Читать книгу The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine - Sara Orwig - Страница 13

“Icouldn’t possibly!” she exclaimed while she stared at the date circled—next Saturday. “This is Monday! This week—not even a full week to get ready for the biggest event in my life, a complete life change, an enormous wedding with your relatives and friends. Impossible!” she exclaimed, trying to ignore a feeling of panic that surged while she reminded herself this had been her idea and she was getting what she desired.

Part of her wanted to ask for a year to get ready. The other part would like the wedding as soon as possible, to lock her into the Ransome family before something happened that changed Matt’s mind or made the wedding impossible. Next weekend—it sounded the same as tomorrow.

His blue gaze settled on her. “You’re quiet. Getting cold feet?”

“Never,” she replied emphatically. “I want this with all my heart.”

While they looked solemnly at each other, she knew they each had different goals for their futures. And they each would fight for what he or she wanted. She knew that, too.

He glanced at his watch. “We should select invitations today. I’ll get a list of guests and get someone at the Ransome office to address the invitations and get them out at once.”

“Matt, we can’t do this in a few days. Give me another week at least.”

“All right. The date will be the following Saturday,” he said with assurance in his tone. “Let’s go. I have calls to make, and you can shop for your wedding dress. We can meet back at the hotel for a late lunch around one. When we fly home, we’ll go to Fort Worth and open a bank account for you. How’s that?” As he talked, he fished his billfold out of his pocket, withdrew a credit card and flipped it over on the table so it landed in front of her. “Buy whatever you want,” he said casually and she stared at him. “Or if you don’t find what you want, we can go to Fort Worth to shop. Or Dallas.”

“I’ll find something,” she said, quietly. “Thank you.”

“And you’re surprised again, aren’t you? You must think I’m a green-headed ogre.”

“No. I’m simply amazed you’re so generous when you’re angry with me. And I didn’t know your family had such wealth,” she said.

He gave her a dubious look. “C’mon. That’s common knowledge in the county. It runs back to the fortune my great-granddaddy made on cattle and land.”

She shook her head. “Your brother flashed money, but no more than a lot of other cowboys and until he left for the mountain trek, he didn’t do anything that made him look particularly prosperous except play poker. He never took me home with him, so yesterday was the first time I’ve ever seen the Ransome ranch.”

Matt shrugged and gave her a rueful smile. “You get your way on the future for both of us, so why should I stay angry or try to keep things from you when you’ll be my wife next week?”

Wife next week. She was glad she was sitting down because her head spun at the thought of becoming Mrs. Matt Ransome so soon.

“We pick up and go on from here,” Matt continued. “I don’t want revenge because you and I are going to be a unit. From here on, it would be like fighting myself.”

“And you’re not?” she asked softly, unable to resist flirting with him now that their future together was sealed.

“Not what? Fighting myself?”

She smiled at him. “You don’t want to be attracted to me. It aggravates you that you want to kiss me.”

“Maybe so,” he said, leaning close enough again to start her heart pounding. “Sooner or later, we’ll work things out. I just usually manage to get my way and this is one time that I haven’t.”

“Maybe I can keep you from regretting your decision,” she said in a throaty voice. “If we both try, Matt, we can have a good marriage.”

He wrapped his fingers around her hand again. “I’d like that,” he said and leaned close. “Just remember, I warned you that I’m not going to love again. And remember the old saying: ‘All’s fair in love and war’. You’ve had all the forewarning that I need to give.”

“And so have you,” she said with a smile. With her free hand she stroked his nape lightly.

His eyes darkened, and she knew she was taunting a tiger that could bound to life and devour her heart so easily. “I’m beginning to look forward to this, Olivia,” he said softly. “And I look forward to our wedding night and having you in my arms.” While he talked he reached up to wind locks of her hair in his fingers, tugging so lightly, yet making her aware of his touch.

Her pulse raced and her mouth was dry. “Twelve days from now, I hope we know each other better.”

“You’ve learned a lot about me already and I know some about you. And I’ll answer any question you want.”

She tilted her head to think a moment. She was curious about him and had a multitude of questions, but she tried to choose the most urgent. “Are you still in love with your ex?” she asked, and a shake of his head gave her pleasure.

“Not even in the tiniest fraction. If she wanted to come back tomorrow, I wouldn’t want her to, but she won’t want to. She’s in love with her job. And then with herself. When we were married, I made a threesome.” He waited expectantly.

“When you were growing up, did you and your siblings get along with your father?”

“Well enough,” he answered easily. “Our father can be a dictator and a lot of people are cowed when they deal with him, but we’ve grown up with him and his fiery temper and determination.”

“Are any of you a lot like him?”

