She made a shopping trip into Lubbock with Alex and Melanie. Jessica planned to go, but she had to go to Dallas for a last-minute meeting with the TGM Corporation with whom she consulted on a regular basis.
Katherine found a beautiful wedding gown that fit her perfectly with the exception of the hem. The shop promised to have the hem shortened by Friday. She added a fingertip veil and satin shoes, determined to look the traditional bride.
“How are you going to wear your hair?” Melanie asked. “Will you wear it down? It’s so beautiful.”
“Do you think it will look right, hanging down my back?” Katherine asked. “Maybe I should get it cut?”
Both Melanie and Alex shook their heads.
“I think Gabe would kill us if we let that happen,” Alex assured her.
Katherine stared at Alex, a question in her eyes. It wasn’t the first comment Alex had made that implied Gabe had more than a monetary interest in his bride. He couldn’t possibly have convinced Alex that their marriage was anything other than what it was. She knew the truth.
“Who’s going to give you away?” Melanie asked, distracting Katherine.
“Joe’s giving Mom away and Paul is going to give me away. That sounds so old-fashioned, doesn’t it? Giving me away.”
“It sounds traditional,” Alex said.
“You sound like Gabe,” Katherine protested. Any reminder of her groom made her nervous. As the wedding drew closer, she fought the dream that her marriage was real. It would be too easy to believe…until their divorce. Then she’d be heartbroken.
“Are Diane, Raine and Susan going to be bridesmaids?”
“Yes, so we have to find them dresses, too. I have their sizes,” Katherine added.
The bridal shop consultant showed them what they had available in those sizes. Katherine was immediately drawn to a royal-blue satin dress that would complement all three of her sisters. “Do you like this one?”
“It’s gorgeous,” Melanie assured her, and Alex nodded in agreement.
“If they carried pink rosebud bouquets, it would be perfect,” Alex added. “Very traditional.”
Katherine had trouble swallowing. That word kept coming up.
“Okay, we’ll take them,” she told the saleslady.
“Do you want to pick them up on Friday, or take them with you?”
“We’ll take them with us. If they have to be altered, we’ll get someone locally to do the work.”
When they got back to Cactus, Katherine went home, anxious to show the bridesmaid gowns to Susan. Raine and Diane wouldn’t be home until Friday night.
She found a message from Jessica waiting for her, but there was also one from the corporation that ran the restaurants in Amarillo.
For once, she was distracted from thoughts of her upcoming wedding. She called Jessica first. “Jess? It’s Katherine. You called?”
“Yes. The meeting went very well today. I don’t know if they’ll call today—”
“They’ve left word. But I thought I’d call you first to see what was going on. Are the cakes not doing well?”
Jessica laughed. “You worrywart. The cakes are outperforming their expectations. They want them in all their restaurants.”
“But that would be impossible!” Katherine cried. She was pleased they were working out, but she couldn’t possibly make enough cakes to supply the eighteen or twenty restaurants, or get them delivered to insure freshness.
“I know. I told them. That’s when they decided to buy your recipe from you.”
Katherine gasped. “Buy my recipe? But—”
“I know. But they’ll pay you handsomely. And I told them about the cobbler. They’ll probably be out to taste it soon. They were intrigued by the sound of it.”
“Jessica, thank you so much. You’ve been such a good friend. If they pay me a lump sum for the recipe, I can make sure Paul and Susan get their schooling. Oh, this is wonderful!”
“I’m glad. Of course, you wouldn’t have to worry about that anyway since you’re marrying Gabe. After all, he’s got lots of money, and I know he’d help you.”
Katherine wasn’t going to allow Gabe to assume her family responsibilities as payment. She didn’t want to be paid. “It’s important that I take care of my family.”
“Call the office and see what they offer,” Jessica said, not responding to her statement. “And let me know what you decide. And Katie, you don’t have to decide today. Tell them you’ll have to discuss it with your lawyer.”
