The Marriage Contract

by Lisa Mondello

  You’re acting like an idiot! There was no reason for her to be all hot under the hood about seeing Devin with Penny. Just because she chose to spend the night alone, didn't mean Devin had to stay home and brood, too. He had his own life that didn't include her or their friendship. Penny was an attractive woman and Devin was a big boy. He could date anyone he wished.

  Besides, she had Roger.

  For the rest of the ride home, she worked on trying to reason why that was a plus.

  #

  Chapter Six

  The air was still crisp as Cara jogged up the brick path, leading to Devin’s cottage. The sun was floating over the water just waiting to burn off the morning dew. The sweet scent of garden phlox and princess roses filled her head as she climbed the porch steps.

  This had to be a first. She’d forced herself out of bed after setting her alarm for five a.m., deciding she’d be the one to initiate the morning run.

  She was nuts and that was all there was to it, she realized as she jogged in circles on the porch, trying to muster up the courage to knock on the door. She had no idea if Penny had stayed the night, but the idea of interrupting a morning interlude seemed, well, kind of devilish.

  It fit her current mood rather well.

  She stopped jogging and blew out a cleansing breath before raising her knuckles to the glass door and rapping on the wooden frame. “There just may be a little bit of Mom in me after all,” she whispered.

  She only had to knock once. Within seconds, she heard the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor, coming closer to the door. Regret gripped her stomach, and she had the fleeting desire to bolt while she still had the chance.

  The door flew open and she was greeted by Devin’s smoky sleepy-eyed gaze. A flurry of emotions whirled around her. The devilish feelings that filled her just moments ago turned to panic. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

  “You’re awake?” Devin said, his voice and expression registering all the shock she felt inside.

  His hair was disheveled, as if he’d been raking his fingers through it. He was wearing the now-wrinkled copper colored T-shirt she’d seen balled up on the back porch the day before and the same faded cut-offs. He looked as if he hadn’t had a minute of sleep. And he was absolutely gorgeous. She actually hated him for it.

  “I’d have to be if I’m standing here.”

  Devin moved aside so she could gain entrance. “But you said you never get up this early. I had to drag you out of bed yesterday.”

  My point was to do the same to you, too.

  “Look how you’ve influenced me.”

  Cara lifted her hands up in the air as if she were parading a new dress.

  “Got any coffee?”

  She wandered down the hallway toward the kitchen. She took a quick glance through the open bedroom door and noticed it was empty. Amazing how a little solitude can do a girl some good. Especially when Devin was the one sleeping alone.

  “Yeah, but it’s a few hours old. Let me make a new pot.”

  A twisting pain she refused to call jealousy gripped her gut. She glanced at the bathroom door. Open and empty.

  “Up all night?”

  “I slept an hour or two, but mostly tossed in bed.”

  I’ll just bet.

  “I’ll take the dregs of the pot first.”

  He grimaced and jammed his fingers through his hair. “That’s suicidal.”

  So is dating Penny Brunelle, but Devin would find that out soon enough. Instead she said, “Running at five thirty a.m. can be a bit life threatening, but you have no problem with it.”

  After pulling a mug from the rack on the wall, Cara emptied the pot, and topped the coffee off with a dab of milk and spoonful of sugar. If the color of the liquid and the bitter taste were any indication, Devin was right about the coffee sitting for hours.

  She dumped the disgusting liquid down the drain and quickly helped Devin make a fresh pot. When it was finished brewing she poured them both a cup while Devin cleared the cluttered kitchen table.

  He moved a large stack of books, a laptop computer that was still plugged into the phone jack and countless pencils and highlighters that were scattered about.

  “I'll just be another second with this,” Devin said.

  As she pushed aside one of the books that was about six inches thick, so she could put down her coffee mug, she read the binding. It was marked The People vs. Wendall Palmer. “A little light reading while you vacation, huh?” she teased.

  “Just some research for a court case.”

