The Wedding Wager

by Regina Duke

  “Big words from a man whose paychecks I sign.”

  “Very funny. And as for getting her out of your life, we both know that’s not why you ran. She was never your real problem.”

  Megan turned silently in the hall and tip-toed back to her room. Once inside, she closed the door and leaned against it. Her heart was thumping against her breast bone.

  “I knew it,” she whispered, “I just knew it! Too good to be true. He’s trying to trick me into something. Why would he be living in a one-room apartment if he were really rich?” She began to pace. “But he really is rich! That banker let him in on a Sunday. And he pulled forty thousand dollars of pocket money out of his safe deposit box! Maybe he’s just eccentric. A wealthy eccentric would have a hide-away. Oh, mama, what have I gotten into? And I already signed that darn document.” She chewed her knuckles. “Well, I’ll just have to confront him. Tell him I want out.”

  She groaned.

  “But I want him to pay my medical bills! He signed, too, darn it. If I’m bound by that document, so is he. And if I don’t marry him, he won’t have to keep his end of the bargain.” She took a deep breath and let it out.

  Then she thought of something else. “He was talking about another woman! So there must be some crazy ex out there waiting to claw my eyes out.”

  She paced some more. But no amount of pacing solved her luggage problem. She decided she would have to go out there and ask her questions and get it over with. Once more, with great resolve, she exited her room.

  She didn’t take a chance on overhearing any more bad news. She cleared her throat loudly as she approached the great room, and called out, “Excuse me!”

  Kevin turned from his spot at the wall of windows.

  “Oh, hi, Megan. Did you get enough to eat at the Market? I was thinking of ordering a snack from room service.”

  Afraid she would lose her momentum, Megan blurted out what was on her mind. “I overheard you talking to Jeffrey. I came out to ask if you have suitcases I can use to pack my things in. And I heard you two talking. Was I right? Do you have some crazy ex-girlfriend stalking you and lying in wait for me somewhere?”

  Kevin’s look of puzzlement graduated to bewilderment. “Ex-girlfriend? No. I don’t have a clue what you’re—”

  She cut him off short. “Jeffrey said you’re running away from a woman.”

  “Oh,” said Kevin. “Oh, that. No, no, that was not an ex-girlfriend. I was on the phone talking to my mother. Jeffrey said I was running away from my mother.”

  Megan deflated. “Your mother?”

  Kevin nodded. “She’s a tad possessive. You need suitcases? There are three for you behind the bar. I’m getting ready to call room service. Last chance for a snack.” He gave her a boyish look.

  Megan had to smile. She wished he looked like that all the time, like that happy man she’d played tourist with. “Oh, what the heck. Onion rings and chocolate ice cream, please.”

  Kevin grinned. “Excellent.”

  Megan looked around. “Jeffrey went to bed already?”

  “No. He’s running an errand. Did you have fun today?”

  Megan relaxed at the thought of their excursion. “I had a ball. When we’re all done with things at the ranch, can we come back and play tourist again?”

  “Sure,” said Kevin. “Even if I can’t, you certainly can. Once we get through the end of the month, you can do all the tourism you want.”

  Megan felt unaccountably disappointed. “Oh, that’s right. I thought you might need me to hang around for a while as your wife.”

  Kevin thought about that for a moment. “You know, you’re right. I’m really not sure exactly how close we’ll need to stay to each other as things play out. Speaking of which, when my mother called, she gave me a list of questions for you. She needs to know these things as soon as possible. She’s working on the wedding arrangements.” He handed Megan a list. “I’m going to call room service.” He moved to the far end of the room.

  Megan sat down and read the list. At the top, Kevin had doodled diamonds and other shapes around his mother’s name. Then he’d jotted separate items in block letters. Dress size. Height. Inches from waist to floor. Body measurements. Hair and eye color. Ring size. Shoe size. Favorite flower. Favorite color.

  His mother was actually taking Megan’s tastes into account! She must be in favor of this whole marriage idea. Megan took a pen from the coffee table and began answering the questions.

