"The cause of family harmony." He leaned against the kitchen wall, taking in everything she was saying. "You need me for something."
"And I just told you. My girls, my own reputation. Don't make this harder than it is," she snapped.
He chuckled. 'Til find out in time what motivates you, Suzy W."
She remained silent, gazing at him stubbornly.
"A lot of women are motivated by money. It's okay to admit you are, too. It's a playing field I understand."
"I never said I wasn't motivated by security," she told him. "Job security is very important/*
"So we're moving into a two-bedroom house," Dane said. "I like closeness.*'
"I'll expect you to pay your share of rent" she said.
"Of course," he replied. "I've got a bucket full oi money just for that. Well, my entire net worth is now a bunch of old coins in a bucket, but it'll do for the rainy day theory."
She shook her head. "What happened to the pickle jar? Isn't that Mr. Morgan's'*"
"Mr. Morgan happens to be out at the moment. And I, uh, broke the jar, but since I cleaned up all the glass, I'm keeping the change." He grinned at her rakishly. "I'll call it my babysitting fund."
"You did seem to be a relatively decent babysitter," she said reluctantly. "I think the girls like you."
"Those little girls like me almost as much as their mother does," Dane said. "I suspect you'll be just as lucky for me as they are."
Suzy moved to walk past him, but he caught her hand, pulling her up against him. "Say you want wedding vows so you can kiss me again," he said huskily. "I think about kissing you often."
She stepped past him. "I told you, I'm marrying you to make an honest man of you," she said, walking away.
"Can't be done, I fear," he called after her.
"Maybe not," she murmured so that he couldn't hear, "but my girls are going to have a family. I'm not going to end up like your brother Jack."
Forgiveness mattered to Dane more than he was willing to admit. He wasn't going to have a gabfest over it, cleanse his soul by confession, but the family condition was starting to get to him. Maybe it was seeing how happy Gabriel was now that he'd made amends with Pop. His gaze slid to the little fair-haired tots climbing over Suzy's lap and wondered how much his latent feelings of contrition had to do with Suzy's children.
Damn Pop, anyway.
The old man would grin if he could see Dane sitting around worrying like a girl over the past. Nothing could be changed, anyway. And he'd already improved matters. Suzy had decided to marry him, hadn't she, and that alone would make him a better man.
Maybe. He had the notion that he was screwing everything up despite his best efforts to fix things. That sneaking suspicion just wouldn't leave him alone, either.
"I'll perform the ceremony, if you two like," Cricket said. "It would be my pleasure."
"Do you have a problem with that, Dane?" Suzy asked.
Did he? He looked into her eyes and didn't think so. He didn't know what to think. "Sounds convenient"
'Til plan the reception" Miss Manners said.
"No reception" Dane said.
Suzy quickly added, Thank you, Priscilla. We don't really have anyone to invite."
A sad commentary if he'd ever heard it. He noticed Suzy hadn't mentioned inviting her folks to the wedding—wasn't that sort of a bad sign? Marrying someone who had the same difficulty promoting family harmony as he did?
"All right," Priscilla said brightly, not bothered at all. "I'd love to help plan a bridal shower. Or the honeymoon. Travel plans are so much fun to make, don't you think, especially for newlyweds!"
Suzy and Dane stared at her. Honeymoon! He hadn't even considered such a thing. He nonchalantly peered at Suzy to sec if she was going to protest that suggestion, as well, but Suzy sat there silently, her gaze going to her children.
So she didn't exactly abhor the thought of being alone with him... which cheered him immensely.
"Dane, I thought I heard you say something about Mexico," Priscilla said, but Suzy shook her head.
"Nothing elaborate." Suzy looked around at her friends. "This is a business deal, remember? Romance isn't required."
Dane wanted to interrupt and say that romance might not be required but he was certainly open to it. The serious look on Suzy's face kept him from trying to make light of the honeymoon idea.