Katherine did as Jessica suggested. She was glad, because the initial numbers tossed out were so big she couldn’t think.
After talking to Jessica, she called Alex at home and made an appointment the next morning to discuss the contract and the payment.
She was still talking to Alex when her mother called her from the kitchen. “That’s Mom calling. I’ll see you in the morning,” she told Alex, hung up the phone and flew to the kitchen to tell her mother the good news.
Only to find Gabe waiting for her.
“The shopping trip was that good?” he asked as he took in her beaming face.
“Oh! Oh, yes, it was fine.”
Gabe narrowed his gaze. “It wasn’t the shopping trip that put that smile on your face, was it?”
Katherine let her gaze flicker between Margaret and Gabe. “No, actually. I had some good news.”
“What is it, dear?” Margaret asked, her expression eager.
“Mom, the corporation wants to buy my carrot cake recipe.” She named the figure initially offered and Margaret almost passed out.
“For a recipe? Oh, my. Oh, my.”
“Sit down, Margaret,” Gabe insisted, leading her mother to a chair.
“It means I can provide college for Paul and Susan without any problem,” Katherine added. “And I can—”
“You don’t have to worry about them,” Gabe said, interrupting her. “I’m setting up college funds for them.”
“No! They’re my family, my responsibility,” she said, her voice tightening.
“But after Saturday, they’ll be my family, too.”
She couldn’t argue that, not in front of her mother. She didn’t want her mother to know that their marriage would end a year after Mrs. Dawson’s death. That’s when the terms of the will would be fulfilled.
Margaret laughed with joy. “Maybe one of you should set up scholarship funds for your own children, and the other for Paul and Susan. Then everyone will be taken care of.”
Katie turned a bright pink. Even the thought of children, with Gabe as their father, brought heartache because it could never be.
However, it provided a way out.
“Good idea, Gabe,” Katherine said staunchly, daring him to disagree, “you provide for our children and I’ll provide for my sister and brother.”
The look in his eyes gave her pause. What was he thinking?
“Okay, sweetheart,” he said, his voice warm. “And how many children should I prepare for? Two? Six? A dozen?”
Margaret laughed. “After you have a couple, you can make that decision. It’s amazing how time-consuming children can be.”
“Mom’s right. It’s a little early to decide how many, since we’re not even married.” Katherine turned her back on Gabe, unwilling to discuss babies with him anymore. “What can I do to help with dinner, Mom?”
It was Gabe who answered. “I thought I’d take you out for dinner this evening. All the gang are meeting at The Last Roundup tonight.”
“Who do you mean?”
“Cal, Spence, Tuck, Mac, and Rick Astin and his wife. Maybe a couple of more. Cal called and asked us to join them.”
She should have known. Gabe had worked at not being alone with her this week. He wouldn’t have asked her to dinner if the invitation hadn’t come from someone else. And there was no possibility of discussing their “marriage” in all that company.
“That sounds like fun. Shall I meet you at the restaurant? What time?”
“
I’ll swing by and pick you up. We’re meeting at seven,” Gabe said. “That gives you plenty of time to get ready.”
“You needn’t make it sound like I’ll need all that time!” Katherine snapped, irritation suddenly rising in her.
Margaret stared at her daughter. “Katie! What’s wrong with you? Gabe didn’t—”
“It’s okay, Margaret,” Gabe said, patting her on the arm. “I think it’s pre-wedding nerves. Aren’t you a little jittery this week, too?”
That dazed look of joyous wonder came over Margaret’s face. Katherine had gotten used to the look whenever her mother thought about Jack Ledbetter. “Oh, no. I can’t wait.”
Gabe stared at her mother, then turned to look at Katherine. For a second, Katherine thought she read envy in his gaze. But he looked away, and she couldn’t be sure. Besides, he didn’t want her love and devotion. He only wanted his inheritance.
She lifted her chin and nodded in his direction. “Sorry I snapped at you. I’ll be ready a little before seven.”
He accepted her dismissal without comment and turned to go.
