April Fool Bride (5 page)

"Don't even try to pretend you're not crazy
about him. When you say his name, your eyes get all soft and your
voice reeks of longing. It even gives me a lump in the throat.
You're in love with him, Maddie. I know it. You know it."

"Well, of course I am. But he doesn't know
it, and he can't ever know."

"Relax. He'll never know unless you tell
him." She made a rude sound. "He's a man. Men are as dense as fence
posts when it comes to emotions. I guarantee the only thing he's
thinking about is how to get into your panties."

Maddie decided to end the conversation right
there because she couldn't afford to think of Jake's big hands
sliding beneath the silk and lace of her panties. Thoughts like
that just made her even crazier. So she busied herself opening the
box. Her breath caught when she lifted the lid and folded back the
tissue paper. "Oh, Amy."

She lifted an ivory silk wedding gown from
its bed of tissue. Gently, she stroked the embroidered swirls on
the strapless corset bodice. She couldn't resist holding the gown
to her and going to the floor length mirror. "It's so
beautiful."

"I don't care if you are getting married in a
Vegas wedding chapel, you still deserve a special dress," Amy said
softly.

"Thank you, Amy. For everything. I don't
think I could get through this without you."

"Hey, what are friends for if not to assist
with insane schemes designed to thwart wicked stepmothers?"

Maddie laid the gown on the bed. "You didn't
think it was so insane when I mentioned it."

"Lawyers, as you well know, are only
interested in the big fees they can bill." Amy's grin faded.
"Actually, I didn't think you were serious until you named Jake as
a man that you thought would marry you without wanting a cut of
your fortune." She turned to face Maddie. "Did you ever read that
report I sent you about Jake?"

Maddie grimaced. "No. It seemed like such an
invasion of his privacy to have him investigated. I figured if
something bad was in the report, you'd have told me."

Amy nodded. "That's just what I thought.
Well, you needn't worry. Nothing bad in his background. Now let's
get you dressed. We're on a tight schedule if we want to make that
flight to Houston later." She giggled. "I bet Jake wasn't happy
when he learned he'd be taking the redeye instead of taking you to
his bed tonight."

Amy's cell phone chirped. She glanced at the
name on the screen. "I'll be back in a few." She rushed out,
closing the door behind her.

Maddie showered, styled her hair so that it
fell in soft waves from a side part, and applied her makeup. She
imagined Jake was very disgruntled about not having a wedding
night. Score one for her team. She'd slept with a lot of men for a
lot of reasons. Trying to get attention from her stepmother to see
if Constance cared enough to stop Maddie's self-destructive
behavior. Trying to pretend someone cared for her. Trying to fill
that empty hole in her soul. Mostly trying to eradicate Jake's
memory. But each time morning inevitably came, and she was forced
to open her eyes and see a man she barely recognized. Disgust and
self-loathing always followed.

It had taken a DUI to derail her train of
destruction. She could only thank a merciful God that she hadn't
injured anyone with her reckless disregard for her own safety all
those times she'd driven drunk. That incident had been the wakeup
call she'd needed.

In the huge dress box, she found delicate
ivory silk panties, a matching garter belt, and sheer stockings.
The corset style bodice of the dress made a bra unnecessary. As she
dressed in the sexy lingerie, she felt as if she were wrapping a
present that was doomed to remain unopened. She stepped into high
heel satin pumps that were emerald green, enjoying that touch of
whimsy.

Just as she was wondering what was keeping
Amy, a knock sounded on her door. Relieved, she called out, "Come
on in."

The door opened, and Jake stood there.

A surge of lust hit Jake. He gripped the
doorknob so hard that he thought he might crush the metal. He
actually felt dizzy as he stared at Maddie. Long legs. High heels.
Garter belt. Next to nothing panties. Naked breasts. Round and
full, tipped with nipples that tightened and flushed a darker pink
as he watched. In fact, her whole body blushed. His body seemed to
harden into stone. At least part of him did. Her green eyes were
huge in her face. Belatedly, she raised her hands to her breasts,
covering the nipples.

In a low, breathless voice, Maddie asked,
"Did you want something?"

Yes. You.

