More Than a Convenient Bride

by Michelle Celmer

  “I wish things were different. I don’t doubt that Luc would be an exceptional husband. In fact, I know he would be. It’s my role as his wife that I’m not so confident about.”

  “Shouldn’t Luc be the one to make that decision?”

  As far as Julie was concerned, he already had. “I can’t force myself to fall in love, and neither can he.”

  Eight

  The nurse returned from her nap a few minutes later to check Elizabeth’s vitals and gently suggested that it was time for her to rest. Julie gathered her things and went back to her bedroom, where she set up a work area at the small desk under the window overlooking the rolling green lawns and sprouting flower beds of the estate.

  She opened the window and breathed in deeply. Spring was in the air. When she’d arrived in October, everywhere she looked there was devastation. It seemed as if now, slowly but surely, the town was waking up to the world, and life in Royal was returning to normal. Or what she perceived to be normal. Displaced families were back in their homes, and every week shops and restaurants had begun reopening.

  She needed to get out more and explore the city. If this was to be her permanent home, she needed to get to know it better. And the people. That was the worst part of growing up so sheltered. The lack of community, missing that feeling of belonging somewhere. But things were different now. She was different.

  She smiled to herself, thinking, This is home. This was exactly where she was meant to be.

  Taking one last deep breath of cool fresh air, she closed the window, opened her laptop and got back to work. Sorting data took every bit of her attention and concentration, so it was no surprise that she didn’t hear Luc walk in the room. When he spoke her name, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

  “Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, but he knew as well as she that when she was immersed in work, startling her was inevitable. “How’s the research going?”

  “Great.” She looked over at the clock, surprised to see that it was barely after four. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d left the hospital before seven in the evening.

  Her first thought was that something must have been wrong. “Is everything okay?”

  “Fine,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket, which he then tossed over the footboard of her bed. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “The time, for one. You’re home so early.”

  He loosened his tie and pulled it off, then started unfastening the buttons on his dress shirt. “I told Ruth to clear my afternoon. That I had something I needed to do.”

  Something that required he take his clothes off, because that’s what he was doing. And why was her bedroom door closed? “What do you need to do?”

  A sexy grin tipped up the corners of his lips. “You, of course.”

  What the advance lacked in creativity, he made up for with red-hot sex appeal. He unbuttoned his shirt, slowly exposing a band of smooth, defined chest with just a sprinkle of crisp black hair.

  Nice.

  “You know, I almost stopped to pick up Mardi Gras beads on the way home,” he said.

  Huh? Why would they need those?

  Seeing her confused look, he said, “You don’t recall flashing me this morning?”

  Oh yes, she had done that, hadn’t she. She never dreamed that a quick peek at her breasts in the morning would motivate him to cancel his afternoon appointments and rush home three hours early.

  Damn. She must be doing something right.

  “We never had our postwedding sex-a-thon. Unless you don’t want to,” he teased, his shirt halfway down his arms. Big, thick, delicious arms she wanted to feel wrapped around her.

  “Oh, I want to,” she said.

  “Then, why are you sitting over there?” he asked, and the hunger in his eyes made her heart flutter.

  “I’m enjoying the view.”

  “You’ll enjoy it more on the bed.”

  She’d never known him to be impatient, but rather than wait for her to get up on her own, he walked over to her chair and scooped her up, then tossed her onto the bed.

  He did seem to enjoy manhandling her, and weirdly enough, she liked it.

  Bare chested and beautiful, Luc climbed up with her, kneeling on the mattress, straddling her thighs. “So, about this shirt.”

  She looked down at the totally unsexy but comfortable T-shirt she’d thrown on this morning. “What about it?”

  “It needs to go.”

  No problem. She made a move to pull it over her head, but he said, “Allow me.”

  He grabbed the front of her shirt in his fists and gave it one good tug. She gasped as the fabric came apart in his hands.

  “Better,” he said, looking satisfied with himself. He was literally tearing her clothes off. And she liked it.

  He unfastened her jeans and tugged them off, though she had the feeling that if he could have torn the denim, he probably would have ripped those off of her, too. But now he was eyeing her bra, and thank goodness for the front clasp or he may have tried to rip that off, too.

  Of course the panties were the next to go. Had she been wearing socks he would no doubt rip those, as well.

  Luc sat back to admire his work. “You’re perfect,” he said, his eyes raking over her. He cupped her breasts, rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He knew from their wedding night how crazy that made her.

  “Tell me what you like,” he said, pinching hard enough to make her gasp. “I’ll do anything.”

  “Anything. Everything.” Just keep touching me.

  His brow lifted. “Anything?”

  The look in her eyes must have said it all. She wasn’t sure what she was getting herself into, but she didn’t care. In the past she never would have suggested such a thing. She would never leave herself so exposed. The ramifications would have scared her to death. Amazing what trust could do.

