The Wanted Bride (A Contemporary Romance)

by Sylvia McDaniel

  She smiled, her heart screaming at her to stop while her brain reminded her she was taking a sabbatical from men. “We can’t be more than friends.”

  “Why?” He glanced at her quickly. “You have a boyfriend somewhere?”

  “There you go again with the questions.”

  “Is that unreasonable?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Well, do you?” He asked, demanding an answer. “I’ve thought about that kiss for the last two days. I couldn’t wait to get home and see you.”

  Her heart did a little mambo dance. She’d thought of nothing else for the last two days.

  “There’s no boyfriend.”

  “So what’s the problem? Even though you ran away, you responded like you enjoyed kissing me.”

  “Look, I like you. I think you’re great, but nothing is going to happen between us,” she said in the darkness of the Jeep, not responding to his comments about the kiss.

  She genuinely liked Matt and felt attracted to him, but that didn’t mean she wanted to act on this temptation. All she had to do was remind herself of his profession, and she knew there could never be anything between them.

  Carter and her father were great reminders of the family of lawyers she’d come from, and she’d experienced the pain of their betrayal. Betrayal she never wanted to experience again.

  Plus she’d lied to Matt. She was a fake and a liar, and she couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth. Not when their relationship had changed for the better. She didn’t want him to hate her.

  He turned down the lane to McKenzie’s. “I think you’re too late, Valerie. I think something has already happened between us.”

  She frowned and gave him her best back off look. “It’s not a good idea, Matt.”

  “Yeah, well, bungee jumping isn’t a great idea, but that didn’t stop me.”

  Shocked at the determination in his voice, she could only gape at him, the idea of him bungee jumping startling.

  “Yeah, well, I hope you’re a little smarter now.”

  The Jeep crawled like a snowplow up the drive of McKenzie’s home. Matt parked his vehicle as close to the garage as possible. Before he could cut off the engine and respond, Valerie opened the door and jumped out. She trudged to the safety of the house through the pile of snow that had already fallen, running from the feelings Matt evoked. She liked Matt, but she was barely out of one disastrous relationship, and she wasn’t about to bungee jump into another.

  When she opened the door, the entryway was empty. She hurried up the stairs to her room. Soon, he would be gone, and in the meantime she would keep her distance. Sitting in the Jeep beside him tonight had stirred an aching sense of awareness of him as a man. If there had never been Carter, she would not have been able to resist the appeal she felt for Matt. But she’d be foolish to let down her guard after the recent events in her life.

  Later, in her bedroom, she heard Matt’s Jeep leave and she relaxed. She slipped into the flannel pajamas she’d recently bought and was just about to crawl in bed when the power flickered, and with a groan, disappeared. The house went completely dark, the silence deafening.

  Carefully she made her way down the stairs to where McKenzie was lighting candles.

  “Looks like we’re going to have a long night ahead without power, which means no heat. I’ve got several sleeping bags, and I’m going to bunk down here in front of the fireplace. You’re welcome to join me,” McKenzie offered.

  “What about the kids?”

  “They’re sound asleep. I put them in their bunny pajamas and laid them together in my bed just in case this happened. I’ll check on them later. They’ll be fine upstairs under the down comforter I have on my bed.”

  “How long do you think we’ll be without power?”

  “Until the utility crews can reach us. At least until morning.”

  “I’m glad Matt was gone when it happened” Valerie quickly glanced at McKenzie. In the glow of candlelight she smiled.

  “I thought you were getting along with my brother.”

  “I am. It’s just that he’s very determined.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  A flash of headlights and the sound of Matt’s Jeep slugging through the snow as it slid into the driveway echoed in the room.

  They both looked at each other and laughed. McKenzie said, “Sir Lancelot has returned.”

  A few minutes later they heard him in the mudroom, and then he entered the main room.

  “Hey,” he said, looking at them sheepishly in the candlelight. “I know why you don’t have power. The storm blew a huge pine tree across the road, taking down power lines. The road is closed. Mind if I bunk in with you guys tonight?”