“I hope not,” Matt replied. “You can ask me more later. Right now, let’s go,” he said, gathering his papers and standing, coming around to hold her chair.

As soon as they separated, Olivia began shopping for a wedding dress.

When she slipped the cool silk of the first one over her head, her heart thudded at the sight of her image.

The white dress was a dream. Tendrils of her hair had tumbled free and fell around her face and she had to admit that she thought she looked pretty, but it was the wedding dress and what it symbolized that held her speechless. She was dressing for her wedding for a marriage of convenience that she was going to contract to for the rest of her life. With a man who was angry with her, accustomed to getting his own way, and determined to avoid ever falling in love with her.

Would her baby’s future be worth what she was willing to sacrifice, Olivia asked herself, because she suspected that no matter what she did or felt, Matt Ransome wasn’t going to fall in love with her. The image in the mirror that stared back at her was a wide-eyed woman in a wedding dress about to marry—in less than two weeks—in a loveless marriage.

If she had good sense, she would guard her heart, too, she thought, turning to look over her shoulder at the dress. She guessed it would take a long, long time for Matt to forgive her for pushing him into this marriage of convenience.

Would his family accept her?

She suspected that would be one of the least of her problems.

She removed the dress and tried one that was white satin with a full skirt and cathedral train. Every moment of the past two days had held a dreamlike quality, but seeing herself in wedding dresses was surreal. She was going to marry a week from Saturday!

She ignored the pang that tore at her heart. This wasn’t what she had planned for herself, but then nothing had gone as planned since she had met the first Ransome.

An hour later, she found the dress she wanted and knew she needed to look no further. She turned first one way and then another as she studied her reflection while she smoothed the skirt to a white sleeveless silk with a low-cut V-neck and straight, plain lines with a removable train. The simple elegance and flattering style made it the dress she wanted.

In another hour her head spun with her purchases of a veil, shoes and wisps of lacy undergarments. She stopped in a bookstore to select some books on pregnancy and baby care. When she glanced at her watch, she realized she would have to race to get back in time to meet Matt at the hotel.

When she arrived, he was in the lobby, seated with papers spread in his lap. At any moment she expected him to back out of their bargain. Soon she would be Mrs. Matthew Ransome. When the time came, would he go through with the ceremony?

As she approached him, his gaze assessed her, and she tucked a wayward tendril of hair behind her ear while her pulse jumped.

Watching her cross the lobby, he waited until she was only yards from him. He gathered his things and stood.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said breathlessly. “I have boxes in the cab.”

“You should have called,” he said, walking beside her to go back outside to retrieve her packages.

“I don’t own a cell phone,” she replied, amused that he would automatically assume everyone he knew had a phone. He gave her a quick glance and reached into his pocket to hand her a phone.

“Take mine for now. I can get another easily.” Matt took her arm and she was aware of his body warmth as she walked close beside him. She could detect a hint of barberry aftershave that was as tangible as his hostility. Yet he had accepted her terms. Marriage to a Ransome. One minute she wanted to kick her heels in the air and shout for joy. The next minute she wanted to pack and run.

He opened the cab door to retrieve her packages and move them to the waiting limo. Looking at an enormous box tied in white ribbon, he remarked: “I see you found a wedding dress.”

“Yes, I did and it’s bad luck for you to see me in it before the wedding.”

Matt gave her a mocking grin. “You’re worrying about me seeing your wedding dress?”

“All right, maybe that’s foolish.”

Their limo driver transferred her packages. “You should have let us pick up your wedding dress,” Matt said.

“They placed it in the cab for me and I knew you would get it out,” she said.

When she climbed into the waiting limo, Matt slid into the seat facing her. “Did I tell you this morning that you look beautiful?”

“Thank you,” she replied.

“Perhaps we can make this arrangement halfway work.”

“I hope it works completely,” she admitted, wishing momentarily that she really could have it all—including a marriage with love. “It’ll be a fraudulent marriage in some ways,” she said quietly.

“This morning over breakfast I think we settled that we can make a marriage of convenience more palatable,” he said.

“Maybe with time,” she replied.

“While you shopped, I got a wedding planner,” he said, handing her a slip of paper with a name, address and phone number scrawled on it. “You have an appointment in Fort Worth tomorrow afternoon at one.”

“That was quick.”

“For parties at the ranch we have a regular caterer and a band, so I’ve hired them for the wedding.”

Olivia stared at him and wondered if she was getting entangled with a dynamo who would try to take charge of every aspect of her life.

“You’re giving me a look,” he said. “Do you disapprove?” he asked, startling her by guessing what was running through her mind.

She shook her head. “No, I’m a little overwhelmed.”

