A Trap So Tender

by Jennifer Lewis

  It was lucky he still held her hand or she might have fallen right over. Had she imagined the whole thing? It seemed too coincidental for her to suddenly think he might propose—out of the blue and for no good reason—then to have him actually do it.

  “Uh…” Her brain was a tumbled mess of thoughts, none of them an appropriate answer. “I…I…” She didn’t know what she thought, or what to say. No seemed an obvious answer, but a refusal would end their short relationship, and she didn’t want to do that.

  She didn’t want to ruin her chances of making her father happy. And she also didn’t want to say goodbye to James. She’d enjoyed their time together more than…more than anything she could remember. Fear and longing rose inside her. She wanted to spend more days galloping through the countryside with him, and more nights folded in his arms.

  Blood thundered in her ears as he waited for her answer. “Yes, I will.” The words burst from her mouth before she even decided to say them. Somewhere in her autonomic nervous system a button had been pressed and her future decided without the more complex workings of her ego being consulted.

  “Fantastic!” A broad smile spread across James’s face. He rose to his feet, whipped out a ring, a large sparkling diamond, and slid it onto her ring finger before she had time to catch her breath.

  She blinked. The air around them suddenly seemed so bright and hot she could hardly see or breathe. Had she really just agreed to marry James Drummond?

  Their lips met in a passionate kiss that was a huge relief because it meant she didn’t have to come up with any words. His strong arms around her felt wonderful, but all the time her brain was racing. Why had he proposed? What made him think she’d say yes? His arrogance was extraordinary.

  Yet she had said yes.

  They pulled apart, and she found herself staring at his face. The chiseled, eye-catchingly handsome face of a man descended from warriors, with more land and money than some small nations. And he wanted to be her husband.

  “You look rather shell-shocked.”

  “That’s because I am.” It was a relief to admit it. They weren’t actually going to get married, of course. In between now and the imaginary wedding she’d just agreed to, their relationship would somehow fizzle out and they’d go their separate ways. It was a temporary fantasy they’d both agreed to participate in. “In a good way.”

  “I’m glad you could see that although we haven’t known each other long, there’s no reason for delay. You’re decisive. I think it’s the same instinct that makes us so successful in business.”

  “Yes.” She agreed blindly, still incapable of actual thought. “Absolutely.”

  “We’ll get married right away. We’re not kids who need a long engagement. We can probably do it next week.”

  Fiona’s throat tightened. “But…my parents.” She thought immediately of her dad, who would probably have a stroke if she actually married James Drummond. But her mom and stepdad would be devastated if she got married without them present. Not that she was really getting married. “And we should spend more time getting to know each other.”

  “Of course we’ll include them. I know just the planner to organize an event everyone will remember.”

  He held both her hands, and they were definitely sweating. “I need time to…find the right dress.” Her brain scrambled for roadblocks to slow down this freight train that seemed to be getting out of control. “And my bridesmaids and maid of honor.” All things she’d never given a moment’s thought to.

  James’s brow rose, and humor twinkled in his eyes. “Do you really want those trappings of tradition?”

  “Oh, yes.” It was hard to speak with her heart thumping against her ribs like a caged animal.

  “Then you shall have them.” A smile lit up his face and toasted her heart with its warmth. James Drummond wanted to marry her. It didn’t get any stranger than this. Why did he have to be so handsome and intelligent and, well, awesome? She’d never in a million years have dreamed that someone like this would want to marry her. She wasn’t a jaw-dropping beauty or a brilliant conversationalist. Even now that she was wealthy, men were hardly stopping her in the street to invite her out. And this man, undoubtedly one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, wanted to rush her to the altar. It didn’t make sense. He must have some ulterior motive. But what?

  Taffy had grown tired of standing still and was trying to stretch her neck down to nibble the heather. “We should probably…” What? The words fizzled.