  “I need a tape measure to do this,” she said.

  “Check the drawers behind the bar. The hotel has thought of everything else. Why not a tape measure?”

  Megan shrugged and checked the drawers. “Hey, you’re right! There’s a sewing kit in here.”

  “Told you so.”

  Megan unrolled the tape measure and placed one end at her waist. Then she dropped the other end to the floor. The kinks in the tape refused to straighten. She smoothed it with her fingers and bent to the floor. As she bent to read it, her measurement from waist to floor got shorter and shorter.

  “I think you need to help me with this one.”

  Kevin dropped ice cubes in a glass, then came to her aid. He dropped to one knee and straightened the tape measure for her.

  “There you go. Forty-four inches from waist to floor.”

  “Thanks. I’ll do the rest.” She looked down at him. Having him on his knees in front of her stirred feelings deep inside. She cleared her throat and stepped away. “It looks like your mother is going to have a dress made for me.”

  Kevin stood up. “She said you wouldn’t have time or access to the proper stores once you reach the ranch. She’ll have a dress sent from New York.”

  “I hope I get to try it on.”

  Kevin returned to the bar and filled his glass with water. The ice cubes tinkled as he lifted it and drank.

  “Don’t worry. Knowing my mother, she’ll bring her personal seamstress along to make any adjustments you need.”

  Megan’s eyes widened. “Personal seamstress?”

  Kevin didn’t seem to think having a personal seamstress was a big deal. “She doesn’t like to depend on local availability when she’s meeting a deadline.”

  “Oh, of course not,” said Megan, waving that idea aside with a flick of her wrist. She turned away so he couldn’t see her eyes roll with disbelief. “I’d better finish this.”

  She was down to her favorite flower—roses—and favorite colors—berry tones, reds, and pinks—when room service knocked.

  Kevin tipped the waiter and rolled the cart of food to the sofa where Megan was sitting.

  “I really enjoy the fact that you are not afraid to eat real food,” he said.

  “Real food is my favorite, and I missed it like crazy in the hospital.” She held up the tape measure. “But I should keep this handy. The minute those inches start creeping up, I have to revert to salads and white fish.”

  Kevin made a bleak face. “That sounds terrible.”

  “Well, fortunately for both of us, I lost over ten pounds in the hospital. That’s why I’m enjoying my food so much. That and the realization that I came way too close to never tasting food again. I’m not sure why, but that thought just makes me hungry!”

  “Good.” Kevin uncovered the trays on the cart.

  Megan inhaled and let her eyes roll blissfully back in her head. “That is so wonderful! Oh, you ordered nachos! May I snag a chip?”

  “I’ll trade you a cheese laden chip for an onion ring.”

  “Deal.”

  “Eat your ice cream first,” said Kevin. “It’ll melt if you wait.”

  “Want some?”

  Kevin’s eyes lit up. “May I?

  “Grab a spoon.” Megan held hers upright. “Ready? Go!”

  They ate ice cream as fast as they could. When it was all gone, Kevin threw his head back and cried, “Brain freeze! Brain freeze!”

  Megan laughed. “Good! You won’t see me steal another nacho.”

  “O
h, no you don’t, you little thief.” He reached for her wrist and pulled her hand away from the plate.

  Megan used her free hand to swipe the nacho. “Amateur!” She turned her face away and stuffed the nacho in her mouth.

  “So, it’s like that, is it?” Kevin released her wrist and took a handful of onion rings. One by one, he dropped them into his mouth and munched. “Mmmm, so good.”

  “Oh, yeah? Want some more?” Megan picked up an onion ring and threw it at Kevin’s head. It bounced off his cheek. Megan broke into giggles.

  Kevin spread his hands and pinned her with a challenging stare. “You know what this means? Your onion ring made contact. The gloves are off, baby. Prepare to defend yourself!” He reached for a nacho and took aim.

  Megan looked horrified. “No! No! Not the cheese! These clothes are brand new!”

  Kevin stopped short of flinging the nacho. Instead, he popped it into his mouth and chewed.