“I doubt that,” he remarked drily. “I’ve contacted our family minister and we’ll have the reception at the ranch.”

“You’ve done it all,” she said. “Except buy my wedding dress.”

He shook his head. “Not quite. We both need to get attendants. The wedding planner will have a florist and a photographer and you can arrange with her for the wedding cake. The big deal is telling my family. I suspect it may be a bombshell. I’ll warn you right now, my dad may be difficult. Katherine might be, too, but it’s dad who intimidates people. If you want, I’ll see to it that you never see him without me until after the wedding.”

Amused, she gazed at Matt. “You think he’ll scare me out of this? If so, I’m surprised you didn’t send him to talk to me before you accepted my proposal.”

Matt smiled. “I don’t think my dad will frighten you away, but you may not want to deal with him alone. I think you’re a match for him which is saying something, believe me. Not many people can hold their own with him, but I bet you will. And if Katherine gives you a hard time, I’ll deal with her, too. As soon as we get back to the ranch, I’ll call them.”

“Fine,” Olivia said, wondering what kind of confrontations she would have with his family.

“When you become my wife, you won’t need that law degree,” he remarked.

Startled, she gazed back at him in silence while she thought about it. “I want to get an education. With the arrangement we have, I don’t know what I’ll need in the future.”

“You can think about it,” he said. “I moved my afternoon appointment with my attorney to tomorrow morning at ten. We’ll both meet with him to go over the prenuptial agreement.”

“That’s fine, too.”

Soon they boarded the private jet. When the plane taxied down the runway and soared into the air, she looked down at the city spread below and knew she would never forget the past night or today. Her gaze lifted to the expanse of blue sky that stretched endlessly in her view.

Once they were airborne, she heard him writing and turned away from the window to see him poring over his notes. Until he wanted her to talk to him about something specific, she was going to look out the window. It was her second flight in an airplane and she was still dazzled by it.

“Olivia,” he said and a tingle spiraled in her.

“Yes?” she replied, giving him her attention.

“I want you to agree now that you’ll stay with me. I don’t want you to get your law degree and then take your child, divorce me and move away. Of course, if you’re going, I can’t hold you, but I want in the prenup that you won’t get anything of mine if you leave. And I’ll want joint custody.”

“That’s fair enough. I’m sure I can find legal work in this area. I want to practice law when I pass my bar exams.”

“I can keep a child with me a lot of the time when I’m on the ranch.”

“You don’t know the first thing about taking care of a child, do you?” she asked.

“Nope, but I can learn. What kind of experience have you had in child care?” he asked, and her cheeks flushed hotly.

“Maybe none, but this morning I bought some baby books that I intend to study. Also, I think that child care is more likely to come to me innately than to you,” she replied with a haughty air.

“We won’t argue that one. Time will tell,” he replied, drawing circles on her knee with his finger. She was aware of his touch and the warmth of his gaze and she wanted to lean toward him, to brush his lips with hers.

“Later this month I’m in a rodeo in Jet. The event is bronc riding. Will you come watch me ride?”

She nodded. “You always say your brother was the wild one. Seems to me bronc riding is on the wild side.”

“Not so much. We do that on the ranch just for the fun of it.”

She turned back to look out the window while she thought about the man she was marrying and what an enigma he was.

The rest of the day was dizzying. As soon as they landed in Fort Worth, Matt whisked her to a bank downtown and they were ushered into a thickly carpeted office where she watched with perspiring palms while Matt signed papers and deposited twenty thousand dollars into an account for her and put the remaining amount of money into a savings account. She was stunned to walk out of the bank a wealthy woman with an account and money to spend any way she so desired.

“Matt,” she said, placing her hand on his arm while he stopped and looked down at her.

“Thank you. I never dreamed I would have money, not until I’d maybe practiced law forever. When I become a lawyer and pass the bar, I’ll repay you,” she said.

“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re getting married. I don’t like having my money and your money. It’s ours. If you contribute, fine. If you keep what you make for yourself, fine. If I marry you—even in a paper marriage, Olivia, then I’ll share my bank account with you unless you go hog wild with it.”

Amazed that he would allow her full access to his fortune, she could only stare in speechless wonder.

“Okay?” he asked when she didn’t respond.

“Of course it’s all right,” she replied hastily. “I am constantly taken aback by your generosity. I can’t even imagine someone sharing like you’re willing to do.”

He stopped and turned to her and she felt as if she were drowning in pools of blue. “Olivia, next week you’ll become my wife. That’s the way you wanted it. We’ll have a bargain that I intend to live by for the rest of my life.”

