Deceived (9 page)

He ran a hand over the back of his neck as he sorted through the barrage of questions she’d just unloaded. His mother would have made an excellent attorney. Throughout high school and college, his friends and his girlfriends were subjected to the type of inquisition she’d put Janelle through at the dinner table.

“
Well
?”

“I’m deciding what to answer first.”

“Now is not the time for more of your flippancy.”

“Mother, she’s not a gold digger. The circumstances are neither here nor there and I don’t intend to discuss the details with you. I know the baby is mine. I trust her.” He couldn’t explain it, but he did. Whenever he looked into her eyes, he knew she was telling him the truth. As far as he could tell, she’d never lied to him. “It will ease your mind to know that we did sign a prenup to protect her assets as well as mine, but I won’t need it.”

“You’re that sure of her?” At his nod, she sighed and slumped. “Why couldn’t you have settled on any of the girls I set you up with?”

Aidan grinned, recognizing the question for what it was. As a last ditch effort, it was weak. “Because they
were
gold diggers looking for someone to take care of them.”

She scoffed. “They were each from fine homes.”

He arched a brow. “And since when did you put much store in lineage?” His late father had been a factory worker and his mother a clerk at a grocery store. They’d barely made it on her salary after his father’s death in a car accident. When he was sixteen, Ann had met John when he was purchasing a dozen frozen dinners. She’d invited them to their house for a home-cooked meal and Aidan had resented him on sight for invading his home. But Ann had been smitten and three months later, they married. They’d been happy ever since. It was just an added bonus that John was a doctor. Their financial struggles were over. Apparently, his mother had forgotten that they had not always been well-off.

“I don’t.” She sat back up and straightened her jacket. “But getting her pregnant? What were you thinking?” She made a sound of disgust. “Of course, you weren’t thinking.”

“What’s done is done.” He stood. “I’m satisfied with the result.”
For now
, he added silently. He wanted more than Janelle was ready to give, perhaps more than she ever would be. But he hadn’t become successful by giving up. She might be planning on being his wife in name only, but he wouldn’t be satisfied until she was his forever. “Let’s go. Mrs. Bright made a chocolate torte. We don’t want to miss that.”

* * * *

“Would you like to go to dinner Friday night?”

Janelle grinned as she overheard Timothy ask Dionne out on a date. They would make a cute couple. She saw Aidan across the room. He held a tumbler of scotch and leaned against the fireplace mantle as John talked to him about golf. When their eyes met, he smiled and her breath caught at the heat in his golden gaze. He was so sexy and that he wanted her made her belly clench with desire. She started to join him to give Dionne and Timothy privacy when Dionne’s reply halted her in her tracks.

“Thanks but no. You’re cute, but your name begins with a T and you’re too pale for me.”

Janelle’s mouth dropped open. Dionne had been flirting with him the entire evening. Timothy was likewise dumbfounded. “Excuse me?”

She was interested to hear Dionne’s explanation, but Ann chose that moment to speak to her. “I like your dress. Wherever did you find it?”

Janelle smoothed her hand over the silk. “I designed it myself.”

“Really? It’s beautiful. Aidan told me you were talented. I shall have to stop by your boutique.”

“I’d like that.”

“Maybe tomorrow? We could go to lunch after. I’d like to have the opportunity to get to know you better.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful,” she said, but she wasn’t sure if it was. Before she could say more, Aidan was at her elbow.

“Did I hear something about lunch? I’ll make room on my schedule.”

“Nice try. Girls only, dear.” Ann patted him on the cheek and walked off.

“I can still show up if you want.”

“No, it’s fine. She’s determined to talk to me alone.”

He leaned closer. “She doesn’t know any details about the pregnancy or our marriage agreement. I’d prefer if it remained that way.”

“I agree. I won’t—”

“Janelle, I’m leaving,” Dionne interrupted. She was breathing deeply as though she had been running. A glance over her shoulder showed a red-faced Timothy. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay, thanks for coming.” No sooner had she left than Timothy announced that he was leaving also. Janelle turned to Aidan. “What happened? They were getting along so well.”

He shrugged. “Tim seemed to really like her. She’s his type.”