  Even though he’d left with her bolting out of the car, she was glad he was here. His hair was ruffled and sprinkled with melting snow, yet he looked strong and manly in his coat and boots. Handsome enough she could feel her traitorous body responding.

  McKenzie rose from the couch where she lay wrapped in her sleeping bag. “Sure, I’ll get another sleeping bag.”

  “How about if I make some hot chocolate?” Valerie offered.

  “That would be great. I’m frozen. I was afraid the Jeep was going to get stuck when I had to turn around.”

  Valerie stood and realized she wore her flannel pajamas and nothing else. Of course they weren’t see-through or even tempting sexually. She’d bought them at the local discount store and paid a fourth of what her other nightwear cost. They were warm, comfortable, reliant, and nondescript and she loved them.

  She strolled into the kitchen and placed a kettle of hot water on the stove. Thank God they still had gas. From the kitchen she watched Matt saunter to the fire and throw another log onto the blaze. He poked at the embers to stir the flames.

  An uneasy silence filled the room.

  “You must have lost power right after I left,” he said.

  “You weren’t gone long.”

  “What about the kids? Is McKenzie going to move them in here with us?”

  “No. She said they were asleep under the down comforter on her bed. She didn’t want to disturb them.”

  McKenzie came down the stairs carrying two more sleeping bags and a box. “You’re not going to believe what I found upstairs earlier today.”

  “Hopefully it didn’t have four legs,” Matt said.

  “Very funny. Of course not. I found the box of pictures from when we were kids.” She dropped the box on the table and lifted out a stack of fading photos. “We can show Valerie pictures of us when we were children.”

  “I’m sure she really wants to see a couple of nerdy kids.”

  “Hey, speak for yourself. I never looked like a nerd,” McKenzie retorted.

  “No, you were all legs and braces.”

  McKenzie threw the sleeping bag at her brother, hitting him squarely on the chest.

  “Ooh, that gave me chest pains.”

  “Let me see if I can find that picture of you that Mother took when you dressed like a girl.”

  “It was for Halloween,” he exclaimed.

  Valerie laughed at their antics and couldn’t help but wonder, was this what it was like to have a sibling? As an only child she missed having someone to remember past times with. Someone who shared a bond to be close to.

  “Ooh, here it is.” McKenzie stared at the picture for a moment. “Hey, this isn’t a Halloween picture. This was when you got into Mom’s makeup.”

  “Give me that picture,” Matt said, reaching for the photo in McKenzie’s hand. “I was four years old.”

  She sidestepped away. “You know, I should send this to the paper for your birthday.”

  “You do and I will buy a billboard and put some hideous picture of you on it with the caption ‘Call for a good time.’”

  McKenzie raised her brows at her brother. “I’m not buying it, Mr. Overprotective.”

  She slipped the picture to Valerie, who ran to the stove, where at least a litt
le light came off the flame. A mischievous little boy grinned at the camera, showing off his lipstick. He was a cute little tyke.

  “Somehow fire-engine red isn’t your color. And your technique with the lip brush needs some work. I know a makeup artist who could give you some pointers,” Valerie told him, her voice teasing as she laughed at the picture.

  He sneaked up behind her and reached for the photo. But she darted away, and he gave chase. As she dashed through the living room, she could hear him almost on her heels and felt a rush of adrenaline. What would it feel like if he caught her? Would he take her in his arms, hold her, kiss her?

  The memory of his lips on hers was enough to cause her heartbeat to accelerate.

  “I’d tackle you, but I’d probably crush you,” he said, his breathing heavy and close.

  As she raced back into the kitchen, her socks slipped on the floor, and she felt herself falling. Suddenly his arms were around her, and he pulled her back against his solid chest, saving her from slamming onto the tile.

  Her breathing stopped. Now she knew the feel of his arms around her, her back pressed against his chest, his lips close to her ear. He felt good, very good.