  “Of course.” James strode toward the horses and untied their reins, then handed her Taffy’s. She climbed onto the horse with a sense of relief. She’d probably never needed a good gallop more in her life. The ring twinkled on her finger like an alien life form. She hoped it wouldn’t fall off and get lost in the heather.

  James beamed with apparent happiness. If she weren’t so freaked out she’d be touched by it. Had he fallen madly in love with her? It didn’t seem possible in such a short time, but she knew several people whose romances had been that sudden and dramatic. Supposedly true love was like that.

  Of course that wasn’t the feeling pumping in her heart. More like sheer terror and confusion tangled up with unexpected lust and passion. This man was something else.

  They rode through a stretch of hilly country, and she had to concentrate to help Taffy down the winding and narrow trail. At the bottom was a nearly flat stretch of open grazing land. James looked at her. “Shall we?”

  She knew exactly what he meant, and she nodded her reply. Together they set out across the grass, letting their horses build steam and stretch out their powerful necks and long legs, until they were both neck and neck in a flat-out gallop.

  If there was a rabbit hole hidden in the grass, a horse could catch its leg and either of them could die in an instant. But the ground swept beneath them, firm and steady, and the air whipped her face, as if it might slap some sense into her. She knew she was grinning from ear to ear as they exploded through the open country like jockeys on a racetrack.

  They slowed as they approached the estate, walking their sweating horses through a crowd of fluffy sheep. It was only then that Fiona realized they hadn’t kissed after his proposal. It wasn’t really romantic at all, almost a business proposition.

  She sneaked a glance at James, who glowed with good cheer. Which made a twinge of unease uncurl in her belly. Could he be so happy thinking that they would get married? Or was this a practical arrangement for him in the same way it was for her.

  “I don’t think I’ve ridden that fast in years, if ever.” James patted his horse’s neck.

  “Obviously you’ve been riding with the wrong people.” She couldn’t help smiling. His enthusiasm was infectious. “Though I’m pretty sure that was the best ride of my life.”

  “We’ll have to make a habit of it, though there were moments when I started to think we were racing each other.”

  “Oh, no. If we were racing I’d have won.” She lifted a brow. Taffy’s broad back rose and fell underneath her, and at that moment anything seemed possible.

  “That sounds like a challenge.” James’s eyes glittered with amusement.

  “Most definitely.” Then a thought occurred to her. A race, with a prize of her choosing. Not some tarnished piece of an old cup but something she really wanted. Her dad’s factory. “In fact, I’m throwing down the gauntlet.”

  “You want to race me?”

  “Not right this minute. I think our horses have had enough for one day, but on a date to be determined, each of us on horses of our own choosing, yes. I’d like to race you.”

  He rode along staring at her, hips shifting with the movement of his horse’s back. “You’re on.”

  “What does the winner get as a prize?” Her heart beat faster as she hoped for the opening she needed.

  “Hmm, that’s a tough one, since I suspect we both have everything we want.” He stared at the gray walls of the estate.

  “I’m looking for property in S
ingapore, and you own some. How about if I get to choose one of your properties if I win?” Terror soared in her chest as she laid out her plan. If he said no, it would be harder to come back and try again. He might get suspicious.

  “A property in Singapore.” He frowned. “That sounds doable. But what do I get if I win? Or should I say, when I win.” His arrogance should have annoyed her, but at that minute she was too thrilled that her crazy plan might actually work.

  But what could she offer him? She was pretty sure he wouldn’t win. He probably weighed nearly twice what she did, and there was a reason jockeys were chosen for their light weight. Also, he clearly wasn’t used to getting up off his horse’s back into two-point, whereas she found it easy. In a fair race, on evenly matched horses, she knew she would win. “How about six months of my time working on any project of your choice?”

  “As a consultant?”

  “Yes.”

  “I suppose that would be convenient for both of us since we’ll be married and living under the same roof.”

  She froze. Which wasn’t easy since Taffy still moved underneath her. She hadn’t factored the whole marriage thing into her wager. How would she work with him for six months and manage to break off this crazy engagement that made no sense?