  His lips lifted on one side and her breath hitched in her throat. She turned her attention to the book again to rid herself of the longing she felt while Devin closed up the computer and pulled the cords from the wall. He cleared the area in front of her and began stacking all the paraphernalia in a pile on the opposite side of the table.

  She gave an exaggerated sigh. “What was it you said to me yesterday about working vacations?”

  He gave her a questioning glance, stopping short in his motion for a moment before returning to his task. “This was part of the reason I took time off.”

  She placed her hand over her chest, feigning dejection. “And all this time I thought you came for my birthday party.”

  His tired expression lit up. “Speaking of which, what do you want for your birthday?”

  “You mean a present? You don’t have to get me anything. I’m just happy to see you.”

  The truth was, she was too happy to see him. Being this close to Devin, even seeing him tousled and sleep deprived was messing up her thought process. This wasn’t the same as when they were kids. This was different, deeper.

  Cara cleared her throat. “But I’m not letting you out of going to the festival with me tonight.”

  He reached for the last book and brushed passed her, his warm skin grazing her arm. For a split second, he paused in motion and stared at her. His dark eyes grew impossibly wide and soulful, suddenly full of life. It was as if he’d finally woken up with that single point of contact. His arm lingered there where there skin touched, teasing her with its electric current, bringing with it a fire that started deep inside her, growing with every passing second and spreading heat outward. His lips were slightly parted as if in waiting. His gaze dropped to her lips, causing her pulse to pound. Was he going to kiss her?

  But he didn’t. As if startled himself by his own reaction, he pulled back and sat down opposite her at the kitchen table, pushing his chair and balancing it on the back legs until the back hit the wall.

  “Ah, the festival, yes. I still think you cheated yesterday,” he said, eyeing her over the rim of his coffee mug. Despite the mug hiding his mouth, she could see the slow smile creeping into his expression. He was teasing her. Or attempting to at any rate. But the heat she’d seen in his eyes a moment ago remained.

  He was going to kiss her. She drew in a slow breath of air, somehow vaguely disappointed he’d chosen against it.

  She straightened in her chair and took a sip of coffee, waiting until the hot liquid burned its way passed the lump in her throat. “It’s the lawyer in you. You don’t have any plans for tonight, do you?”

  She was treading in murky waters. She waited with bated breath as he paused a minute as if he needed to consult his mental calendar. Had last night been so wonderful with Penny that they’d made plans again?

  Damn, men are all alike. They get all hot and bothered about some things and then sucked in by a tight mini-dress and gyrating hips.

  “Will it be just you and me, or is Roger going, too?”

  She’d mentioned it to Roger and while he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of going on “kiddie” rides, as he put it, he did give her his word that he would go. She knew the real reason was to please her after working so much these past few days.

  “Actually, he decided to come with us. Is that okay?” He frowned and her heart sank a notch or two. What was he getting at? Was he afraid of being paired up or was it that he’d hoped to invi
te Penny? Before he could think to ask otherwise, she blurted out, “I was hoping you’d ride the double Ferris wheel, just like old times.”

  His smile widened and her heart leaped to her throat. Devin Michaels had a way of making her forget who she was. Or remember who she used to be. She wasn’t quite sure which. But when he looked at her like this, all she could think about was the way his smoky eyes devoured her with his gaze.

  He dropped his coffee mug on the table and leaned closer. His voice was rich and husky, making her heart sing. “I’m all yours.”

  * * *

  Now this was a bright idea. As they walked through the wall-to-wall crowd of people all gather along the wharf in New Bedford where the yearly Portuguese Festival was held, Devin seriously considered leaving. Maybe it was him, but it seemed every person who passed by had the arm of someone else. And what was he doing? He was alone, chasing Cara and Roger's shadow, wishing he was the one taking Cara's hand in his.

  He laughed at the irony. Even the thought of having her next to him, just holding her small hand in his, was enough to make his body respond. All he could think about was how he wanted to make this incredible woman, his best friend, become his lover.

