His Thirty-Day Fiancée

by Catherine Mann

  Duarte’s brandy turned bitter in his mouth. They’d moved the wedding up, cutting short everything he needed to do to ensure Kate remained his forever. He only had her promise of cooperation until Tony and Shannon tied the knot. And after the wedding, Kate would have no reason to stay.

  She’d asked for a day at a time. And his time with Kate had just been cut abruptly short.

  Twelve

  “You may kiss your bride,” declared the priest, vestments draping from his arms as he blessed the newlyweds at the chapel’s altar.

  Kate blinked back tears, raised her camera and click, clicked. She’d photographed weddings to earn extra money in college, but she’d never witnessed a more emotional, heartfelt union. Tony and Shannon had exchanged their vows in a white stone church with a mission bell over the front doors. Duarte had told her the quaint chapel was the only thing on the island built to resemble a part of their old life. It wasn’t large, but big enough to accommodate everyone here—Enrique, the rest of the Medina family, the island staff. Kate realized she and Jennifer were the only outsiders. Shannon had no family or friends attending other than her son, and Kate felt a kinship with the woman who’d faced the world alone.

  Until now.

  Once the embracing couple finished their kiss, they faced the select crowd, their happiness glowing as tangibly as the candlelight from their nighttime service. As Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” swelled from the pipe organ, Tony swept up the little ring bearer. Kolby hooked his arms around his new father’s neck with complete trust and the happy family started down the aisle, wedding party trailing them.

  The Medina princess Eloisa served as maid of honor in an emerald empire-waist gown. Her bouquet of evergreens and pink tropical flowers from the island was clasped over the barely visible bump of her newly announced pregnancy. As she passed her husband seated by the king on the front pew, she smiled with unabashed love.

  Duarte followed, leanly intense and breathtakingly handsome in his tuxedo. She never in a million years would have sought out a mega-rich prince, yet the more she learned about Duarte the man, the more she wanted to be with him. To hell with day-by-day. She wanted to extend this beyond their deadline. She wanted to take that risk.

  And then Duarte moved past her, followed by Carlos—the brother she hadn’t met yet—ending the bridal party. Kate lowered her Canon. Carlos’s steps were painstakingly slow as he limped down the aisle. He clearly could have used a cane. Something about the proud tilt of his chin told her that he’d opted to stand up for his brother on his own steam.

  This wounded family was breaking her heart.

  She brought her camera back to her face and kept it there all the way outside into the moonlit night. A flamenco guitarist played beneath the palm trees strung with tiny white lights.

  Sweeping the crowd with her lens, she snapped photos randomly for the album she planned to give to Tony and Shannon. She would upload the images and burn a disc for the couple, presenting her gift at the reception in case she didn’t see the newlyweds again.

  Although maybe, just maybe… A wary thread of hope, of excitement whispered through her.

  She adjusted her focus on Jennifer, her sister’s face animated as she took in the lights twinkling overhead in the trees. Love for her sister filled her. Jennifer wasn’t a burden, but protecting her innocence was a responsibility Kate didn’t take lightly.

  A wide smile creased Jennifer’s cheeks and she waved enthusiastically until Duarte stepped into the picture.

  “Yes, Jennifer?” His voice carried on the ocean wind. “What can I do for you?”

  “I don’t need anything,” Jennifer answered. “You do lots for everybody. I wanted to do something for you.”

  Jennifer extended her fist. Duarte’s face creased with confusion.

  “This is for you,” Jennifer continued, dropping into his hand a beaded string of braided gold thread with a metal ring at one end, “since you’re going to be my brother soon. I didn’t think you would like a bracelet or a necklace like I make for Katie. But you drive a car, so I made you a key chain. Kolby’s nanny got me the supplies. Do you like it?”

  He held it up, ring dangling from his finger as he made a big show of admiring it. “It’s very nice, Jennifer. Thank you. I will think of you whenever I use it.”

