“Why aren’t you answering my question?”
Hannah looked up at him guiltily. “What was the question again?”
Then he smiled, that arrogant, mischievous smile that somehow didn’t seem to bother her anymore. “The other night, when we were about to make love.” His voice turned throaty and his fingers began circling her wrist.
“We weren’t about to make love,” she said shaking her head, lying through her teeth.
“Really?” he said, lowering his face to hers, probably to make sure she could see that he wasn’t buying her innocent act for one second.
She shook her head. “Nope. It was just—”
“You can’t claim it was the alcohol because you were within your own prescribed limit of intoxication.”
She frowned. Damn him and his smug reminder.
She crossed her arms. “You’re very amusing, Jackson.” She had to pause since there was no use trying to speak over his laughter.
“One minute you’re telling me deeply personal information and the next you’re lying.”
“I don’t lie.”
“So you don’t think we were on our way to bed together that night?”
She forced herself to look up at him. “It was a momentary lack of judgment. You rescued me from a blizzard, so naturally—”
“You’re a virgin, aren’t you?”
Jackson Pierce had no discretion whatsoever. Hannah wished her ancient floor would give in and swallow her whole.
“What on earth makes you think that?”
“I’m starting to piece two and two together.”
“Two and two makes four.”
He took a step closer to her. Her body temperature rose by at least ten degrees. They needed to get off this topic and out of her bedroom.
“You know, your avoidance is only proving my theory,” he said, again taking a step toward her. She refused to back up in case she looked cowardly, but his proximity made it even harder to ignore her attraction to him. “You’re not usually a liar, but you are a master at avoidance.”
Hannah sighed theatrically.
“So, I’ll ask you again, Hannah. Are you a virgin?”
“Stop saying that stupid word,” she said finally, emphasizing stupid with a poke into his rib cage.
He chuckled. Low and deep. She glared at him until he stopped.
“What word? Virgin?”
She sighed and nodded stiffly.
“Stop laughing at me.”
“You think I’m making fun of you?”
She nodded.
He moved slowly and her breath caught in her throat as she watched his eyes take on that warmth that had the ability to turn her knees into jelly. He softly touched her face, his thumb grazing her lower lip. She felt a heat spread through her and was unable to stop herself from turning her face into the palm of his hand. And then, shocking both of them, she kissed his skin. She heard a low sound from Jackson’s throat and then she was in his arms, feeling the solid heat of his body against hers. She felt her heart beating as rapidly as his. All she did was feel. He trailed kisses down her face until he reached her lips. Hannah wanted nothing more than to kiss him.
“You are the last person I would ever make fun of. Ever,” he said in a low voice.
She felt her body melding into his as her arms wrapped around him.
“I’ve never had so much respect for another human being.” It was sweet, sweet torture, hearing him say this to her and touch her. “God, you make me want things, Hannah.” He groaned, shattering all her defenses. She returned his kiss with the same desire, the same understanding. She couldn’t walk away from him, from this glimpse of heaven he offered. He offered himself, his niece—a family.
Jackson slowly pulled back, his eyes still dark with desire. Hannah felt her body tremble, felt the loss of not having his lips on hers.
“Marry me,” he said gruffly, gently brushing her hair off her face.
Hannah felt her heart swell and she knew she couldn’t say no anymore. She nodded, knowing that nothing would ever be the same.
Chapter Ten
“Good morning, Mr. Pierce.”
Jackson’s pace slowed for a second, and he was vaguely aware that everyone in the office was trying their best not to stare at him. The offices of Pierce & Dane Software were situated on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in downtown Toronto. Jackson and Ethan knew they’d made it the day they were able to purchase, staff, and run this office ten years ago.
“Morning, Ann,” Jackson said with a nod, and resumed his fast pace towards Ethan’s office. He gave a knock and walked in without waiting for a response. His friend looked up from his computer monitor, his mouth dropping open.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too.” Ethan’s office was next to his and nearly identical. A massive, modern mix of glass and steel with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the city’s skyline.
