Without a doubt this was his punishment for celebrating shedding his responsibilities. His penalty for thinking life owed him because he’d done his duty without complaint. Despite Elizabeth’s accusation to the contrary, he hadn’t complained. He should have known she’d never understand.
She sat still and silent, her wide, staring eyes the only color in a white face. Worth gave her a tight-lipped smile. “I suppose we should have mentioned our plans earlier. Elizabeth didn’t want to steal the limelight from you at your wedding.”
“Mentioned what?” Russ demanded.
Images rolled across Worth’s brain. China’s Great Wall. Florida beaches. Hawaiian palm trees. London. Paris. Freedom. Adventure. He deliberately blanked his mind and said firmly, “Elizabeth has agreed to marry me.”
Elizabeth opened and shut her mouth like a trout. Only an idiot or a blind man would believe she’d heard about his marriage proposal before this very second.
An idiot or a father.
Russ grabbed Worth’s free hand, shaking it so violently, it was a wonder Worth’s arm didn’t detach at the elbow. “Congratulations. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Mary looked every bit as stunned as Elizabeth.
Worth tried to tell himself it wouldn’t be too bad. He’d always planned to marry. Have children. One day. So what if one day was supposed to be far in the future? He and Elizabeth ought to be able to muddle through. It wasn’t as if he had in mind anyone else to marry. He liked Jamie.
He’d bury his frustration in Elizabeth’s body.
“Another Lassiter wedding,” Mary said with forced gaiety. “Won’t everyone be surprised when I tell them at the wedding today? Speaking of weddings, time marches on even when there’s suddenly another engagement. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have a ton of things to do.” She bounced a troubled look off Worth.
He gave her a reassuring smile. He wouldn’t let her down. “I imagine we all have plenty to do.” Jamie gnawed on his shoulder. “And the first order of business is to feed Jimbo.”
Then he’d throw away all the travel brochures he’d collected over the years.
“No. I don’t want to announce at your wedding today that Worth and I are planning to get married.”
Overwhelming relief swept over him. Elizabeth didn’t want to marry him.
He wasn’t about to force her.
If a little niggle of regret sneaked in, Worth blamed it on the green pajamas.
“Why not?” Russ asked fiercely, his face dark with anger.
Worth watched Elizabeth’s pale pink lips move. Heard the words coming from her mouth. And belatedly saw her entire grand plan as clearly as if she’d drawn him a picture.
She was the greatest actress it had ever been his misfortune to meet.
“I’m afraid I’m going to be selfish,” she said, a coy, self-conscious smile on her face. “Please don’t tell anyone today about Worth and I getting married. I want my own moment of glory, not to share your wedding day. We can have a party after you return from your honeymoon, Russ, and you can make a formal announcement of Worth’s and my engagement then.”
Worth smiled and chatted and forced down the food the servers put in front of him. He accepted congratulations on his mother’s marriage and toasted her and Russ. He returned his sisters’ hugs and danced the first dance with his niece Hannah.
All the while seething with impotent fury.
He should have paid more attention when Elizabeth said she hated having her son grow up without a father. Should have realized she’d selected a replacement father for Jamie.
Just thinking of her simpering smirk when she begged Russ to wait before announcing their engagement made him want to toss her in the champagne fountain.
What a sucker he’d been last night. Swallowing hook, line and sinker her preposterous tale of woe. It was a wonder she hadn’t choked on laughter.
Or her lies.
His fingers curled into fists as he remembered the way he’d lapped up the undoubtedly fictitious details of her husband’s farewell letter. The pity he’d felt. The anger at her husband.
Lawrence Randall had been lucky to escape her.
No wonder she’d been so angry this morning when he’d behaved responsibly. An unplanned pregnancy would have made his marrying her a sure bet. Only a man blinded by lust—and ego—would believe a woman had suddenly developed a craving for his body. A decidedly tardy realization came to him. Elizabeth had responded when he kissed her, but not once had she initiated a kiss.
Until this morning. As part of her trap.
He was getting exactly what he deserved.
The rest of his life. Tied to a treacherous, lying redhead.
After the ceremony, everyone said it had been the most beautiful Lassiter wedding ever. Elizabeth would have to take their word for it. Not only because she hadn’t attended any of the other Lassiter weddings, but because she had little memory of this one.
There had been no ritual giving away of the bride to the groom. No bridesmaids or flower girls. Mary’s daughters, son, sons-in-law and grandchildren had gathered with her. Elizabeth and Jamie had stood with Russ. All joined in joyous approval and celebration of the marriage. It had been Cheyenne’s idea. A symbol of love and support for the bridal couple.
Elizabeth had tried to feel joyous. Tried to focus on Mary and Russ exchanging vows, but anger and humiliation held her in their grip. This morning she’d thought she and Worth were making love, and the experience had been achingly beautiful for her. Until Worth had tarnished everything by making it clear what had happened wasn’t an act of love; it was an act of philanthropy. He’d been taking care of the wounded. The unwanted.
She would have preferred selfish, sterile sex for its own sake. His pity enraged her. How dare he feel sorry for her?
An inconvenient honesty made her admit she was partially to blame. Letting everything pour out about Lawrence.
She hadn’t walked to Worth’s room.
Okay, she’d touched him first, but she hadn’t held a gun to his head.
His announcement that they were getting married had stunned her. Until she’d realized why he’d said it. Vintage Worth Lassiter. Accepting responsibility. Being a martyr to the end. Only one circumstance had stopped her from jumping out of his bed and dramatically proclaiming to the world she’d rather walk bare naked through downtown Aspen than marry Worth Lassiter. She couldn’t spoil Russ and Mary’s wedding day.
