A Ring For Cinderella
A Ring For Cinderella
Judy Christenberry
LUCKY CHARM SISTERSKATEMAGGIESUSANDESPERATELY SEEKING CINDERELLA…Susan Greenwood had expected a tip, not an offer of marriage! But how could the down-on-her-luck beauty resist when rich-as-a-prince Zach Lowery proposed to her in the middle of the Lucky Charm Diner?Then she got her answer–it was just a role she had to play to soothe Zach's dying grandfather. But Zach never expected his pretend wife to tie him in knots with her selfless gestures and warm embraces. And soon this cynical rancher found himself trying to find a way to make a real future…a real family…with his Cinderella bride.The Lucky Charm Sisters: A boss, a brain and a beauty. Three sisters marry for convenience…but will they find love?
What a wedding night! (#u58fd102d-c037-5e28-84f3-e0abc0bc7ead)Letter to Reader (#uc78bd864-07d3-5120-ac76-b8e0273ee312)Title Page (#u52916cbd-d0f9-5b74-8df5-3b8a24c41216)About the Author (#u38434ca6-c4f9-5882-94d4-41e0147320b4)Chapter One (#ub14c10db-069d-5480-889d-092750dd516d)Chapter Two (#u4d764060-14ab-5ebe-836a-487f2dd5401f)Chapter Three (#u90111871-40b7-51f0-a3ea-bc21bc67b3ee)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
What a wedding night!
Zach had promised Susan their marriage would be on her terms, but he hadn’t realized how difficult that promise was going to be to keep. Susan was a beautiful woman. But when she had confessed she’d never been in a hotel room before, he’d wanted to cuddle her against him and tell her he’d make her first experience one to remember.
He wanted to share a first with her.
What had started out as a simple scheme to please Gramp had become quite complicated.
Zach groaned and set up his bed on the couch.
It was going to be a long, lonely wedding night.
Dear Reader.
March roars in like a lion at Silhouette Romance, starting with popular author Susan Meier and Husband from 9 to 5. her exciting contribution to LOVING THE BOSS, a six-book series in which office romance leads to happily-ever-after. In this sparkling story, a bump on the head has a boss-loving woman believing she’s married to the man of her dreams....
In March 1998, beloved author Diana Palmer launched VIRGIN BRIDES. This month, Callaghan’s Bride not only marks the anniversary of this special Romance promotion, but it continues her wildly successful LONG, TALL TEXANS series! As a role, hard-edged, bard-bodied Callaghan Hart distrusted sweet, virginal, starry-eyed young ladies. But ranch cook Tess Brady had this cowboy hankerin’ to break all his rules.
Judy Christenberry’s LUCKY CHARM SISTERS miniseries resumes with a warm, emotional pretend engagement story that might just lead to A Ring for Cinderella. When a jaded attorney delivers a very pregnant stranger’s baby he starts a journey toward healing...and making this woman his Texas Bride, the heartwarming new novel by Kate Thomas. In Soldier and the Society Girl by Vivian Leiber, the month’s HE’S MY HERO selection, sparks fly when a true-blue, true-grit American hero requires the protocol services of a refined blue blood. A lone-wolf lawman meets his match in an indomitable schoolteacher—and her moonshining granny—in Gayle Kaye’s Sheriff “takes a Bride, part of FAMILY MATTERS.
Enjoy this month’s fantastic offerings, and make sure to return each and every month to Silhouette Romance!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor, Silhouette Romance
Please address questions and book requests to:
Silhouette Reader Service
U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
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A Ring for Cinderella
Judy Christenberry
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
JUDY CHRISTENBERRY
has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers do. She’s a bestselling author for Harlequin American Romance, but she has a long love of traditional romances and is delighted to tell a story that brings those elements to the reader. Judy quit teaching French recently and devotes her time to writing. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy’s a native Texan, living in Piano, a suburb of Dallas.
Chapter One
“More coffee?”
Without lifting his head, Zach Lowery moved his lips in a sham of a smile and nudged his cup toward the end of the table. He stared at the hand holding the glass pot. It was not the hand of the waitress who’d been serving him breakfast, which had been rather red and slightly wrinkled.
This hand was creamy smooth with rose polish adorning its trim nails. His gaze traveled up her arm and reached a face even more beautiful than his ex-wife’s. Soft blond curls framed a delicate face, blue eyes, dark lashes and soft pink cheeks that were growing rosier as he stared.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked in a husky voice that sizzled through his veins.
Yeah, she could. She could get him some peace for his grandfather, some redemption for himself. All he had to do was find out who she was and get her to play along with his plan.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice sounding like he hadn’t used it in years.
She looked startled. Then, seeming to compose herself, she gave a half smile and said, “Susan.”
He let his gaze roam over her. She had a knockout body, wrapped in soft blue knit, the kind of body men dreamed of.
Gramp would believe him if he brought Susan along.
“Susan, you want to get engaged?”
Susan Greenwood was tired. Tired of the money problems that had been her mother’s legacy. Tired of being a single parent to her younger half siblings, Paul and Megan. Tired of putting up a brave front with her older half sisters, Kate and Maggie.
Since her older half sisters had discovered her existence a little over a year ago, the pair had offered her assistance with her problems. As much as she’d come to love Kate and Maggie, she was too proud to shift her burdens to their shoulders. They said she was too hardheaded.
And she was tired of men thinking she was hot to trot because she had a well-endowed figure and blond hair.
But she wasn’t going to be rude to a customer at the Lucky Charm Diner, even if he had just proposed to her. She wouldn’t do that to Kate.
“No, thanks.” She even added a smile as she turned away.
“Wait!”
“You need something else?” She kept her words and her gaze cool, daring him to come on to her again.
“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” He ran a large hand through his dark hair. “Look, I can explain.”
“Not necessary. Enjoy your meal.” Again she turned away and reached the safety of the counter. “You’ll have to serve that guy next time,” she told Brenda, the waitress. “He wants to marry me.”
“I should have such luck!” the middle-aged waitress exclaimed. “’Course, Jerry might object if I threw him over for some cowboy, even if he is handsome.”
Susan smiled and went through the swinging door, past the kitchen to the small office behind it. She helped Brenda when there was a rush at the diner, or when Susan wanted a cup of coffee herself, but her real job was public relations.
She settled into her office chair with a sigh. She’d just started this job a week ago. It certainly beat her old job. She’d received propositions there, too, but they hadn’t involved marriage. She gave a rueful smile and picked up the brochure she was designing.
Maybe she should ask that cowboy to pose for the front cover. They’d get a lot of female customers for the catering business if he did. With a sigh, she tried to dismiss his broad shoulders and hazel eyes. A man wasn’t part of her plans, business or otherwise.
“Susan?” Brenda called as she pushed open the door. “That cowboy’s insisting he talk to you. And I’ve got my hands full with customers. Want me to call the police?”
Susan needed to avoid such a scene if she could. It wouldn’t do the diner’s reputation any good to be associated with a police incident. “I’ll see if I can talk him into leaving.”
When she reached the counter where the cowboy, his Stetson on his head, was waiting, she noted his stern features, his square jaw. He wasn’t going to be easy to dismiss.
“Yes?”
“Susan, I need to talk to you.”
“We serve good food, but conversation isn’t on the menu.” She tried to keep her expression pleasant, but the steeliness of his stare made her uneasy.
“I’m not looking for conversation. I have a proposition for you.”
“Yes, I’ve already heard it, and my answer is no.” She turned around to return to her office, but he reached out and caught her arm before she could get away.
His hard, calloused hand held her firmly but not tightly. “All I’m asking yon to do is listen to what I have to say. Give me ten minutes, in that booth,” he said gesturing to the last booth in the back, the one he’d earlier occupied. “If the answer is still no, I’ll leave and not bother you anymore.”
Susan debated her options. She could refuse and call the police. But she’d rather not. Maybe she could listen, then say no, and hope he kept his word. If not, then they’d definitely have a disturbance on their hands.
“Okay. Would you like more coffee while we talk?”
He stared at her. “You’re not going to run away?”
“No She was glad she was used to hiding her feelings. She didn’t want this cowboy to know she was trembling inside.
He released her arm, drawing his hand back slowly, and nodded. She picked up the coffeepot and two clean cups and saucers. Then she walked the length of the counter, slipped through the opening and continued on to the back booth.
He was right behind her. When he slid into the booth, their knees knocked together and she jumped in surprise.
“Sorry. I’ve got long legs,” he said.
She’d realized that. The man was easily over six foot. She filled the cups of coffee, saying nothing. But she did check the time on her watch.
“I’ve got ten minutes,” he reminded her, his jaw clenched.
She nodded.
Zach couldn’t figure out how to start. Finally, he blurted out, “My grandfather is dying.”
He’d shocked her, but he didn’t know how else to explain his sudden proposal. “He’s been wanting me to marry, have babies.” He stopped and stared out the windows, ashamed of what he had to confess. “I lied to him. I told him I had a woman...a fiancée. He seemed pleased.”
He stopped to take a sip of coffee, but he avoided looking at the beautiful woman across from him. “Then today he had a massive heart attack.” He paused again, this time to swallow the emotion that filled him.
“I’m sorry,,” she said softly, in that husky voice.
His gaze hardened. He’d been misled before by a beautiful face and a sweet voice. Women used their softness to trap a man.
“He wants to meet my fiancée.”
He watched her carefully as comprehension filled her gaze. “I see. And you want me to—”
“Pretend to be my fiancée.”
“I appreciate your predicament, but—”
“I’ll pay you!” He was desperate. She was a beautiful woman, the kind Gramp would expect him to choose. And he didn’t have much time.
“No, I—”
“Ten thousand dollars.”
He watched cynically as the amount he’d offered penetrated her brain. Then he leaned back against the cushioned bench. “Not bad for one night’s work, is it?”
She stared at him. “Define ‘night.’”
He gave her a look of disgust. “Lady, I don’t have to pay for that kind of evening. I’m talking about a visit to the intensive care unit at the hospital. It won’t take long. He—he doesn’t have a lot of strength.”
“You’re serious?”
Suddenly, weariness hit him. What had he been hoping? That this woman, in spite of her incredible beauty, would put someone else’s needs before her own? Yeah, right.
“Can you afford to—”
He whipped out his checkbook. “Ever heard of the Lowery Ranch?”
She nodded, frowning.
“Well, I’m the heir to the Lowery Ranch. I can afford it.” He scrawled his name on the check and ripped it out of his checkbook. “Here’s five thousand now. You’ve got time to put it in the bank before it closes. I’ll give you the other five thousand when it’s over.”
She stared at the check as if she couldn’t believe it. Then she slowly reached out and picked it up from the table.
“What’s your last name and address?”
She answered him as if in a daze, and he jotted down the information. She didn’t live in the best part of town, he realized.
“I’ll pick you up at six-thirty. Be ready.”
Then he walked out of the diner.
Susan continued to stare at the check for long minutes after the stranger’s departure. Five thousand dollars. She couldn’t believe it.
Her half sister’s room and board at college was due in two weeks. Megan would be a freshman and had gotten a scholarship for her tuition. All she needed was living expenses to go as long as Susan could come up with the money. And suddenly, here it was.
She knew she should tear the check up. In fact, she’d been considering offering to help the man, but there was her eight-year-old brother, Paul, to consider. Before she could decide, the cowboy had thrown his money in her face.
If he truly was the Lowery heir, he had plenty to spare. And she was going to do him a service, pretending to be his fiancée. But all the justification in the world didn’t ease her conscience.
Deliberately, she folded the check. Her conscience would have to live with it. She wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to pay for Megan’s living expenses at college, maybe even finish paying off her mother’s debts, buy Paul a few clothes for when he started school. She couldn’t afford to let this opportunity go.
