Adam, reading her mind more accurately than she realized, elevated that black brow again.
"You think you'll need protection from me?"
"Of course not," she denied hastily.
"Let me assure you that I have no intentions of raping you. I've never taken an unwilling woman to bed; not even a willing one that didn't know the score. Your virginity is safe with me until the time you wish to give it freely."
For one heart-stopping moment Molly stood there, her face scarlet. The violet eyes were bright with humiliation —but even as he watched, she bit her lips viciously and answered in the type of voice he had become used to hearing from her. Her rigid control, for the first time, began to intrigue him.
"I never, for one minute, considered myself in any danger from you, Mr. Reneau."
"In that case shall we consider the matter settled… Molly?" He said her name hesitantly and it sounded strange coming from his lips. "It'll seem rather strange if we keep up this formal mode of addressing each other after we are married."
She nodded.
The dark brows jerked upward in obvious mocking amusement and one hand came out, his fingers lifting her chin. He looked, laughingly, into her eyes.
"Say, 'yes Adam'."
Molly looked into the dark eyes. They were friendly. The face was not quite so dark and forbidding, and the grim mouth tilted into a smile. Before she could help herself she said, "Yes, Adam."
He turned from her, putting his hands in his pockets, all business once more.
"We'll be married a week from today, spend some time with my dad, and come back here. I'll make the arrangements in town."
With that short pronouncement he went to the door and called Herb.
When the men left an hour later, the plans for the wedding had been made. Evelyn was staying the week with Molly, and Jim would come for them the day before the ceremony to give them time to do some shopping. Herb furnished Molly with an allowance check and assured her that he would take care of the legal documents. Molly insisted that a contract be drawn up between herself and Adam relieving him of any financial obligation to her. When Herb commenced to argue the legality of such a contract, Adam silently shook his head, and he let the matter drop.
The Robinsons had been sworn to secrecy. To all appearances, Molly and Adam had met a year ago and fell in love. The ceremony, which would have taken place at Christmas, had been moved ahead due to Charlie's death.
Everything had moved so quickly that Molly found herself too tired to think about all that had happened to her in the last few days. Her train was crowded with a jumble of thoughts and impressions. Finally she concentrated on only one of the thoughts. She was not going to have to leave her home and for that she was thankful.
CHAPTER FOUR
A week later they were married, in a small church in Anchorage. Adam insisted on the church service, saying his father would frown on a civil ceremony in a public building. There was no long white dress and no virginal white veil to trail Molly as she walked down the aisle toward the dark-browed man who was her father's choice for her husband. She wore a simple gray suit and a small matching hat and carried a single white rose that Evelyn thrust into her hand at the last moment. As she walked down the narrow aisle she noticed the church was decorated with vases of sweet-smelling flowers. She smiled as she recognized Evelyn's touch. This was her only act of unspoken rebellion against the unwanted marriage that had been forced upon her friend.
Molly was deeply grateful to her for her unquestioning cooperation and for the way she had strived to hide her deep misgivings.
The ceremony was short and simple and seemed like a dream to Molly. Firmly she had refused the minister's plans for having the church vocalist sing the traditional songs, which she felt would be meaningless for this occasion. Adam stood by the altar waiting for her as she walked toward him on the arm of Herb Belsile. She made her responses in a low voice, not daring to look at Adam, whose responses were strong and steady. When he slid the ring on her finger, her heart gave a sudden jolt at the contact of his firm fingers. She tried to draw her hand away, but he held it firmly and refused to let it go. He was still holding it when they walked out of the church.
Molly sat looking at the brand new wedding ring on her finger. A band of gold with diamonds encircling it. The beauty of it filled her with panic. This was the tie that bound her to Adam Reneau. She stole a side glance at him as he sat at the wheel of the big car, his face composed, concentrating on weaving in and out of the heavy traffic of Anchorage. He was so still, so withdrawn. Panic rose up in her, and she felt as if she were going to faint. She opened the window of the car and let the cool breeze hit her face, taking deep gulps of the air trying to alleviate the suffocating sensation that clutched her throat. With determined effort she pushed all unpleasant thoughts out of her mind. She would take one thing at a time. First, she must get through the reception and the meeting with Aunt Dora and her cousins. She would think of nothing else.