  That wouldn’t be necessary, though. He wouldn’t win. She’d win and get her dad’s factory back, then take off for California and safety—emotional and otherwise.

  “Yes. I’d be able to work on your project twenty-four hours a day.” She hated herself. First for agreeing to marry a man she barely knew, and had no intention of wedding, second for fibbing about promising to work for him. Trying to win her dad’s affection was taking a much larger emotional toll than she’d expected. For the first time it occurred to her that this plan was flawed from the get-go.

  On the other hand she was in too deep to stop now.

  He rode right up next to her and extended his hand. “You’re on.”

  She shook it. She’d never go back on a handshake deal. Whatever happened she’d stick by this part of their arrangement, even if it meant working for a man who by then hated her.

  She’d just have to make sure that didn’t happen.

  Seven

  Dinner was served with champagne. “To our future.” James raised his glass and she met it with hers.

  She smiled and hoped it wasn’t too shaky. “I admit I’m a little worried about the curse of doom hanging over the Drummonds. We haven’t made any headway toward finding that cup piece.” She cut into her roasted salmon.

  “I’d almost forgotten about that.”

  “It’s the whole reason you brought me here.”

  “Not the whole reason.”

  “You knew you were going to propose to me?”

  “Let’s just say I had some ideas in that direction.” He sipped his champagne with a somewhat predatory gaze.

  “But you didn’t even know me.”

  “I’m a big believer in gut instinct. I can size up a stock chart, or a start-up company or even a person in a glance. I don’t always act on my gut, but when I do I’m usually right.”

  “And your gut was telling you good things about me.”

  “Very good things.” He took a bite of salmon.

  Her tiny new potatoes looked huge, and the green beans threatened to lodge in her throat. Guilt must be killing her appetite. James had no idea how far off course his gut instinct had led him this time. Still, it was so arrogant of him to be already planning their engagement when they’d barely met that he probably deserved it.

  “I think the wedding should take place mid next month. It’s usually a pretty quiet time on the business front, so we can take some time for a honeymoon. Where have you always wanted to go?”

  A honeymoon! She blinked and sipped at her champagne while she tried to gather her thoughts. “Next month is so soon. It’ll take time to find the perfect dress.”

  “It’ll be easy. You simply choose a good designer and tell them what you want. Takes all the drama out of shopping. I can recommend an excellent tailor in Singapore.”

  She inhaled carefully. “My family may need some time to get used to the idea.”

  “Why? You’re hardly a child bride.” Then he hesitated and frowned. “Do you think they won’t like me for some reason?”

  His sudden concern touched her. If he only knew. “I’m sure they’d love you once they get to know you, but you know how people don’t like surprises. They’ll need to warm up to you a bit.”

  “We’ll fly them in next week. Your mom can help you organize the dress and any of that other wedding stuff you want to do.”

  She swallowed. She couldn’t even imagine how her mom and stepdad in California would react, but her dad in Singapore was bound to blow his top. “When are we going to have our race?”

  “Race?”

  “You know, the horse race. Whoever wins…” Her voice trailed off. She knew she’d brought it up at the wrong moment, but it seemed the only escape route from this freight train heading down a steep hillside with no brakes.

  “We can do that when we get back from Singapore. In fact, I’d like to leave tomorrow.” He pulled out his iPhone. “I’ll text my pilot.”

  But… But… But. She couldn’t even come up with anything. This was his house and if he wanted to leave it and go somewhere else, she could hardly disagree. Which was more than a little weird, if they were supposedly getting married. As his wife, or even his fiancée, she should be able to tell him she preferred to stay in Scotland, or that she had plans of her own. But their relationship wasn’t on that kind of footing at all.

  It wasn’t a relationship of equals. He had something she needed, and she was skulking around trying to get it. Obviously, he needed something, too—marriage to her. She couldn’t figure out his reasons. He seemed to genuinely like her, but that wasn’t enough. Not for this kind of rush. But she couldn’t ask about his motives, because then he might ask about hers.