Jackson sat down across from Ethan’s desk with a thud, tossing his briefcase on the leather chair beside him. His friend continued to stare at him as though he’d grown a second head. Much like everyone had outside.
“It’s December. You’re never here,” Ethan said, frowning.
“Oh, that,” he said flatly. “I’m back because I’m getting married tomorrow.”
Ethan shook his head and gave him a nervous laugh. “Sorry, I could have sworn you just told me you’re getting married.”
Jackson sighed and stretched out his legs on Ethan’s desk, crossing them at the ankles. This was going to be fun. “You heard right. Tomorrow. Getting married.”
Ethan leaned forward. “You are getting married?”
“Yup,” Jackson said, noticing the interesting way the snow was falling in the windows behind Ethan. Funny, he’d never really noticed that. Had snow always looked that good from this high up?
“To who?”
“Someone I met.”
“Did something happen to you? You are Jackson Pierce, right? Cold, self-centered, egotistical?”
“Hey, hey,” he said holding up his hands. “Take it easy there. I’m not cold.”
“Is it too early to drink?” Ethan mumbled walking toward the bar. Jackson wasn’t sure if he should laugh, be insulted, or join him.
He waited for Ethan to sit back down. “Call Ann in here, would you?”
“Why?” Ethan said, looking even more worried than before. He noticed Ethan had opted for coffee instead of alcohol.
“I need her help with the wedding details,” Jackson said, glancing down at his phone. He kept expecting Hannah to phone him saying she’d changed her mind.
Ethan swore loudly. “Wedding planning?”
Jackson scowled at his tone. “Yes. Either you get Ann in here or I will.”
Ethan rested his elbows on the desk. “First, you tell me what woman on earth agreed to marry you.”
“You’ll meet her tomorrow.”
“Why am I meeting her tomorrow?” Ethan groaned, massaging his temples.
“Because that’s the wedding,” Jackson said with a rough sigh. Ethan gave him a look he’d never seen before and then marched back to the bar, this time reaching for the scotch instead of the coffee.
“Listen, buddy, you’ve been gone for a little over a week into your yearly three week pity-party—”
Jackson held up a hand. “It’s not a pity-party. It’s a man-cation.”
Ethan gave him a long look. “Whatever makes you feel better. So, now you’re back early, and you’re telling me that you, the man that doesn’t date the same woman more than three times, is getting married. Tomorrow. And this woman entrusted you to the wedding planning.”
So maybe it sounded a little out of character for him. Jackson shrugged. “Change of plans.”
“At least tell me how you met.”
“She showed up at my door.”
He ignored Ethan’s loud curse. “And so you decided to marry the first woman that knocked on the door
of that godforsaken cabin in the middle of nowhere? Did it ever occur to you that she’s after your money? I hope you’ve had the common sense to have a pre-nup drawn. What kind of woman goes knocking on a stranger’s door?”
Jackson leaned forward. “A very good woman, that’s who. She’s a social worker.”
Ethan let out a huge sigh. “Oh, so she was there to council you.”
“Not funny. Look. Long story short. My sister had—” Jackson cleared his throat past the odd lump that formed in his throat whenever he thought of Louise and Emily. “My sister had a baby before she died. And this woman—Hannah—was Louise’s social worker. The most sure way for me to gain custody of the baby is by getting married.” Ethan knew all about his screwed up family, including his relationship with Louise. Jackson shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Any sympathy from Ethan would be revolting and awkward.
Ethan looked up from his empty glass, and whispered hoarsely, “You’re going to be a father, too?”
Jackson swore under his breath and leaned forward, pressing the button on Ethan’s phone to connect him with Ann. This conversation had gone on long enough.
Ann marched brusquely into the room. “Mr. Pierce, how nice to see you this time of year,” she said, sitting opposite him, notepad on her lap.
