Windy City Romance: Boxed Set: Prequel - Book III

by Barbara Lohr

  Chad could never mention the bet to Amy. What would her reaction be if she thought their marriage was the result of a wager with his cousin? Although his new bride seemed sensible, women had their limits.

  And that wasn’t the situation. Far from it. He was crazy about her. The fact that Mallory was almost knocked speechless by a woman at this stage of the game? Downright amazing.

  He was obsessed with Amy. Even when he was with her, he thought about her. The way the sun made her hair glisten. How her hip curved like a gently sloping sand dune at Hilton Head. And that laugh…

  She was smart, charming, and fun.

  And now she was his wife.

  So much lay ahead. Of course, she had to return to Chicago for a while. She’d explained that she was under contract and planned on sitting down with her principal about what could be done. Given a little time, everything would fall into place.

  The water taxi deposited them at the dock of the airport. Mallory quickly engaged porters. Amy continued to look pinched and dazed. Poor thing.

  As they settled into their seats thirty minutes later, the mood on the plane was subdued. Tempers short, travelers grumpy. Full flight. How he wished he’d had Miriam change their tickets to first class. Amy insisted that Mallory take the aisle seat in their center row of five. On her other side a young man wore headphones. No cheerful Ethel this time to lighten the mood.

  Mallory flipped up the armrest the moment they got settled. Stretching his legs into the aisle, he still felt cramped. Amy looked uncomfortable. Then she sighed and offered him a crooked smile. His spirits lifted.

  Everything would be fine.

  This felt so right.

  ~.~

  This was all wrong. Amy fussed with her seatbelt and adjusted the air nozzles overhead. What had she been thinking? The certificate in her luggage said she was married. If only it really meant something. There was just so much unfinished business, including one very important detail. After hearing Mallory’s sad tales of life as an only child, Amy imagined having his own family was very important. What would he think when she told him? A heavy weight pressed into her chest until she wondered if she’d ever breathe freely again.

  There had been no talk of love from Mallory. Of course, Jason had never been upfront about his feelings either. Still, she wasn’t going to be the first one to bring it up.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Mallory fixed her with those blue eyes that could narrow into laser beams. He’d gone into his CEO mode on the way to the airport. All authority and organization, he snapped orders right and left when they got to the dock. Did she even know this man? Now he squeezed her hand. “What are you frowning about?”

  “Just thinking about…what a great trip we had.” Her eyes fell on her bare ring finger.

  “We’ll take care of a ring when we get home.”

  “No need.” Embarrassed, Amy curled her left hand into a ball.

  “Don’t be silly. You’re my wife.”

  This wasn’t about a diamond. She’d made a commitment to a stranger who’d answered her ad for a travel chum. But she hadn’t been totally honest with him. Maybe she needed a lesson plan, like the ones used in the classroom, to straighten all this out. Exhausted by the committee in her head, she couldn’t get comfortable in this seat.

  “No room at all.” Mallory fumed and fidgeted. Angling his body, he was like a senior trying to cram himself into the lab chairs in freshman study hall.

  “Let’s fix that.” Pushing herself up, Amy studied the seating.

  “I’ll be fine,” he insisted between gritted teeth.

  “There are some free seats in the back if you want to stretch out.”

  “Really?” Crouching, he half stood.

  “It might be the best for your back, you know.” Amy ducked her head so he wouldn’t see she was about to burst into tears.

  For a minute, her new husband was perfectly still. Then he gathered his eyeshade and his blanket. “If you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not.” Plunking back into her seat, Amy yanked a magazine out of the seat pocket in front of her.

  “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Sure.” The vacancy next to Amy felt wide as the ocean when Mallory walked away. At least now she had time to think.

  Since her connecting flight left before his, Mallory planned to sit with her for a while. Maybe that would be a good time to talk things through. Head settled, Amy napped fitfully. The meal tasted like cardboard. Chicken, was it? Even the air felt dry and stale. The guy next to her kept bobbing his knees to his music. She fought the urge to still that knee with a firm hand.