She’d been parent and sister to both of her younger half siblings for four years now. Her mother had died when Susan was twenty-one. She’d just finished her junior year in school, existing on a scholarship and a part-time job as a waitress.
Suddenly, she had to provide for Megan and Paul, as well as herself. And deal with her mother’s debts. All her plans, her dreams, had disappeared as she faced her responsibilities.
She’d had a surprise eighteen months ago when she acquired two more half sisters and learned of her father, and that he’d just died. Her new sisters assured her her father had only found out about her existence just before his death. Her mother, when she’d asked questions as a child, had told her her father had moved on. He hadn’t been interested in her.
Neither had the other men her mother had been with. Each time the men disappeared, her mother was left with a child and no support. Susan had grown up ashamed of her mother and her behavior. When Paul’s and Megan’s fathers had disappeared also, Susan had felt responsible for helping to raise her half siblings.
Kate and Maggie, her new half sisters, were wonderful, and the feeling of not being alone anymore made a huge difference to Susan. Even financially, she’d gained. The diner, where she now worked, had been her father’s. She was actually part-owner, with Kate and Maggie, though she’d protested their including her.
And when, last week, she’d quit her public relations job with a local firm because her boss wouldn’t leave her alone, Kate had immediately hired her for the Lucky Charm Diner and Catering Company. But they were just beginning to show a profit, and the salary was less than she’d been making.
She couldn’t turn down the money the cowboy had offered her.
As weird as his offer was, at least she would be earning the money and not taking charity from her new family.
She slid out of the booth. “Brenda, I’m going to leave a few minutes early today.”
The waitress only nodded.
She’d been careful to adhere to a strict work schedule in the week she’d been there. She didn’t want anyone to think she’d taken advantage of Kate. But this was an exception. It was four-thirty. She could get to the drive-through window of the bank before it closed, just as the cowboy had said.
What if he wasn’t who he said he was? What if the check bounced higher than a skyscraper? She sighed as she picked up her purse from beside her desk. She’d find out soon enough, and if it wasn’t any good, she’d be no worse off than she was now.
Which was flat broke.
After depositing the check, she hurried home. Paul spent his days with her neighbor. Rosa Cavalho had an eight-year-old, too, Manuel, and he and Paul were best friends. What Susan paid Rosa helped their tight budget, and it ensured that Paul was safe.
In two more weeks, school would start. Then her baby-sitting fees would go down. But Paul’s appetite seemed to increase each year. Her grocery bill was growing along with him.
“Rosa?” she called as she rapped on the apartment door across from hers.
It swung open, and two little boys looked at her in surprise. “You’re early!” Paul exclaimed. Then he gave her a big smile and hugged her waist. “Hi!”
“Hi, yourself. How’s everything?”
“Who is it?” Rosa called. She did sewing at home to add to her husband’s construction income.
“It’s me,” Susan called as she headed to Rosa’s bedroom, where she worked. “Could you keep Paul this evening for a couple of hours?”
“Oh, Susan, I’m sorry, but we have to go to my mother-in-law’s tonight. It’s a command performance,” Rosa said with sarcasm. Her husband’s family didn’t like Rosa because she was from a poor family and hadn’t increased her husband’s financial worth.
“That’s okay. I’ll just have to take Paul with me.”
“You have a date?” Rosa asked, hope in her voice. She worried that Susan didn’t get out much.
“No, it’s sort of a job, but Paul won’t get in the way. He can sit in the lounge. What’s the occasion at your mother-in-law’s?”
Rosa made a face. “Pedro’s sister is in town with her wealthy husband.”
“Looks like we’ll both have an exciting evening,” Susan said with a laugh. “I’ll take Paul home now.”
In spite of Paul’s protests, Susan insisted he come with her. Those protests were nothing compared to the ones he made when he discovered he had to bathe and put on his one pair of nice slacks and a clean shirt.
“I can stay by myself, Susan. I’m eight now. I don’t need to go with you.”
She smiled down at his earnest expression. “Sweetie, I know you’re eight. But I can’t leave you alone at night. Besides, it will be interesting. You haven’t been to a hospital since you were born.”
Scowling, he dragged his feet to the door of his room. “I won’t have a good time.”
“Sometimes, we don’t. But we do what we have to, right?” It was a lesson she’d learned long ago.
“Yeah,” he agreed, resignation in his voice.
“Go ahead and take your shower now, Paul, while I figure out what we’re going to eat for dinner. I’ll need the bathroom after we eat.”
Some day they were going to have more than one bathroom. When Megan was home, she and her sister had to share the larger bedroom, leaving Paul the smaller room for himself. Her dream was to have a home where everyone had his or her own space.
Megan had gone to the University of Nebraska early for orientation and to find a job. Although like Susan, Megan had gotten a scholarship for her tuition, she still intended to help Susan pay for her room and board.
Which brought Susan’s thoughts back to this evening. As she opened a can of tuna to add to the casserole she was making, she justified her behavior in taking the money again.
They were good reasons.
And had nothing to do with the handsomeness of the cowboy. But she couldn’t deny his good looks affected her. Not that anything would come of it, of course. But he was a sexy man.
And for an hour, she would be his fiancee.
Zach went to his favorite store on the Plaza and bought everything he’d need to dress for the evening. Then he checked into a nearby hotel.
It was difficult to think of practical matters after what the doctors had told him about his grandfather. The one person he loved more than anyone else on earth could die at any moment His grandfather had had a heart attack this morning. They’d flown him by helicopter to Kansas City and finally stabilized him, but it had been touch-and-go.
Dear God, he loved that old man.
And why wouldn’t he? Gramp had been there for him all his life, had become his only parent when his mom and dad had died in a car accident when he was eight.
Gramp had given him hugs as well as a whack on his rear when he’d needed them. He’d taught Zach ranching and manners.
He’d taught him to be a man.
And Zach had failed him.
The one thing Gramp had wanted was for Zach to marry. To provide sons to carry on the ranch traditions that had gone on for four generations. He’d tried. Five years ago, he’d married a beautiful woman, sure he’d found his own true love.
He snorted in disgust That marriage hadn’t worked out. No marriage. No heirs.
Which brought him back to Susan Greenwood.
An hour later, he settled into the dining room of the hotel and ordered a steak with all the trimmings. He’d talked to the doctor before he’d come down to dinner and Gramp was holding his own, looking forward to Zach’s arrival that evening with his fiancée.
Gramp was like a dog with one bone. He never left it alone. He wanted great-grandsons.
Too bad making babies wasn’t part of the deal with Susan, he decided with a wry smile. The lady was one tasty morsel. But he’d had enough of women with cash-register hearts. He might enjoy a night spent with one every once in a while. Hell, he was a man. But he wasn’t about to give any of them legal or emotional control over him or anything that belonged to him.
But Gramp’s happiness was important to him.
That was why he was dressed in a sport coat, slacks, crisp white shirt and, worst of all, a tie. He hated those things. But tonight was important. If he’d come to the hospital in his jeans to introduce his fiancee, Gramp would be offended.
After paying his bill, he settled his Stetson on his head and headed for the rental car. Since he’d traveled on the helicopter with Gramp to Kansas City, he didn’t have his pickup with him. Instead, he had to fit his big frame into a four-door sedan.
He’d gotten directions from the concierge before leaving the hotel, just to be sure he had the right area of town. As he drove, the neighborhoods changed from the elegant to the barely habitable.
Pulling up in front of an apartment building with peeling paint and a small patch of grass that hadn’t been mowed any too recently, he frowned. Had he made a mistake? Susan had looked high-class, though he now realized she’d worn no jewelry other than plain gold earrings.
He got out of the car and locked the door. Checking the address once more, he headed for the stairs in the center of the building. When he found the apartment on the second floor, he rapped firmly.
The door swung open, and he had to drop his gaze to look at the person who had opened the door. A little boy stared up at him.
“Hello. I’m looking for Susan Greenwood.”
“Okay. Susan?” the boy called. “He’s here.” Then he turned back around to stare up at Zach. “I’m ready.”
That gave Zach pause. “Uh, okay. Where are you going?”
“With you. But I don’t want to.”
Chapter Two
“Paul, that was ill-mannered. Apologize to Mr. Lowery, please,” Susan called as she entered the living room of their apartment.
Then she looked at Zach Lowery.
Gone was the scruffy outdoorsman in his tight jeans and Western shirt. In his place was a cleans-haven, expensively dressed man. Handsome as sin.
She also realized she recognized him. His picture was in the society pages frequently. But he was usually dressed in a tux with a beautiful woman on his arm.
All that remained of the. cowboy she’d met earlier today was his hat.
“I’m sorry about Paul. but I couldn’t get a sitter. And I promise he’ll be well behaved.” She lifted her chin as she met his glare. Her arm stole around Paul’s thin shoulders, afraid the man would hurt her brother’s feelings.
Zach Lowery looked down at Paul, and Susan was relieved to see his glare soften. “I’m sure he will be. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” she agreed, releasing a sigh of relief. She picked up her purse. As Paul preceded her, she pulled the door closed behind her, making sure it was locked.
“How long have you lived here?” Zach asked as they went down the stairs.
She frowned. Why would he want to know that? She didn’t expect friendship from the man. In fact, she’d decided to keep anything personal out of their agreement. Then she wouldn’t feel quite so bad about taking his money.
“About four years,” she finally said when she couldn’t think of a reason not to answer. This place had been all they could afford after her mother’s death, but she definitely wasn’t going to tell him that.
“It’s not a very safe neighborhood.”
“I thought you didn’t live in Kansas City,” she said, not about to have an out-of towner criticize her home.
“We’re only about fifty miles out of town. I do come to Kansas City occasionally,” he assured her dryly.
“Yes, I’ve seen you in the society pages.”
He ignored her words and led the way to a shiny blue car.
“Wow,” Paul said with a sigh. “I like your car.”
Susan hurriedly hid her smile. Considering the wreck she drove, Paul’s enthusiasm was understandable. Zach Lowery probably couldn’t understand his reaction.
“It’s a rental, but thanks,” he said, smiling at her brother.
Maybe he was a nice man, after all. She hadn’t been sure after he had left the diner.
He came to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. Such attention flustered her. She wasn’t used to it. “Oh, I have to make sure Paul gets his seat belt on,” she said, not slipping into the seat as he expected.
“I can fasten my own seat belt,” Paul protested. He was definitely well past the helpless stage.
“Of course you can. And I’ll show you how these work. They’re a little tricky,” the man said with a kind smile. He waited until Susan had gotten seated, closed her door, then opened the door for Paul. Susan turned and watched over her shoulder as the two males conferred over the seat belt.
Once they were under way, she cleared her throat. After doing some thinking about the evening in front of her, she’d concluded she and her co-conspirator needed to get their stories straight. “I think we need to talk.”
“Want more money?” he asked in a low voice that she hoped Paul couldn’t hear.
“No! I meant we should match our stories. I don’t know anything about you. Or you me.”
“I’m thirty-three, been married once and divorced after three miserable years. No children. I live at the ranch. I attended Kansas University. I like sports, country-western music and beautiful women.” He clicked off his preferences in a rapid-fire fashion, leaving Susan stunned.
When she said nothing, trying to sort out the information he’d given her, he said, “Well? Aren’t you going to tell me about yourself?”
“Of course, I—I’m twenty-five. I work for the Lucky Charm Diner and Catering Company. I’m doing public relations and—and the advertising campaign. I graduated from the University of Missouri here in Kansas City.”
He pulled the car into the hospital parking lot. “And you have Paul.”
