“He doesn’t want the baby,” Emma spat out, sitting back down, too. “He just wants to hurt Jess some more. He’d do it out of spite.”
“He would.” Jess’s shoulders slumped, and she began to weep again. “I can run away. Hide somewhere so he can’t find us.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Dan told her gently, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. “We’d only need to be married for a couple years, and then we’ll have it annulled. That should be ample time to make it look legitimate – and get him off your back.”
“But I don’t love you.”
“I don’t love you either. We’re talking about keeping the baby safe. Like I said, I’ll adopt it. You won’t have anything to worry about ever again.”
This was not going to go over well with his parents, he thought absently, then pushed the thought aside, and wondered what kind of work would be involved in pulling together a believable wedding in such a short time.
“What do you get out of all of this?” Emma asked suddenly. “It seems to me you lose all the way around. Unless your intentions aren’t as honorable as they seem.”
Dan looked from her to Ty, who was scowling again, flexing his long fingers. An image of his body, broken and bloodied, came to mind. He pushed that thought aside, too.
“I assure you, Mrs. Lanning,” Dan said slowly, rising to his feet. “My intentions are completely honorable.”
“Then, again, what do you stand to gain from this?”
“Peace of mind.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll know I’ve done everything in my power to try and right the serious wrong my brother caused.”
“But marriage? Isn’t that a little drastic?”
“Under the circumstances, what alternative is there? Have her on the run with a defenseless child? Bentley is a wealthy man. If he’s determined, and it seems that he is, he has the means – and motive – to track her down.”
“What makes you so sure he won’t try something even if you and Jess do marry?” This came from Ty.
“I am also a wealthy man. And I have friends who have friends. Between us, he doesn’t have a chance of getting the baby.” He put a finger under Jess’s chin, raising her face to look at him.
“My family owes you a debt we can never repay. This is a small sacrifice on my part, but the only way I know to protect you. I swear it will be in name only, though I hope we might grow to be friends,” he said. “Will you marry me, Jess?”
“Yes,” she whispered, a tense moment later.
Things moved quickly after that. Ty and Emma packed her clothes and personal belongings, while she sat at the table in a state of shock.
Dan told her he and his friends would move her furniture over the weekend. He wasn’t sure how he felt when Ty informed him that he’d be there, too. He’d never considered himself a coward, but he sure hoped the man would learn to trust him someday soon. Very, very soon.
The crowd outside was gone when they carried three suitcases out to Dan’s car. He gave Ty and Emma his phone number and address, with instructions to call or visit whenever they wanted. He was a little offended when Ty demanded to see his driver’s license, but realized none of them knew him at all. They were just trying to make sure Jess would be safe.
~~~~~
Located a couple of miles east of Charlotte, Dan’s house sat well off the road, surrounded by a thick stand of trees. Jess was impressed at the first sight of her new, temporary, home.
An oblong log structure with huge windows and a wide porch running its full length, it looked like it belonged on a Christmas card. Snow-covered pines dotted the two or so acres that made up the yard, and a split rail fence bordered the drive, and sidewalk leading to the front door.
Dan parked the car next to a red vintage Corvette in an attached two-car garage.
“Do you have a vehicle?” he asked, opening her door and giving her a hand out.
“A Cherokee.”
“I’ll have the Vet put into storage so we have room for you to park. Will Monday be soon enough?”
“You don’t have to go to all that trouble. It’s not in a garage now, and it’s fine.”
“I want you to be able to get in the house through here, Jess. I don’t always have time to shovel and salt the walk, and I’d rather not have you skating around out there.”
He opened the door leading to a small mudroom, located off the most magnificent kitchen Jess had ever laid eyes on. Every conceivable, up-to-date appliance, from a dishwasher, to a huge refrigerator, to a crushed icemaker under the counter, to a trash compactor – anything a lover of the culinary arts could require was sitting right here. Yards of cranberry counter top formed a U, with a chopping block island in the center. A breakfast nook lay at the far end, with a honey colored table and chairs centered between the windows.
“There are three bedrooms upstairs,” Dan was saying, as he walked through an equally beautiful dining room to an open stairway. “I have the one on the south end of the hall. I thought we would put you at the other end, with the baby’s room in-between, if that’s all right with you.”
“It sounds fine.”
A balcony ran along the second floor, overlooking the dining and living rooms below. Everything was lovely, tastefully decorated in hues of brown and cream, obviously planned with comfort and relaxation in mind.
“Here it is,” he said, opening the door to her new, temporary room. “It’s pretty basic. We can have it painted or papered, whatever you like.”
“It’s beautiful, Dan.”
White stucco walls with honey-stained trim gave the space a light and airy feel. A gorgeous braided rug lay centered on the shiny hardwood floor, with an antique four-poster bed sitting on it. A nightstand, dresser, and rocking chair were the only other furnishings, but even with no embellishments, Jess loved it and could tell Dan was pleased.
“The bathroom is next to my room, and there’s another downstairs off the family room,” he explained, “so you won’t have to run from one floor to another. Why don’t you make yourself at home while I bring your things up? Check everything out. Get your bearings.” He looked uncomfortable, and without another word, beat a retreat for the garage.