  And boy did he “do” her. And kept on doing her. For two solid hours. Until he’d established an up-close-and-personal relationship with every inch of her body.

  “I need to rest,” she finally said, limp and draped across the bed, her head hanging over the side of the mattress. The comforter lay on the floor, the bottom sheet had come loose and was halfway off, and the top sheet was...well, she wasn’t sure where that had gone.

  “Finished already?” he asked, but his smile said he was teasing her.

  “Aren’t you supposed to roll over and go to sleep?” she said.

  “You don’t want me to do that.”

  She did and she didn’t.

  Her stomach rumbled and she realized that not only was it dinnertime, but she’d skipped lunch today.

  “No more sex until you feed me,” she said.

  “We could go out. We never did get that candlelit dinner I promised you.”

  “Would I have to get up and get dressed?”

  “I highly recommend it.”

  That sounded romantic and all, but putting on clothes and fixing her hair was just too darned much work. “Or we can make sandwiches and eat in bed.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go out?” he asked, looking as if he was still raring to go. Did he ever get tired?

  Her legs were so weak from being overextended—she hadn’t realized her feet could go that far over her head—she wouldn’t make it to the front door. “Some other time.”

  “Sandwiches it is,” he said, hopping off the bed. He actually hopped. Then he pulled his slacks back on, walked to the door and, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, said, “I’ll be back. Don’t start without me.”

  Not a chance.

  She must have dozed off, because he was back in what seemed like seconds, a tray propped on one palm.

  “Dinner is served,” he said, setting it right on
the bed.

  She dragged herself into a sitting position, noticing that he was hiding something behind his back. “Whatcha got?”

  “Let’s call it dessert.”

  “Can I see what it is?”

  He held up a squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup, wearing that lascivious grin, and all she could think was, Oh boy, here we go again.

  * * *

  The rest of the week flew by. Luc and Julie tried to make time for one another, but life kept getting in the way. Luc had hoped to spend Sunday with Julie, but she had already promised Megan she would volunteer for the pet adoption fair, to find homes for the animals displaced in the storm.

  The following Monday Luc was sitting in the cafeteria catching up on his reading while he ate a late lunch, when someone sat down across the table from him. He glanced up from the medical journal, expecting to see a colleague sitting there.

  It was Amelia.

  He cursed silently. He had no other patients in Pediatric, and hadn’t seen her since the consultation last Monday. To be honest, he hadn’t given her much thought, either. But that hadn’t stopped her from seeking him out. She’d come to his office several times hoping to “catch him” and he heard that she’d objected rather firmly when his resident came to check in on Tommy in Luc’s place.

  As careful as he’d been to avoid her, here she was anyway, invading his space. Other than information about her son’s care, he had nothing to say to her.

  “Someone has been avoiding me,” she said in a singsong tone. Her smile said she thought she was being cute, when in reality, it was just annoying.

  “Is there something I can help you with?”

  Her smile wavered. “I saw you sitting here so I thought I would stop and say hi.”

  “Hi,” he replied, knowing that wouldn’t be the end of it. He recognized that determined look on her face.

  “It would be nice if we could talk.”

  Nice for her maybe. As far as he was concerned they had nothing to say to each other. “I have an extremely busy afternoon.”

  “You know you can’t stay mad at me forever, Luc.”

  He wasn’t mad, just disinterested in whatever she had to say. She seemed hell-bent on getting him to concede his feelings, but the truth was, he didn’t have any. At least, not the kind she expected him to have. “As Tommy’s surgeon, it’s critical that I remain impartial. I’m sure you can understand.”

  “I just want to talk,” she said. “I’ve missed you. Haven’t you missed me even the tiniest little bit?”

  His blank expression had her frowning.

  “You’re playing the tough guy. I get it.”

  “I’m not playing anything,” he said. “I’m just trying to eat my lunch in peace.”

  “No need to get snippy,” she said, in the voice one might use while addressing an impatient child. “I’m just trying to be polite.”

  Had she used that tone with him six years ago? And if she had, how did he stand it?

  He looked across the table at her. Really looked. He wondered what it was about her that he had found so appealing. She was attractive, in a debutante sort of way. Never a hair out of place, her makeup applied to perfection, her clothes designer and expensive. And he had been a penniless college student, working two jobs, struggling to keep up with her high expectations. Which seemed ridiculous now when he considered the generous weekly allowance her father provided. And if that wasn’t enough, all she had to do was ask and he would supply her with yet another credit card.

  Her parents thought that Luc, the lowly son of a rancher, wasn’t good enough for their precious daughter. But Luc knew he was destined for great things, and he was proud of all that he’d accomplished. He wondered what her parents would think of him now, and realized he didn’t really give a damn. But he sure had back then. Amelia wanted the prestigious role of a surgeon’s wife, but not the work and sacrifice it would take to get there. But like any other young resident he’d had to pay his dues, and Amelia had no patience to wait around for him.