  Seemed like forever before the plane landed at JFK. When Mallory made his way back to Amy, he looked rested.

  “All set?” Dropping into the seat, he took her hand.

  “You bet.” As ready as she’d ever be.

  “Trust me?”

  What did that mean? Amy managed a quick nod. “Yep. Sure.”

  Hadn’t he saved her life…in more ways than one? Certainly they could work this out. Even if he didn’t love her, he seemed to care for her. Instead of a fiancée who’d been kicked to the curb, she was an adventurous woman who’d traveled with a stranger. She’d fallen in love and gotten married. The wonder of it bloomed in her chest, warm and promising. For the past week she’d trusted this man with more than her heart. But she had to be honest about her situation. Any good marriage was founded on trust.

  The landing felt bumpy, rattling luggage in the bins overhead. Everyone released a sigh of relief when the plane came to a stop. Exiting down the side aisle, Amy felt Mallory behind her. Steady. Strong. They would have time to talk. Somehow she would tell him that the sad facts. If he objected, well, their marriage could be quietly annulled.

  Shameless as she was, she clung to a tiny thread of hope. Maybe he’d agree to adoption.

  Mallory leaned closer. “I’ll stay with you as long as I can before I head to my gate. Plenty of time to talk.”

  She released a pent up breath. “Good. I’d like that.”

  At the end of the ramp, a cluster of people craned their necks, searching for loved ones.

  Amy filled with gratitude. After all, he’d given her so much during this past week. Wasn’t this the man who had listened to her sad tale in Monterosso and comforted her? She smiled, remembering his threat to thrash Jason. How cute was that?

  And now he was her husband.

  “Oh, Mallory…” Heart overflowing, Amy half turned, one hand against his chest.

  “Mallory!” The voice cut the air. “Buddy!”

  Mallory’s hands tightened on her shoulders as she twisted to stare at the man waving to her husband. With a pretty woman next to him, Mallory’s friend had a distinguished air about him. Something metallic dangled from his hand.

  “Who is that, Mallory?”

  “Chad, my cousin.” He began to push past her. Although he’d mentioned Chad, she didn’t recall hearing he was meeting Mallory in New York. “Amy, no matter what, we’ll work it out.”

  Amy’s steps lagged. Other travelers edged around her while her heart went into free fall.

  Whatever this was, it wasn’t good. Chad’s smile froze as Mallory approached. His hand closed over what looked like a key. The other woman glanced at Chad and then at Amy, her smile dissolving.

  Above the commotion of arrival on a busy concourse, she heard Mallory say, “Deal’s off, buddy. Deal is off.”

  Deal?

  Chad’s face paled. “You mean you don’t want the car?”

  Mallory edged her out of the main line of traffic. Perspiration had broken out on his forehead. One of his eyes twitched. “Chad, I’d like you to meet Amy, my wife. Amy, this is Chad, my best friend and cousin, who is sorely mistaken, although he doesn’t know it yet. And this is Mirandah Fairchild.”

  “Glad to meet you, Amy.”

  Mirandah stepped forward, but Amy barely saw her extended hand. Her eyes were on Chad and the key fob.


  “Mallory, you’ve been MIA, buddy.” Chad’s eyes got wider with each word. “Did you say married?”

  “What’s this about a car?” Amy’s gaze remained glued to that key.

  “Nothing.” Mallory’s lips barely moved.

  Chad whisked both hands behind his back. “Just thought I’d come and meet you. Bad idea?”

  Amy shook her head to clear it. “Could someone explain this to me, please?”

  Mirandah’s lips clamped firmly shut.

  Mallory dipped his head, as if he were scooping up his courage. The tight smile made him look like a stranger. Other travelers streamed past them. Mirandah dragged Chad several feet away and began talking quietly to him, her head bobbing.

  “Amy, I made a ridiculous bet with Chad. We’re cousins and old friends. And we’re guys. The wager was stupid.” His eyes pleaded with her.

  “How stupid?” Amy could hardly get the words out.

  “Very stupid.” The muscles worked in Mallory’s throat, the strong column she had loved to kiss. Good grief, that seemed so long ago.