Susan realized he was under the misapprehension that Paul was her son, but what did it matter? Paul was hers, whether she’d given birth to him or not. And it eliminated the need to reveal her mother’s sordid past. That information was definitely personal.
“Grampwon’t have the strength to ask much,” he continued. “I’ll do all the talking. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make one up. After all, he... it won’t matter what I say.”
The emotion in his voice was the sexiest thing about Zach Lowery, and that was saying a lot. He was a man who cared about his grandfather. to the point of doing anything to ensure his happiness.
She nodded.
“Is your grandfather sick?” Paul asked from the back seat
She started to hush her brother, but Zach answered first.
“Yeah, buddy, he is.”
“Are the doctors going to make him better?”
This time Susan spoke first “Paul, you mustn’t ask questions right now. And be very quiet in the hospital. Some people will be trying to sleep.”
He liked the kid.
And Susan was right He was well behaved.
Zach led the way down the long corridor to the intensive care unit Susan followed, holding Paul’s hand. “Is there a lounge where Paul can wait?” she whispered, surprising him.
“He can go in with us. They won’t stop us. Gramp knows the right. people.” When they reached the door, Zach signaled to one of the nurses.
“The doctor said we could see my grandfather,” he said softly, sure the doctor had left word with the nurse. He didn’t want any battles tonight. But there would be one if they tried to interfere.
“Yes, Mr. Lowery. The doctor warned us. Come this way.”
She led them into a bare room, the only furniture a large bed in the center. His grandfather looked so small, lying there with tubes in him. He’d always been a big man, strong and active.
“Gramp?” Zach said softly as he moved to the head of the bed, touching his grandfather’s shoulder.
The old man came awake slowly. “Huh? That you, boy?” he asked groggily.
Zach fought to keep tears from his eyes. “Yeah, it’s me, Gramp. I kept my promise. I brought Susan to see you.” He motioned for Susan to join him, watching his grandfather as she stepped forward. The sudden spark in the old man’s eyes told Zach he’d done the right thing.
“Hello, Mr. Lowery,” Susan said softly, her voice husky and sweet. Without any prompting, she reached out and clasped his wrinkled hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Me, too, girl. Me, too.” He struggled to sit up, and Susan quickly helped him arrange another pillow beneath his head.
“Would you like me to raise the bed a little?”
“Yeah, that’d be good.” He leaned back in relief.
Zach watched as Susan helped his grandfather get comfortable. He was getting his money’s worth, he’d have to say that.
“Who’s that?” Pete Lowery demanded, staring at Paul, who’d followed Susan around the end of the bed.
Zach had forgotten about the boy.
Susan spoke before he could think what to say. “Paul’s mine. I think he’s the reason Zach hadn’t said much about me. He wasn’t sure how you’d feel about a ready-made family.”
Zach stared at her, stunned by her words. Her explanation made sense, but he hadn’t planned out that much in advance.
“Shame on you, Zach. You know I love kids. Come here, boy. What’s your name?”
Susan eased Paul forward, holding his shoulders as he stood next to the bed.
“Paul,” the little boy whispered.
“You’d be about what, seven, eight years old?”
“Eight.”
“Your ma must’ve been a baby when you were born,” Pete teased.
Paul didn’t know how to answer, turning to look at Susan.
“Yeah, she was,” Zach answered, deciding it was time he took over the conversation. “Has the doctor been in to see you? How did he say you were doing?”
Pete waved away Zach’s questions. “Don’t want to talk about that stuff. Susan, tell me, has this scalawag been good to you?”
She smiled. “Very good.”
As well she should say, Zach thought cynically. She was being well paid. But he had to admit she was giving great value. Gramp liked her, he could tell.
“So why haven’t—” Pete broke off and grimaced, drawing Zach’s attention.
“You shouldn’t talk so much,” he urged, stepping closer and touching his grandfather’s shoulder. Susan stepped forward and tucked in the cover that had come loose.
“Nonsense. It was just a twinge,” Pete insisted. “I want to know when you two are going to get hitched.”
“What’s ‘hitched’ mean?” Paul asked, looking puzzled.
“Married, boy, married. Don’t you want a new daddy?” Pete asked, his gaze on Paul’s face.
Zach almost swallowed his tongue. “Uh, Gramp, that’s not, I mean, we haven’t set a date.”
“Why not? You’re not getting any younger. Me, neither.” He sighed, sort of fading into the pillows, which only underlined to Zach how little time he had left with his grandfather.
“That’s not important right now. We want to concentrate all our attention on getting you well.”
“You want to get me well? Then get yourself married to this little lady. Now, before it’s too late for me to see you happy.” His breathing was becoming noisier and his eyes were closing.
“I think your grandfather is tiring himself out,” Susan said, her soft hands pulling the covers higher again before she tenderly cupped Pete’s cheek. “You need to rest, Mr. Lowery. Paul and I will go to the waiting room and give you a little time alone with Zach.”
Pete’s eyes came open again. “You’re a sweetheart, Susan. You take good care of my boy, okay?”
She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You just take care of yourself. Zach’s a big boy. He’ll be all right.”
Pete chuckled, a sound Zach hadn’t been sure he’d ever hear again. “Yep, you’re a sweetheart.”
Zach’s gaze met Susan’s as she and Paul walked past him. On a sudden urge, he caught her arm and bent down to brush her lips with his.
He only did it to persuade Gramp everything was on the up-and-up. And to thank Susan for a great performance. His action had nothing to do with the fact that he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind all afternoon. Or those luscious lips of hers.
Nope, nothing to do with those things.
Thankfully she wasn’t facing Gramp, because she appeared startled by his action.
“I’ll be out in a few minutes,” he assured her, and winked at Paul.
They slipped from the room.
“Now, tell me why you haven’t married her,” Gramp ordered, his voice sounding much stronger all of a sudden.
“Why did that man kiss you?” Paul asked as soon as they were in the waiting room.
“Because—because he—I don’t know.” Susan knew, but she didn’t want to explain to Paul that she and Zach were lying to Zach’s grandfather.
“I like him.”
She looked at her little brother in surprise. The few times she’d accepted a date, Paul had been...difficult. “Zach?”
“Yeah. And his grandfather, too. Why don’t I have a grandfather?”
It wasn’t the first time Paul had questioned her about his family. She gave her standard answer. “You had two grandfathers, just like everyone else. sweetie, but they died before you were born.”
“Oh.”
“Look, here’s a television. Want me to turn it on? I think Monday night football is playing.”
“Okay.”
Paul wasn’t very enthusiastic, because he intended to be a baseball player, but football was better than nothing.
And maybe it would keep him from asking more uncomfortable questions.
Half an hour later, Zach came into the room.
“How is he?” she asked, surprised at how much she cared about the old man’s health. After all, she didn’t really know him.
“Better. The doctor’s with him now.” He paced around the room, impatient, ignoring both her and Paul.
“Your grandfather is a nice man,” Paul said softly, his gaze following Zach’s movement rather than the football game.
Susan feared Zach might be irritated by Paul’s comment, because it interrupted his private battles. Instead, the man walked over to Paul and touched his shoulder. “Yeah. He is, isn’t he?” Then he sat down by Paul.
“What’s the score?”
The little boy supplied the information, and the two bonded in typical male fashion.
Then the doctor came into the room.
Zach bounded up from the couch and met the doctor before he’d made much progress into the room. Susan couldn’t hear their conversation, but she watched them all the same.
Finally the doctor left the room.
“I’m going to say good-night to Gramp. I’ll be back in a minute,” Zach murmured.
“Then we’ll go home?” Paul asked, yawning. “I’m sleepy.”
“Then we’ll go home, sweetie,” Susan responded as Zach left the room. “Thanks for being so good.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to pretend Gramp is my grandfather. Is that okay, Susan? I won’t tell him, but since I don’t have a grandfather, I’ll just pretend.”
Susan gave her brother a hug. “As long as you don’t say anything to Zach or his grandfather, then that’s okay.”
Zach returned. “Ready to go?”
Susan studied his grim face as she helped Paul off the sofa. Something was wrong. She feared the doctor’s news hadn’t been good. “Do you want us to take a taxi home, so you can stay here?”
“No. They have my number and will call if there’s any change.” His words were abrupt, clipped, as if he were out of patience.
She made no more suggestions.
Once they were in the car, heading back to her apartment, she asked, “Are you going back to the ranch tonight?”
“No, I’m staying in town.”
He didn’t volunteer where, and she didn’t ask. If she’d had more room, she would’ve offered to let him stay with them, but somehow she couldn’t see Zach Lowery stretched out on their lumpy couch.
There were several men hanging around outside the apartment building when they pulled up, and Zach scowled in their direction. “This isn’t a safe neighborhood.”
Susan, recognizing Manuel’s father, smiled and waved before turning to Zach. “We’re perfectly safe. Those are some of our neighbors.”
Opening the car door, she slipped out of the car and reached for Paul’s door. Before she could get the boy out, Zach was at her side.
“I’ll walk you upstairs.”
“Really, that’s not necessary.” She started to thank him for a lovely evening until she realized she’d been working, not socializing.
“Yes, it is. I need to pay you.”
He sounded angry. Fine, she didn’t have to take the rest of the money. The first check would help her out of some financial difficulty. She opened her mouth to tell him, but he grabbed Paul’s hand and her arm and started them toward the stairs at a fast clip.
“You’re going too fast,” Paul protested.
Without a word, Zach swung the boy up into his arms, then reattached himself to Susan’s arm.
“Wow, you’re strong,” Paul said in awe.
For the first time since Zach Lowery had come into her life, he smiled, and Susan realized handsome didn’t begin to describe him.
“You weigh a lot less than a bale of hay, Paul,” he said to her brother. “You need to eat more.”
“Susan says I eat lots and lots,” the boy said with a giggle.
“Why do you call her Susan?” Zach asked, frowning.
“’Cause that’s her name,” Paul said simply.
Susan could’ve explained then that Paul was her brother, not her son, but the stairway didn’t seem like a good place for such a private conversation. And she needed to keep her distance from such a handsome man—not get closer.
She got out her keys to open the door, relieved when Zach let go of her arm. His touch had bothered her. As the door swung open, she turned. “Thank you for seeing us to our door. I hope your grandfather’s condition improves.”
She pulled Paul in front of her and turned to go in, but she discovered Zach wasn’t ready to leave. He followed her in.
“We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Payment, for one thing. Aren’t you interested in the rest of your money?” He gave her a sardonic stare.
Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head. “I think your first check was sufficient. I didn’t do that much tonight..”
“You more than fulfilled your end of the bargain. Put the boy to bed. Then we’ll talk.”
She didn’t like him giving orders. But he was right. It was past Paul’s bedtime, and the boy’s eyelids were drooping. “Come on, Paul, let’s get you tucked in. And you can read for a little while.”
He was about to protest until she’d tacked on the reward of reading. Paul loved books. “Can I read all of Peter Pan?”
That was his longest book and would prolong going to sleep for almost an hour. With a tender smile, she agreed. “Okay, but don’t blame me if you don’t want to get up in the morning.”
“Do you have any Hank, the Cow Dog books?” Zach suddenly asked.
Paul halted on his way out of the room, a frown on his face. “No. Who’s that?”
“I’ll send you a couple. They’re stories about a cow dog named Hank who takes care of a ranch.”
“Wow!” Paul exclaimed, using his favorite word. “That’d be neat. When will you—”
“Paul,” Susan intervened. “Say thank you.”
“Thank you,” he repeated, and flew across the room to hug Zach around the waist. “I can’t wait.”
Zach rubbed the boy’s head. “I’ll see that you get them right away.”
With a bright smile on his face, Paul ran out of the room. Susan, after sending Zach an apologetic smile, followed him. Zach didn’t realize what a treat new books were to Paul
But she did. Gratitude filled her as she followed her brother.