“Um, I’ll be back in a minute,” Margaret suddenly said and scurried from the kitchen.
Katherine was embarrassed by her mother’s obvious attempt to leave them alone for a private goodbye. She could have told her it wasn’t necessary.
“Is something wrong with your mother?” Gabe asked, a puzzled look on his handsome face.
“No. Have you invited your mother to the wedding?”
Gabe grinned. “Yeah. She was outraged and refused to come.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I’ve finally realized how much she has interfered in my life. And how miserable she’s made my dad. It doesn’t concern me if she chooses not to participate in any part of my life.”
“But she is your mother.”
“Yeah, but Gran was more a mother to me than Mom. And Gran will be at our wedding, in spirit, with a big smile on her face. That will be enough for me.”
Tears filled Katherine’s eyes at the memory of Gran and how much she’d meant to her.
“Hey, don’t cry,” Gabe said, moving closer, reaching out as if he meant to touch her. Then he snatched his hand back to his side. “Uh, Gran really liked you.”
She almost told him then why Gran had written those conditions into her will. She felt so guilty about them. But she kept silent. After all, she was doing what she could to make things right. “I loved her,” she said simply.
“Yeah,” Gabe responded quietly. Then he cleared his throat. “I’d better go.” He backed his way to the door, his gaze fixed on her, as if waiting for something.
Katherine watched him, fighting the desire for a goodbye like he’d given her Saturday night. A kiss that had taken her back ten years, when life had been so much simpler, and so much sweeter.
He reached for the door just as Susan opened it. “Oh, sorry, Gabe, I didn’t mean to bump into you,” her sister said with a grin. “I didn’t expect to see you here now. Oh, Katie, you’re home early. I guess that explains him,” she said, nodding her head in Gabe’s direction.
Susan, with the assurance that her home life would be secure, had become happier in the past few days. Besides, she was excited to have Gabe as part of the family.
Gabe excused himself to Susan and bolted from the house, as if he were being chased by demons.
“Did I interrupt a fight?” Susan asked, alarm in her voice.
“No, and I bought the bridesmaid dresses today. Come see if you approve.” Katherine knew that topic would distract her sister from impossible questions.
G ABE, DRESSED IN pressed jeans, a white shirt and a tweed sports coat, said good-night to his father as he left the house. “I’m not sure when I’ll be home, Dad.”
Will grinned. “I don’t think I’ve waited up for you since you turned eighteen, son.”
Gabe grinned. “Yeah, but you haven’t experienced Cinnamon when it’s bedtime. She won’t stay by herself.”
“No problem. She’s a sweet pup.”
“I’m glad you think so, because you’ll have to keep an eye on her while we’re on our honeymoon.” His mind on the honeymoon, he almost left without another word. Then he thought to ask, “What are your plans for the night?”
“They’re having a forty-two tournament at the Baptist church. I’m going to go play a few hands.”
“Good for you. I didn’t realize you liked dominoes that much,” Gabe said, looking curiously at his father.
“Your mother didn’t think it was fashionable. I spent a lot of boring evenings at the opera.”
With a grin, he wished his father an enjoyable evening and escaped to his car. At least his change of life hadn’t worsened his father’s. Will seemed relieved that he no longer lived with his wife.
Gabe had offered his mother the chance to reunite with her family, at least temporarily, when he called and invited her to the wedding. Her reaction had been totally self-centered and rude.
Gabe’s jaw squared. He would never intentionally harm his mother, but he also would never allow her to harm Katie. And her attitude toward the woman he loved would be painful.
His heartbeat sped up at the thought of Katie. The love he’d once felt for her had never been forgotten. Having gone underground in his heart, it appeared to have grown stronger through the years. Now that he’d finally acknowledged that love, it had spread all through him, making it almost impossible to be in her company without touching her.
Which was why he’d been avoiding her this week.
He could only put up so much resistance.
What would he do after they were married?