"Here's a thought," Priscilla said. "Cricket and I can watch the girls after the ceremony, and you two can go out and have a nice, businesslike dinner. A seal-the-deal kind of meal. Even enemies shake hands over negotiations, don't they?" she asked sweetly.
Dane wondered whose side Priscilla was on. He glanced at Suzy, interested to see whether she would allow her girls to be watched while he took her out for a postnuptials dinner. To his surprise, Suzy seemed to be waiting on him to answer. "Suzy?" he said. "I'm up for whatever you want."
"Dinner would be all right," she said reluctantly.
"Of course, we don't mean a burger place," Cricket said hurriedly. "Someplace reasonably upscale, so that when the girls are grown, you can show them pictures of the nice restaurant where you celebrated your vows. Even though you'll be divorced by then, the girls will enjoy seeing their mother's wedding night dinner."
"Good idea," Dane said. He felt sad, though, that he wouldn't be around to see the girls admire those pictures. "So, when's the earliest we can do this?"
"Three days," Cricket said, "after you apply for a marriage license."
"And I do feel that I need to ask your father—"
"No." Suzy's quiet tone sliced off what Dane was about to say.
He blinked. "Suzy, look. I'm no stranger to family squabbles. But I'm neutral territory here. Your father can hardly object to me asking for your hand. I'm a tradi-
tional guy, and already I'm veering out of my comfort zone with a short-term marriage."
"You asked me for a short-term marriage," Suzy reminded him.
"Right. But as I said before, there's no harm in asking. It really doesn't bother me to go ask your father, even if he won't open the door for me."
"The worst Mr. Wintcrstone can do is say no," Prised la said reasonably. "And then what would you do?"
"Well. I'd..." Dane looked at Su/y's worried face. "I'd tell him he was being an old donkey and missing out on the three best things in life he could be enjoying—his daughter and two sweet granddaughters."
Suzy gave him a look of gratitude, which made him feel rather important, as if he might have scored serious points.
"Dane, we all know this is a temporary solution. It's very sweet of you to offer, but no thank you. You have to understand that my situation is very different from yours. My family basically cut off ties with me. Your father wants you back in his life desperately. He just doesn't know how best to make that happen."
He shrugged. "Let's deal with applying for a marriage license. I suppose we go to the Union Junction courthouse for that?"
Cricket nodded. "Why don't you two go do that while we watch the girls?"
Suzy smiled. "Thank you."
"Suzy. quit acting like we're doing you a favor." Pris-cilla said. "Your little girls are awesome."
"Still, it is a favor, and I owe you big-time." Suzy took a deep breath. "I'm ready whenever you are, Dane."
He felt like something was lacking, something fundamental. This was a special time, wasn't it? Getting a marriage license was the first step in a long road they'd take together. He felt sentimental about the journey, but maybe that was because he'd never seen himself married and now it was happening, goodbye freedom and all that.
Except "goodbye freedom" wasn'l as bad as it sounded. He was looking forward to marrying Suzy. As much as he probably shouldn't be sentimental about their business deal, he was.
Was that a bad sign? He glanced at his little bride's serious face and wondered just how much he might be kidding himself.
Danh HELPED Suzy into his truck and they headed loward Union Junction without saying
much to each other beyond pleasantries. Suzy tried to tell herself how practical she was being. Marrying Dane was a great idea, both for the girls and for her. It was a win-win situation for Dane, as well, because he could get what he wanted, which was his money, even though he claimed he wasn't going to accept it. She doubted he really fell that way; right now, he was angry with his lather and feeling as if he had to do what he was doing, which was marry a woman his father had installed in his house to lure him to the altar. Dane was being very nice
about it, but no man married a woman he'd kissed once and didn't love unless there was a fat paycheck involved. Suzy figured Dane didn't want to live on his "pickle fund" forever, and would elect to take the money from his father after all.
"Good thing I changed my mind about Pop's money," Dane said cheerfully, "or this excursion would be a drudge."
She wrinkled her nose. "It is a drudge, whether or not you accept money to do it."
"Now that does not sound like a happy bride," Dane said, "and I think I prefer my bride happy."