  “You’re welcome, Artie—uh, I mean—”

  “You can call me Artie,” he said solemnly. “But only you. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Her smile lit her eyes as she rose up on her toes to give him a quick peck on the cheek before she raced across the sand toward the bridal party.

  More than a little choked up, Kate swung the lens back to Duarte just as he pulled his keys from his pocket. Her breath hitched in her chest… He couldn’t actually be planning to actually use it…

  But, oh, my God, he attached the beaded gold braid alongside keys to his high-end cars and an island mansion. Thoughts winged back to that first night in Martha’s Vineyard when they’d made up their mythical first date, complete with a vintage Jaguar and catviar.

  Her hands fell to her side, camera dangling from her clenched fist. Tears burned her eyes as she fell totally, irrevocably in love with Duarte Medina.

  And she couldn’t wait to tell him once they were alone together tonight.

  The rest of the evening passed in a blur of happiness until before she knew it, Kate was waving to the departing newlyweds. Everything had been magical from the wedding to the reception in the ballroom with a harpist. She had almost hated to miss even a second when she’d slipped away to her computer to burn the disc. But she’d been rewarded for the effort when she pressed the DVD into Shannon’s hand. They’d insisted they didn’t want gifts, but every bride deserved a wedding album.

  Kate arched on her toes to whisper in Duarte’s ear. “I’m going upstairs to change. Join me soon? I have a special night planned that involves you, me and a tub full of bubbles.”

  “I’ll be there before the bath fills.”

  The glint in his eyes spurred her to finish up her last bit of business all the faster.

  In her room, she sat in front of the computer to dispense with this last obligation to Harold. Duarte had even given her the thumbs-up to select the wedding photos on her own. He trusted her…

  Her computer fired up to the homepage and she logged on to the internet, eager to be done with this as quickly as possible so she could freshen up in a bubble bath and dig through the drawers of lingerie for just the right pieces. The news headlines popped onto the screen with thumbnail images. She frowned, looking closer in disbelief. Déjà vu hit her as she stared at the strangely familiar images.

  Pictures of Tony and Shannon’s wedding.

  The same photos she’d loaded to make the disc, but hadn’t yet sent to Harold.

  Not just any photos, but her work all stored on this computer.

  Confusion built as she clicked on article after article from different news outlets, all with photos she’d just taken tonight. How could this be? She flattened her hands to the computer that both Duarte and Javier had assured her only she and Duarte could access.

  Had Javier turned on the family like his cousin? She quickly dismissed that possibility. Before she’d made that fateful trip to Martha’s Vineyard, the Intruder had tried more than once to get the inside scoop from everyone in Duarte’s employ. No luck there. Javier had stayed loyal. Which only left Duarte, and he’d made it clear from the start that he sought revenge for what she’d done to his family with her photo exposé.

  Her heart shattering, she felt like such a fool. Duarte had wanted retribution and he had succeeded. He’d maintained total control of how his family appeared in the press. And he’d ensured she didn’t profit a dime off her efforts.

  She’d been so close to admitting she’d fallen in love with him. But she would be damned before she let him know just how deeply he’d wounded her.

  Five more minutes and Duarte would finally have Kate alone. He didn’t hear the bath running, but th
en if all went according to schedule, he would have her on an airplane soon.

  Tony and Shannon’s early wedding hadn’t left him much time to expedite his plans to take Kate to the Chicago museum. But he’d pulled it together. A jet was waiting, fueled up and ready to wing them away from here.

  All he needed was her okay on plans for Jennifer—he’d learned his lesson well on not usurping Kate when it came to her sister. Hopefully, after tonight he would have a larger role in her life, one where they shared responsibilities. He was determined to make his pitch in Chicago, to persuade her that they should extend their relationship beyond tonight, beyond the island.