  Megan grabbed a handful of onion rings and hurled them across the table. They caught Kevin in the chest.

  He roared like a playful lion and lunged for her.

  Megan squealed and ran for the hall at the back of the suite.

  Kevin caught her in the hallway and pinned her gently against the wall.

  “Oh, you think you’re so clever,” he said. “Well, let’s see how you like it.” He pulled an onion ring off his shirt front and taunted her with it, threatening to rub its greasy goodness all over her new outfit.

  “No, please,” giggled Megan, breathless. “Please don’t ruin this outfit! I haven’t had new clothes since my sophomore year in college!”

  Kevin relented, but only because they were gasping for air. He leaned one palm against the wall and swung the onion ring around his index finger.

  Megan squealed with laughter and batted his hand away.

  Then their eyes met, and at the same moment, they realized their faces were tantalizingly close.

  The laughter faded to smiles, and they stood chest to chest for several seconds, their gazes locked. Drawn together by personal gravity, they leaned toward each other.

  He’s going to kiss me, thought Megan.

  Jeffrey’s voice came at the worst possible moment.

  “Hey? Where are you guys?”

  Kevin pulled away as if Megan were molten lava.

  When he did, Megan drooped with disappointment, but she recovered in time to turn the movement into a dive under his arm.

  Jeffrey came around the corner. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “No, of course not,” said Kevin brusquely.

  “Don’t be silly,” added Megan.

  “We were just discussing—” Kevin searched for words.

  Megan took over. “My wardrobe. And luggage and packing.” She added under her breath, “Oh, my.”

  Kevin pointed a finger at her. “Wizard of Oz! I love that movie.”

  “Me, too,” said Megan.

  Jeffrey gave them a crooked glance. “Everybody loves that movie.”

  Megan straightened her sleeveless blouse. “Well, I’d better start packing. I left the answers to your questions on the coffee table, Mr. Wake.”

  “Kevin,” he corrected. “Fiancée, remember?”

  Megan nodded. “Sorry. Kevin.” She had to force herself to look away before the giggles took over again. “Good night, Jeffrey.”

  She retreated, stopping behind the bar to snag two suitcases and a makeup bag which would be used as an overnight case since her only makeup items fit tidily into her purse.

  Inside her room once again, she realized she hadn’t questioned Kevin about Jeffrey’s comment regarding his one-room apartment.

  “Darn it,” she muttered. She flung the empty suitcases on the bed and plopped into the tapestry chair by the writing table. A little card was teepeed next to a phone charger. It read, “Free WiFi for guests.”

  “My new phone!” She pulled her purse close and dug for her phone. She plugged it in to charge, and then pressed the icon for the internet browser. If Kevin was truly wealthy, there should be information about his family on the internet.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  KEVIN CLEARED HIS THROAT. “So, how did it go?”

  Jeffrey grinned. “Thanks for letting me do that. What a thrill! Here.” He held up a set of car keys. “You have fifteen days to register it.”

  “I’m glad you were able to entertain yourself while we did our touristy thing this afternoon.”

  Jeffrey opened the fridge behind the bar and pulled out a pair of beers.

  “Want one? No? Good, because I want two.” He popped them open and drained half the first one before continuing the report on his secret mission.

  “I went to that Ford dealership you were talking to yesterday afternoon, and found the fellow you told me about. Explained the situation, about you being a wealthy recluse and all that nonsense, and wham, bam, he says pick out a color. Picked a green gem Ford Expedition, by the way. Looks black in the shade, dark green in the sun. Even got to test drive it for you.”

  “Did you pick out any extras?”

  “Oh, yeah! Four-wheel-drive, AC, the usual, but also leather seats, premium sound system, DVD player for the back seat. Park assist, rear sensors, the whole nine yards. Awesome.”

  Kevin smiled. “Good. You had a good time, then?”

  “The best part was tonight. I pulled up in the limo. The fellow from the limo rental was there, just like you arranged for. He took over the limo, and I walked in with the papers you signed before I left. Wham, bam again. Cash really speeds up the new car purchase, you know?”

