Hired Bride (12 page)

“I have no idea what Zane Fortune thinks about anything,” she said flatly, and lifted her cup for a swallow of coffee, meeting her father's stern, disapproving eyes over the rim. Lowering the cup she added, “And that is the end of this discussion. I'm very happy to see each of you, but I'm not going to talk any further about Zane.”

“You're not telling us something,” Jack accused.

“Oh, Dad, I haven't told you everything since I was sixteen years old, maybe even before that.”

“Well, you won't think it's so cute when it's your kids keeping things from you.”

“I'm sure you're right,” Gwen said quietly. She picked up the plate of cookies and held them toward her father. “Have a cookie, Dad, and let's talk about something else. You've always been wonderful parents, especially since Paul died. I have a little money in the bank, and I'm going to make a payment on what I owe you. Wait here.”

Rushing from the kitchen to her bedroom, Gwen grabbed her checkbook and hurried back. She sat again and wrote a check for three hundred dollars, which she handed to her father.

He looked at the amount, then at her. “How can you afford this?”

She hadn't expected the question and she started stammering. “I…I…”

“Did Zane Fortune give you money?” Jack was glowering.

“Uh…yes, but I, uh, earned it.”
Oh my God, what
if he asks how I earned it? I could never confess that I took money from Zane to lie to his family. Mom and Dad would be devastated by such behavior.

Scowling, Jack got to his feet. “Lillian, it's time we left.”

“But we just got here, honey.”

Gwen knew she should plead with her father to stay longer, but she couldn't force the words out of her mouth. Jack Lafferty's mind was not easily changed once set on something, and it was obvious that he didn't like his daughter's association with Zane Fortune one little bit. If she did get him to stay longer, she knew it was all he would talk about. He might even say things she would not be able to forgive.

So it was with a genuine but sad relief that she saw her parents to the door and kissed them goodbye.

Returning to the kitchen she sat at the table again, and her gaze fell on her checkbook. She was spending the two-thousand, and if Zane ever did tell her how much the repairs to his car had cost she probably wouldn't have the money to reimburse him.

“To heck with it,” she mumbled. He should have told her right away.

Her eyes watered with unshed tears. There were a lot of things Zane should have done, a lot he shouldn't have, but none of his sins compared to the stupidity of hers. Even though no battle lines had ever been drawn between them, he'd won the first skirmish of a very emotional war of wills. At least it was emotional for her. She could only guess at his feelings.

At any rate, she'd made a complete fool of herself with Zane last night, and she hadn't done much better with her parents today.

Gwen put her face in her hands and groaned, doing so quietly to keep her misery private from her children. Maybe she deserved to suffer, but they didn't.

L
ater that afternoon Gwen had a long telephone conversation with Ramona, explaining how Ashley had gotten injured and about the ordeal of the Emergency Room. Ramona listened with few questions, but then finally said, “He's gorgeous, Gwen.”

“Who is?”

“Do you have the gall to act like you don't know to whom I'm referring? Zane, Gwen—Zane Fortune. He is so good-looking that I would have liked to just stand there on my own front porch last night and stare at him. Thank goodness I didn't.”

Gwen sighed. “Yes, he's good-looking.”

Ramona was silent a moment, then asked quietly, “What's wrong, Gwen?”

“Nothing,” Gwen said quickly. She was afraid of saying too much about Zane; she really couldn't tell anyone about last night, not even her best friend. “Nothing more than the usual, that is. Um, Mom and Dad dropped in this morning.”

It was a good change of subject, even though it could have led to Zane too, if Gwen had let it. Instead she and Ramona discussed their respective parents for a while and finally said goodbye. Gwen hung up and eyed the phone. She'd seen her parents and talked to Ramona today. There was no one else she wanted to hear from.

Switching on the answering machines, she walked into the living room, saw that Mindy was falling asleep on the floor next to the sofa, and picked up the tot. “Time for your nap, little darling,” she whispered as she carried Mindy to her crib.

After checking Ashley again and finding no sign of fever, Gwen decided to work on the old furniture in her garage. She told the kids where she would be and not to answer the phone. “Let the machine pick up any messages, okay?”

“Okay, Mom,” they both agreed.

Gwen was still moving furniture around, undecided about which piece to work on, when her mother walked in through the connecting door between the house and garage. Obviously Donnie had let her in.

“Mom! For goodness' sake, two visits in one day?” Panic suddenly seized Gwen. “Is Dad all right?”

“Your father is fit to be tied, but that's all that's wrong with him,” Lillian said dryly. “Anyway, he sent me over here to return this.” She pulled Gwen's check from her purse and put it in her daughter's hand.

“Return it!” Gwen exclaimed, completely baffled. “Why, for heaven's sake? I owe you a lot more than this.”

“Because it came from Zane Fortune.” Lillian held up her hand. “Now don't go getting mad at me about this. I'm merely the go-between.”

Gwen couldn't help getting angry. “That's the silliest thing I've ever heard! What's wrong with Zane's money?”