  She glanced at him. “Good save.”

  He raised his brows. “Where’s my picture?”

  “Oh, now it’s your picture.” Valerie held up her hands, to show they were empty. “I don’t have it.”

  “You didn’t drop it. I was watching.”

  She shrugged, noncommittal.

  “So that means it’s still on your person.”

  Her lips curved up in anticipation.

  He leaned in close to her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “And that means I’m going to have to frisk you.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  His arms were around her. She could feel his breath against her ear as she tried to control her own breathing. The strength and solidness of his chest was against her back. Being in his arms felt natural and good. She told herself it could be that way with any man.

  But it hadn’t been with Carter. The realization stunned her.

  He placed his hand on her waist, his fingers warm and strong, and she had to resist the urge to lean into him. “There’s only one place you could have hidden that picture.”

  “Put your hand inside my pajamas and you will pull back a bloody nub, bucko.”

  “Give me my photo and my hands will stay put,” he answered, teasing, yet serious.

  She tried to twist out of his grip but found his arms strong and his hands firm, sending her blood pumping.

  “I don’t have your picture,” she lied.

  “Okay, I’m going to search until I find my photo.” His right hand released her arm, while his left hand gripped her even harder. He moved his hand to the waistband of her pants.

  A spark of excitement shivered down her spine at the feel of his hand against her flesh. His finger slowly traced the inside waistband of her pajama pants. Her breath suddenly clogged her throat. She glanced at him, and his gaze was dark, his breathing shallow.

  That same spark of desire that burned her reflected from his emerald eyes, touching her in hidden areas, leaving behind a trail of fire.

  He finished tracing the rim of her pants, and she knew her legs would soon buckle. Yet on the outside she appeared calm while her insides slowly melted. “The picture wasn’t there. So you have to cook breakfast in the morning.”

  “Breakfast will be easy. Letting you go, hard,” he said softly into her ear.

  She swallowed. She’d wanted his hand to go farther. Yet his sister stood with her back to them, digging through the pictures. How could she be so attracted to this man? And why did she just now realize that there had never been a spark like this with Carter? This was the first time she’d ever been so stimulated by just a look, a touch, or even a kiss.

  The whistle on the kettle screamed its message just as McKenzie released a soft sob.

  Matt freed Valerie and turned to his sister. “Sis, what’s wrong?”

  She held a photo in her hand. “It’s John. Oh God, I miss him so much.”

  Valerie walked into the kitchen and turned off the burner. The whistle sang a slow death. She poured the hot water into cups as she watched Matt comfort his sister. It was touching to see him put his arm around McKenzie’s shoulder and pull her close to him. She showed the photo to Matt.

  “You guys were so young in this photo. John was a great guy. I miss him too,” Matt said, consoling McKenzie.

  “Yeah, he was.” McKenzie dried her eyes and glanced at Valerie. “I’m sorry. Normally it doesn’t hit me this hard, but this picture brought back so many memories.”

  “It’s okay. I think our hot chocolate is ready. Let’s sit in front of the fire and keep warm.”

  They pulled the couch and the chair closer to the fire. McKenzie brought the box of pictures.

  “Why don’t we save those pictures until later,” Matt suggested. “I’m not sure that you’re ready to look at them.”

  McKenzie shook her head. “No, I want to go through the box. I think I’m going to make a photo album for the twins of their father.” She reached over and patted Matt on the hand. “Thanks. But this is just another part of the grieving process. I’ll be fine. Besides, there are pictures of us in here as kids with Mom and Dad.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he said reluctantly.

  “You need to forgive Dad and let it go,” McKenzie said. “It doesn’t do any good for you to hate him. It’s not going to change things.”

  “You’re right. But it keeps me warm at night and reminds me of why I hate liars.”

  A tremor like a buzzing alarm clock rippled through Valerie. Matt hated liars because of his father. Right now she was nothing but one big lie.

