Her Forbidden Bridegroom

by Susan Fox

  After several minutes, her soft, “I can’t sort through this now,” was the only thing she was truly capable of.

  The old resentments had been diffused in a way that made her feel off-kilter. But the new resentment she felt about being manipulated by Kendra, whom she’d though so innocent and in need of protection, was sharp.

  And Doris had done her share of manipulating as well. In essence, they’d both led her along, playing on her deepest needs to move her in the ways they wanted in order to manipulate each other.

  The fact that they’d had reasons that might ultimately help satisfy her craving for family didn’t seem worthy of merit yet, and she couldn’t bring herself to declare an unqualified trust in people who’d taken their own sweet time being honest with her.

  Her words to them were quiet. “I’d like to go home. I don’t want to decide right now how I feel about either of you. If I had to make a snap judgment, I don’t think you’d be very happy with what I’d have to say.”

  She gave a sad smile. “Of course, I was part of the dating charade, so I guess I’ve got no right to feel too self-righteous.”

  She’d said that without looking at anyone. When she finished she stood, taking her handbag and hat with her as she walked out of the room. Mitch followed her as they went out the back to his pickup and drove to the airstrip.

  CHAPTER TEN

  LORNA might have a family that she was getting to know but she’d apparently lost Mitch, and she didn’t understand why.

  He’d flown her back to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon then taken her to a steakhouse on the way home. He’d accepted her silence and the fact that she didn’t appear to want much conversation, but he’d been sweetly determined to see her fed.

  She’d loved that he was so patient with her. Mitch had a gift for making her feel cared for, and she’d been moved to tears because his gentle care had had seemed genuinely heartfelt. She got the distinct impression that Mitch was the kind of man who was capable of spoiling the woman he loved and that made her feel even more emotional.

  After they’d got to her apartment from the steakhouse, he’d spied a deck of playing cards on a bookcase and coaxed her into a few hands. He’d lifted her spirits and got her to laugh, but when it was time for him to go home, he’d boldly walked across the hall and drafted Melanie to look in on her.

  Melanie had been all eyes during the quick introduction Lorna had been prompted to make between her minor tyrant and her best friend, then Mellie had given them a few minutes of privacy before Mitch left so they could say goodbye.

  The tender kiss he’d given her was long and so incredible that Lorna was terrified she’d ask him to stay the night. Thankfully she’d managed to keep the impulse to herself. After all, they both had a lot to think about. It would have been foolish to complicate things even more with greater intimacy.

  And realistically, they’d only been around each other for three days. Though each hour of that time now felt like years, she’d managed to cling to her common sense.

  Once everything calmed down and her emotions settled in a few days or weeks, she might recognize this past weekend as a romantic mirage fueled by the intensity of the situation and an infatuation that could only be fleeting. She didn’t believe in love at first sight, not really. Her head knew that for a fact, though at the moment her heart wasn’t at all convinced.

  Now she wished she hadn’t let Mitch leave Sunday night. He’d called her each day to see how she was doing, but he’d not come to San Antonio to see her. And although he’d warned her he’d probably not see her until the barbecue on Friday, she began to worry about the real reason he’d stayed away.

  Was this a way for him to distance himself from her? Or was he truly giving her time with Kendra and Doris to get to know them a bit? She’d recovered almost right away from her upset with Doris and Kendra, and it had felt right to forgive them and to wholeheartedly make a fresh start. But the fresh beginning she had with them somehow seemed to underscore Mitch’s absence and give it a sad significance.

  After all, her status with his stepfamily had changed. Since she’d been accepted by Kendra and Doris, there’d be more serious consequences to any romantic involvement that might develop between them from here on.

  Unless Mitch’s attraction to her had been entirely sexual. Since that kind of relationship would be awkward under their new circumstances, Mitch might be rethinking the kind of relationship he wanted to have with her. If he wanted one with her at all beyond that of stepsister.