What an appealing kid. He’d call a bookstore in the morning and have them send over whatever “Hank” books they had on hand.
As memory of what had occurred this evening came back, Zach began to pace the small room. What happened next depended a lot on Susan. And it could be costly to him. But he’d already invested ten thousand dollars in his grandfather’s happiness. And it had paid off.
When he’d left tonight, Gramp was more relaxed than he’d been in quite a while. And he’d had a smile on his face.
Susan came back into the room.
“Is Paul in bed?”
“Yes. Thank you for offering to send him a book. He loves them.”
“No problem.”
There was an awkward moment as Zach tried to think of how to approach the difficult subject.
“Well,” Susan said, a false brightness in her voice, “I won’t keep you. I’m sure it’s been a long day.”
“Yes, it has, but we still have to talk.” He reached in his coat pocket and pulled out his checkbook. Whether she agreed to his plan or not, she had earned the rest of her money for tonight.
“Oh, no! No more is necessary. I mean, the first check was very generous. And I didn’t do much.”
He stared at her, speculation in his eyes. In his experience, women didn’t usually turn down money, whether they’d earned it or not. She must have some scheme already worked out in her head.
“You earned it.”
“No, really. Your grandfather is a very nice man. I enjoyed meeting him.”
“You brought him a lot of happiness.” He wrote out the check and ripped it out. “Here.”
“Zach, really, I don’t feel right about taking the check.”
“You’ll change your mind when you hear what I’m going to ask you to do next.”
Chapter Three
Susan stared at him, confused. “You mean you want me to visit your grandfather again?”
“Well, that’s part of it,” he said, not quite meeting her gaze.
“I’ll be glad to visit him, but—”
“We have to get married.”
He said those words calmly, in a normal tone of voice, as if what he said made sense.
She stared at him. “What did you say?”
“I said we have to get married.”
She sank down onto the lumpy sofa, not sure her legs would hold her any longer. “That’s—that’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah.”
That was all, just that one laconic word, as if his bizarre statement didn’t need any more comment. Slowly, she extended her hand, the one that held the check. “I think you’d better take this and go, Mr. Lowery.”
“And break an old man’s heart?” he asked softly, staring at her.
She immediately pictured Pete Lowery in his hospital bed, a sweet smile on his wrinkled face. “No! No, I don’t want to...your grandfather...what are you talking about?”
“Gramp wants us to get married in his hospital room so he can be present. He said it’s the only thing he’ll ever ask of me. He begged me.”
She didn’t need to see the anguish in his eyes. It was in his voice. And she could feel it in her heart. “Oh, Zach, I’m sorry. That’s terrible.”
He crossed the room to sit down beside her. “I knew you’d understand. You were terrific tonight. You’ll handle it well.”
Suddenly things had gotten very personal. Exactly what she hadn’t intended. “No! I mean, I didn’t say I’d do it. You can’t—It would be wrong to marry. No, I can’t do it!” Just the thought of marrying Zach Lowery put her in a tizzy.
“How much?”
His cynical question, accompanied by a look that only underlined his opinion, brought sanity to Susan. “I don’t want your money. And I don’t want to lie to Mr. Lowery anymore. Go find someone else to play games with you.”
He stood and paced across the room. “Good negotiating tactics, Susan. Refuse to do the job when you know you’re the only one who can. He’s already met you, believes you’re my fiancée. I’m supposed to appear with another woman and convince him I’ve found a new fiancée in less than twenty-four hours?”
She bowed her head. trying to think through the situation she’d gotten herself into. “Okay. I realize you can’t get anyone else. Can you talk your grandfather out of the marriage? Maybe we can—”
Anger filled his voice. “Sure I could. I’ll just go tell him to forget it. I don’t care if he dies happy. That’ll do the trick.”
She squared her jaw. He didn’t have to be so...so difficult. “All right. Can we hire an actor to play the minister? Fake the marriage?”
“Gramp wants our minister from home to perform the ceremony.”
“And you’re willing to go ahead with this?”
“I have no choice. So, we’re back to that question I asked earlier. How much? Because I can assure you, you won’t be getting half my net worth, or my ranch from this...marriage. I’ll be generous, but not that generous. Then when...when the pretense isn’t necessary any longer, we’ll part company.”
Susan closed her eyes. The man was serious. “Did the doctor say how long?” She felt like a monster, asking that question, but she had to know.
“No,” he responded, his voice a growl. “He said he couldn’t make any predictions.”
“So we get married, but nothing changes, right? It’s a marriage in name only?”
He stepped closer. “It’ll be whatever kind of marriage you want, honey. I wouldn’t turn down a little... sharing, but whatever kind of marriage it is, it ends when Gramp—when it’s not necessary anymore.”
She felt her cheeks flame as she considered his sardonic words. “Sharing” with this man would be devastating, or it would be when it ended. Somehow she knew that, probably because she shivered every time he touched her.
“No ‘sharing.’ We’ll do what it takes for your grandfather to believe we’re happily married, but that’s all.” She lifted her chin and stared him in the eyes. She wanted no misunderstandings.
“You still haven’t answered my question. How much?”
She held up the check she still had in her hands. “This will do.”
“Come on, honey,” he said, but his tone of voice didn’t match the sweetness of his words, “you could get enough to move out of this dump.”
“Please don’t refer to my home in such a derogatory manner,” she protested stiffly, straightening her spine.
He stared at her, disbelief in his eyes, but she didn’t care. She refused to say anything else.
“Okay, fine,” he snapped. “Tomorrow night. Gramp has the connections to speed things up. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty again. Wear something bridal.” Then he stomped out of her apartment, slamming the door behind him.
The next day, Susan stared at herself in the mirror. Something bridal. She only hoped the dress she’d chosen was what Zach Lowery had had in mind.
At first, she’d tried to find something in her limited wardrobe that she could wear. The closest she came was a blue wool suit. But since it was late August, she didn’t think that would do.
Finally, she’d taken her lunch hour today and found an ivory dress, roaring twenties style, that Megan could use for parties at college. They were about the same size.
She’d added a wisp of a veil anchored to an ivory rose and ivory silk shoes.
And, most important of all, she’d kept quiet about her impending nuptials. She knew if she told Kate and Maggie, they’d insist she take their money, instead of earning it from Zach. And making his grandfather happy.
A rap on the door had her knees shaking. She drew a deep breath and, after checking the peephole, opened the door for Zach Lowery in a tux.
She didn’t know how much more she could take.
He looked her up and down and smiled. “Nice.”
“Thanks.” She picked up her ivory bag and moved past him, waiting for him to move so she could lock the door.
“Where’s Paul?”
“He’s with a sitter.”
“Gramp will expect him with us.”
She’d thought about what she should do, but she felt it would be difficult for Paul to understand about the fake marriage. “I don’t want to upset him.”
“I don’t, either. Either one of them. But Paul has to come. Gramp not only wouldn’t understand why he wasn’t there, but he also wants him there. He likes him.”
“And Paul likes him. But how are you going to explain this situation to an eight-year-old?”
“We’ll tell him the truth. We’re getting married for a little while. For Gramp’s sake.” He stood there stern and unyielding, waiting for her to give in.
And she did. The situation was so bizarre, she couldn’t decide what was right or wrong. With a sigh, she crossed the landing and knocked on Rosa’s door.
When her friend answered, she told her Paul was going with her, instead of staying with them.
“Paul!” Rosa called over her shoulder. Then she turned back to Susan. “You look like a bride. Is there something you haven’t told me?”
Susan barely smiled. “I’ll have to explain later,” she said as her brother appeared. “Paul, there’s been a change in plans. You’re coming with Zach and me. I need you to hurry up and change.”
“Wow! You look neat, Susan,” her brother said, staring at her.
“Thanks, sweetie. Go put on the slacks and shirt you wore last night. I hung them in your closet.”
“But Manuel and me was gonna watch the baseball game,” he said, frowning.
“Now, Paul,” she said quietly but sternly.
His shoulders slumping, he crossed the hallway to their apartment,
“Huay, please,” she called after him. She said good-night to Rosa and headed back to her own apartment in case Paul needed her.
Zach caught her arm as she moved past him. “Thank you for giving in on this. I want things to be perfect for Gramp.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I need you to sign this, too,” he said, reaching inside his tux jacket as he followed her inside.
She frowned as he extended a paper to her. Taking it, she unfolded it and skimmed the contents. “I said you didn’t have to pay me any more money!” The paper was an agreement stating that she would marry him for an additional ten thousand dollars. When the marriage ended, she would not be eligible for any more compensation.
“That’s your only complaint?” he asked, one eyebrow rising.
“Why would I complain? I agreed to these terms last night without the extra money.” And she found his assumption that she would want more insulting.
“Okay. Here’s a pen.”
She snatched it from his hand. Fine. She’d sign his silly agreement. And if he really did pay her an additional ten thousand dollars, she’d be able to pay Megan’s room and board the second semester, too.
She handed him the signed paper with no comment, and they stood in silence until Paul reappeared.
“You forgot to change your shoes, buddy,” Zach said as the little boy finished buttoning up his shirt.
Paul looked at Susan, a puzzled look on his face.
“Those are the only shoes Paul has,” she said softly.
Her cheeks flushed as he stared her up and down, no doubt assessing the cost of her attire. She didn’t try to explain that she’d used part of his money to look nice for the occasion.
“Sorry, Paul, you look fine. Ready to go? By the way, I’ve got those books I promised you in the car.”
The boy’s face lit up. “Wow! Really?”
“Really,” Zach said with a smile.
He might be a jerk with her, but he was kind to Paul. Susan swallowed her anger.
“Why do I have to go?” Paul asked. “Susan said tonight was only for adults.”
“Well, Susan was wrong. It’s for adults and one special little boy. I’ll explain all about it in the car.”
Zach was making plans to take Paul on a shopping trip before he walked out of his life again. The woman beside him, looking pure and innocent in her bridal attire, probably would spend all the money he’d paid her on herself.
“When are you going to explain?” Paul asked, drawing his attention.
“Sorry, Paul, I forgot. My grandfather really wants me to get married. But I don’t have time to find a real bride, so Susan is going to pretend to be my wife. To make Gramp happy. Can you keep our secret?”
“Sure. But why do I have to be there?”
“Well, if it were your mom’s real wedding, you’d be there, wouldn’t you?” He smiled in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, I guess, if she was alive,” Paul said with a sigh. “All my family is dead ’cept Susan and Megan.”
Zach almost lost control of the steering wheel in his shock. Then he turned to stare at Susan. “You’re not his mother?”
“No, I’m his sister and legal guardian.” She never even looked at him.
“Why didn’t you say that last night?” It galled him that she’d kept the truth from him.
“You didn’t ask, and I didn’t think it mattered.”
“Who is Megan?” he snapped, too irritated to respond to her remark.
“She’s our sister,” Paul said from the back seat. “She’s gone away to school.”
“School?” Zach asked softly, looking at Susan.
“She’s a freshman at the University of Nebraska.”
“Damn it! We’re being married tonight. Don’t you think you could’ve told me these things earlier?” He felt like he’d been blindsided.
This time she looked at him. Then she coolly asked, “What difference does it make?”
Her question stumped him. She was right. Her family information would have no affect on him. This marriage wasn’t real. So why did it bother him?