  “Sorry, Valerie. As you can see, my brother is a stubborn man. Let me find you a manly picture of him.”

  “I still want that photo returned to me.”

  Valerie nodded. “Once the lights are back on, I’m sure the picture will turn up.”

  “You hid that picture somewhere in the kitchen.”

  “Nope.” She laughed. “But it was close to my heart.”

  “So I should have gone up, not down.”

  “You should keep your hands to yourself,” she responded.

  “Maybe, but maybe not.”

  “Excuse me, but you guys are not alone,” McKenzie said, staring at the two of them, shocked. “You’ve gone from almost killing one another to sexual innuendos. Do I need to go sleep with the kids?”

  “Don’t you dare,” Valerie insisted. “We’ll be good.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Matt said.

  She frowned at Matt, trying to warn him off, but he just smiled at her, and somehow she knew that McKenzie was right. A shift had occurred in their relationship. Even though she’d tried to avoid this attraction, it was speeding toward her faster than an avalanche. She was about to get buried by none other than Matt.

  And a part of her didn’t want to resist.

  Chapter Eight

  The sound of giggling seeped into Valerie’s sleep-fogged brain, and she woke enough to realize she wasn’t in her bed. She snuggled closer to the heat that radiated from a hard male body she’d curled around and luxuriated in the warmth. Sometime in the night she had stuck her leg out of her sleeping bag and thrown it over Matt’s thigh, insinuating her body against the hard muscles of his back. Reveling in his body heat, she’d slept like a baby.

  And now she had to extradite herself before he awoke and realized she was draped all over him.

  With trepidation she tried to separate herself from Matt, but his hand reached out and grabbed her leg.

  She opened her eyes and stared into twin sets of big brown curious eyes gazing in wonder at the two of them.

  “Good morning,” he said, his back still to her.

  “Good morning,” she responded as she tried to jerk her leg free of his grasp.

  “Where are you going? That leg feels grea
t right there,” Matt said, his voice sleep filled.

  She cleared her throat nervously. “Your niece and nephew have just arrived and are standing over us.”

  He let go of her, and the twin’s restraint crumpled. They jumped on top of their uncle, not waiting for an invitation.

  “Snow. See snow.”

  Matt rolled away from her and wrapped an arm around each child, dragging them onto the sleeping bag with him. “What are you two doing awake so early?”

  “Matt!” Ashley cried.

  “Snow,” Austin told him.

  “What are you kids doing?” McKenzie called from the top of the stairs. “I’m sorry, guys. I told them to let you sleep.”

  “Are they always this happy when they wake up in the morning?” Matt asked groggily.

  “Snow,” Austin repeated as he bounced on his uncle’s stomach.

  “They had twelve hours of sleep last night and are completely recharged.”

  “Can I have just a little of that energy?” Matt asked, glancing over at Valerie.

  She watched him with the children, yet she felt a little embarrassed to have been caught snuggled against him.

  He sat up, pulling Austin and Ashley with him, and smiled at her. “You snore.”

  “I do not.” She rose up on her elbows to defend herself.

  “Well, maybe snore is not the appropriate word. Maybe purr is better.”

  “You’re a cover hog.”

  “The better to entice you to my warmth.” A mischievous grin lit up the darkened stubble on his chin.

  “But it was my sleeping bag,” she insisted.

  “Got you closer, didn’t it?” he asked.

  “Go play in the snow,” she told him, acting put out with him, while knowing that was the best rest she’d had all week. Even on the hardened floor, snuggling up against his hard, warm body, she’d slept deeply. No nightmares, no dreams, just rest.

  The twins tugged on his arms. “Okay, I’m going to go see the snow.”

  She sat up and glanced at the embers in the fireplace. They had spent the night stoking the fire, adding wood and trying to keep the house warm. Sometime in the early morning hours, McKenzie had gone upstairs to sleep with the children. Not long after, Valerie had fallen asleep.