Work long hours. Read a lot of books. Maybe ride that new gelding he’d bought. An immediate picture of him and Katie sharing a moonlight ride had him reminding himself that he needed to find activities for one, not two.
By the time he reached Katie’s house, he was feeling strong, determined, sure he could manage his libido.
Until she walked out of the house.
Damn, he wanted her.
Not just her body. He wanted to know her thoughts, her concerns, to share her joys. He wanted to feel her beside him, to share her life in every way.
He slid from behind the wheel and met her as she walked to his car. With his resistance all gone, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, their mouths melding into a rush of emotions that carried them high above their difficulties.
When she finally pulled back, her heavy breathing matching his own, she whispered, “You shouldn’t—”
“I thought someone might be watching,” he hurriedly said. “We want everyone to think it’s for real. In case the charity sues,” he added for good measure. He was thankful for Alex’s warning to Katie.
Katie licked her lips as she pushed away from him and Gabe almost groaned.
“We’d better go. We don’t want to be late.”
Hell, no, he was dying to spend the evening with old friends, unable to even talk to Katie, much less touch her. It would be a rare evening of torture. He couldn’t wait.
Their dinner party turned out to be an impromptu shower for the new couple. Only instead of serious presents, his and Katie’s friends brought them impractical, suggestive items. Like a baby-name book, for planning ahead. A sheer nightgown that would tempt a saint, especially when Gabe imagined Katie inside it.
They even provided some silk briefs for him.
Katherine’s cheeks turned a bright pink, which lit Gabe up even more. Was she doing some imagining on her own? He hoped so. He shouldn’t be the only one to suffer.
There were questions about the honeymoon, which brought Katie’s gaze to him. He read her questions in her eyes, but he refused to satisfy anyone’s curiosity about what they were doing after the wedding. He and Jack Ledbetter had talked and worked out a plan.
Their evening ended surprisingly early. By ten o’clock, he had Katie back at her house. But not safely inside it.
“I ne
ed to go in,” she said, holding the door handle as soon as he shut off the engine.
“Not yet,” he said, reaching for her arm to insure she cooperated.
“Did you want to say something?”
“No! No, but your family is going to expect us to take a little time for ourselves. Otherwise, they’ll think we’ve argued.” That excuse seemed as logical as anything he could come up with.
“I’ll tell them I need to get my sleep. I have to be at work at six, you know.” She actually scooted closer to the door, on the outer edge of the leather seat.
“Relax, Katie, I’m not going to attack you,” he growled.
“Of course not.” Then she sat up a little straighter. “What did you mean when you mentioned a honeymoon?”
Damn! He hadn’t wanted to discuss his plans. “It’s a secret.”
“So you said, but don’t you think I should know what you’ve planned? I certainly can’t leave on a moment’s notice, and anyway, it would be pointless.”
Gabe didn’t appreciate that term being applied to his honeymoon. Okay, so she had a point. A honeymoon was for two people to be alone, to—well, to be alone. And he couldn’t risk that.
“It would look strange to have no honeymoon. After all, I’m not short of money.”
“We can use my business as an excuse. I can’t be away. I have contracts to honor. And I’m going to be negotiating my contract about the recipe. And they want to taste my new cobbler, the one Jessica—”
“It’s a wonder you can even spare the time to walk down the aisle,” he snapped.
She glared at him. “I have to secure my family’s future. They won’t disappear just because I’ll be married for a few months.”
“Damn it, Katie! I won’t leave you destitute!” He had no intention of leaving her at all, but he couldn’t tell her that.
“I will not take money from you for doing what I think is right! I’m marrying you for Gran’s sake. It would be wrong for you to pay me.”
Just what a guy liked to hear. The woman he desperately loved was marrying him because she loved his grandmother. Not good for the ego.
“We’ll work things out. But I’m planning on a short trip, for appearance’s sake. We’ll leave Saturday afternoon and return on Wednesday evening. Your mom and Jack are going to leave Thursday morning.”
The $10,000,000 Texas Wedding Page 16