“Gwen, you know your father. He's got it in his mind that Zane is taking advantage of you. Actually, we've been arguing about it since we left here this morning. I told him that you've never let anyone take
advantage of you, but Jack's the most stubborn, mule-headed—”

“Mom, no,” Gwen said hastily. Her parents had always had a wonderful relationship, a good marriage, and the thought of them arguing over her and Zane was horrifying. “If it makes Dad feel better, I'll tear up the check. But please don't fight because of me.”

Donnie came running in. “Can I have another cookie, Mom? Ashley wants one too.”

Lillian caught her grandson and hugged him. “Do you want to get fat?” she teased.

“You should've seen how much I ate at Zane's ranch,” Donnie boasted.

“Did you really? You must have had good food,” Lillian remarked while looking at her daughter.

“Yeah, it was real good,” Donnie said.

Even though Gwen was looking pained, Lillian asked, “Donnie, do you like Mr. Fortune?”

Donnie shrugged and said, “Guess so.” He looked at his mother. “Mom, what time was it when I saw Zane in the night?”

Gwen's jaw dropped. So did Lillian's. “Go ahead and get your sister and yourself a cookie,” Gwen mumbled to her son.

“Yeah, but what time—?” Donnie persisted.

“Never mind, it doesn't matter.” Donnie ran out, and Gwen and her mother stood like two statues staring at each other.

“He stayed the night, didn't he,” Lillian finally said, almost sadly. “Gwen, are you in love with him?”

Gwen looked away. “Please don't ask me that.”

“Are you unsure of yourself, or of him?”

Gwen thought a moment, then sighed. “Circum
stance is the real problem, Mom. Look who he is, and then take a look at who I am.”

“Are you telling me that you would be in love with him if he weren't a Fortune? Gwen, if you believe that, you're deluding yourself. Either you're in love or you're not, and the same goes for him with you.” Lillian's expression became seriously thoughtful. “Have the two of you talked about feelings? And ‘circumstance,' as you put it?”

“Mom, I really don't want to discuss Zane. I'm just not in the mood.” Gwen stepped over to an old library table that was layered with decades of dirt. “Help me make a decision. Should I work on this piece or that chest of drawers over there?”

“The table,” Lillian said absently. “Gwen, do you realize what marrying into the Fortune family would do for you?'

“Mom!” Gwen gasped. “I hope you don't think I would ever marry a man for his money.”

“Oh, for heaven's sake, Zane's not some old geezer you could barely stand to have touch you. Obviously you're attracted to him or you wouldn't have let him stay with you last night.”

“I do not believe what I'm hearing. My own mother, the soul of propriety, actually suggesting I go after a man for his money.” Gwen shook her head and added, “Tell me you were only kidding, Mom.”

Lillian hesitated a few moments, then said, “Answer me this, Gwen. What are Zane's intentions toward you?”

Gwen smiled wryly. “Well, he's certainly not after my money.”

“You do know about his reputation with women.”

“Yes, Mom, I do. Everyone in San Antonio knows about it.”

“Has it occurred to you that fooling around with Zane could make you the talk of the town?”

Gwen shrugged. “Who cares? The gossip would only last as long as the relationship.”

“Aha! You just admitted there
is
a relationship.” Lillian sidled toward the door. “I'm going to leave now and let you get to work. I'll call this evening to find out how Ashley is doing. And you might phone your father and me a little more often. We worry about you, whether you want us to or not.”

Gwen let that comment pass and smiled. “Talk to you later, Mom.”

“'Bye, honey.”

After Lillian had gone, Gwen sank onto a dusty old chair to fret.
Surely Mom wasn't serious. But maybe she was. It would be a ton of worry off her and Dad's minds if I ever became financially secure.

Gwen realized that her body had become quite tense. She felt as though powerful pressures and conflicting opinions were pulling at her, tugging her first one way and then another.

She covered her eyes with her hands, groaned quietly and wished again that she'd never met Zane. Now her parents knew just enough to worry themselves sick, and wasn't she herself in just about the same boat? After all, what did she know about Zane's feelings, other than the obvious?

And maybe last night had even satisfied the “obvious”—his lust for her.

A chill went up Gwen's spine over that thought, but she couldn't deny the possibility. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more probable it seemed. She'd
been an awful fool last night, and if her mother had gone home with a hope that something permanent was going to come out of her daughter's and Zane Fortune's relationship, then Lillian was in for a rude awakening.

“Just forget Zane,” Gwen whispered unsteadily. “You have to forget him.”

It was good advice, but could she heed it when her heart felt broken in a zillion pieces because she knew, she
knew,
there was no future for her and Zane?

 

Zane's first Monday at the office after Thanksgiving was swamped. Even though he was almost frenetically busy, personal thoughts kept sneaking up on him. After unforgettable lovemaking, Gwen had unceremoniously kicked him out of her bed and house. He hadn't taken it well, and, in fact, had sworn to stay away from her. They hadn't spoken since that night one week ago. He refused to call her, and she hadn't called him. But now he accused himself of adolescent sensitivity. What he should have done was go back to Gwen's house that very day and check her mood, or at least phone her. Instead—and it bothered him that he could behave so childishly—he'd hung around his own house, sulked, and told himself that no woman walked on Zane Fortune and got away with it.

