McFarlane's Perfect Bride (10 page)

By that time, Jerilyn, with her own full glass, had come to stand with CJ. “A good time for what?”

Connor squeezed her shoulder again. “We want you two to be the first to know.”

The teenagers shared a bewildered glance. And CJ asked, “Know what?”

Connor announced with pride, “That Tori has just agreed to be my wife.”

F
or a moment, Connor worried that CJ was angry, that he hated the idea of his dad planning to marry again. The two kids just stood there, gaping.

And then Jerilyn gave a gleeful laugh. “How great.”

And CJ let out a whoop. “Score!”

Connor blinked, unsure. “Uh. That's good, right?”

“Totally, Dad. Sweet,” CJ confirmed.

Jerilyn came rushing over. She set her drink on the coffee table and grabbed Tori. “Oh, I'm so happy.” She pulled her favorite teacher close, hugging hard. “You're perfect for him, Ms. Jones. I knew it right from the first.”

Tori hugged her back. “Um, you did?”

Jerilyn took her by the shoulders and held her away, beaming at Tori with complete satisfaction. You would
have thought CJ's girlfriend had engineered the engagement herself. “Well, maybe not that
first
day.” She sent a glance at Connor. “That first day, you were kind of scary, Mr. McFarlane.”

Connor felt a little abashed. “Yeah. I suppose I was. Sorry.”

“But up at the summer kickoff barbecue. That was when I got the feeling you guys might get together.”

Now Tori laughed. “No.”

“Oh, yeah.” She grabbed Tori's left hand. What was it about women? Even the really young ones went right for the ring finger. “Wait. Where's the ring?”

Tori blinked. “Well, um, we…”

On the fly, Connor came up with an answer. “I couldn't wait to ask her. And we've just agreed to drive over to Bozeman today and choose one.”

“Wow, Dad,” said CJ. He actually looked a little misty-eyed. “This is pretty cool.”

Looking at him, Connor could almost feel guilty for deceiving him like this—but not that guilty. After all, he was doing what he had to do, to keep CJ with him.

“So when's the wedding?” Jerilyn demanded.

Tori shook her head. “Slow down, we just got engaged. Let us enjoy the glow for a while before we start in about the wedding.”

CJ said, “Hey. So are we moving here, for good, then, Dad? That would be so sweet. If we lived here, I could go to Thunder Canyon High.”

Connor felt a shiver down his backbone. Already his son was dreaming of a future in Thunder Canyon—a future that was never going to happen. “We've made no plans yet. None. Enjoy the summer, CJ. Leave it at that.”

“I will, Dad. But if you're—”

Connor didn't let him finish. “CJ.”

CJ hesitated. But he didn't exactly give up. “Well, we can talk about it later, huh?”

Connor knew he had to draw the line on this or he'd never hear the end of it. “You will go back to boarding school, as always.” He spoke flatly. “I can get you your summer, CJ, even though your mother wants it otherwise. But you can't push me beyond that.”

CJ stared at the floor. Finally, he sighed. “Okay, Dad.”

Connor nodded. “Good, then.” Tori and Jerilyn were looking uncomfortable. In Tori's hazel eyes, he saw again all the ways their fake engagement could cause more problems than it would solve. He put on a cheerful tone. “So. You two want to come with us, to pick out the ring? We can all go out to dinner afterward.”

Jerilyn was already shaking her head. “Oh, no. You guys have to do that alone.”

Connor laughed. “What? That's some kind of requirement?”

“Well, yeah. It's a totally romantic moment, choosing a ring. You don't need us there for that.”

Connor happened to glance at CJ, who made a big show of shrugging and shaking his head. “Don't ask me. I know nothing about that stuff.”

Jerilyn held firm. “
I
do. You two should choose the ring together, just the two of you.” And she added with a glowing smile, “Plus, well, my dad and I are having dinner together tonight. Sunday dinner, as a family, we both agreed.”