“Really? Maybe if I talk to her—”

He placed a finger over her lips. “You’re getting married and moving this weekend. You don’t have time for matchmaking.”

“But you’ve already hired movers and Rose is handling all the wedding details.”

He spread his palm over her belly. “And you’re busy growing my baby.” Heat radiated out from his touch. Their eyes locked. She felt herself growing wet. The intense moment was broken by Ann and John saying their good-byes.

“I can stay and help you clean up,” Janelle offered.

Aidan growled and ushered her to the door. “Call me when you get home so that I know you got there safely.” He bent his head and touched his lips to hers. The kiss was over before she could respond, and she couldn’t help but be disappointed.

Chapter Nine

Ann added cream and an artificial sweetener to her coffee. “I don’t believe we ever discussed what your parents did for a living,” she said as she stirred.

Janelle sat back and swallowed. She pushed her plate away, though she’d barely touched the salmon. Recently, the aroma of coffee was one of the smells that set off her nausea. “My mother was a teacher. My sister followed in her footsteps. She teaches geometry. She lives in Virginia so she wasn’t able to make it to the party last night, but she’ll be here for the wedding. My father owned a shoe shop. After he passed, my sister and I sold the store. I used my half to open my boutique.”

“I must say that I was very impressed with your designs. Did you study design in college?”

“I majored in art. I learned to sew from my grandmother on my mother’s side.”

Ann sipped her coffee. “You’re not eating.”

“I’ve lost my appetite.”

“You must eat for the baby.”

“To be honest, the smell of coffee makes me nauseous.”

Ann pushed aside her cup. “Well, why didn’t you say so when I ordered it?” She waved down their waitress and had her take it away. “Now, dear, we’re running out of time. John is picking me up. You seem like a nice girl, but you must know that I’m confused as to why my son is marrying you. I watched the two of you last night. My son may hold a tenderness in his heart for you, but I can’t believe in such a short span of time that it is love. And while I admire what the two of you are attempting to do for this baby, we both know that things are not the same as they were when I grew up. The two of you need not get married. So exactly why are you?”

“Aidan and I want the best for our baby. We get along well. Your son is a good man and I know I’d have to look long and hard to find one better.”

“Marriage is a serious commitment to undertake with a man you don’t love. It would be better to end this while matters are less complicated.”

Janelle held up her hand, displaying the glittering engagement ring. She reminded herself that Ann was attempting to protect her son, but she’d never met a man less in need of protection than Aidan. “Ma’am, this represents a promise. I gave your son my word, and I will not let him down. I will be everything he needs in a wife.”

“Over the years, I’ve introduced Aidan to a score of suitable women. He’s never gotten close to marriage. He respects you, which is more than I can say for any woman I’ve ever seen him with. But I worry.” She shook her head and then sighed. “I see that I can’t talk either of you out of this. You may just be stubborn enough to put up with him.” She smiled. “You’re a worthy wife for my son. Welcome to the family.”

* * * *

The day of the wedding dawned sunny and clear. It was warm for March. Thanks to Rose, the event ran smoothly. Janelle thought later that if she’d had a year instead of a few weeks to plan it, it couldn’t have been any more perfect. They married at Ann’s church. The decorations were white and butter yellow. It was a small affair. Only immediate family and close friends were invited. Timothy served as Aidan’s best man and Dionne was Janelle’s maid of honor. Whatever issue the two had had prior to the wedding, they seemed to have worked it out. At the reception, they shared every dance.

It wasn’t until she lay in Aidan’s bed that night that the impact of what they’d done hit Janelle. She’d been running all day and there hadn’t been a moment to think. She was
married
. It was her wedding night. Her heartbeat sped up at the significance of it. Aidan would probably want sex. They’d agreed that there wouldn’t be, but she’d seen the possessive gleam in his eyes as he’d slid on her wedding band during the ceremony. And later, the fiery hunger he didn’t even attempt to hide as he held her in his arms for their first dance.

He’d told her that he wouldn’t demand sex, but they’d made no specifications about what their marriage would entail. She was in his bed because when the movers had brought over her belongings, the housekeeper had directed them to place her personal belongings here.

When they’d arrived home, Aidan had gone off to his study to take a business call, but he’d ordered her off to bed, saying she had to be tired. And she was. Being a baby incubator was sapping her energy. She’d begun taking naps most evenings.