Adam said nothing on the short drive. As he turned the car into the hotel parking lot, he glanced at her and noticed her slight pallor.
"You're tired." His low voice was mixed with surprise and concern. "You're tired and frightened. Is it the reception or the meeting with my father that's bothering you?"
His nearness and the sudden unaccustomed tenderness in his soft voice was nearly her undoing. Her breath caught in her throat. She admitted to herself the knowledge that she had been fighting. She had felt a strange physical attraction for him. She closed her eyes. He must never suspect that she felt any warming toward him. That would be fatal.
"It's Aunt Dora and my cousins, Dee and Donna," she blurted out suddenly. She twisted the white rose she still held in her hands and refused to look at him.
"Dee and Donna Ballintine are your cousins?"
She nodded.
He raised her hand and looked at the ring on her finger. "Do you like the ring?"
Again she nodded her head.
"Are you never going to talk to your husband?" Gentle fingers brought her chin around and she looked into laughing dark eyes. She smiled back into them and started to shake her head. They both laughed.
"That's better." He still had a firm hold on her chin. "Let me worry about the Ballintine girls and Aunt Dora… okay?"
The dark eyes so close to hers were looking intently at her face; the golden hair, the creamy skin, the soft mouth. She felt a trembling in him where her shoulder rested against his chest. His fingers caressed her cheek and he said in a voice not quite so firm and controlled: "Do you think the groom could kiss the bride on her wedding day?" He touched her cheek coaxingly, and drew his finger to the corner of her mouth. It was a truly lovely mouth.
"You shouldn't… !" The breath was leaving her.
"I'm going to." He laughed softly and deeply.
He seemed to hesitate, then leaned nearer and laid his lips very gently against hers. It was a light kiss, but Molly's heart stopped for a moment and then raced ahead furiously. He released her and she looked into his dark eyes. They were no longer laughing.
It was in something of a daze that Molly got out of the car and walked with him across the parking lot toward the hotel. She wore only a light coat over her wedding suit and she shivered in the brisk late September wind that blew into Anchorage from the mountains. She was glad to leave the car, to get away from the destructive intimacy she had shared with her new husband. Husband? she thought desperately. A man who was forced to marry me, who kissed me because he thought I wanted him to, and God help me, I did want him to. Husband… in name only, and I must not forget it. I won't forget it!
It was a small reception, arranged by Adam, and catered by the hotel. A number of. guests were standing by the buffet tables drinking champagne and talking. A toast was made to the bride and groom. Adam introduced her to some of his friends and she suffered through such remarks as, "Your bride is beautiful, Adam… where did you find such a lovely creature?… You sly dog, you, where've y
ou been hiding her?" It went on and on. Herb, Jim, and Evelyn were the only people in the room Molly knew. Adam stayed by her side and after several gulps of champagne she began to feel a little light-headed and was glad for the supporting hand under her arm.
"Your aunt, Mrs. Ballintine, has arrived."
"Aunt Dora?" she said nervously.
Molly cast Adam a startled glance before looking toward the door and her aunt. Dora Ballintine drew her mink stole around her thin shoulders as she came across the room to greet, her niece. A large, expensive hat sat atop her blue-tinted gray hair. Her ankle-length matching dress was flattering to her still girlish figure. Everything about Aunt Dora had to be perfect and it usually was. She swooped forward and kissed Molly on her cheek.
"Well, Molly! So you are married," she exclaimed so everyone in the room couldn't possibly help but hear her. "It must have been sudden. You didn't mention it at the service for poor Charlie."
"Hello, Aunt Dora," Molly said calmly. "I'd like you to meet Adam."