For the first time, she realized how permanent the approaching marriage of convenience would be. “Suppose you fall in love with someone?” she asked, wondering again what she had gotten herself into—for that matter, gotten both of them into.

“I won’t.”

“You can’t know that! No one knows what will happen when love is involved.”

“I’m not going to fall in love with anyone. My money will be your money as long as you handle it reasonably well. You don’t have to repay the money I put in the bank account for you today.”

“I’m absolutely stunned over what you’re doing,” she admitted, knowing every small detail of this moment would be etched in her memory forever. Wind blew locks of his black hair and his blue eyes were intent on her. A faint smile hovered, deepening creases in his cheeks. Besides Matt, the passing crowd, the sound of cars, the heat of sunshine—she would remember this event that in her wildest imaginings she had never dreamed would happen.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes. Just bowled over by your magnanimity.”

“I’m just doing what I want to do. You can show me your gratitude tonight,” he drawled in a husky, sensual voice that strummed across her nerves and set them quivering. As the same time, his eyes twinkled, so she didn’t know whether he was teasing, goading her into something, or really meant it.

“I’ll think about it,” she said, giving him a saucy toss of her head.

He chuckled softly as she turned to walk to his car.

Finally they returned to the ranch and when they entered the house, Matt tossed his keys on the kitchen counter. “I’ll call my brother and sister tonight. In the meantime, I’ll grill steaks and we can make more plans. Where do you want this dress? You can keep it in another bedroom so it won’t crowd you.”

In minutes they had all her new purchases in another bedroom, and she had agreed as soon as she changed clothing, she would join him for a swim.

While she hurried to get ready for the swim, his words echoed in her head: “You can show me your gratitude tonight.” Had he meant that? Was he going to want sex before the agreed time because of the money he had given her? Or had he been teasing? If sincere, then he was in for a surprise because sex for her new bank account was not part of any bargain they had struck.

Before she left for the pool, she took a long look at herself in the mirror. She had bought a new black two-piece swimsuit that was cut low on her belly, high on her hips. She studied the changes in her body, aware that her breasts were fuller. Her stomach was still flat and she ran her hand over it, thinking about her baby. A girl or a boy? She was beginning to want to know and not wait another six months to be surprised. She wondered whether or not Matt would want to know.

Satisfied with her looks, she twisted her hair and pulled it up in a ponytail. She grabbed her cover-up, a big towel and flip-flops before going to the sparkling blue pool. Matt already had fired up the grill and the smoking mesquite smell was tantalizing.

As she walked across the patio where cool air was piped near the house, Matt bobbed up in the pool, and raked his hair away from his face, giving him a harsher, more rugged look. Water glistened on his broad shoulders, and her pulse began what was becoming a familiar racing.

He watched her approach and her heart thudded at the slow, thorough perusal he gave her from head to toe. His gaze lingered on her breasts and on her stomach, drifting down over her legs and she was on fire by the time she neared the pool.

He pulled himself up out of the water with a splash, sending cold drops sprinkling her. Her pulse was already racing, but now her heart thudded as she looked at him clad in only a scrap of black suit. His skin was tan, glistening with water, muscled, lean and hard. He was studying her, but no more than she was eyeing him and she couldn’t resist staring. While her heart pounded, she marveled again that soon—tonight possibly—she would be in bed with him.

“If I hadn’t seen the doctor’s report myself, I’d never believe you’re pregnant. You don’t show at all,” he said in a husky voice, walking closer.

With each step he took, her drumming pulse beat faster. She barely knew what he said as she looked up at him. They wore only bits of clothing and she knew he was as aware of her bare body as she was of his. And she wanted his lean hard body against hers. She could feel heat creep into her cheeks over the way she had been ogling him.

“How in heaven’s name did you get my doctor’s report? That’s private,” she asked, annoyed. “I may call my doctor about that.”

He shrugged. “Who knows what my P.I. did, but he had the report. Your doctor may not have known someone looked at your record.” Matt jerked his head toward the pool. “Come in. The water’s great.”

He made a running dive into the pool, swimming away from her. She followed, sliding into the cool water to swim. At the end of the pool she clung to the edge, shook water away from her face and found him beside her.

“You’re beautiful, Olivia,” he said in a husky voice. “I think we may have made a damn fine bargain.”

“Those aren’t exactly the magic words that every woman wants to hear two weeks before her wedding.”

His eyebrows arched. “We’re going into this like any business deal. You surely didn’t expect hearts and flowers.”

“No. That’s not one of my stipulations. Last night was great because it was memorable to go out and not be reminded at every turn that what we have between us is a contract.”

“You do want more,” he observed and moved closer. “This is one thing we have between us that isn’t in the contract.”