  He wasn't exactly sure when it had happened, but somewhere over the last twenty-four hours his feelings for Cara had changed.

  He should have asked Penny Brunelle if she wanted to come with them. Not that he’d actually wanted to date her again. No, he’d seen women of Penny’s caliber more times than he cared to remember. But at least if she were here, this sudden sexual urge for Cara that had come out of nowhere wouldn't be taking control of him.

  He sighed as they walked through a crowd of people waiting in line to have their faces painted by a make-up artist. Cara turned back, as if to make sure he was still there and she gave him a crooked grin. That smile alone almost made the uncomfortable feeling nagging at him bearable.

  “Want to get painted?” Devin mouthed, waggling his eyebrows.

  Cara darted a glance to the people in line and giggled. But then her eyes caught sight of something past the crowd and her whole expression changed to wonder.

  “Oh, look,” she said, sprinting to a display table. Curiosity had him following her, or maybe it was just the bright look in her eyes that reminded him of a child's on Christmas morning.

  He was happy enough she wasn't glued to Roger's side at the moment. The thought of Cara with another man, one that she'd been intimately involved with for almost two years nagged at him. He'd been naked with plenty of women. Beautiful women, he vehemently reminded himself. But the twisting knot that clutched him hard when he was with Cara and Roger wouldn't ease up. It was high time he stopped denying it was jealousy.

  “These carousels are beautiful,” Cara said to the woman behind the booth.

  The woman returned a warm smile, obviously pleased with Cara’s appraisal. “They're hand made by a local craftsman.”

  Cara placed her finger on one of the painted wooden horses lined up on the outside of the wooden stand. With a gentle motion, she pushed it around and around. The ribbons adorning the center pole and strung out to each of the twelve horses wound around the center pole. She let go and the carousel spun as each horse moved up and down with the motion, like a real carousel.

  Devin stared at Cara’s childlike expression. He couldn’t help it. God, she was just too damned beautiful. She wore her long wavy hair down tonight, and the cool ocean breeze lifted her natural curls. He’d always like it when she wore her hair down, giving her an air that was almost untamed. He had the most incredible longing to tangle his fingers in her wild curls.

  “Do you remember-” she started to say, but stopped short, glancing sheepishly at him and then the saleswoman as if she’d forgotten anyone else was there with them.

  Devin knew exactly what memory had made its way back to her mind. He’d been thinking of the same night.

  “Fourth of July at Revere Beach.”

  Her face lit up like a blazing star. Of course, all the flashing white and red lights from the carnival displays might have had something to do with that, too. But no, he knew she was deep in the memory of their first and only real kiss. And so was he. It was amazing how vividly he remembered the feel of her soft lips pressed against his. And how much he wanted to relive that memory, see if her lips still were as soft as they looked right now.

  They gazed at each other, both transfixed with the memory for a lingering moment.

  That is, until Roger broke in.

  “I went to Revere Beach once because my girlfriend at the time wanted to see a soap opera star who was going to be there.” He reached up to his neck, which was covered with pink calamine lotion and began to scratch. “I think it rained.”

  “How much is it?” Cara asked, pulling her gaze away.

  Without looking at the tag, the woman advised, “Three hundred and fifty dollars.”

  “Let's go,” Roger sputtered, tugging on Cara's arm.

  Cara's expression faltered slightly. “Thank you,” she said to the woman. She dug her hands in the pockets of her cutoff shorts and started walking away from the table with Roger at her side, the light in her eyes fading.

  Devin couldn't help but notice the sneer on Roger's face.

  Or how much Cara truly loved that carousel.

  Devin fell into step with her. “Aren’t you going to get it? I know you'd love to have it.”

  Cara’s face was almost regretful. “I didn’t bother to bring my checkbook tonight,” she said quietly.