  Looking through the open doors, he saw her still sitting at the desk in her room in front of her computer, not in the tub but every bit as alluring to him even with her clothes on. So many times they’d gone over her pictures together before she had sent them. She’d been careful about giving him a chance to veto photographs even though more often than not she nixed a picture first. He didn’t even feel the need to look over her shoulder now.

  He trusted her. What a novel feeling that almost had him reeling on his feet. He turned away to gather his thoughts, bracing a hand on his four-poster bed.

  Fast on the heels of one thought came another. He more than trusted her. He’d been mesmerized by the woman who’d stood toe-to-toe with him from the start. Someone he could envision by his side for life.

  He’d known he wanted her with him long-term, but how had he missed the final piece of the puzzle? That he loved her.

  The sense of being watched crawled up his spine and he turned around to find Kate standing in his open doorway. And she didn’t look happy.

  Pale, she stood barefoot, still wearing the midnight-blue dress with Medina sapphires and diamonds.

  He straightened, alarms clanging in his brain. “What’s wrong?”

  Blinking back the shine of tears and disbelief in her eyes, she braced herself against the door frame. “You sold me out. You released my photos of the wedding to the press.”

  What the hell? He started toward her, then stopped short at the fury in her eyes. “Kate, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Is that how you want to play this? Fine, then.” She dropped her hands from the doorway, her fists shaking at her side. “I started to send the wedding photos, only to find they had already been released to every other media outlet. My big scoop stolen from me.” She snapped her fingers. “That fast. You’re the one who gave me that computer, totally secure you assured me. You were very specific about the fact that only you and I had access. What else am I supposed to think? If there’s another explanation, please tell me.”

  Every word from her mouth pierced through him like bullets, riddling him with disillusionment, pain, and hell, yes, anger. He may have decided he trusted her, but clearly that feeling wasn’t returned.

  “You seem to have everything figured out.”

  “You’re not even going to deny it? You’ve had this planned from the start, your revenge on me for the story I broke exposing your family.” Her composure brittle, she still stood her ground. “I was such a fool to trust you, to let myself care—”

  Her throat moved with a long swallow as his plans crumbled around him. She’d clearly made up her mind about him. It was one thing if she had concerns or reservations, but for her to blatantly question his honor. She could ask for explanations all night long. Pride kept his mouth sealed shut.

  Face tipped, she met his gaze without flinching. “I knew you were ruthless, but I never even saw this coming.”

  Was that a hint of hurt, a glint of regret in her watery blue eyes? If so, she had a damned strange way of showing it.

  “You climbed onto my balcony to steal a picture.” He tapped one of her earrings quickly before she could back away. “Sounds like we’re a perfect, ruthless match.”

  She pulled off both earrings and slapped them into his palm. Her chin quivered for the first time and fool that he was, he couldn’t bring himself to wound her further.

  He pivoted away, hard and fast, earrings cutting into his fist. “There’s a plane fueled up and ready on the runway. I’ll send instructions to the pilot to take you and Jennifer back to Boston.”

  Watching her reflection in the mirror, he caught his last glimpse of Kate as she slipped the ruby engagement ring from her finger, placed it on his dresser and walked out of his life as barefoot as she’d entered.

  Strapped into the private plane, Kate stared out the window at the fading view of the island lights. The shades would come down soon and the magical place would vanish like some Spanish Brigadoon.

  Within an hour of her fight with Duarte, she and Jennifer were airborne as he’d promised. How could she have been so completely duped by him? From the second she’d found the internet explosion, she’d hoped he would explain how wrong she’d been. Even with the evidence barking that he’d set her up from the start, Kate had hoped he would reassure her of his love and come up with an explanation for the mysteriously leaked photos…

  She didn’t pretend to understand him. But then, he’d refused to explain himself, refused to give her even the satisfaction of knowing why he would choose this means for his revenge.

  Jennifer sniffled beside her, a Kleenex wadded in her hand. “Why can’t we stay at the island?”