“Well,” Jess sighed, turning in a slow circle. Life had certainly changed over the past twenty-four hours. A baby. A new room in a new house. A fiancée. Nothing would ever be the same again.
Check it out, Dan had said. She wandered out to the hall, peeking in the room next door. A spacious, empty room with the same stucco walls and hardwood floor as hers. Her baby’s first home. How would Dan feel once it had been transformed into a colorful nursery?
The bathroom was next. A huge, oval cranberry colored tub sat in front of a wall of etched, frosted glass, with a glass-enclosed shower stall, big enough for two, in the corner next to it.
There were two doors on the northern wall, the first hid a linen closet. The second, she discovered, was to Dan’s room. Decidedly masculine, it boasted a queen size waterbed, and French doors opening out to a wide terrace.
The sight before her took her breath away. Acres of trees – pines, maples – and oaks, blanketed the property behind the house, and a large pond lay nestled at the edge of the yard, inviting swimmers and skaters alike, depending on the season. Dan’s very own paradise, hers to share for a while. A perfect place to lick her wounds, and get used to the idea of becoming a mother.
“I wondered where you’d gone,” Dan said quietly, coming to stand behind her. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve put your things in your room. Do you want some help unpacking?”
“No. I can manage thanks.” It occurred to Jess that she had trespassed by being in his room, and she turned to apologize. “I’m sorry. I should have asked if it was okay for me to be in here.”
“Don’t worry about it. This is your home now. You’re welcome to check out a
ny room you please.”
“Maybe I should go and unpack,” she murmured. This was the first time she’d been alone in a bedroom with a man since Frank died, and it felt awkward.
“Will you be okay if I run back into Lansing?”
“Of course.” Was he feeling crowded already? As if reading her thoughts, he said,
“I really should let my folks know what’s going on.”
“They aren’t going to be happy about this, are they?” Jess averted her eyes, admiring the details in, of all things, a Thomas KinKade winter print hanging on the wall.
“I don’t suppose they will be. But they’ll understand. And even if they don’t, it’s not their decision to make.”
“Before this goes any further,” she said, looking him in the eye. “I should probably tell you that if we get married, it won’t change how I feel about your brother.”
“I know that.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“No. Bruce knows what he’s done. So do I, and so do my folks. Now you get yourself settled while I get this over with? Do you like pizza?”
“I love it.” Talk about an abrupt about-face.
“I’ll pick one up on my way home. Any preferences for toppings?”
“Whatever you like is fine.”
“Let me put it this way, what don’t you like?”
“Mushrooms and anchovies.”
“Good. They’re not my favorites, either. I won’t be long. I’ll write the number for my cell phone down, and leave it on the counter in case you need to get hold of me.”
And with that, he turned around and headed off on his mission. Jess waited until she heard his footsteps on the stairs before walking back to her room, wishing she had more options. She imagined Dan wished she had a few more, too.
~~~~~
Dan took a deep breath after he rang the doorbell. He’d tried to think of an easy way to tell them during the half hour drive in, but there wasn’t one. It would have to come flat out. The straight truth. Be honest and up front. They would understand – or not. Either way, he was marrying Jess.
“Dan.” Monica Mulholland greeted him with a hug. She looked tired, the strain over Bruce beginning to wear on her. He stroked her blond hair gently.
“How are you doing, Mom?”
“Hanging in there. Come on in before you freeze. Can you stay and visit for a while?”
“Actually, yes. I need to talk to you and Dad. Is he here?”
“In the kitchen. Come on out, and I’ll get you some coffee.” Her blue eyes clouded over when he’d mentioned the word ‘talk,’ and her slender shoulders squared, as though preparing for another blow. The past few days had been rough on her. On all of them.
“Hey, Dad,” Dan said, trying to sound cheerful. Nate Mulholland looked up from the paper he was reading and grinned.
“Hey, yourself. What happened to you this afternoon?” When he’d ‘retired,’ Nate sold the realty company to Dan, but still worked part-time for his son, managing the office when Dan had other business to tend to.
“I needed to take care of something.” He pulled out a chair, turning it around so he could straddle it, and rested his arms on its back. “One of the perks of being your own boss. Thanks, Mom” Monica set a white mug, full-to-the-brim, in front of him before sitting down next to her husband.
Sometimes Dan couldn’t believe that these people were old enough to have kids his age. In their late forties, they’d aged well enough that they didn’t look much older than some of his contemporaries.
“Did you convince Mrs. Bentley to let you help her out? With a baby on the way, we need to make sure she has everything she needs. Maybe your mother and I could go and talk some sense into her.”
“That won’t be necessary, Dad. But she is the reason I’m here. Her father-in-law found out about the baby, and is threatening to fight her for custody.”
“No,” Monica gasped, grasping Dan’s arm. “The poor girl has suffered enough. Why would he do that?”
“Because he hates her. He didn’t want his son to marry her, and now he blames her because he’s dead.” He took a slow breath. “It’s Philip Bentley.”