  He looked up from his phone after about a minute. “We’ll leave here at 6:00 a.m.”

  “Lucky thing I never finished unpacking. Are we simply abandoning the search for the cup?”

  “I think we’re quite lucky enough without it.”

  She took a swallow of champagne, and it burned her throat. “Yes, I suppose we are.”

  * * *

  They slept together in James’s bed. She took the big engagement ring off and left it on the dresser. It felt like taking off a ball and chain. When they were naked, under the sheets, skin to skin, somehow she could forget all the complications of their crazy engagement and all her schemes and underhanded motives.

  His kisses sent delicious ripples of pleasure coursing through her. His hands, so assured and yet so tender, made her skin hum. She loved to touch his body. His competitive instincts kept him active in several sports, and the results were impressive.

  And he seemed to enjoy her body every bit as much as she reveled in his. He licked and kissed delicate patterns on her skin, making her gasp when he hit on an erogenous zone. Slow and deliberate, he visited each part of her body with his mouth, and left it throbbing and pulsing with desire. No wham bam, thank you ma’am for James Drummond. He played her body like a fine instrument, finding the high notes and making it vibrate with sensations she’d never known before.

  She found herself eagerly returning the favor. His subtle, masculine scent filled her senses, and she enjoyed the roughness of his skin. Her tongue and teeth trailed over the firm contours of his powerful chest, and along the fine trail of dark hair to his proud erection.

  She was almost ready to explode with anticipation when she finally climbed on top of him and took him very slowly inside her. James groaned, and she enjoyed the intense expression that crossed his face as she took him deep. Why did he have to be so handsome? She’d never kissed a man this beautiful, let alone been engaged to one. Even under the rather awkward circumstances, it was enough to make a girl lose her head.

  So she le
t her tiresome, worried thoughts float away and hang out somewhere near the vaulted ceiling, while the rest of her enjoyed making love to James.

  He was a patient lover, and endlessly creative. He found positions she’d never imagined that made her toes curl with unexpected pleasure. Every time she thought she’d reached the point of no return, he’d pull her carefully back and begin the dance of driving her wild with excitement all over again. It was like riding a roller coaster, except far more unpredictable and pleasurable.

  Kind of like her life right now.

  She made some strange sounds when she finally arrived at her long-awaited orgasm. She heard them from very far away. James had gathered her up and taken her into a distant realm where nothing mattered except the present moment and the fierce passion they shared.

  Afterward they lay in each other’s arms. She felt utterly relaxed and at peace, which didn’t make any sense at all, but that didn’t seem to matter.

  He’s amazing. James was so kind and thoughtful, so obviously brilliant, sexy, gorgeous. And for some strange reason he wanted to marry her, Fiona Lam.

  Too weird. Weird and wonderful if it wasn’t for the awkward family entanglement that had brought her face-to-face with him in the first place. Her plans had already gone so far off course it was impossible to know where she would end up. Maybe right here in James’s arms?

  At this moment anything seemed possible.

  * * *

  She told her mom she had “met someone” and wanted them to meet him. Her mom was thrilled at the chance to visit Singapore, and peppered her with questions about James. James insisted on paying for everything, so all her mom and stepdad had to do was book the tickets. Since they were both from Singapore originally, they had loads of friends and family to visit and couldn’t wait.

  Fiona somehow neglected to mention that she was getting married. Because she wasn’t getting married.

  Or was she? The announcement James had prepared for release to the Straits Times stated that she and James Farquahar Drummond, Twelfth Earl of Ballantrae, were engaged. She’d told him not to send it until she had a chance to break the news to them. She didn’t tell him it contained glaring errors. The announcement included her stepdad’s name, which was Lam, like hers. Her mom had changed Fiona’s surname when they moved to California and became hysterical if Fiona ever talked about changing it back. Maybe that was another reason why she felt the need to try to make so much up to her father.