"Well," Su/y said, "it's hard to act like a giddy bride when we're not in love."
That's something money cannot buy," Dane agreed. "I think I prefer marriage more cut-and-dried, though. It's exciting enough like this."
"You may be a bit of a romantic," Suzy said, "which surprises me a little, because I see you as being totally unlike your father."
"Nah," Dane said. "I'm sure the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." He offered her a brief smile. "Much to my chagrin, I probably have some of the old man's traits."
"Maybe." Suzy looked out the window, feeling nervous. "Did you call him?"
"No. Why should I?" He sounded surprised.
"Same reason you wanted to go see my father. To share the good news."
"I figure Pop doesn't need any good news. He's over
there in France, enjoying the good food and the retirement living."
"I think he would want to know." Suzy knew full well that Mr. Morgan would be ecstatic, and she wondered if there was another reason Dane was unwilling to tell him.
"I'll tell him when I'm ready."
"Okay." It was his family. She wasn't going to worry about how he handled Mr. Morgan. Her part was done. From now on, all she had to worry about was going over to the Morgan ranch and making sure it stayed clean, festive and homey. Hang draperies...she shook her head. "You know how I said we could live in my house?"
He nodded. "I'm looking forward to getting off the ranch."
"Technically, though, my contract with your father says I'm supposed to stay at the ranch to give it a lived-in feeling," Suzy said. "I don't want to have to turn in my resignation, but I'm pretty sure that me not living at the ranch is in conflict with the idea of a live-in housekeeper."
"Now that you mention it," Dane said, "you may have a point. You'll have to quit your job."
"I'm not quitting my job," Suzy said. "I have to be employed. You might be okay with unemployment, but I've got two little girls to feed."
"Hey," Dane said, "I never said I wasn't going to work."
"What you do doesn't concern me," Suzy said. "I'm not expecting you to take care of me and my girls."
"Suzy Winterstone, I'm afraid my idea of marriage and your idea of marriage may not be the same."
"Marriage is a contract." Su/y said. 'I keep all m> contracts to the letter."
"Well. then, write this into our contract," Dane said. "I most definitely plan on taking care of you and your girls for the next year just like you were my real wife."
Chapter Twelve
Dane was stubborn. It was in his family genes, and he was becoming more proud of it by the day. He meant every word he said to Suzy about taking care of her—and the more he felt her shrink away from a real commitment to him, the more he found himself digging in his heels.
"Maybe we should discuss this marriage a bit more," Suzy said, her voice faint.
"We could talk it to death," he said, "but I'm still going to be a real husband to you."
He thought she went a little pale, and then realized she was probably thinking he meant sex. The considerate side of him started to correct her assumption, but then the Morgan side of him jumped up and yelled in his ear, Who are you kidding? Of course you wont to make love to this woman!
So he didn't say anything, just enjoyed watching her fidget. "You went very quiet on me, Suzy."
"I think you should know something about mfe" she said.
"Lay it on me." He figured she was going to tell him the real reason her parents didn't want to see their own grandchildren.
But what she said instead was, "I'm not good in bed."
His jaw sagged. He didn't know how to reply to that.
"I just thought you should know," she said hurriedly, "if you really mean to be a real husband to me."
"Well, hell," he said, not sure where he was going with that, but grasping, grasping for the right words to say. "How does someone be not good in bed?"
"I don't know," she said. "I'm not a very passionate person."
He started laughing. "Nah. Can't be."
"Why?" she demanded. "And quit laughing. It's not funny in the least. The worst thing a woman can ever be is bad in bed."
"It's not too good for the guy, either." He wiped the grin off his face, however, trying to be sensitive to her feelings. "We'll worry about grading the marital relations later, okay?" He thought she was sexier than ever when she was all worried about her sensuality. She oozed schoolgirl innocence and he wanted to ravish her this minute.
She raised her chin. "I can tell you're not paying attention to me."
"Oh, Suzy," he said, very serious now, "you can rest assured about one thing—I am paying very close attention to everything about you."