"I know Adam. I certainly do." She turned accusing eyes on him. "We didn't know you knew our little country relative, Adam. I must say, Donna was terribly… surprised."
"Was she, Mrs. Ballintine? I can't understand why." Adam said politely, black brows raised.
"You disappeared so suddenly, dear boy. Donna was most upset—parties and things you were both invited to, you know."
"I'm sure a beautiful girl like Donna didn't lack for an escort, Mrs. Ballintine," he challenged coolly.
"Well, of course not," she said, turning back and looking Molly over from head to feet. "Why Molly, you look quite… pretty, but we are going to have to do something about your hair. I do wish I could have taken you to my hairdresser before the wedding. A good cut and styling would do wonders for you." Her voice was warm and kind, but to Molly's sensitive ears it was belittling.
Hurt pride lifted her chin. She opened her mouth and closed it again. She was no match for Aunt Dora.
For an instant a caustic look came over Adam's face, then it softened as his arm went around the slender girl beside him and he drew her close.
"I think my wife is enchanting," he said softly, smiling down at her. "This lovely hair will stay just as it is as long as I have anything to say about it."
Molly tilted her head to meet his gaze, her heart soared. How wonderful to have someone defend her, if only out of duty.
"I didn't mean… oh, here's Donna. Dee was unable to make it, but Donna canceled everything to come."
Aunt Dora's eyes brightened as she saw her daughter framed in the doorway, as if posed for a picture, waiting to catch every eye before she made her entrance. No doubt about it, she was beautiful. Tall, slim, vivid blue eyes, silver hair, and beautifully dressed. Crossing the room with a studied grace she came forward with hands outstretched; she had eyes only for Adam.
"Adam!" The soft husky voice breathed his name. "I couldn't imagine what had happened to you." Big blue eyes misty with emotion looked pleadingly at him.
"I've been busy, Donna. Busy getting married to your cousin," Adam said evenly. "Are you going to congratulate me and my bride?"
The girl's lips tightened ever so slightly and she stood still for a moment and stared at him.
"Congratulations, Molly."
The blue eyes that turned on Molly told her that she was in love with Adam and she hated her with every fiber of her being. Molly glanced at Aunt Dora and was surprised to see her looking back at her with actual dislike on her face. Wouldn't they be pleased if they knew the truth about this marriage, Molly mused. They'll never, never know, if I can possibly help it.
A passionate protest was building inside her. It was impossible not to grasp the implications of the relationship between her cousin and her new husband. He looked so handsome, tall, and sophisticated. It was almost disheartening to see him and her lovely cousin standing side by side. They looked so right together; so worldly, so polished. She felt dowdy, small, and insignificant beside them. Donna leaned forward and kissed Adam on the lips.
"Darling, do excuse Mother and me," she said huskily and swirled away from them in a sea of chiffon, only a trace of her perfume lingering.
The meeting with Aunt Dora and Donna almost completely unnerved Molly and the next half hour was spent in an agony of self-consciousness. Someone handed her another glass of champagne which she drank too fast, and when they were ready to leave the reception, her head was really in a whirl.
"My father is anxious to meet his new daughter-in-law," Adam said as they were leaving. "We're staying with him for a few days before we go north to the cabin. Come and see us. But wait a few weeks!" They left amid laughter and good wishes.
"Lord have mercy!" Adam exclaimed as they made their way to the parked car. "I'm glad to get out of there."
Molly was grateful for the strong arm that hurried her along. He glanced at her only briefly as he slid under the wheel and eased the car into the stream of traffic.