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Judy Christenberry
LUCKY CHARM SISTERSKATEMAGGIESUSANDESPERATELY SEEKING CINDERELLA…Susan Greenwood had expected a tip, not an offer of marriage! But how could the down-on-her-luck beauty resist when rich-as-a-prince Zach Lowery proposed to her in the middle of the Lucky Charm Diner?Then she got her answer–it was just a role she had to play to soothe Zach's dying grandfather. But Zach never expected his pretend wife to tie him in knots with her selfless gestures and warm embraces. And soon this cynical rancher found himself trying to find a way to make a real future…a real family…with his Cinderella bride.The Lucky Charm Sisters: A boss, a brain and a beauty. Three sisters marry for convenience…but will they find love?
What a wedding night! (#u58fd102d-c037-5e28-84f3-e0abc0bc7ead)Letter to Reader (#uc78bd864-07d3-5120-ac76-b8e0273ee312)Title Page (#u52916cbd-d0f9-5b74-8df5-3b8a24c41216)About the Author (#u38434ca6-c4f9-5882-94d4-41e0147320b4)Chapter One (#ub14c10db-069d-5480-889d-092750dd516d)Chapter Two (#u4d764060-14ab-5ebe-836a-487f2dd5401f)Chapter Three (#u90111871-40b7-51f0-a3ea-bc21bc67b3ee)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
What a wedding night!
Zach had promised Susan their marriage would be on her terms, but he hadn’t realized how difficult that promise was going to be to keep. Susan was a beautiful woman. But when she had confessed she’d never been in a hotel room before, he’d wanted to cuddle her against him and tell her he’d make her first experience one to remember.
He wanted to share a first with her.
What had started out as a simple scheme to please Gramp had become quite complicated.
Zach groaned and set up his bed on the couch.
It was going to be a long, lonely wedding night.
Dear Reader.
March roars in like a lion at Silhouette Romance, starting with popular author Susan Meier and Husband from 9 to 5. her exciting contribution to LOVING THE BOSS, a six-book series in which office romance leads to happily-ever-after. In this sparkling story, a bump on the head has a boss-loving woman believing she’s married to the man of her dreams....
In March 1998, beloved author Diana Palmer launched VIRGIN BRIDES. This month, Callaghan’s Bride not only marks the anniversary of this special Romance promotion, but it continues her wildly successful LONG, TALL TEXANS series! As a role, hard-edged, bard-bodied Callaghan Hart distrusted sweet, virginal, starry-eyed young ladies. But ranch cook Tess Brady had this cowboy hankerin’ to break all his rules.
Judy Christenberry’s LUCKY CHARM SISTERS miniseries resumes with a warm, emotional pretend engagement story that might just lead to A Ring for Cinderella. When a jaded attorney delivers a very pregnant stranger’s baby he starts a journey toward healing...and making this woman his Texas Bride, the heartwarming new novel by Kate Thomas. In Soldier and the Society Girl by Vivian Leiber, the month’s HE’S MY HERO selection, sparks fly when a true-blue, true-grit American hero requires the protocol services of a refined blue blood. A lone-wolf lawman meets his match in an indomitable schoolteacher—and her moonshining granny—in Gayle Kaye’s Sheriff “takes a Bride, part of FAMILY MATTERS.
Enjoy this month’s fantastic offerings, and make sure to return each and every month to Silhouette Romance!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor, Silhouette Romance
Please address questions and book requests to:
Silhouette Reader Service
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A Ring for Cinderella
Judy Christenberry
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
JUDY CHRISTENBERRY
has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers do. She’s a bestselling author for Harlequin American Romance, but she has a long love of traditional romances and is delighted to tell a story that brings those elements to the reader. Judy quit teaching French recently and devotes her time to writing. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy’s a native Texan, living in Piano, a suburb of Dallas.
Chapter One
“More coffee?”
Without lifting his head, Zach Lowery moved his lips in a sham of a smile and nudged his cup toward the end of the table. He stared at the hand holding the glass pot. It was not the hand of the waitress who’d been serving him breakfast, which had been rather red and slightly wrinkled.
This hand was creamy smooth with rose polish adorning its trim nails. His gaze traveled up her arm and reached a face even more beautiful than his ex-wife’s. Soft blond curls framed a delicate face, blue eyes, dark lashes and soft pink cheeks that were growing rosier as he stared.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked in a husky voice that sizzled through his veins.
Yeah, she could. She could get him some peace for his grandfather, some redemption for himself. All he had to do was find out who she was and get her to play along with his plan.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice sounding like he hadn’t used it in years.
She looked startled. Then, seeming to compose herself, she gave a half smile and said, “Susan.”
He let his gaze roam over her. She had a knockout body, wrapped in soft blue knit, the kind of body men dreamed of.
Gramp would believe him if he brought Susan along.
“Susan, you want to get engaged?”
Susan Greenwood was tired. Tired of the money problems that had been her mother’s legacy. Tired of being a single parent to her younger half siblings, Paul and Megan. Tired of putting up a brave front with her older half sisters, Kate and Maggie.
Since her older half sisters had discovered her existence a little over a year ago, the pair had offered her assistance with her problems. As much as she’d come to love Kate and Maggie, she was too proud to shift her burdens to their shoulders. They said she was too hardheaded.
And she was tired of men thinking she was hot to trot because she had a well-endowed figure and blond hair.
But she wasn’t going to be rude to a customer at the Lucky Charm Diner, even if he had just proposed to her. She wouldn’t do that to Kate.
“No, thanks.” She even added a smile as she turned away.
“Wait!”
“You need something else?” She kept her words and her gaze cool, daring him to come on to her again.
“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” He ran a large hand through his dark hair. “Look, I can explain.”
“Not necessary. Enjoy your meal.” Again she turned away and reached the safety of the counter. “You’ll have to serve that guy next time,” she told Brenda, the waitress. “He wants to marry me.”
“I should have such luck!” the middle-aged waitress exclaimed. “’Course, Jerry might object if I threw him over for some cowboy, even if he is handsome.”
Susan smiled and went through the swinging door, past the kitchen to the small office behind it. She helped Brenda when there was a rush at the diner, or when Susan wanted a cup of coffee herself, but her real job was public relations.
She settled into her office chair with a sigh. She’d just started this job a week ago. It certainly beat her old job. She’d received propositions there, too, but they hadn’t involved marriage. She gave a rueful smile and picked up the brochure she was designing.
Maybe she should ask that cowboy to pose for the front cover. They’d get a lot of female customers for the catering business if he did. With a sigh, she tried to dismiss his broad shoulders and hazel eyes. A man wasn’t part of her plans, business or otherwise.
“Susan?” Brenda called as she pushed open the door. “That cowboy’s insisting he talk to you. And I’ve got my hands full with customers. Want me to call the police?”
Susan needed to avoid such a scene if she could. It wouldn’t do the diner’s reputation any good to be associated with a police incident. “I’ll see if I can talk him into leaving.”
When she reached the counter where the cowboy, his Stetson on his head, was waiting, she noted his stern features, his square jaw. He wasn’t going to be easy to dismiss.
“Yes?”
“Susan, I need to talk to you.”
“We serve good food, but conversation isn’t on the menu.” She tried to keep her expression pleasant, but the steeliness of his stare made her uneasy.
“I’m not looking for conversation. I have a proposition for you.”
“Yes, I’ve already heard it, and my answer is no.” She turned around to return to her office, but he reached out and caught her arm before she could get away.
His hard, calloused hand held her firmly but not tightly. “All I’m asking yon to do is listen to what I have to say. Give me ten minutes, in that booth,” he said gesturing to the last booth in the back, the one he’d earlier occupied. “If the answer is still no, I’ll leave and not bother you anymore.”
Susan debated her options. She could refuse and call the police. But she’d rather not. Maybe she could listen, then say no, and hope he kept his word. If not, then they’d definitely have a disturbance on their hands.
“Okay. Would you like more coffee while we talk?”
He stared at her. “You’re not going to run away?”
“No She was glad she was used to hiding her feelings. She didn’t want this cowboy to know she was trembling inside.
He released her arm, drawing his hand back slowly, and nodded. She picked up the coffeepot and two clean cups and saucers. Then she walked the length of the counter, slipped through the opening and continued on to the back booth.
He was right behind her. When he slid into the booth, their knees knocked together and she jumped in surprise.
“Sorry. I’ve got long legs,” he said.
She’d realized that. The man was easily over six foot. She filled the cups of coffee, saying nothing. But she did check the time on her watch.
“I’ve got ten minutes,” he reminded her, his jaw clenched.
She nodded.
Zach couldn’t figure out how to start. Finally, he blurted out, “My grandfather is dying.”
He’d shocked her, but he didn’t know how else to explain his sudden proposal. “He’s been wanting me to marry, have babies.” He stopped and stared out the windows, ashamed of what he had to confess. “I lied to him. I told him I had a woman...a fiancée. He seemed pleased.”
He stopped to take a sip of coffee, but he avoided looking at the beautiful woman across from him. “Then today he had a massive heart attack.” He paused again, this time to swallow the emotion that filled him.
“I’m sorry,,” she said softly, in that husky voice.
His gaze hardened. He’d been misled before by a beautiful face and a sweet voice. Women used their softness to trap a man.
“He wants to meet my fiancée.”
He watched her carefully as comprehension filled her gaze. “I see. And you want me to—”
“Pretend to be my fiancée.”
“I appreciate your predicament, but—”
“I’ll pay you!” He was desperate. She was a beautiful woman, the kind Gramp would expect him to choose. And he didn’t have much time.
“No, I—”
“Ten thousand dollars.”
He watched cynically as the amount he’d offered penetrated her brain. Then he leaned back against the cushioned bench. “Not bad for one night’s work, is it?”
She stared at him. “Define ‘night.’”
He gave her a look of disgust. “Lady, I don’t have to pay for that kind of evening. I’m talking about a visit to the intensive care unit at the hospital. It won’t take long. He—he doesn’t have a lot of strength.”
“You’re serious?”
Suddenly, weariness hit him. What had he been hoping? That this woman, in spite of her incredible beauty, would put someone else’s needs before her own? Yeah, right.
“Can you afford to—”
He whipped out his checkbook. “Ever heard of the Lowery Ranch?”
She nodded, frowning.
“Well, I’m the heir to the Lowery Ranch. I can afford it.” He scrawled his name on the check and ripped it out of his checkbook. “Here’s five thousand now. You’ve got time to put it in the bank before it closes. I’ll give you the other five thousand when it’s over.”
She stared at the check as if she couldn’t believe it. Then she slowly reached out and picked it up from the table.
“What’s your last name and address?”
She answered him as if in a daze, and he jotted down the information. She didn’t live in the best part of town, he realized.
“I’ll pick you up at six-thirty. Be ready.”
Then he walked out of the diner.
Susan continued to stare at the check for long minutes after the stranger’s departure. Five thousand dollars. She couldn’t believe it.
Her half sister’s room and board at college was due in two weeks. Megan would be a freshman and had gotten a scholarship for her tuition. All she needed was living expenses to go as long as Susan could come up with the money. And suddenly, here it was.
She knew she should tear the check up. In fact, she’d been considering offering to help the man, but there was her eight-year-old brother, Paul, to consider. Before she could decide, the cowboy had thrown his money in her face.
If he truly was the Lowery heir, he had plenty to spare. And she was going to do him a service, pretending to be his fiancée. But all the justification in the world didn’t ease her conscience.
Deliberately, she folded the check. Her conscience would have to live with it. She wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to pay for Megan’s living expenses at college, maybe even finish paying off her mother’s debts, buy Paul a few clothes for when he started school. She couldn’t afford to let this opportunity go.
She’d been parent and sister to both of her younger half siblings for four years now. Her mother had died when Susan was twenty-one. She’d just finished her junior year in school, existing on a scholarship and a part-time job as a waitress.
Suddenly, she had to provide for Megan and Paul, as well as herself. And deal with her mother’s debts. All her plans, her dreams, had disappeared as she faced her responsibilities.