The man was crazy if he knew the truth and still wanted to be a "real husband" to her, Suzy thought crossly. He wouldn't ever be able to say he wasn't warned, and that was the most she could do. Now that she had her soul's darkest confession out of the way, Suzy began to relax. It was only a year, after all. Even a man as handsome and downright sexy as Dane Morgan could stand one year of not-so-great sex.
At least she hoped he could. She would do her best to work on her problem. If he really intended to be a real husband to her, then she would do her utmost to be a real wife to him. The fail-safe on this whole thing was that both of them knew that they wouldn't have to lie to each other forever.
She had always known she would never get married because of her problem. Now it was as if Dane had lifted a great weight of doubt from her.
"Priscilla just texted me," Suzy said. "She wants to know if you want a groom's cake."
"I thought we weren't having a reception," Dane said.
"It looks like the two of them have decided to bake two cakes with the girls. One traditional wedding cake, which Priscilla says will be a white sheet cake, and then a groom's cake, which will apparently be a chocolate pecan turtle-style kind of cake since they're going out to pick up pecans."
He smiled. "Chocolate pecan cake sounds wonderful. Sure. It'll be great, especially if the cherubs are going to help with the baking."
She realized he was flattered that her friends had thought of baking him a groom's cake. Maybe all this man needed to soften him up was some thoughtfulness. "1 need to call your father." she said, hating to bring it up.
"To give him your resignation?"
"No!" Suzy stared at him. "Dane. Tm not about to give up good employment. I hope your father will still allow me to be the housekeeper, even though I won't be a live-in.'"
**I don't know if I like having a wife who works." Dane said.
"You'll have to deal with it."
"Okay." he said, "then I'll go apply with the local law enforcement agency. I can do another year's worth of Ranger work. Or whatever serves as law around here. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger, as the saying goes."
She looked up from the text she was sending Pris-cilla. "That scares me."
"Really' )
I thought women loved a man in uniform."
"Well. I'm sure you're very handsome and all. but...doesn't your father need a lot of work done at the ranch?"
"Which doesn't pay," he reminded her, "and I need to take care of you."
"Stop saying that," Suzy said. "I'm more independent than you think."
Hey." he said, "I can be a stay-at-home dad. That would be fun. You work, and I'll teach the girls ranch life."
Her heart slid sideway. He was charming the socks
oil her, wooing her through her children. And it was working. Nothing said masculine more than a man who loved a woman's children. "It doesn't pay."
"Maybe not in coin. But I'd win lots of points with you." He grinned at her, which made her think maybe he wasn't quite as charming.
*i don't see you as stay-at-home dad material."
"But you don't want to be married to a cop."
"My ex-boyfriend is a cop," she said. i don't have fond memories."
"I bet." He considered that for a long moment and then nodded. "All right. Stay-at-home father it is. It was my first choice, anyway."
Suzy looked out the window, smiling to herself. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"You have no idea how good I am at cleaning up unexpected messes."
He was too perfect. There was something wrong here. No man wanted to take on a woman with children, especially a woman he knew had sexual issues, and promise to take care of her and be a father to her children. She searched for his motivation, but since he'd vowed to give up his million dollars, she couldn't figure out what it was Dane Morgan really wanted from their marriage.
Danh suddenly had his year all planned out: (1) Marry Suzy. It was a good deal for both oi them; (2) Convince Pete to back him in a cattle operation. Do a little soybean farming, maybe even figure out a way
to profit from all those pecan trees bordering the property. In general, become the salt of the earth his father had never been. There was enough land at the Morgan ranch to do whatever he wanted, and Pop was probably losing all kinds of tax benefits by not deducting crop taxes, etc. If he could turn this ranch into a profitable operation rather than just a piece of real estate—he would spend a year being able to train himself in business, which would be a great thing when he moved to Mexico. Experience was everything. Maybe he could even talk Jack into coming home and raising some horses. Okay, that was farfetched, but it was a thought.
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