  He laced his fingers with her, not caring anymore that Roger was there, and tugged her back a step. “Come on. Maybe she’ll hold it for you. We can come back later or--”

  Roger waved his hand. Although they were out of earshot from the table, he kept his voice low. “The wooden ones aren’t worth as much as the porcelain ones. What they’re asking for here is highway robbery. It’s not worth it.”

  Worth it to who? Devin wondered. Where did this guy get off bursting Cara’s excitement over a price tag? It wasn’t as if any of them were in a position to have to cut coupons and eat nothing but macaroni and cheese.

  Glancing at Cara, he saw a trace of embarrassment etched in her expression and decided not to press the issue. He got the distinct impression this wasn’t something new to her, just annoying.

  “If you really want a carousel, we can get one when we get back to Boston,” Roger added, taking her by the hand again.

  Anger coiled deep inside Devin and it was all he could do to keep from taking a swing at Roger. Cara couldn’t help it if Roger was a jerk, but what had gotten into her? If it were him making those same statements, Cara would think nothing of turning around and telling him where to stuff it. At least the old Cara would. What had this Roger guy done to his Cara? His Cara?

  “Cara?”

  She smiled weakly. “It's just one more thing to bring home to my condo with all the other boxes I've packed. Really, it's okay. There's a shop on Newbury Street that has carousels like this. I can always pick one up there.”

  Devin pointed through the crowd. “Well, let’s at least ride the carousel. You always loved that.” With their hands still joined, Devin pulled Cara through the crowd to the ticket line.

  “I haven’t done anything like this since...”

  She looked up as if she were searching the deepest recesses of her mind. Then she looked at Devin, laughing. God, how he missed that fanciful laugh. He never realized it until just then.

  “I think I was with you the last time I rode a carousel.”

  Roger shook his head. “Look at you two. Don't you get tired of this kind of thing?”

  “No,” they both said in unison, laughing.

  Devin bought enough tickets for a couple of rides and they waited in line until it was their turn. It was no surprise that Roger decided to remain on the sidelines. All this togetherness was beginning to give Devin the hives as bad as Roger's poison ivy. Well, maybe not. Roger was getting pretty red under the colla
r.

  Devin was just seeing red.

  They climbed aboard the carousel and Cara chose a pretty white mare wearing a golden bridle with painted roses trailing off the mane. He chose the black stallion just opposite her. All the stars in the sky were drowned out by the flashing lights of the carnival and the zillions of red and white lights ablaze on the carousel ceiling.

  Cara reached up and gripped the golden roped pole in front of her as the carousel began to move. The music blared, drowning out the sounds of the crowded wharf. She hadn’t felt so much excitement in years. And it was just a carnival ride!

  As the horses moved up and down on the platform, the familiar tune Let Me Call You Sweetheart played. It fed the festive mood riding high inside her. The sweet smell of fried dough and cotton candy hung heavy in the humid night.

  Unlike the dream she had the other day, Devin was here beside her instead of standing on the sidelines. She glanced over at Devin and smiled. The wind whipped through his dark hair as if he was riding a real wild stallion. As he reached up to catch the brass ring that teased them with each passing, the blur of the crowd in the perimeter took on a surreal look. All she could focus on was Devin.

  If it hadn’t been for the fact that she knew Roger wasn’t having a good time, she’d be having a fabulous time. That crack shot comment he’d made about the wooden carousel was something she’d become immune to. She’d let it go, rather than make a scene in front of Devin or hurt the saleswoman’s feelings.

  She saw the look on his face when they'd seen the wooden carousel, and she knew he saw how much she loved it. When they walked away from the table empty-handed, his face registered pure shock, as if he were disappointed by her cowardice.

  With that embarrassing scene behind them now, Cara was starting to relax again. She couldn't remember having so much fun. At least not in recent years. Her face muscles actually hurt from laughing and smiling so much. She knew without a doubt that it was being with Devin that had cut through the melancholy she'd been feeling over her parents move. When she was with him, she didn't feel so alone.