  Doris and Kendra came to San Antonio and Lorna had spent Tuesday with them, since she’d taken a week of her vacation time after all. It was a huge adjustment getting used to each other but Lorna had begun to feel more at ease with them both by the end of that day. Because Doris had decided to move back to San Antonio, they invited Lorna along when they went house hunting on Wednesday.

  The only sad part of that was that Kendra was planning to move to San Antonio with Doris because John and Kendra had put their wedding plans on hold. John had been upset by Kendra’s machinations and he’d thought they both needed to spend time apart to think about things and reassess.

  Kendra was trying to be optimistic, but she fully accepted that she’d done the wrong thing and that John was right to suspend things between them for now.

  In view of all that, it looked as if Doris and Kendra would soon not be a daily part of Mitch’s life on Ellery Ranch. And because the ranch was too far away from San Antonio to make an easy commute possible, perhaps Lorna’s opportunities to see Mitch from here on were few.

  The irony of finally being accepted into her family was that her family was now going through an upheaval. It might have been easier to cope with everything had she been the only change, but there seemed to be a huge chain-reaction going on and the best Lorna could do was hope that things would stabilize soon. And that she’d be able to find out and accept what might be ahead for her with Mitch.

  By afternoon on the day of the barbecue, Lorna and Melanie set out for Ellery Ranch. Melanie had also been invited to the festivities, and they’d both packed bags to stay overnight in case they were too tired to drive back to San Antonio after the fireworks.

  It seemed to take forever to get there, and once they’d arrived, the driveway and the grounds around the headquarters were already starting to fill up with cars and pickups. After they changed out of their jeans and T-shirts into the sundresses they’d brought, Kendra took Melanie to show her around and Doris immediately began introducing Lorna to her friends. Doris didn’t announce anything along the lines of, “This is my daughter,” but Lorna realized several of Doris’s friends had already heard all about it, and whoever hadn’t heard was sure to hear the gossip by the end of the day.

  She’d been eager to see Mitch again, but the fact that he’d not been close by when she’d first arrived was a huge disappointment. And possibly another indication that he was keeping a distance from her for a reason.

  Kendra sought her out then, a smile of excitement on her face. “John’s here, and we’ve worked things out.” She took hold of Lorna’s hands and rushed on with, “I’ve been waiting to ask this, and now I can’t wait any longer. I’d like you be my maid of honor. Would you please, Lorna?”

  “I’d love to,” Lorna said, pleased. “Does your mother know?”

  “Our mother, Lorna. You need to get used to saying it that way. And yes, that was one of the first things mama suggested to me once we’d talked everything out, but I’d already decided on that weeks ago and, come hell or high water,” she chattered excitedly, “I was going to somehow do it. Which was why I needed to hurry your introduction to Mitch. It’s only four months until the wedding you know, and there were only so many explanations I could keep making for the reason that John had a best man and three groomsmen while I had three bridesmaids but no maid of honor.”

  Kendra squeezed her hands again. “But I’ve given up plotting and scheming and trying to get my way.” Kendra’s gaze caught on
someone behind Lorna and her smile widened. “Isn’t that right, Mitch?”

  The big hands that settled warmly on Lorna’s waist from behind sent a hard charge of excitement through her. She felt the heat as Mitch leaned down and kissed her cheek as she started to turn her head to look at him.

  “John’s smart to get you to promise that before the wedding. Might give him an even chance of keeping you in line.”

  Kendra grinned at that. “I’m growing up, Mitch. I’ll keep myself in line.”

  “You do that, sis. And go easy on the matchmaking. Just because you had one success doesn’t mean you won’t make a royal mess of the next one.”

  Lorna felt a trickle of hope but kept it carefully to herself. Melanie’s attention was distracted by one of the other guests and Mitch turned Lorna to face him.

  “You got out here quicker than I expected. Sorry I wasn’t here to be a better host.”