She leaned her head back against the soft cushions of the seat and let her mind wander over the events of the day. Oh, to be back in the house by the lake! How much longer would she have to keep up this nerve-racking pretense? The reception was over, and she had one more obstacle to face before the blessed quiet of the country. She must meet Adam's father and convince him she was in love with his son. She owed Adam that after the way he stood by her through the meeting with Aunt Dora and Donna. Somehow she knew that her aunt and her cousin would never forgive her for marrying Adam. Their opinion wasn't important to her, but Adam's was. They would be spending a lot of time together this year and it was only sensible not to antagonize each other. She had learned a lot about the man she had married. No wonder he didn't want to marry me, she thought. I'm not his type at all. It must have been a bitter pill for him to swallow to have to introduce me to his friends. When this year is over, we'll go our separate ways. I'll not depend on him too much—I'll stand on my own feet. It's the way it'll be from now on.
Adam looked down at the girl beside him. No confidence in herself, he thought. Fresh and beautiful, unaffected and untouched. God, how many men do I know that would like to get their hands on her? I'll have to be careful and not get involved. Family life isn't for me. At the end of the year I'm taking off as planned. I shouldn't have kissed her. He didn't know why he did it except she is so… sweet…
"Shall we drive around a bit before we go to meet my father?"
She sat up straight in the seat and looked at him earnestly.
"I'll not let you down, Adam. I appreciate you standing by me when I met Aunt Dora."
With a twinkle in his dark eyes he said, "I see now that marrying me was the lesser of two evils."
"Believe it or not, I could have stood for Aunt Dora having control of my money, but I couldn't stand by and see my father's files destroyed," she said with spirit.
"Neither will happen now. We'll get through this year together and try not to get involved in each other's private life. When we break, a year from today, it will be as friends." He smiled at her. "Don't worry about Dad," he continued. "He's going to be in seventh heaven when he meets you. You're the answer to his prayers for me. Just be yourself and he'll love you. Try and make him believe you love me just a little and he'll be happy."
"I'll try." She smiled at him as if they were sharing some huge joke.
He drove into an underground parking area, angled the car into the area marked Reneau, and turned off the motor.
"My father lives on the top floor of this building," he said as they left the car. "He has a heart condition and never leaves the apartment. His sister, my Aunt Flo, lives with him. This has been a very exciting day for them, knowing I was getting married and bringing my wife to meet them."
"We'll be spending the night?"
"No. I've an apartment on the floor below. We'll stay there."
The color flooded her cheeks and she despised herself for being so self-conscious.
"You'll have to get used to being alo
ne with me," he murmured consolingly.
She took a deep steadying breath. "I know."
Adam unlocked a door and they stepped into a private elevator. Pushing one of the two buttons, he said by way of explanation: "This elevator stops only on Dad's floor and mine."
The car slid smoothly to a halt and the door opened. A wave of apprehension passed over Molly. She looked up at Adam and he smiled reassuringly. They stepped out into a room that was surprisingly quaint and homey. A small birdlike figure hurried toward them. The lined face beneath the iron gray hair was wreathed in smiles. She looked as Molly always pictured a storybook grandmother would look. Even before she spoke the tension went out of Molly and she met her outstretched hands.
"Molly, my dear." She was obviously almost moved to tears.
Molly reacted instantly to the warm greeting from this gentle lady and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hello, Aunt Flo." Adam's amused voice was low and gentle. "Have you no greeting for me?"
"Oh, Adam, you bad boy! Why have you waited so long to bring her to us?" She reached up to kiss his cheek and he leaned down and gave her an affectionate hug.
"I told you she was worth waiting for, Aunt Flo. Now wasn't I right?"
"Yes, you were right for once, you rascal. But come, Robert is waiting and anxious to meet your bride." She led the way to a door at the end of the room and moved aside to allow them to enter.
"This is one of his better days, Adam. Take her in." She smiled at Molly and squeezed her hand.
Adam's father was in a rolling chair by the window. His penetrating gaze looked her over. How like Adam; the same dark, forbidding countenance and piercing black eyes. His hair was wispy and gray, and the lines in his face showed age and suffering. There was no evidence in his expression of the anxiety Aunt Flo had spoken about, but his frail hands worked nervously with the blanket that covered his knees. Adam urged her forward, slipping an arm around her shoulders.
Marriage to a Stranger Page 4