  “Please explain.”

  His face fell. Disoriented, Amy felt abandoned, stranded in the middle of a highway, knowing she’d never make it to safety on the other side.

  “Chad kind of challenged me to take this trip with a woman I didn’t know. My board was making demands.” The words rattled from her new husband with the speed of a machine gun.

  “So this was all about business?” Amy struggled to swallow the lump in her throat, relieved when it turned to a searing liquid, like tears. Although Mallory reached for her hand, she backed away. “You went on Travel Chums, looking for some poor, stupid woman who would take a trip with a stranger and marry you…because of a bet? To please your board?”

  Everything slotted into place. The concourse buckled under her feet.

  Mallory reached out again, but she kept retreating. “Not marriage. That wasn't the original plan. Amy, believe me. Everything changed.”

  “How?” Nothing made sense.

  “I met you.”

  “Goodbye, Mallory.” She couldn’t get away fast enough. Her entire world was falling apart, and she wanted that to happen in private. Over to the side, Mallory’s friends stood like mannequins.

  Her steps quickened until she was half running down the concourse toward the restroom sign.

  “Amy, slow down. Please, let’s talk.” His footsteps kept pace.

  She stopped and turned to face him. “Let me make one thing clear, Mallory Thornton, if that really is your name. If you don’t leave me alone, I will stand right here and sob.”

  When she pulled away, he stayed in place.

  ~.~

  Feeling like a total jackass, Mallory watched Amy disappear into the ladies’ room. He’d hurt her—the one thing in the world he never wanted to do.

  “Man, I am so sorry.” Chad meandered to his side.

  Mallory shot him a disgusted look.

  “You should have answered your phone. How did I know?” Chad looked so desperate.

  “The phone was off. I thought I had time to talk to you in Savannah. Did you have to have the damn key in your hand?”

  “Mallory, Chad didn’t mean any harm.” Mirandah looked from one to the other, disbelief on her face. “But honestly, you two. How do you think that poor woman feels? Y’all should be ashamed.”

  Mallory groaned. His cousin had meant well. If it weren’t for Chad, Mallory would still be barely making it through the day, keeping himself busy with another acquisition so he wouldn’t have to face his empty life.

  This trip had started as a lark and ended with a marriage that meant everything. “Did ya’ll have to bring the car up here? I never want to see the damn thing.”

  “We didn’t bring the car, okay?” Chad scuffed along next to him, Mirandah’s heels clicking on the tile. “Thought Mirandah and I would have a couple days in New York, catch some shows. We’re all on the same flight back. I just wanted to surprise you. Make the point that you’d won the bet.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” When was Chad going to grow up?

  When was he going to grow up? Mallory could kick himself from here to Savannah.

  “She’ll get over it, Mallory. Women get over stuff all the time.”

  Behind them, Mirandah laughed.

  Mallory turned. “She’s the one, Chad. The one.”

  His cousin’s face emptied and then brightened. “You lucky devil.”

  Chapter 23

  Zipping up her green hoodie, Amy shivered while she waited for McKenna and Vanessa. Why did Petersen’s Ice Cream Parlor have their air conditioning on in late September? Her friends had pestered her to meet since her return from Italy. She’d put them off. The start of school had been so hectic, and she had no energy. Just a big hole where her heart used to be.

  Every day felt like she was slogging through deep water.

  But not the sparkling waters of the Bay of Monterosso.

  Vanessa and McKenna burst through the entrance, and she waved.

  “Hey, waiting long?” McKenna gave her a hug before sliding into the wire-rimmed soda chair next to her.

  “How’s the happy bride?” Quick air kiss and Vanessa took the seat on Amy’s other side.

  “I haven’t been waiting long, and I'm fine.”

  Her friends exchanged a look.

  “Why are you hiding out? You married Mallory, right?” McKenna looked puzzled.

  Vanessa squeezed her hand. “What’s up, Amy?”

  She hardly had enough breath for a sigh. “Cripes, one week and I marry a man I don’t really know…on a cruise ship, no less.”