Jackson noted how formal and stiff her posture was. Did he make her nervous? Come to think of it, everyone around here was that way with him. When had that happened? Sure, Ethan had always been the easier going of the two of them, but when had people actually become intimidated by him?
“Thanks, Ann. Nice to see you as well. I have an odd project I need your help with,” he said, trying to sound relaxed and pleasant as she set her pen to ready position, her head tilted in his direction.
“I’m getting married tomorrow.” Jackson paused as Ann’s wrist jerked to the side and drew a jagged line across the blank page. She quickly blushed and looked up, turning the page. Jackson ignored Ethan’s not-so-subtle laugh and continued. “I need some help with the details.”
Ann nodded, looking panicked.
“This is the address,” he said, handing her a slip of paper. “I need lots and lots of white and red roses. And green Christmas bushy type things.”
Ann looked up at him in terror. Jackson tried to smile. “I trust you, Ann. Something nice.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes darting toward Ethan. Ethan held up his hands and leaned back in his chair.
“Oh, and what are those branch things, with red berries on them?”
“Um, I think you mean hollies, Mr. Pierce.”
Jackson snapped his fingers. “Yes, perfect. Some of those too. And candles,” Jackson said, again ignoring the loud noises coming from Ethan’s direction.
“Does Ann need to get the wedding dress too?” Ethan drawled.
Jackson scowled at him. “No, I’m getting that myself.”
“Oh my God,” Ethan said, shaking his head.
“Lastly, I need you to track down this couple near my cabin. Last name Sampson. Make sure they are at the wedding. Get a car for them or something. I don’t think they can get there on a sleigh.”
“What the hell went on at that cabin?” Ethan roared.
Ann looked nervously back and forth between them. Jackson ignored him.
“The wedding is at five o’clock. Okay? Got everything you need?”
Ann nodded slowly, and Jackson could tell she was trying her best not to ask any questions.
“Oh, Ann, one more thing. Did you give a woman my address to my cabin?”
Ann’s white face went bright red, and her chin wavered. “I, uh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Pierce. She was so persuasive and she said that it was a matter of life or death.”
Jackson swallowed his laugh. “Yes, I’m familiar with that line. It’s all right. Thanks for your help, Ann,” he said, rising and walking across the room. He had a ton of stuff to get done today, he thought, mentally checking the tell Ethan item off his list. He stopped at the door and looked back at his friend and Ann.
“Ann, give everyone the day off tomorrow.”
Ann looked from him to Ethan, her mouth hanging open. Ethan just shrugged.
“Ethan, make sure you’re at that address by four o’clock tomorrow. You’re my best man.” With that he walked out of his office.
…
“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Allison said as Hannah slipped on her ivory heels in front of the full-length mirror at the entrance of her home.
Hannah shook her head. “Neither can I.” She hadn’t been able to sleep at all last night. All she could think about was her sham of a marriage that was about to happen. Of course, she understood they really had no choice if they wanted to adopt Emily. Did the thought of being Jackson Pierce’s wife send a tingle up her spine? Well, yeah, fine. But that still didn’t mean they were destined for a life-long marriage. She glanced over at Emily, who stared at her, sucking her pink pacifier. She smiled at the baby, laughing as Emily smiled back and the pacifier popped out. Looking at the adorable baby she had no doubts—she was about to secure Emily a real home. She was about to do what no one had ever been willing to do for her, and nothing, nothing mattered more than that.
“I didn’t know Emily was coming with us,” Allison said, crouching down to tickle Emily’s toes.
“Neither did I. Mrs. Ford called this morning, saying that Jackson had asked her if Emily could come to the wedding.”
“Wow, she agreed on such short notice?” Allison asked, rising.