Janelle laid a hand over her flat tummy. Sometimes it was hard to believe that she harbored a life there. She wondered if it was a boy or a girl. Her cell buzzed, and she rolled toward the nightstand to pick it up. It was another message from Jerome. He didn’t know about the pregnancy or her marriage. She would have to tell him soon or he’d never leave her alone. But not tonight. She was tired.

She stretched and yawned before snuggling deeper into the sheets.

* * * *

Aidan felt a surge of satisfaction at the sight of Janelle sleeping in his bed. The business call had taken longer than he’d expected. He’d hoped to talk to her before she’d fallen asleep. She’d seemed surprised, but otherwise fine with the sleeping arrangements earlier.

He frowned when he noticed that she had her cell clutched in her hand. He tugged it from her lax fingers. The screen lit up and displayed a message from Jerome. A sharp pain pierced his chest. She was still communicating with that bastard, no doubt still harboring feelings for him. Hope that they could turn this into more than a marriage of convenience turned to ashes. She might desire him physically, but she’d never love him.

What had Jerome ever done to inspire such enduring love from her? He wished he knew.

He changed into pajamas he’d purchased because of her and slid into bed. Ordinarily, he slept nude. It was a king-size bed so when he woke in the morning, he was confused to find Janelle pressed against his back, her arm curved around his waist and her hand against his belly. Her full breasts were flush against his back. His cock pulsed in his pants. He had to get away from her. Aidan suppressed a growl as he carefully worked his way out of her embrace.

He was showered and dressed before she woke. She was just sitting up as he shrugged into his jacket. Rubbing her eyes, she asked, “Where are you going?” Her voice was huskier than usual.

“To the office. I’ll be back for dinner.” She looked warm and soft, making him want the impossible. He avoided further eye contact.

“You’re working on a Sunday? The day after your wedding?”

They both knew it wasn’t a real marriage so he didn’t bother to respond to that. “Call me if you need anything. Mrs. Bright will see to it that you don’t overtax yourself.” He picked up his Rolex off the dresser and put it on.

She frowned. “Okay. Have a good day.”

“You, too. See you later.” He didn’t look back.

* * * *

Janelle yawned. The morning sun shone through the display window of the boutique. It was time for a change. The current tableau had been up since she’d taken the Christmas tree down. The weather vacillated between warm one day and chilly the next, but she saw no reason to wait any longer before putting up a summer scene. She began undressing the mannequins. Dionne joined her after a few minutes. The other woman’s cell rang. She pulled it out of her pocket, glanced at it, and replaced it. “You could have taken it,” Janelle said.

“I didn’t need to.”

“Oh? Another bad date?”

Dionne shrugged. Finally, she said, “It was Tim.”

“As in Aidan’s best friend Timothy?”

“Yeah. We’re sort of…doing it.”

Janelle’s mouth fell open and then she laughed. “You’re what?”

“It’s completely casual. Well, on my end. He wants to date, but I don’t need the complications.”

Janelle frowned. “Girl, you’ve got me completely confused. What the hell? How do you intend to get married when you won’t even see the same man twice? And now this?”

“Janelle, he’s all wrong for me. His birthday is on the same day as mine. Could he be any more inconsiderate?”

“Oh, I see. And don’t forget his name begins with a T.”

Dionne nodded her blonde head enthusiastically. “Exactly. I keep telling him that.”

“Then why are you sleeping with him?”

She made a strangled sound and ducked her head. “It’s so embarrassing. I’m kind of
addicted
to him. God, it’s so good. When I’m with him, I can’t say no.”

“Oh.”

“You know what it’s like. I assume it’s the same with you and Aidan.”

Janelle bit her lip and made a noncommittal grunt. She and Aidan had been married for two weeks. In that time, they hadn’t shared so much as a kiss. They shared dinner and then he would retreat to his study while she spent her evenings watching television or working on her sketches. She went to bed alone and woke alone. He was always up and out of the house before her alarm went off. He even worked weekends. It seemed that she’d traded one workaholic for another. He did take off time to take her to see Dr. Miller, but that was it. The midday texts had come to an end and there was no point in him calling her at night when he could clearly see she was fine at the dinner table.