  “So, how is your mother?” she asked him. “I heard that she’s been ill.”

  “She’s recovering.”

  “She must get lonely in that big house all by herself. Maybe I could come visit her someday.”

  Not a good idea. His mother never liked Amelia. That girl is too big for her britches, she used to say. There was nothing his mother liked less than pretension, and Amelia’s nose was—as his mother liked to say—locked in an upright position. His mother’s wheelchair made Amelia feel awkward, as if by going anywhere near it she might catch something.

  In all the time he’d dated her, he couldn’t recall Amelia and his mother having any more than a five-minute conversation. So why the need to talk to her now? And what did she know about his “big house”? Had she been snooping into his personal life?

  He wondered where he would be now if she hadn’t run off with someone else. He’d been too proud to beg her to come back, but he’d wanted to. Those first few months afterward he’d been beside himself. It was only after he met Julie that he began to feel whole again. She was the one who filled the empty place in his heart. Just by being a good friend.

  “My mother isn’t well enough for visitors,” he told Amelia. “Her immune system is too vulnerable.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Amelia said. “Maybe some other time.”

  Doubtful.

  “Please send her my regards.”

  When he was away from work, Amelia was the furthest thing from his mind. And why would he think about her when he had Julie? Even though they weren’t a real couple, she was everything he could ask for in a woman, and a wife. And especially a lover. Pleasing her, making her feel good, was by far his favorite part of the day. There was only one thing missing. After sex, she always went back to her own room to sleep. If he had his way, she would be sleeping in his bed. Even if it was only temporarily.

  “Just the man I wanted to see,” Luc heard someone say, and turned to see Drew walking toward him, swooping in like an angel of mercy to save him. He looked from Luc to Amelia, one brow raised slightly. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

  “Not at all,” Luc said, pushing to his feet, picking up the tray with his half-eaten lunch. “I’m finished.”

  With his lunch and with Amelia. He didn’t introduce her to Drew, nor did he say goodbye when he walked away. Maybe now, after this chilly conversation, she would take the hint and leave him alone.

  He dumped the contents of his tray in the trash on their way out of the cafeteria and asked Drew, “What brings you to the hospital?”

  “I dropped off fresh flowers at the gift shop for Beth, then came in here for a soda. Then I saw you and, frankly, you looked like maybe you needed rescuing.”

  Now, that was a true friend. “Drew, you have no idea.”

  They stopped at the main bank of elevators. “Is that her?”

  “Is that who?”

  “Your ex.”

  Luc blinked. He’d made it a point not to say anything to anyone about Amelia’s being in Royal. Not even Julie. “How did you know she was my ex?”

  “Amelia...is that her name?”

  Luc nodded.

  “Well, she’s been kinda broadcasting it all over town.”

  Disbelief stopped him in his tracks. “She’s doing what?”

  “Word is spreading fast.”

  Fantastic. Just what he needed. But was he surprised? Not really. Amelia loved to be the center of attention. And he’d bet anything she was pinning him as the bad guy. “What has she been saying?”

  “She’s making like you guys are getting chummy. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

  He cursed and shook his head. “Nothing could be further from the truth. Today was the first I’ve seen of her in a week. A
nd it wasn’t by choice, believe me.”

  “Yeah, you looked pretty uncomfortable sitting there with her. What does Julie think about her being here?”

  “Like I said, I haven’t told anyone.”

  Drew looked pained. “Please, tell me you’re joking.”

  “I prefer to leave work at work. Amelia is the mother of my patient, nothing more. She has nothing to do with my personal life.”

  Drew’s expression said that Luc was a sad and pathetic man. “Dude, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but in a marriage, it doesn’t really work that way.”

  “But we’re not really married, are we?”

  “No, but she is your best friend. I thought you guys told each other everything.”

  Well, almost everything. And he could see Drew’s point. If Amelia was broadcasting the details of their past relationship, Julie was bound to hear it from someone. He didn’t want it to appear as if he was hiding things from her. “I’ll talk to her tonight.”

  “Smart move. The way it’s spreading, it’s only a matter of time before the entire town knows.”

  Luc cursed under his breath. He should have known that Amelia was up to something. He should have expected it.

  Hadn’t she done enough damage? Caused him enough pain. He was going to put an end to whatever she thought she was doing.

  Nine

  Julie met Megan and Lark for lunch at the Royal Diner. There was a real camaraderie among the three of them, a sense of genuine respect and friendship. Only recently, as she’d grown so close to these women, did Julie realize all that she’d missed out on being so sheltered as a child, and having that inherent lack of trust. But it was never too late to start living.

  “The adoption fair seemed to go well,” she told Megan after the waitress took their orders.

  “And we’re still bursting at the seams. It’s like that every spring, plus we’re still feeling the aftereffects of the tornado. We have a lot of animals coming in, but not so many getting adopted back out. I don’t suppose you would be interested in a puppy or a kitten? Or better yet an older cat or dog?”