“He can be very persuasive,” Hannah said, smoothing her hand over her simple winter-white suit. She bit on her lower lip as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a woman about to attend a business meeting. Sure, her hair looked okay, she left it loose and allowed it to tumble naturally around her shoulders. That had nothing to do with the fact that she couldn’t stop thinking about Jackson running his fingers through her hair. And the extra dab of lip gloss? Merely for the moisture protection against the harsh winter wind.
“And extremely hot,” Allison said with a smirk.
Hannah refused to take the bait. She was already feeling torn—if Allison detected a glitch in her armor she was done for. “Who, Jackson? I guess if you’re into that sort of look.”
“Uh, if you’re a living, breathing woman you’d be into that look. Don’t even try to deny you’re attracted to him, Hannah. You never did tell me what went on at that cabin.”
Hannah frowned. “I spent all my time trying to convince him to adopt Emily. I told you, we are only doing this for Emily. That’s it.”
“Mm-hmm,” Allison said, her sly smile turning into a wide, I-don’t-believe-one-word-of-this grin.
“I barely even know the man,” Hannah said, grabbing her purse and avoiding eye contact.
“Really? It certainly looked like you two knew each other, I mean the way he gallantly rescued you.”
“He rescued his niece. That’s it.”
“I know you, Hannah. There’s way more going on here,” Allison said, the teasing in her voice gone.
Hannah tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what to tell you. He’s different from anyone I’ve ever met. And he’s got major issues. But there’s something,” she said, trying to put into words something she really didn’t understand herself. “He makes me feel safe and scared at the same time. That sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”
“No, that kind of sounds like love,” Allison whispered.
Hannah brushed off the notion. She couldn’t love anyone like that and she was wise enough to know that no one would love her like that. Her dreams of happily-ever-after, they were only that—dreams.
Gravel crinkling under the weight of an approaching car allowed Hannah to escape any more questions. Allison’s eyes locked on hers like a deadbolt before running over to the window, pushing aside the curtain. “Well, well, a black Audi stretch limo.”
Hannah swallowed nervously and felt her face getting warm. Had Jackson
done that? He hadn’t told her he’d be sending a limo.
“Now I wonder who could have done that? The tall, dark, handsome man who’s about to be your husband?” Allison asked, tapping her manicured finger on her chin, not even trying to contain her grin. “And here comes the driver.” Allison whipped open the front door before the man could ring the bell.
“Ms. Woods?” the straight-faced man asked to neither lady in particular.
“She’s right over there,” Allison said, holding the door open even wider.
“Yes,” Hannah said with a glare at Allison.
“I’m here to take you to the chapel,” he said graciously, extending his arm in the direction of the waiting limo.
Hannah’s eyes darted from the shiny black limo to the man. “Chapel?” They were supposed to meet at City Hall. As if sensing Hannah’s confusion the driver slipped an envelope out of the interior pocket of his pristine black coat.
“Ms. Woods, this is from Mr. Pierce,” he said with a smile, handing her the white envelope. Hannah gave her friend a shake of the head and turned around for privacy. Thick, black bold script stood out on the pristine white card.
Hannah, change of plans. Meet me at the chapel instead. Jackson.
And then, as if he anticipated her reaction, he had scribbled “Please” underneath. Hannah felt her heartbeat begin to race. Marrying at a chapel instead of City Hall was starting to sound much more like a real wedding than merely a formality. Why would he do this? Why wasn’t he keeping this a simple business arrangement like they’d planned? She clutched the note until the corners began to curl. Fear held her prisoner, shackled her feet to the floor, burying her in quicksand filled with dire warnings.
“So, let’s go get this sham of a marriage done, huh, Hannah,” Allie said with a laugh, jolting Hannah back to the moment. She blinked, forcing herself to move. Allison grabbed Emily inside the car seat and dragged Hannah onto the front porch.
“Not funny, Allie.” She silently cursed Jackson as they followed the driver to the waiting limo. Maybe she could try texting him on the way to the chapel, demanding some sort of explanation. And then she realized she didn’t even have his number. Who gets married to someone when you don’t even have their cell phone number?
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