The words remained unspoken, but he felt the
truth of them in every cell of his body. If he were honest with
himself, maybe he'd wanted her since that long ago night when she'd
clumsily tried to seduce him. He'd agreed to marry her as some kind
of payback for what Constance had done. As revenge on Maddie. But,
now, looking at her, he had to admit the truth. He wanted Maddie.
He abandoned any pretense of game playing. He was deadly serious.
Judging by the way the pupils of her eyes dilated, by the way her
nipples had tightened, and by her rapid respiration, she wanted him
too. He wouldn't be satisfied until she admitted her desire for
him.

Somehow, he managed to speak. "I wanted to
tell you that I was ready to go."

Just then Amy walked up behind Jake. "We'll
be right out. Why don't you go cool off?"

Jake wheeled and walked away. The spell was
broken. Maddie shivered. Every inch of her skin felt as if he'd
stroked his hands over her. Her breasts ached. Wanting his touch.
The pounding pulse between her legs had her tightening her thigh
muscles in search of relief. She was mortified and couldn't meet
Amy's eyes. She'd never been so embarrassed. But that wasn't quite
true. She'd felt the same way the night she'd tried to seduce Jake.
That night, he'd looked horrified to realize she was in his bed and
almost naked. Tonight, he'd looked…Oh! He'd looked as if he'd like
to take her right then and there. Her face burned. She'd noticed
his erection.

When she heard Amy snicker, she hissed,
"Don't say a word. I mean it. Not a word."

Amy ignored the command. "So it begins. I'd
give a nice sum to know what Jake is thinking right now." She
lifted the dress and shook it out, holding it for Maddie.

Maddie stepped into the dress. Amy pulled it
up and laced the corset top. Then she handed Maddie a small satin
bag. "I picked these up from your townhome."

When Maddie saw her mother's emerald
earrings, she nearly lost it. She carefully inserted each emerald
earring, screwing the delicate clasp onto the post. "My dad gave my
mom these earrings the day I was born."

"I have to admit the earrings are gorgeous
even if they are in an old fashioned gold setting. They're perfect
for your style. Classic elegance."

Wistfully, Maddie said, "I wish Graciella
could be here. I talked to her after Jake told her we were getting
married. She wants to think it's a love match."

"Everything will work out. Don't worry so
much." Amy stood back and looked at Maddie. "You clean up good. I
hope you don't mind that I didn't get a veil or a bouquet."

Maddie studied her reflection. She loved how
she looked. "No. I never even expected a dress like this. I'm
humbled by your generosity."

"Oh, you silly," Amy said, blinking rapidly
then waving her hand in front of her eyes to forestall an errant
tear from messing up her mascara. "You can do the same for me if I
ever succumb to insanity and decide to marry, which we both know
will never happen. I've got an even half dozen each of stepmothers
and stepfathers whose example taught me well the folly of
matrimony. At least you're going into this with your eyes wide
open."

Maddie refrained from saying that it was her
open heart that concerned her. With every hour she spent with Jake,
her vulnerability increased.

When she left the room, she saw Jake on the
balcony. This time she noticed his cream colored suit that looked
as if it had been chosen to coordinate with her bridal gown. His
suit was perfect against his olive skin. He turned and Maddie again
felt naked before his gaze. He was beautiful. His eyes blazed with
heat, sending a wave of desire through her.

Jake walked to her, his gaze holding her
eyes. He wondered if Maddie knew how desirable she was. Desirable
and beautiful beyond words. He could hardly breathe. Seeing her
dressed as a bride shocked him into awareness of what they were
about to do. This was his last chance to back out. Did he want
out?

Burned onto his retinas was the image of
Maddie standing nearly nude in front of him. He wanted to see her
that way again. He wanted to hold her close and peel those
stockings down her long legs. He wanted to feel her with nothing
between her skin and his. No. He didn't want out. Maybe he'd feel
differently tomorrow or next week. Maybe he'd feel marriage was a
high price to pay to satisfy his desire for her, but right now, all
he wanted was…her.