When Mary and Russ returned from their honeymoon, she would tell her father she was not marrying Worth.
Worth no more wanted to marry her than she wanted to…That was the most humiliating realization of all. For the teeniest part of an instant, following Worth’s announcement…
She’d wanted it to be true.
Laughter drew Elizabeth’s eyes across the room to where Greeley twirled a giggling Jamie around the dance floor. Nearby Quint danced solemnly with Hannah while Allie attempted to teach Davy a complicated dance step. Playpens had been set up along one wall, and Cheyenne’s nanny watched over Harmony and Virginia, the latter playing with her toes while her younger cousin slept.
Elsewhere Thomas twirled Mary to the sounds of a small string ensemble, and Zane danced with Cheyenne.
Elizabeth looked down at her glass of wedding punch. She refused to scan the ballroom to see who Worth danced with.
The hair on the back of her neck tingled, and she turned so quickly she almost poured red punch on his elegant gray suit.
Worth pried her fingers off the glass and set it on a nearby table. “I believe this is our dance.” He swung her onto the floor, critically eying her hair which she’d pinned to the back of her head in a sophisticated sweep. “Don’t plan on wearing your hair pinned up once we’re married.”
“Be quiet. Someone will hear you.” So far she’d managed to keep any news of their mythical engagement from spreading.
“I suppose you want a fancy wedding and party like this. Will Russ pay for it, or am I to be stuck with that, too?”
She didn’t appreciate his treating the matter as a joke. “I’m not marrying you, and you know it.”
“I didn’t hear you arguing the point earlier this morning.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Excuse me? I am not the one who made the grand announcement. The only reason…” Her voice dried up as the anger in his eyes hit her in the face like a fiery furnace blast.
“I led myself right down the garden path, didn’t I? You flaunted your body in those sexy green pajamas, and my brain rolled over and died.” He spoke in an easygoing drawl, a fixed smile on his face. “I have just one question, Red. Did you plan the whole thing or just get lucky?”
Each coldly-drawled, nightmarish word pummeled her in the midsection. The blood drained from her head. She had to get away from him. He tightened his grip.
“Smile, Red.” His own smile held all the friendly warmth of a coiled rattlesnake. “A wedding reception is supposed to be a happy occasion.” If possible, his smile grew even grimmer. “I find it difficult to believe Russ was in on your plan.”
His insinuations numbed her brain, and she struggled to make sense of his anger. “Are you accusing me of setting things up so you’d be forced to ask me to marry you?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t put up much of a battle. It must have been boringly easy for you. You’re good, Red, real good. Your failure to cry should have clued me in, but I’m such a sap, I convinced myself your pain was too deep for tears.”
She’d gone from being pitiful to being despicable. It was hilariously funny. One day she’d see the humor in it and laugh herself silly. One day. Not now. She was too furious.
She definitely was not hurt. Worth Lassiter didn’t have the power to hurt her. Burying the pain, she gave him an admirably cool smile. “You certainly are a sap. I’ve been patting myself on the back all morning at how well my plan worked out. The toughest part was getting Jamie to fuss and keep you awake. I certainly couldn’t count on happenstance, could I? I stuck a pin in his diaper. Worked pretty good, didn’t it?”
He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “You wouldn’t hurt Jimbo.”
“I certainly would. Of course Russ was in on it. We planned the whole thing on the phone before I came. You didn’t notice I was wearing a watch last night. Your bad luck, because it was actual
ly a beeper. So I could signal Russ at just the right time. Clever, right? And by the way, thanks for all your help. I was about to give up on you. I thought I was actually going to have to go to your room and tell you I was cold and ask if I could climb in bed with you. Lucky for me you’re such a do-gooder, isn’t it? Russ thought he’d have to threaten the old shotgun to force you into marrying me, but no, Mr. Sees His Duty and Does It leaped right in. I’ll bet you’re sorry now you left those jeans on.”
“I was sorry then.”
“Too bad.” A deep breath gave her a second head of steam, and she plunged ahead. “Russ didn’t even get a chance to go into his full-blown, outraged-daddy routine. He’ll pout about that for a long time, but I guess we can’t have everything, can we? After all, we got the main prize. You. The man I’m dying to marry because, not only is he Mother Nature’s gift to women, he’s such a dope if we ever had any children they’d have the IQ of an earthworm, and of course, it’s always been my secret dream to live on a ranch because if there is one thing I’m absolutely crazy about, it’s horses.” She had to stop, not because she’d run out of words, but because Worth clamped his hand over her mouth.
“You have to admit, you leaped on my proposal.”
She bit his fingers, hard, and he snatched them away. “I didn’t leap on any proposal because there wasn’t any. You didn’t ask me anything. Oh no, Mr. Sacrifice Everything For His Family stood there in the middle of his bedroom where he had dragged me and announced to the entire world I was marrying him, never mind whether I wanted to marry him, because he knew I would because of course he not only knows my mind he knows he’s so wonderful that a broken-down, rejected widow would leap on the chance to live on a ranch because she’s so crazy—”
He kissed her. Not a soft, seductive kiss, but a hard, shut-your-mouth kiss.
Elizabeth refused to close her eyes. She scowled at his eyebrow and tried not to feel the warmth of his lips. He had a nice eyebrow. Not black and beetling. It fit his face. Not that his eyebrow interested her anymore than the rest of him. He’d kissed her long enough. Bringing her hands to his face, she pushed his head back.