  “So romantic.” Vanessa’s face turned dreamy.

  A waitress came and they ordered their usual hot fudge sundaes. Felt like she was just going through the motions. Her friends plied her with questions. The answers opened up a whole world of hurt.

  “Oh, honey. Are you sure you're all right?” Vanessa hovered.

  “No.”

  McKenna looked like she might explode any minute. “Can’t you fix this?”

  “I don't see how.” The whole world felt off. Usually she liked her students. The past two weeks she’d wanted to rip their heads off. Great way to start a semester.

  “What about Jason? I suppose that doesn’t help. Is he still around?” McKenna asked.

  One bright light on her horizon. “Jason took a job at another school and Greta followed. Don't know if Glenn had anything to do with that. But, yes. Both gone. That’s not the problem.”

  “So…from what you said over the phone, sounds like maybe you made a mistake,” Vanessa reasoned. “I mean, sure, you can probably get an annulment if Mallory flat-out lied to you. But how you feel about him?”

  “I love him.”

  “Okay, then!” McKenna’s hands went up. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

  Vanessa glowed. “That's wonderful, Amy.”

  “No, that's a problem.” She fought the tears bottled up inside. No luck. Thank goodness she’d taken a table back in the corner. The waitress came with their sundaes and scurried away.

  Leaning over her whipped cream, Vanessa pinned her with those blue eyes. “Amy, men do stupid things. God knows Alex has. Doesn't mean they don't love you.”

  Amy sniffled. “Alex loves you. The two of you have talked it through and it’s right. A logical progression. Vanessa, we never talked about love. Stupid, huh?”

  Scooping up a spoonful of chocolate and whipped cream, Vanessa frowned. “Trust me, it wasn’t that easy with Alex. Men aren’t goods with words. Wish they were, but a lot of times, they're just not.”

  “Besides that, Amy, things happened so darn fast for you. One week. Geesh.” Surprise and wonder filled McKenna’s voice. “I still can’t believe we missed your wedding.”

  “Sorry,” Amy whispered.

  “Maybe Mallory hadn't processed all that. Maybe he was feeling a lot but couldn’t put it into words.”

  “Nice try, McKenna.
Apparently it was about a car. He had a bet with his cousin.” Now she had their attention. Quickly, she skimmed over the scene at the New York airport.

  “No man gets married because of a car.” Vanessa was adamant.

  “Mallory Thornton did. And to rub salt in the wound, now he's helping my mother and my sister with their small businesses. I have to hear about him constantly. They adore him.”

  “Your mother's always been a good judge of people,” McKenna managed around the last mouthful of ice cream. “Besides, they could probably use Mallory’s help. Isn’t he wildly successful?”

  “Why aren't you eating, Amy?” Vanessa broke in. “You're thin as a rail.”

  Amy pushed back from the table. Just looking at the ice cream made her tummy lurch. “I’m on the Broken-Hearted Diet Plan. My stomach’s been off and things taste funny.”

  McKenna’s spoon made an annoying metallic squeal as she scraped the sides of the glass. Amy nudged her uneaten sundae toward her friend. “Here, have at it.”

  “Stop that! You are too thin.” Vanessa grabbed the sundae glass and shoved it back to Amy.

  “No such thing.”

  “Look, I think you should talk to the man.” Releasing Vanessa’s fingers, McKenna dug into Amy’s ice cream. She never seemed to worry about her weight.

  “We’re texting.”

  “Ah, the personal touch.” McKenna's eyebrows rose. “I’m sure you get a lot settled that way.”

  “Are you getting enough rest?” Vanessa broke in. “You look exhausted.”

  “Not enough sleep in the world for me.” By the end of seventh period every day, Amy wanted to lay her head on her desk and snooze. Usually, students clustered around her with questions. She took them one by one, but every day got harder. “Guess I’m still catching up from that trip.”

  “Any details about the honeymoon…the one that was but wasn’t?” McKenna asked. “I mean besides the fact that you got married. What led up to that?”

  So she dragged out the details. Told her best friends how glorious it had been, from Rapallo to Venice.