Now, of course, the whole incident had compounded into a
situation.
He'd told himself repeatedly during the past week that Gwen could have called him as easily as he could have called her, but that argument simply didn't fly. Gwen would never call him. If he was ever going to see her again, it was up to him. It was as simple as that.

Or…as complex.

Around two that afternoon Heather gave a quick
rap
on Zane's door and stepped into his office. “There's a Jack Lafferty parked on the chair next to my desk. He didn't ask to see you, Zane. He announced rather fiercely that he
had
to see you. Zane, he's Gwen Hutton's father, or so he said, but do you know him? He seems very upset, and well, I was wondering if I should call security. To tell you the truth, I don't know how he got clear up here when he's so obviously angry. Someone should have noticed and stopped him from getting into an elevator. Isn't that why the first floor is crawling with security people?”

Zane's brow furrowed. “Gwen's father? And he wants to see me?”

“Not ‘wants,' ‘has to,' according to him,” Heather replied. She bit her lip a moment, then said thoughtfully, “Why on earth would Gwen's father come here in such a foul mood?”

Zane had a few disturbing ideas about that, but he kept them to himself and got to his feet. “I'll see him. Please show him in, Heather.”

“Are you sure?” Clearly, Heather was concerned.

“Yes, I'm sure.” Heather left, and Zane began moving papers and file folders around on his desk so it wouldn't look so cluttered. Zane realized that in a way he really did want to meet Gwen's father. Her mother too, someday. Besides, if Jack Lafferty had come here angry, it had something to do with Gwen. Zane had no idea how much Jack might know about the powerful attraction between him and Gwen, but Zane knew he would be stupid not to see her father, shake his hand and make friends with him.

The office door opened again and Heather preceded a huge bear of a man with graying dark hair and shoul
ders a yard wide into the room. He was wearing jeans, boots, a plaid cotton shirt and a denim jacket, and he looked muscular and hard as nails. He wasn't smiling.

“Mr. Lafferty,” Heather said, “this is Zane Fortune. Zane, Jack Lafferty. Will there be anything else before I leave you two alone?”

Zane smiled at Jack, then spoke to Heather, who seemed to be sending warning signals with her eyes. “Not unless Jack would like something to drink. How about a cup of coffee? Or a soda, Jack?”

“Nothing,” Jack said flatly, still with no sign of a smile.

Zane rounded his desk with his right hand extended. “It's good to meet Gwen's father.”

Jack shook Zane's hand, but he all but snarled, “You might not think meeting me's so great before I leave this fancy office, Fortune.”

Zane realized then just how ticked off and belligerent Jack Lafferty really was. Gwen's father had definitely come here with a chip on his shoulder. Since they had no common ground but Gwen, she must be behind Jack's anger. Exactly in what way Zane didn't know, but he figured he would soon find out.

“Have a seat,” Zane said quietly, and sat on his own chair behind his desk.

“I'd just as soon stand,” Jack said, putting his huge hands on the back of a chair and glaring across Zane's desk at him. “I'm here because of Gwen.”

“Figured you were, but don't expect me to get into any kind of personal conversation about her. I don't happen to talk to other people about the women I know—not even with their fathers.” After a second Zane added, “Maybe especially their fathers.”

“Oh, you'll discuss my daughter, if I have to hold
you down and sit on you.” Jack Lafferty's snapping black eyes just dared Zane to defy him. “You stayed at her house Saturday night, a week ago. My anger over that has been building, Fortune, and now I'm asking—exactly how long has that been going on?”

Obviously Donnie had spilled the beans. He couldn't imagine Gwen herself telling her father how far things had gone between them that night. It was Donnie, he told himself, probably innocently saying something about having seen Zane in the middle of the night.

“You know, Jack,” Zane said calmly, “that's really none of your business. But just to keep things friendly, I'll tell you one thing. That night was a first.”

Jack's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Was it also a last?”

It took Zane a second to get his meaning. “You're asking if it was a one-night stand? Is that what you think of your daughter?”

“I love my daughter, you rich, spoiled
Fortune!
” Jack shouted. “And she doesn't need the likes of you turning her into a…a…”

“A what, Jack?” Zane asked in a chilly voice as he got to his feet, all but daring Jack to go too far. He felt like calling security himself and having Jack Lafferty thrown out on his ear. If he hadn't been Gwen's dad, Zane just might have done it too.

Jack's face reddened. “You just be careful, buster. You're talking about my daughter.”

“And you're being totally irrational. Please, sit down and cool off.” Zane followed his own advice and resumed sitting in his chair. He was relieved when Jack finally sat too, even though Jack put on a big
show of reluctance and shot several threatening looks at Zane.