She’d had a surprise eighteen months ago when she acquired two more half sisters and learned of her father, and that he’d just died. Her new sisters assured her her father had only found out about her existence just before his death. Her mother, when she’d asked questions as a child, had told her her father had moved on. He hadn’t been interested in her.
Neither had the other men her mother had been with. Each time the men disappeared, her mother was left with a child and no support. Susan had grown up ashamed of her mother and her behavior. When Paul’s and Megan’s fathers had disappeared also, Susan had felt responsible for helping to raise her half siblings.
Kate and Maggie, her new half sisters, were wonderful, and the feeling of not being alone anymore made a huge difference to Susan. Even financially, she’d gained. The diner, where she now worked, had been her father’s. She was actually part-owner, with Kate and Maggie, though she’d protested their including her.
And when, last week, she’d quit her public relations job with a local firm because her boss wouldn’t leave her alone, Kate had immediately hired her for the Lucky Charm Diner and Catering Company. But they were just beginning to show a profit, and the salary was less than she’d been making.
She couldn’t turn down the money the cowboy had offered her.
As weird as his offer was, at least she would be earning the money and not taking charity from her new family.
She slid out of the booth. “Brenda, I’m going to leave a few minutes early today.”
The waitress only nodded.
She’d been careful to adhere to a strict work schedule in the week she’d been there. She didn’t want anyone to think she’d taken advantage of Kate. But this was an exception. It was four-thirty. She could get to the drive-through window of the bank before it closed, just as the cowboy had said.
What if he wasn’t who he said he was? What if the check bounced higher than a skyscraper? She sighed as she picked up her purse from beside her desk. She’d find out soon enough, and if it wasn’t any good, she’d be no worse off than she was now.
Which was flat broke.
After depositing the check, she hurried home. Paul spent his days with her neighbor. Rosa Cavalho had an eight-year-old, too, Manuel, and he and Paul were best friends. What Susan paid Rosa helped their tight budget, and it ensured that Paul was safe.
In two more weeks, school would start. Then her baby-sitting fees would go down. But Paul’s appetite seemed to increase each year. Her grocery bill was growing along with him.
“Rosa?” she called as she rapped on the apartment door across from hers.
It swung open, and two little boys looked at her in surprise. “You’re early!” Paul exclaimed. Then he gave her a big smile and hugged her waist. “Hi!”
“Hi, yourself. How’s everything?”
“Who is it?” Rosa called. She did sewing at home to add to her husband’s construction income.
“It’s me,” Susan called as she headed to Rosa’s bedroom, where she worked. “Could you keep Paul this evening for a couple of hours?”
“Oh, Susan, I’m sorry, but we have to go to my mother-in-law’s tonight. It’s a command performance,” Rosa said with sarcasm. Her husband’s family didn’t like Rosa because she was from a poor family and hadn’t increased her husband’s financial worth.
“That’s okay. I’ll just have to take Paul with me.”
“You have a date?” Rosa asked, hope in her voice. She worried that Susan didn’t get out much.
“No, it’s sort of a job, but Paul won’t get in the way. He can sit in the lounge. What’s the occasion at your mother-in-law’s?”
Rosa made a face. “Pedro’s sister is in town with her wealthy husband.”
“Looks like we’ll both have an exciting evening,” Susan said with a laugh. “I’ll take Paul home now.”
In spite of Paul’s protests, Susan insisted he come with her. Those protests were nothing compared to the ones he made when he discovered he had to bathe and put on his one pair of nice slacks and a clean shirt.
“I can stay by myself, Susan. I’m eight now. I don’t need to go with you.”
She smiled down at his earnest expression. “Sweetie, I know you’re eight. But I can’t leave you alone at night. Besides, it will be interesting. You haven’t been to a hospital since you were born.”
Scowling, he dragged his feet to the door of his room. “I won’t have a good time.”
“Sometimes, we don’t. But we do what we have to, right?” It was a lesson she’d learned long ago.
“Yeah,” he agreed, resignation in his voice.
“Go ahead and take your shower now, Paul, while I figure out what we’re going to eat for dinner. I’ll need the bathroom after we eat.”
Some day they were going to have more than one bathroom. When Megan was home, she and her sister had to share the larger bedroom, leaving Paul the smaller room for himself. Her dream was to have a home where everyone had his or her own space.
Megan had gone to the University of Nebraska early for orientation and to find a job. Although like Susan, Megan had gotten a scholarship for her tuition, she still intended to help Susan pay for her room and board.
Which brought Susan’s thoughts back to this evening. As she opened a can of tuna to add to the casserole she was making, she justified her behavior in taking the money again.
They were good reasons.
And had nothing to do with the handsomeness of the cowboy. But she couldn’t deny his good looks affected her. Not that anything would come of it, of course. But he was a sexy man.
And for an hour, she would be his fiancee.
Zach went to his favorite store on the Plaza and bought everything he’d need to dress for the evening. Then he checked into a nearby hotel.
It was difficult to think of practical matters after what the doctors had told him about his grandfather. The one person he loved more than anyone else on earth could die at any moment His grandfather had had a heart attack this morning. They’d flown him by helicopter to Kansas City and finally stabilized him, but it had been touch-and-go.
Dear God, he loved that old man.
And why wouldn’t he? Gramp had been there for him all his life, had become his only parent when his mom and dad had died in a car accident when he was eight.
Gramp had given him hugs as well as a whack on his rear when he’d needed them. He’d taught Zach ranching and manners.
He’d taught him to be a man.
And Zach had failed him.
The one thing Gramp had wanted was for Zach to marry. To provide sons to carry on the ranch traditions that had gone on for four generations. He’d tried. Five years ago, he’d married a beautiful woman, sure he’d found his own true love.
He snorted in disgust That marriage hadn’t worked out. No marriage. No heirs.
Which brought him back to Susan Greenwood.
An hour later, he settled into the dining room of the hotel and ordered a steak with all the trimmings. He’d talked to the doctor before he’d come down to dinner and Gramp was holding his own, looking forward to Zach’s arrival that evening with his fiancée.
Gramp was like a dog with one bone. He never left it alone. He wanted great-grandsons.
Too bad making babies wasn’t part of the deal with Susan, he decided with a wry smile. The lady was one tasty morsel. But he’d had enough of women with cash-register hearts. He might enjoy a night spent with one every once in a while. Hell, he was a man. But he wasn’t about to give any of them legal or emotional control over him or anything that belonged to him.
But Gramp’s happiness was important to him.
That was why he was dressed in a sport coat, slacks, crisp white shirt and, worst of all, a tie. He hated those things. But tonight was important. If he’d come to the hospital in his jeans to introduce his fiancee, Gramp would be offended.
After paying his bill, he settled his Stetson on his head and headed for the rental car. Since he’d traveled on the helicopter with Gramp to Kansas City, he didn’t have his pickup with him. Instead, he had to fit his big frame into a four-door sedan.
He’d gotten directions from the concierge before leaving the hotel, just to be sure he had the right area of town. As he drove, the neighborhoods changed from the elegant to the barely habitable.
Pulling up in front of an apartment building with peeling paint and a small patch of grass that hadn’t been mowed any too recently, he frowned. Had he made a mistake? Susan had looked high-class, though he now realized she’d worn no jewelry other than plain gold earrings.
He got out of the car and locked the door. Checking the address once more, he headed for the stairs in the center of the building. When he found the apartment on the second floor, he rapped firmly.
The door swung open, and he had to drop his gaze to look at the person who had opened the door. A little boy stared up at him.
“Hello. I’m looking for Susan Greenwood.”
“Okay. Susan?” the boy called. “He’s here.” Then he turned back around to stare up at Zach. “I’m ready.”
That gave Zach pause. “Uh, okay. Where are you going?”
“With you. But I don’t want to.”
Chapter Two
“Paul, that was ill-mannered. Apologize to Mr. Lowery, please,” Susan called as she entered the living room of their apartment.
Then she looked at Zach Lowery.
Gone was the scruffy outdoorsman in his tight jeans and Western shirt. In his place was a cleans-haven, expensively dressed man. Handsome as sin.
She also realized she recognized him. His picture was in the society pages frequently. But he was usually dressed in a tux with a beautiful woman on his arm.
All that remained of the. cowboy she’d met earlier today was his hat.
“I’m sorry about Paul. but I couldn’t get a sitter. And I promise he’ll be well behaved.” She lifted her chin as she met his glare. Her arm stole around Paul’s thin shoulders, afraid the man would hurt her brother’s feelings.
Zach Lowery looked down at Paul, and Susan was relieved to see his glare soften. “I’m sure he will be. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” she agreed, releasing a sigh of relief. She picked up her purse. As Paul preceded her, she pulled the door closed behind her, making sure it was locked.
“How long have you lived here?” Zach asked as they went down the stairs.
She frowned. Why would he want to know that? She didn’t expect friendship from the man. In fact, she’d decided to keep anything personal out of their agreement. Then she wouldn’t feel quite so bad about taking his money.
“About four years,” she finally said when she couldn’t think of a reason not to answer. This place had been all they could afford after her mother’s death, but she definitely wasn’t going to tell him that.
“It’s not a very safe neighborhood.”
“I thought you didn’t live in Kansas City,” she said, not about to have an out-of towner criticize her home.
“We’re only about fifty miles out of town. I do come to Kansas City occasionally,” he assured her dryly.
“Yes, I’ve seen you in the society pages.”
He ignored her words and led the way to a shiny blue car.
“Wow,” Paul said with a sigh. “I like your car.”
Susan hurriedly hid her smile. Considering the wreck she drove, Paul’s enthusiasm was understandable. Zach Lowery probably couldn’t understand his reaction.
“It’s a rental, but thanks,” he said, smiling at her brother.
Maybe he was a nice man, after all. She hadn’t been sure after he had left the diner.
He came to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. Such attention flustered her. She wasn’t used to it. “Oh, I have to make sure Paul gets his seat belt on,” she said, not slipping into the seat as he expected.
“I can fasten my own seat belt,” Paul protested. He was definitely well past the helpless stage.
“Of course you can. And I’ll show you how these work. They’re a little tricky,” the man said with a kind smile. He waited until Susan had gotten seated, closed her door, then opened the door for Paul. Susan turned and watched over her shoulder as the two males conferred over the seat belt.
Once they were under way, she cleared her throat. After doing some thinking about the evening in front of her, she’d concluded she and her co-conspirator needed to get their stories straight. “I think we need to talk.”
“Want more money?” he asked in a low voice that she hoped Paul couldn’t hear.
“No! I meant we should match our stories. I don’t know anything about you. Or you me.”
“I’m thirty-three, been married once and divorced after three miserable years. No children. I live at the ranch. I attended Kansas University. I like sports, country-western music and beautiful women.” He clicked off his preferences in a rapid-fire fashion, leaving Susan stunned.
When she said nothing, trying to sort out the information he’d given her, he said, “Well? Aren’t you going to tell me about yourself?”
“Of course, I—I’m twenty-five. I work for the Lucky Charm Diner and Catering Company. I’m doing public relations and—and the advertising campaign. I graduated from the University of Missouri here in Kansas City.”
He pulled the car into the hospital parking lot. “And you have Paul.”
Susan realized he was under the misapprehension that Paul was her son, but what did it matter? Paul was hers, whether she’d given birth to him or not. And it eliminated the need to reveal her mother’s sordid past. That information was definitely personal.
“Grampwon’t have the strength to ask much,” he continued. “I’ll do all the talking. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll make one up. After all, he... it won’t matter what I say.”
The emotion in his voice was the sexiest thing about Zach Lowery, and that was saying a lot. He was a man who cared about his grandfather. to the point of doing anything to ensure his happiness.