  “You must be pretty busy.” She paused to glance around at the tables that were set out across the patio, and the country band that was setting up just outside the den. Several children and a few adults were making use of the pool. The growing crowd of milling people had started choosing places to sit, as if the delicious smell of barbecued beef had made them eager to start the meal.

  “This is a huge party,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting so many people. The house was already crowded.”

  “It’s a big turnout, bigger this year,” he said and she caught an inkling of something in the way he’d put it, then chided herself for wishful thinking. It had only been a week ago today that she’d walked into the office and Kendra had introduced them.

  And it had been days since they’d seen each other. Even if they’d spent the whole week together, it was too soon for love pledges, and far too soon to seriously contemplate anything permanent between them. Her mind shied away from the word “marriage.”

  Mitch took her around, introducing her to people she hadn’t met and keeping a proprietary hand at her waist the whole time. It was nearly six by the time all the food was set out and everyone began to line up to fill their plates.

  The barbecued beef was tender and there must have been every kind of sweet or tangy summer salad on the tables along with steaming ear corn and icy cold, sliced vegetables. It was a feast with dozens of cookies and an assortment of sheet cakes and pies that took up two tables of their own.

  By the time most of the food had been cleared away, the depleted desert tables had been reduced to one and moved to the verandah for nibbling. Another table with ice-filled chests of soft drinks and a huge punch bowl had been set at the edge of the patio next to the veranda rail. Several of the men were walking around with beer, and Lorna spied a couple of shiny kegs off to one side that were quite popular. A handful of teenagers had now taken over the pool and had a game of pool volleyball going.

  The country band began to tune up as a few tables and most of the chairs were moved to ring one side of the patio and wooden dance floor that had been set up on the lawn. The long shade of evening had begun to cool the air. White fairy lights went on in the trees and the band started with a ballad.

  They danced the first dance together and the male heat of Mitch’s body established instant dominion over hers. His dark gaze glittered down at her and she read the blatant message there. Until now, he’d been playing the gallant host who had time for everyone and made sure each guest felt welcome and comfortable.

  But the message in his eyes was entirely for her and the sensual warning in it made her heart race and her blood go heavy and sweet.

  “How’re you gettin’ along with your mother and sister?”

  The bit of common conversation made her try to still the rapid pounding of her heart. Although she probably shouldn’t have, she’d expected him to talk about something else. Something teasing and maybe sexy. He seemed to enjoy that almost as much as she did. To be honest, she’d been craving a few “loaded remarks” and flirtations, but he hadn’t made a single one.

  “We’re getting along fine. It’s a huge adjustment to make, but wonderful.”

  “Doris is as excited as a kid with a new best friend. All she talks about is you, your apartment, how independent and smart you are. How sensible and beautiful. Kendra thinks you’re the best thing since lipstick and the Neiman Marcus catalog. You agreed to be her matron of honor?”

  Lorna smiled tolerantly at the soft surprise of that, because he’d got it wrong. She felt the impact of his male charm in the small mistake. “A matron of honor is a married woman,” she said gently. “You mean maid of honor.”

  “I’m familiar with wedding terms. Do you mind if we go inside?” he asked, instantly distracting her from the spike of excitement his comment caused. “I’ve got a confession or two of my own to make now that things have calmed down.”

  Lorna’s excitement rose, but she was careful to conceal it. The kind of confession she most wanted to hear from him was unrealistic and far too fanciful, but she sensed he was moving along toward a goal, and that made her excitement worse. Once again, her common sense was being short-circuited.

  Lorna walked with him into the busy kitchen then down the hall to the den. He closed the door when they walked in, but he didn’t bother to close the heavy drapes on the sliding doors. Because the band was just outside, the only privacy they’d have was that their conversation couldn’t be heard. Which meant that she was letting herself become excited for nothing.