  Kevin chuckled. “My mother has been telling me that for years. She’ll be pleased when I tell her she was right.” He pocketed the keys. “You have your ticket?”

  “Sure do.” Jeffrey patted his jacket pocket. “My car is in the parking garage. Sure you don’t mind me hanging out in this suite for an extra night?”

  “Consider it a bonus,” said Kevin. “Just don’t break any laws.”

  Jeffrey grinned from ear to ear.

  Kevin returned to the sofa where the room service cart was within reach. He poked through the plates to see if there was anything else he wanted. He lifted one last lid and his eyes glowed with pleasure at the sight of the pastry array.

  “Come have coffee and dessert. You have everything you need to get your rental car at the other end?”

  “Yep. You sure you want me to keep using your card?”

  “Of course. You’re on the clock. These are my expenses, not yours.”

  “Cool.” Jeffrey waved off dessert and lifted his second beer in the air. But he settled on the facing sofa, unbuttoned his chauffeur’s jacket, and stretched out. “When I came in, it sounded like you and Megan were getting to know each other a little better.” He wagged his eyebrows. “Sorry if I interrupted anything.”

  “Don’t be crude. We were laughing, that’s all. I am allowed to have a laugh or two with my future bride, right?”

  “Grumpy, grumpy. Hey, man, how’s your sister doing? What is she now, fifteen?”

  “Fourteen. She’s having a rough time. Trying to find herself. The old man is threatening to send her to a finishing school in Geneva. That’s the girl equivalent of being sent to military school. It would kill her free spirit to go there.”

  “Free spirit, huh? That’s what they call mental illness these days?”

  “She’s not sick, Jeff. She’s just in a phase.”

  Jeffrey’s eyes grew big. “Okay, then. Have you told Megan about your mentally healthy family and all their phases?”

  “Smart ass. Not yet. That’s the reason we need to drive to Colorado. It’ll give me time to educate her about the family. The whole idea is for this wedding to look as real as possible. I don’t want my dad’s lawyers picking up on any gaps in her knowledge and using that as a lever in a courtroom to suggest I’m just doing this for the trust.”

  “Right,” said Jeffrey. “Whatever you have to tell yourself.”

>   “What does that mean?”

  “You and I both know you’re terrified of flying, dude.”

  Kevin made a face. “Well, that is an additional motivator, I admit.”

  Jeffrey laughed. “You’d better be sure she knows what to expect when she gets to the ranch or you’re going to have a mess on your hands.”

  Kevin’s voice was dark and sarcastic. “Gee, thanks for reminding me that this whole charade could get even darker.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  MEGAN TYPED KEVIN’S name into the tiny phone screen. “Wake” turned out to be a fairly uncommon name. She found “wake surfing sites,” videos of the band “Wake the Dead,” and dozens of references to articles dealing with politics “in the wake of” various gun-related crimes. But no Kevin Wake. She rubbed her eyes. What was Kevin’s father’s first name? She couldn’t remember.

  But surely if the Wake family was wealthy and owned a big ranch, wouldn’t that show up? She found dozens of real estate listings for ranches for sale, but none of them were associated with the surname Wake.

  She took a deep breath and wondered if she should resort to her mother’s method for calming her fears. Her mother used to say childhood prayers with her. But without her mother’s reassuring presence in the room, Megan didn’t think it would work. Then she was instantly ashamed. After growing up in the household of the two most devout people she knew, she felt she should have carried more of their faith away with her. Maybe she would try again after she finished packing.

  After all, it wasn’t as if she were going to back out of her agreement with Kevin now. She had to go through with this marriage, if for no other reason than she had signed the prenup. Her word was her bond. But beyond that, she desperately wanted her medical bills to be paid and be free of that debt without ruining her financial life before she even got started on a career.

  “Think of this as your first job,” she said rationally. “You will receive a huge bonus when it’s done. Focus on that.”

  Yes, a huge bonus if Kevin was really a wealthy man. And if he wasn’t?