She nodded.
“Is your grandfather sick?” Paul asked from the back seat
She started to hush her brother, but Zach answered first.
“Yeah, buddy, he is.”
“Are the doctors going to make him better?”
This time Susan spoke first “Paul, you mustn’t ask questions right now. And be very quiet in the hospital. Some people will be trying to sleep.”
He liked the kid.
And Susan was right He was well behaved.
Zach led the way down the long corridor to the intensive care unit Susan followed, holding Paul’s hand. “Is there a lounge where Paul can wait?” she whispered, surprising him.
“He can go in with us. They won’t stop us. Gramp knows the right. people.” When they reached the door, Zach signaled to one of the nurses.
“The doctor said we could see my grandfather,” he said softly, sure the doctor had left word with the nurse. He didn’t want any battles tonight. But there would be one if they tried to interfere.
“Yes, Mr. Lowery. The doctor warned us. Come this way.”
She led them into a bare room, the only furniture a large bed in the center. His grandfather looked so small, lying there with tubes in him. He’d always been a big man, strong and active.
“Gramp?” Zach said softly as he moved to the head of the bed, touching his grandfather’s shoulder.
The old man came awake slowly. “Huh? That you, boy?” he asked groggily.
Zach fought to keep tears from his eyes. “Yeah, it’s me, Gramp. I kept my promise. I brought Susan to see you.” He motioned for Susan to join him, watching his grandfather as she stepped forward. The sudden spark in the old man’s eyes told Zach he’d done the right thing.
“Hello, Mr. Lowery,” Susan said softly, her voice husky and sweet. Without any prompting, she reached out and clasped his wrinkled hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Me, too, girl. Me, too.” He struggled to sit up, and Susan quickly helped him arrange another pillow beneath his head.
“Would you like me to raise the bed a little?”
“Yeah, that’d be good.” He leaned back in relief.
Zach watched as Susan helped his grandfather get comfortable. He was getting his money’s worth, he’d have to say that.
“Who’s that?” Pete Lowery demanded, staring at Paul, who’d followed Susan around the end of the bed.
Zach had forgotten about the boy.
Susan spoke before he could think what to say. “Paul’s mine. I think he’s the reason Zach hadn’t said much about me. He wasn’t sure how you’d feel about a ready-made family.”
Zach stared at her, stunned by her words. Her explanation made sense, but he hadn’t planned out that much in advance.
“Shame on you, Zach. You know I love kids. Come here, boy. What’s your name?”
Susan eased Paul forward, holding his shoulders as he stood next to the bed.
“Paul,” the little boy whispered.
“You’d be about what, seven, eight years old?”
“Eight.”
“Your ma must’ve been a baby when you were born,” Pete teased.
Paul didn’t know how to answer, turning to look at Susan.
“Yeah, she was,” Zach answered, deciding it was time he took over the conversation. “Has the doctor been in to see you? How did he say you were doing?”
Pete waved away Zach’s questions. “Don’t want to talk about that stuff. Susan, tell me, has this scalawag been good to you?”
She smiled. “Very good.”
As well she should say, Zach thought cynically. She was being well paid. But he had to admit she was giving great value. Gramp liked her, he could tell.
“So why haven’t—” Pete broke off and grimaced, drawing Zach’s attention.
“You shouldn’t talk so much,” he urged, stepping closer and touching his grandfather’s shoulder. Susan stepped forward and tucked in the cover that had come loose.
“Nonsense. It was just a twinge,” Pete insisted. “I want to know when you two are going to get hitched.”
“What’s ‘hitched’ mean?” Paul asked, looking puzzled.
“Married, boy, married. Don’t you want a new daddy?” Pete asked, his gaze on Paul’s face.
Zach almost swallowed his tongue. “Uh, Gramp, that’s not, I mean, we haven’t set a date.”
“Why not? You’re not getting any younger. Me, neither.” He sighed, sort of fading into the pillows, which only underlined to Zach how little time he had left with his grandfather.
“That’s not important right now. We want to concentrate all our attention on getting you well.”
“You want to get me well? Then get yourself married to this little lady. Now, before it’s too late for me to see you happy.” His breathing was becoming noisier and his eyes were closing.
“I think your grandfather is tiring himself out,” Susan said, her soft hands pulling the covers higher again before she tenderly cupped Pete’s cheek. “You need to rest, Mr. Lowery. Paul and I will go to the waiting room and give you a little time alone with Zach.”
Pete’s eyes came open again. “You’re a sweetheart, Susan. You take good care of my boy, okay?”
She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You just take care of yourself. Zach’s a big boy. He’ll be all right.”
Pete chuckled, a sound Zach hadn’t been sure he’d ever hear again. “Yep, you’re a sweetheart.”
Zach’s gaze met Susan’s as she and Paul walked past him. On a sudden urge, he caught her arm and bent down to brush her lips with his.
He only did it to persuade Gramp everything was on the up-and-up. And to thank Susan for a great performance. His action had nothing to do with the fact that he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind all afternoon. Or those luscious lips of hers.
Nope, nothing to do with those things.
Thankfully she wasn’t facing Gramp, because she appeared startled by his action.
“I’ll be out in a few minutes,” he assured her, and winked at Paul.
They slipped from the room.
“Now, tell me why you haven’t married her,” Gramp ordered, his voice sounding much stronger all of a sudden.
“Why did that man kiss you?” Paul asked as soon as they were in the waiting room.
“Because—because he—I don’t know.” Susan knew, but she didn’t want to explain to Paul that she and Zach were lying to Zach’s grandfather.
“I like him.”
She looked at her little brother in surprise. The few times she’d accepted a date, Paul had been...difficult. “Zach?”
“Yeah. And his grandfather, too. Why don’t I have a grandfather?”
It wasn’t the first time Paul had questioned her about his family. She gave her standard answer. “You had two grandfathers, just like everyone else. sweetie, but they died before you were born.”
“Oh.”
“Look, here’s a television. Want me to turn it on? I think Monday night football is playing.”
“Okay.”
Paul wasn’t very enthusiastic, because he intended to be a baseball player, but football was better than nothing.
And maybe it would keep him from asking more uncomfortable questions.
Half an hour later, Zach came into the room.
“How is he?” she asked, surprised at how much she cared about the old man’s health. After all, she didn’t really know him.
“Better. The doctor’s with him now.” He paced around the room, impatient, ignoring both her and Paul.
“Your grandfather is a nice man,” Paul said softly, his gaze following Zach’s movement rather than the football game.
Susan feared Zach might be irritated by Paul’s comment, because it interrupted his private battles. Instead, the man walked over to Paul and touched his shoulder. “Yeah. He is, isn’t he?” Then he sat down by Paul.
“What’s the score?”
The little boy supplied the information, and the two bonded in typical male fashion.
Then the doctor came into the room.
Zach bounded up from the couch and met the doctor before he’d made much progress into the room. Susan couldn’t hear their conversation, but she watched them all the same.
Finally the doctor left the room.
“I’m going to say good-night to Gramp. I’ll be back in a minute,” Zach murmured.
“Then we’ll go home?” Paul asked, yawning. “I’m sleepy.”
“Then we’ll go home, sweetie,” Susan responded as Zach left the room. “Thanks for being so good.”
“It’s okay. I’m going to pretend Gramp is my grandfather. Is that okay, Susan? I won’t tell him, but since I don’t have a grandfather, I’ll just pretend.”
Susan gave her brother a hug. “As long as you don’t say anything to Zach or his grandfather, then that’s okay.”
Zach returned. “Ready to go?”
Susan studied his grim face as she helped Paul off the sofa. Something was wrong. She feared the doctor’s news hadn’t been good. “Do you want us to take a taxi home, so you can stay here?”
“No. They have my number and will call if there’s any change.” His words were abrupt, clipped, as if he were out of patience.
She made no more suggestions.
Once they were in the car, heading back to her apartment, she asked, “Are you going back to the ranch tonight?”
“No, I’m staying in town.”
He didn’t volunteer where, and she didn’t ask. If she’d had more room, she would’ve offered to let him stay with them, but somehow she couldn’t see Zach Lowery stretched out on their lumpy couch.
There were several men hanging around outside the apartment building when they pulled up, and Zach scowled in their direction. “This isn’t a safe neighborhood.”
Susan, recognizing Manuel’s father, smiled and waved before turning to Zach. “We’re perfectly safe. Those are some of our neighbors.”
Opening the car door, she slipped out of the car and reached for Paul’s door. Before she could get the boy out, Zach was at her side.
“I’ll walk you upstairs.”
“Really, that’s not necessary.” She started to thank him for a lovely evening until she realized she’d been working, not socializing.
“Yes, it is. I need to pay you.”
He sounded angry. Fine, she didn’t have to take the rest of the money. The first check would help her out of some financial difficulty. She opened her mouth to tell him, but he grabbed Paul’s hand and her arm and started them toward the stairs at a fast clip.
“You’re going too fast,” Paul protested.
Without a word, Zach swung the boy up into his arms, then reattached himself to Susan’s arm.
“Wow, you’re strong,” Paul said in awe.
For the first time since Zach Lowery had come into her life, he smiled, and Susan realized handsome didn’t begin to describe him.
“You weigh a lot less than a bale of hay, Paul,” he said to her brother. “You need to eat more.”
“Susan says I eat lots and lots,” the boy said with a giggle.
“Why do you call her Susan?” Zach asked, frowning.
“’Cause that’s her name,” Paul said simply.
Susan could’ve explained then that Paul was her brother, not her son, but the stairway didn’t seem like a good place for such a private conversation. And she needed to keep her distance from such a handsome man—not get closer.
She got out her keys to open the door, relieved when Zach let go of her arm. His touch had bothered her. As the door swung open, she turned. “Thank you for seeing us to our door. I hope your grandfather’s condition improves.”
She pulled Paul in front of her and turned to go in, but she discovered Zach wasn’t ready to leave. He followed her in.
“We need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Payment, for one thing. Aren’t you interested in the rest of your money?” He gave her a sardonic stare.
Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head. “I think your first check was sufficient. I didn’t do that much tonight..”
“You more than fulfilled your end of the bargain. Put the boy to bed. Then we’ll talk.”
She didn’t like him giving orders. But he was right. It was past Paul’s bedtime, and the boy’s eyelids were drooping. “Come on, Paul, let’s get you tucked in. And you can read for a little while.”
He was about to protest until she’d tacked on the reward of reading. Paul loved books. “Can I read all of Peter Pan?”
That was his longest book and would prolong going to sleep for almost an hour. With a tender smile, she agreed. “Okay, but don’t blame me if you don’t want to get up in the morning.”
“Do you have any Hank, the Cow Dog books?” Zach suddenly asked.
Paul halted on his way out of the room, a frown on his face. “No. Who’s that?”
“I’ll send you a couple. They’re stories about a cow dog named Hank who takes care of a ranch.”
“Wow!” Paul exclaimed, using his favorite word. “That’d be neat. When will you—”
“Paul,” Susan intervened. “Say thank you.”
“Thank you,” he repeated, and flew across the room to hug Zach around the waist. “I can’t wait.”
Zach rubbed the boy’s head. “I’ll see that you get them right away.”
With a bright smile on his face, Paul ran out of the room. Susan, after sending Zach an apologetic smile, followed him. Zach didn’t realize what a treat new books were to Paul
But she did. Gratitude filled her as she followed her brother.
What an appealing kid. He’d call a bookstore in the morning and have them send over whatever “Hank” books they had on hand.
As memory of what had occurred this evening came back, Zach began to pace the small room. What happened next depended a lot on Susan. And it could be costly to him. But he’d already invested ten thousand dollars in his grandfather’s happiness. And it had paid off.