Dan watched his father’s face when the name finally registered. He paled, and his lips tightened to a thin line. It went right over his mother’s head, because she’d never gotten involved with the business, content to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. But Nate knew who they were dealing with. What the man was capable of.
“But he must know that- that Bruce-” Monica still couldn’t bring herself to say the word murder in conjunction with her youngest son’s name.
“He does. But he’s a hateful man. I spoke with him on the phone this afternoon, and he won’t rest until he’s got his grandchild.”
“Well, we’ll hire a lawyer,” Nate decided, though his tone was resigned. Not many won against Philip Bentley, and he knew it. “She’s lost enough. He can’t take her baby.”
“I don’t think we’ll need a lawyer,” Dan said almost inaudibly. He saw his mother’s hand, holding a coffee mug, begin to shake. Gently, he reached over and took it from her, sitting it down before it sloshed all over the table. “I came up with a solution.”
“What solution” she asked, her face paling.
“I’m going to marry her, and adopt the baby.” His mother’s eyes closed, and his father looked at him as though he’d lost his mind.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am, Dad.”
“It’s one thing to help her out, son. It’s the right thing to do. But giving up your life- It’s too much for her to expect from you.”
“For one thing, it’ll only be for two years. For another, Jess didn’t want to agree. She was ready to run away and hide.”
“Then let her do that,” Monica said quickly. “It makes more sense than tying yourself to a woman you don’t even know.”
“Mom, she wouldn’t be in this position if her husband were alive. Bruce took away her only shield from that monster. All I’m offering is my protection.”
“But marriage? Dan, you can’t.”
“I can and I will, Mom,” he insisted, in a tone that brooked no argument. “I didn’t come here to get your blessing. It’s a done deal. The ceremony will be next Friday.”
“That soon?” He saw her eyes fill with tears, and was sorry he had to add to her pain. “Are you sure about this? Don’t you realize she must hate your brother?”
“I know she does. You would, too, if you were in her place.” What did she expect?
“It could make things a bit difficult,” Nate pointed out. “We can’t stop loving Bruce because she hates him.”
“Dad, if you think things might get difficult for us, maybe you need to think about how difficult things are for her. I’m pretty sure she’d rather have her husband than me, but I’m all there is, and you’re going to have to get used to it. Two years isn’t long, considering he’ll be dead forever.”
~~~~~
What a day. Dan flexed his shoulders as he carried the pizza and salad into the kitchen. He really could use a long soak in the tub.
The ordeal at his parent’s house had worn him out, though Monica had finally agreed to try and get into the spirit of things. She even promised to go dress shopping with Jess on Monday. He was sure once they got to know her, they would like her. He knew he did.
He also liked the idea of her being here for him to come home to. It beat rattling around the house by himself all of the time. It wasn’t that he minded living on his own, but sometimes he had to admit it got a little lonely.
He found her curled up on one end of the beige sectional sofa in the living room, fast asleep, and he grinned. She looked adorable, and he vowed never to tell her she snored softly.
Covering her with the brown afghan his mother had made for him, he walked back to the kitchen to put the pizza in the oven, then took a seat at the counter, pulled out his phone and dialed it.
“Hey, coach, it’s Dan.
I have a favor to ask.”
“Name it.” From the sounds of things on Ed’s end, Dan was missing an action movie.
“I’m getting married next Friday, and I’d be honored if you’d walk my bride down the aisle.” The sounds of gunfire and squealing tires disappeared abruptly.
“Jess Bentley?”
“Yeah.”
“Well- I’m not going to ask if you know what you’re doing, because I know you do, so I guess all I can say is where and when.”
“That would be the question of the hour. Any chance you’d call the guys? Maybe we could all meet for lunch tomorrow at McGinty’s? I’m going to need some help here, because I don’t have a lot of time.”
“Could I ask why the rush?” Dan explained what happened. “Phillip Bentley. What a jerk. You should have seen him at the funeral. I wanted to slug him.”
“I can’t say that I’m surprised, given the things he said on the telephone today.”
“I can imagine. But yeah, we’ll get this wedding together for you, and he’ll never know it’s not real, though it might cement his opinion that she’s a gold digger.”
“I wouldn’t give two cents for his opinion. All I care about is that he never has an opportunity to harm her or the baby.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a good start on making sure he doesn’t.”
“I’m working on it. Now if I could just get him to stop calling Jess. I don’t suppose you could pay him a visit and flex your muscles a little?”
“I think I might be able to manage that,” Ed assured him. Dan hesitated, creeping back to the living room to make sure Jess still slept. When he was sure she did, he closed himself in the small bathroom and asked quietly,
“Hey, coach?”
“What?”
“Did you see Bruce today?”
“As a matter of fact I did. We had to admit him to the hospital an hour or so ago.”
“Why?” Apparently he didn’t hate Bruce as much as he thought, because the news brought a stab of fear. “What’s wrong?”
“DT’s pretty bad. We’ll bring him back once he’s over the worst.”
“Do my parents know?” They hadn’t said anything when he’d been there earlier.
“Probably by now. They were transporting him just before my shift ended.” That would have been after Dan had been and gone.