  Luckily the band’s amplifiers were faced away or it would have been too loud in the room for comfortable conversation. Mitch invited her to sit down in one of the wing chairs while he went to his desk. She noticed that he pulled out a key to unlock a desk drawer. He took out a thick file of papers and brought them around to the front of the desk.

  Lorna rested her elbows on the arms of the wing chair and laced her fingers together. Mitch eased back against the desk, his long legs stretched toward her in the space between them. It was obvious that he would hand her the file, but he didn’t just yet.

  “I’ll make this confession short,” he said. “You know I hired an investigator. That was a week ago. Most of this he dug up by Sunday. I intended to stop the process, but then you mentioned your daddy’s ranch.”

  Lorna felt tense suddenly over that bit of information, but Mitch went on before she could dwell on it.

  “There’s enough in this file already to hint that your daddy’s brother was up to no good. If you say the word, we’ll see what else can be dug up. If there’s enough to nail him, we’ll see if anything can be done about it.”

  The complete surprise of that disoriented her a little. And as she’d known, Mitch’s aggressive protectiveness toward people he cared about was one of the things that had so drawn her to him. The fact that he seemed to have designated her as one of the people he cared about gave her heart a sweet lift.

  “I don’t have the kind of resources to undertake something like that. Even if I did, I’m not sure I want to. Compared to everything else back then, the loss of that ranch was…minimal.”

  “You don’t want revenge?”

  Lorna released a pent-up breath and glanced away to consider it before she shook her head and looked at him. “If I started taking revenge for everything I didn’t like in my life back then, what would be the result? My life now would revolve around that, and I want happier things than to dig around in the past looking for trouble.”

  She missed the faint gleam of satisfaction in his eyes as she went on. “That doesn’t mean that as an adult I would just lay down and let myself be run over if something else came along.”

  “Oh, no, ma’am, I doubt you would,” he said, then chuckled as if he were tickled by that. “You can either take this file and keep it or you can destroy it. It belongs to you now.” He handed it over.

  Lorna started to take it, then froze. “I don’t want to look at it tonight,” she said, then lowered her hand. “If you wouldn’t mind keeping it locked away until I’m ready to go home, I’d rath
er do that. I don’t think it’s wise to leave it lying around.”

  “You can do whatever you want,” he said, then stood and walked around the desk to lock the file in the drawer. When he’d pocketed the key, he came back around the desk and leaned back against it to fix her with a solemn glance.

  “You still haven’t told me whether you’re willing to overlook or maybe even forgive that I dug around in your past. I intruded on your privacy, Miz Farrell.” His confession was sincere, that was plain. “Anything else I want to know, I’ll ask you. Even then, you can either tell me what you want or tell me to mind my own business.”

  Lorna felt the pleasure of that and gave him a slight smile. “I understood why you did it. Under the circumstances, yes. I’m willing to overlook it this time and I won’t hold it against you.”

  Mitch changed the subject so suddenly then that it took her a moment to follow.

  “I see you remembered.”

  He smiled at her look of confusion. His dark eyes lowered to move almost caressingly over the soft blue sundress. The deep V ended where propriety dictated, but she supposed a man would find it enticing. The crisp, fitted bodice with its tiny spaghetti straps ended in a drawstring waist before the skirt flared out and ended a good four inches above her knees. The white sandals she wore with it had small heels that enhanced the feminine line of her legs.

  His voice went low. “You remembered that I like little dresses like that. Cut low and worn short enough to show some leg. Hundred-proof sexy. And I’m not the only country boy who’s been gawking at the scenery.

  “So thank you, Lorna Dean. I appreciate you takin’ my personal tastes into account when you dress up.”

  Lorna couldn’t keep back a small smile, but she didn’t know whether to be amused with him or self-conscious.

  Before she could decide, he came out with a blunt, “How many kids do you want?”

  The question landed on her emotions like a fireball of electricity. Her heart went wild and she felt sweet tendrils of joy begin to unfurl. She tried mightily to suppress them, but his next remark weakened the effort.