  Most of all, she hated the hurt she’d brought to her sister. How could plans to provide a better life for Jennifer have gone so wrong? “I have to work, honey. How about you just try to get some sleep. It’s been an exhausting day.”

  They’d come a long way from the excitement of preparing for the wedding. She’d had such high hopes a few short hours ago.

  “Why did you break up? If you’re married to Duarte, you won’t have to work anymore.” She tore the wadded tissue then clumped it together again.

  “It isn’t that simple.” Nothing about her time with Duarte had been simple.

  “Then why did you get engaged?”

  As hurt and angry as she felt, she couldn’t put the entire blame on Duarte. She’d played her own part, going in with eyes wide-open, deceiving her sister and so many other good people. She deserved all the guilt Jennifer threw her way. “People change their minds, and it’s good if that can happen before the couple walks down the aisle.”

  “But you love him, right?”

  Unshed tears burned her eyes, tears that had been building since she’d stared at that computer. She didn’t understand why he’d given her the Ansel Adams. Why he’d indulged her sister in a private moment with the key chain, never knowing Kate had been watching the whole time. Kate couldn’t explain any of the moments he’d been so thoughtful and warm, appearing to share a piece of himself with her. But she understood the missing photographs hadn’t sent themselves.

  Her heart hurt so damn much.

  Her sister thrust a fresh Kleenex into her hands. “Katie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” Jennifer hugged her hard. “You shouldn’t marry him for me. You should only marry him if he loves you, like in Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, except Duarte’s not a beast. He just scowls a lot. But I think it’s because he’s unhappy.”

  “Jennifer.” Kate eased back, clasping her sister’s hand and searching for the right words to make her understand without hurting her more. “He doesn’t love me. Okay? It’s that simple, and I’m really sorry you got so attached to all the pampering and the people.”

  Most of all, the people.

  “You’re my family.” Jennifer squeezed their clasped hands. “We stick together. I don’t need any spa stuff. I can paint my own fingernails.”

  The hovering tears welled over and down her cheeks. She didn’t deserve such a dear sister. “We’ll go shopping together for different colors.”

  “Blue,” Jennifer said, her smile wide, her eyes concerned, “I want blue fingernails.”

  “It’s a deal.”

  Jennifer hugged her a fast final time and reclined back in her seat, asleep before the steward
came through to close the window shades. With a simple request for blue nail polish, Jennifer had given Kate a refresher course on the important things in life. Like her values. If she expected to be a true role model for her sister, she needed to reorganize her priorities. Jennifer deserved a better sister than someone who crept around on ledges to steal a private moment from someone’s life.

  Even if it meant hanging up her camera for good.

  Thirteen

  “Didn’t you forget something?” Enrique asked from his bed.

  His father’s question stopped Duarte in his tracks halfway to the door. “And what would that be?” He pivoted toward Enrique, the old king perched on his comforter with his breakfast tray. “You asked me to bring your morning coffee and churros from the kitchen. If something’s wrong you’ll need to take that up with the chef.”

  “You forgot to bring your fiancée.”

  Was Enrique losing his memory? Duarte had already told him about the broken engagement when he’d asked for the tray in the first place. Concern for his dad’s health momentarily pushed Duarte’s mood aside. “She and I broke things off. I told you already. Don’t you remember?”

  His father pointed a sterling silver coffee spoon at him. “I remember perfectly well the load of bull you fed me about going your separate ways. I think you screwed up, and you let her go.” He hadn’t let her go. Kate had walked out on him, more like stormed away, actually. And even though he had a pretty good idea who’d stolen her photos and sold them to other outlets, that didn’t change the way she’d believed the worst of him.

  Not that he intended to let the individual who’d broken into her computer and taken her work get away with it. Since she had only used the computer for work while on the island, he would bet money her editor had had his IT department hack her account during communications about prior photos. Then Harold Hough had probably sold the pictures to other outlets for personal profit. The Medina computers had top-notch security, but no cyber system was completely immune to attack.