The strapless gown revealed her shoulders and
the curve of her breasts. He imagined stroking those curves. She'd
warned him that she wouldn't come willingly to his bed, that he'd
have to seduce her. He could think of nothing that would give him
more pleasure. "You are utterly lovely, Madeline Quinn--the most
beautiful bride I've ever seen."

Did he find her as beautiful as the
dark-haired woman in his photograph, Maddie wondered.

Amy joined them. She had changed into a
tailored beige suit with a lace-embellished blouse. "Let's roll."
She hummed a chorus of the old Dixie Cups song, "Going to the
Chapel of Love" as they exited the hotel using the service
entrance. The limo Amy had arranged waited there. The trip to the
wedding chapel took very little time.

Before she knew it, Maddie and Jake stood at
an altar that wasn't as tacky as Maddie had feared. There wasn't an
Elvis impersonator in sight. She managed to say the words that
bound her and Jake together in holy matrimony even though there
wasn't anything remotely holy about this particular marriage.

When the minister asked for the rings, Amy
stepped up and held out her hand to reveal two plain gold wedding
bands. With a lopsided grin, Jake slipped the wedding band on her
ring finger, and Maddie reciprocated with the man's wedding band.
She was lost in thought staring at the shiny yellow gold bands when
she felt Jake pull her to him. Surprised, she looked up.

Somehow, she'd missed the part about the
minister pronouncing them husband and wife. But Jake hadn't. Before
she could protest, he had his arms tight around her waist, pulling
her close. She could feel him throbbing against her. His head
lowered. Alarmed, Maddie stiffened and tried to distance herself as
she had the other time he'd kissed her, but he just gathered her
closer and bent her back until she was clinging to him to keep from
falling. She just needed to be still, and the kiss would be over
quickly. She held her breath, eyes closed, waiting for his kiss.
When it didn't come, her eyes flew open. He was so close that his
image was blurry.

In a strained whisper, he said, "We're not
leaving until you kiss me back."

Her temper showed in her green eyes. "Fine.
I'll kiss you. Let's just get this over."

His mouth swooped down and covered hers, and
his kiss rocked her world. Heat scorched her. Nerve endings
sizzled. If he hadn't been holding her, she'd have fallen. Intense
longing--for him, for his love--swept through her. For just that
moment in time, Maddie allowed herself to respond. To kiss him. To
savor the taste of his mouth, the touch of his tongue, the
pulsating hardness she could feel against her.

A ripple of laughter broke the sensual fog
enveloping her. Panic hit her. Adrenaline dumped into her
bloodstream demanding fight or flight.

Flight was the only option. She drew upon her
years of repressing her emotions and used all her hard-won
self-control to make her voice calm and unemotional. As if the kiss
meant nothing to her when in fact, it meant everything. "We need to
go. Amy's got everything planned to the minute so let's get back to
the hotel and change so we can make the flight to Houston."

She refused to meet Jake's eyes. She was
afraid that he would see the truth.

After a moment, he said, "Whatever you say.
You're the boss."

Maddie flinched from his taunting words. She
refused to linger over thoughts that would only make her weepy. She
was grateful that Amy took care of everything because she was such
a basket case, she couldn't think straight.

A couple of hours later, they were in the air
and headed to Houston. Maddie spent the flight planning how to keep
Jake at arm's length. Tired and depressed, a sigh escaped her. Was
it a sigh of relief that she wouldn't have a wedding night or a
sound of regret? She risked a glance at Jake. Her husband.

Jake felt Maddie's eyes on him and smiled,
amused by the two women's obvious scheme to prevent the
complication of a wedding night. That was okay. He had all the time
in the world to woo his wife. Well, he had at least a year. Wife.
Now that was a word that should strike terror in his heart.

So why didn't it?

Chapter 6

Two days later, Jake felt as if the walls of
the luxury hotel room were closing in on him. He was irritated by
Maddie's secretiveness. She was on the cell phone constantly it
seemed--always clamming up if he came near. At least he waited
until he was in his bedroom to make his calls instead of making and
receiving calls in her presence so he could pointedly exclude
her.

Even though he'd agreed to keep a low profile
until after tonight's dinner party, he had to get out. He'd tried
to work out his frustrations in the hotel's fitness center, but
there wasn't enough sweat in the world to wash away his sour
mood.