When he’d left tonight, Gramp was more relaxed than he’d been in quite a while. And he’d had a smile on his face.
Susan came back into the room.
“Is Paul in bed?”
“Yes. Thank you for offering to send him a book. He loves them.”
“No problem.”
There was an awkward moment as Zach tried to think of how to approach the difficult subject.
“Well,” Susan said, a false brightness in her voice, “I won’t keep you. I’m sure it’s been a long day.”
“Yes, it has, but we still have to talk.” He reached in his coat pocket and pulled out his checkbook. Whether she agreed to his plan or not, she had earned the rest of her money for tonight.
“Oh, no! No more is necessary. I mean, the first check was very generous. And I didn’t do much.”
He stared at her, speculation in his eyes. In his experience, women didn’t usually turn down money, whether they’d earned it or not. She must have some scheme already worked out in her head.
“You earned it.”
“No, really. Your grandfather is a very nice man. I enjoyed meeting him.”
“You brought him a lot of happiness.” He wrote out the check and ripped it out. “Here.”
“Zach, really, I don’t feel right about taking the check.”
“You’ll change your mind when you hear what I’m going to ask you to do next.”
Chapter Three
Susan stared at him, confused. “You mean you want me to visit your grandfather again?”
“Well, that’s part of it,” he said, not quite meeting her gaze.
“I’ll be glad to visit him, but—”
“We have to get married.”
He said those words calmly, in a normal tone of voice, as if what he said made sense.
She stared at him. “What did you say?”
“I said we have to get married.”
She sank down onto the lumpy sofa, not sure her legs would hold her any longer. “That’s—that’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah.”
That was all, just that one laconic word, as if his bizarre statement didn’t need any more comment. Slowly, she extended her hand, the one that held the check. “I think you’d better take this and go, Mr. Lowery.”
“And break an old man’s heart?” he asked softly, staring at her.
She immediately pictured Pete Lowery in his hospital bed, a sweet smile on his wrinkled face. “No! No, I don’t want to...your grandfather...what are you talking about?”
“Gramp wants us to get married in his hospital room so he can be present. He said it’s the only thing he’ll ever ask of me. He begged me.”
She didn’t need to see the anguish in his eyes. It was in his voice. And she could feel it in her heart. “Oh, Zach, I’m sorry. That’s terrible.”
He crossed the room to sit down beside her. “I knew you’d understand. You were terrific tonight. You’ll handle it well.”
Suddenly things had gotten very personal. Exactly what she hadn’t intended. “No! I mean, I didn’t say I’d do it. You can’t—It would be wrong to marry. No, I can’t do it!” Just the thought of marrying Zach Lowery put her in a tizzy.
“How much?”
His cynical question, accompanied by a look that only underlined his opinion, brought sanity to Susan. “I don’t want your money. And I don’t want to lie to Mr. Lowery anymore. Go find someone else to play games with you.”
He stood and paced across the room. “Good negotiating tactics, Susan. Refuse to do the job when you know you’re the only one who can. He’s already met you, believes you’re my fiancée. I’m supposed to appear with another woman and convince him I’ve found a new fiancée in less than twenty-four hours?”
She bowed her head. trying to think through the situation she’d gotten herself into. “Okay. I realize you can’t get anyone else. Can you talk your grandfather out of the marriage? Maybe we can—”
Anger filled his voice. “Sure I could. I’ll just go tell him to forget it. I don’t care if he dies happy. That’ll do the trick.”
She squared her jaw. He didn’t have to be so...so difficult. “All right. Can we hire an actor to play the minister? Fake the marriage?”
“Gramp wants our minister from home to perform the ceremony.”
“And you’re willing to go ahead with this?”
“I have no choice. So, we’re back to that question I asked earlier. How much? Because I can assure you, you won’t be getting half my net worth, or my ranch from this...marriage. I’ll be generous, but not that generous. Then when...when the pretense isn’t necessary any longer, we’ll part company.”
Susan closed her eyes. The man was serious. “Did the doctor say how long?” She felt like a monster, asking that question, but she had to know.
“No,” he responded, his voice a growl. “He said he couldn’t make any predictions.”
“So we get married, but nothing changes, right? It’s a marriage in name only?”
He stepped closer. “It’ll be whatever kind of marriage you want, honey. I wouldn’t turn down a little... sharing, but whatever kind of marriage it is, it ends when Gramp—when it’s not necessary anymore.”
She felt her cheeks flame as she considered his sardonic words. “Sharing” with this man would be devastating, or it would be when it ended. Somehow she knew that, probably because she shivered every time he touched her.
“No ‘sharing.’ We’ll do what it takes for your grandfather to believe we’re happily married, but that’s all.” She lifted her chin and stared him in the eyes. She wanted no misunderstandings.
“You still haven’t answered my question. How much?”
She held up the check she still had in her hands. “This will do.”
“Come on, honey,” he said, but his tone of voice didn’t match the sweetness of his words, “you could get enough to move out of this dump.”
“Please don’t refer to my home in such a derogatory manner,” she protested stiffly, straightening her spine.
He stared at her, disbelief in his eyes, but she didn’t care. She refused to say anything else.
“Okay, fine,” he snapped. “Tomorrow night. Gramp has the connections to speed things up. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty again. Wear something bridal.” Then he stomped out of her apartment, slamming the door behind him.
The next day, Susan stared at herself in the mirror. Something bridal. She only hoped the dress she’d chosen was what Zach Lowery had had in mind.
At first, she’d tried to find something in her limited wardrobe that she could wear. The closest she came was a blue wool suit. But since it was late August, she didn’t think that would do.
Finally, she’d taken her lunch hour today and found an ivory dress, roaring twenties style, that Megan could use for parties at college. They were about the same size.
She’d added a wisp of a veil anchored to an ivory rose and ivory silk shoes.
And, most important of all, she’d kept quiet about her impending nuptials. She knew if she told Kate and Maggie, they’d insist she take their money, instead of earning it from Zach. And making his grandfather happy.
A rap on the door had her knees shaking. She drew a deep breath and, after checking the peephole, opened the door for Zach Lowery in a tux.
She didn’t know how much more she could take.
He looked her up and down and smiled. “Nice.”
“Thanks.” She picked up her ivory bag and moved past him, waiting for him to move so she could lock the door.
“Where’s Paul?”
“He’s with a sitter.”
“Gramp will expect him with us.”
She’d thought about what she should do, but she felt it would be difficult for Paul to understand about the fake marriage. “I don’t want to upset him.”
“I don’t, either. Either one of them. But Paul has to come. Gramp not only wouldn’t understand why he wasn’t there, but he also wants him there. He likes him.”
“And Paul likes him. But how are you going to explain this situation to an eight-year-old?”
“We’ll tell him the truth. We’re getting married for a little while. For Gramp’s sake.” He stood there stern and unyielding, waiting for her to give in.
And she did. The situation was so bizarre, she couldn’t decide what was right or wrong. With a sigh, she crossed the landing and knocked on Rosa’s door.
When her friend answered, she told her Paul was going with her, instead of staying with them.
“Paul!” Rosa called over her shoulder. Then she turned back to Susan. “You look like a bride. Is there something you haven’t told me?”
Susan barely smiled. “I’ll have to explain later,” she said as her brother appeared. “Paul, there’s been a change in plans. You’re coming with Zach and me. I need you to hurry up and change.”
“Wow! You look neat, Susan,” her brother said, staring at her.
“Thanks, sweetie. Go put on the slacks and shirt you wore last night. I hung them in your closet.”
“But Manuel and me was gonna watch the baseball game,” he said, frowning.
“Now, Paul,” she said quietly but sternly.
His shoulders slumping, he crossed the hallway to their apartment,
“Huay, please,” she called after him. She said good-night to Rosa and headed back to her own apartment in case Paul needed her.
Zach caught her arm as she moved past him. “Thank you for giving in on this. I want things to be perfect for Gramp.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I need you to sign this, too,” he said, reaching inside his tux jacket as he followed her inside.
She frowned as he extended a paper to her. Taking it, she unfolded it and skimmed the contents. “I said you didn’t have to pay me any more money!” The paper was an agreement stating that she would marry him for an additional ten thousand dollars. When the marriage ended, she would not be eligible for any more compensation.
“That’s your only complaint?” he asked, one eyebrow rising.
“Why would I complain? I agreed to these terms last night without the extra money.” And she found his assumption that she would want more insulting.
“Okay. Here’s a pen.”
She snatched it from his hand. Fine. She’d sign his silly agreement. And if he really did pay her an additional ten thousand dollars, she’d be able to pay Megan’s room and board the second semester, too.
She handed him the signed paper with no comment, and they stood in silence until Paul reappeared.
“You forgot to change your shoes, buddy,” Zach said as the little boy finished buttoning up his shirt.
Paul looked at Susan, a puzzled look on his face.
“Those are the only shoes Paul has,” she said softly.
Her cheeks flushed as he stared her up and down, no doubt assessing the cost of her attire. She didn’t try to explain that she’d used part of his money to look nice for the occasion.
“Sorry, Paul, you look fine. Ready to go? By the way, I’ve got those books I promised you in the car.”
The boy’s face lit up. “Wow! Really?”
“Really,” Zach said with a smile.
He might be a jerk with her, but he was kind to Paul. Susan swallowed her anger.
“Why do I have to go?” Paul asked. “Susan said tonight was only for adults.”
“Well, Susan was wrong. It’s for adults and one special little boy. I’ll explain all about it in the car.”
Zach was making plans to take Paul on a shopping trip before he walked out of his life again. The woman beside him, looking pure and innocent in her bridal attire, probably would spend all the money he’d paid her on herself.
“When are you going to explain?” Paul asked, drawing his attention.
“Sorry, Paul, I forgot. My grandfather really wants me to get married. But I don’t have time to find a real bride, so Susan is going to pretend to be my wife. To make Gramp happy. Can you keep our secret?”
“Sure. But why do I have to be there?”
“Well, if it were your mom’s real wedding, you’d be there, wouldn’t you?” He smiled in the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, I guess, if she was alive,” Paul said with a sigh. “All my family is dead ’cept Susan and Megan.”
Zach almost lost control of the steering wheel in his shock. Then he turned to stare at Susan. “You’re not his mother?”
“No, I’m his sister and legal guardian.” She never even looked at him.
“Why didn’t you say that last night?” It galled him that she’d kept the truth from him.
“You didn’t ask, and I didn’t think it mattered.”
“Who is Megan?” he snapped, too irritated to respond to her remark.
“She’s our sister,” Paul said from the back seat. “She’s gone away to school.”
“School?” Zach asked softly, looking at Susan.
“She’s a freshman at the University of Nebraska.”
“Damn it! We’re being married tonight. Don’t you think you could’ve told me these things earlier?” He felt like he’d been blindsided.
This time she looked at him. Then she coolly asked, “What difference does it make?”
Her question stumped him. She was right. Her family information would have no affect on him. This marriage wasn’t real. So why did it bother him?
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Judy Christenberry
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: LUCKY CHARM SISTERSKATEMAGGIESUSANDESPERATELY SEEKING CINDERELLA…Susan Greenwood had expected a tip, not an offer of marriage! But how could the down-on-her-luck beauty resist when rich-as-a-prince Zach Lowery proposed to her in the middle of the Lucky Charm Diner?Then she got her answer–it was just a role she had to play to soothe Zach′s dying grandfather. But Zach never expected his pretend wife to tie him in knots with her selfless gestures and warm embraces. And soon this cynical rancher found himself trying to find a way to make a real future…a real family…with his Cinderella bride.The Lucky Charm Sisters: A boss, a brain and a beauty. Three sisters marry for convenience…but will they find love?