So it was decided that the teenagers would continue with their afternoon, as planned. And Tori and Connor would make a quick trip to Bozeman.

Ten minutes later, the kids were on their way to Main Street and the park nearby and Tori and Connor were in the SUV, headed out of town.

She sent him a glance across the console. “Just think. If we weren't pretending to be engaged, we could be having wild sex right now. Instead, we're off to buy a ring that will probably cost you a whole lot more than you want to spend.”

He held her gaze for an extra second before turning his eyes back to the road. “This won't take long at all. I think we can fit in the wild sex when we get back to your house.”

She tried to stifle a laugh. “Oh. Well. I'm so relieved to hear that.”

“I knew you would be. And as to the ring, whatever it costs, you're worth it.”

She chuckled, and then grew serious. “You realize, don't you, that already CJ's imagining his new life here in Montana—year-round?”

“I made it clear to him that he's going back to school.”

She spoke softly. “I know you did. But that doesn't mean you've heard the last of it from him. Now he's got it in his head that you might make a permanent home here in town, he's going to keep trying to get you to agree that he should live here with you.”

He captured her hand, brought it to his lips. “It's going to work out fine. You'll see.”

“I sincerely hope so.”

 

They found a jewelry store that was not only open on Sunday, it also had a really nice selection of engagement diamonds.

As Connor expected she might, Tori tried to choose something inexpensive and plain.

He wouldn't let her. “Don't forget my rep as a rich corporate shark—I say that one.” The ring he indicated had a giant princess-cut stone surrounded by lots of tiny pavé diamonds. More pavé diamonds, channel-cut, glittered in the platinum band.

Tori's eyes lit up. “Oh, that's much too extravagant.”

Connor sent the jeweler a wry smile. “She wants to try it on.”

“Yes, of course.” The jeweler beamed back at him, dollar signs shining in his eyes.

“Connor. No. Really.”

“Now, now.” The jeweler clucked his tongue. “You must at least try it on.” He winked at Connor as he took her hand and slid the gorgeous rock onto her finger. “Ah. Yes. It's beautiful on you. Just exquisite.”

“She loves it,” Connor said. “We'll take it.”

“Oh, Connor—”

He didn't even let her get started. “No more discussion. It's settled.” He passed the jeweler his credit card.

Tori looked down at the ring—and then up at him again. “I knew you would do this. You are much too extravagant. You realize that, don't you?”

He framed her face. “Not extravagant in the least. My perfect bride deserves the perfect ring.”

And then he kissed her. She smiled against his lips and for a moment or two, he almost found himself believing that they really were a couple in love, that the
ring on her finger meant the start of a lifetime—
their
lifetime, together.

But it didn't, of course. And he needed to remember that.

 

Tori tried not to spend the whole drive home admiring the ring.

She tried to remember that the ring might be real, but the engagement wasn't. That the gorgeous diamond he'd just put on her finger was only for show and she would be returning it at the end of August. That she must keep her head, above all. Not get too attached. To the ring.

Or to him.

At her house, he shut and locked the front door behind them. And then he took her in his strong arms, claiming her mouth in a kiss that lasted forever and made her doubts fly away. He peeled off her clothes and his own, leaving a trail of shirts and shoes and jeans and underwear as he waltzed her backward to her bedroom door.

By the side of bed, he clasped her bare shoulders and guided her down so she sat on the edge. Holding her gaze, he sank to his knees.

With tender hands, so gentle and slow, he eased her thighs apart. And he kissed her, deeply, there at the heart of her womanhood, a long, wet, lovely kiss, a kiss that was so intimate, it was almost beyond bearing.

But, oh, she did bear it. She reveled in it. She clutched his dark head, her fingers buried in the silky strands of his hair. And she offered herself, shamelessly, completely, without holding back.

When her climax rushed over her, he went on kissing
her, drawing the last drop of pleasure from the sweet, endless pulsing, making the fulfillment go on and on.

And then, after that, when he rose up above her and came down across the white sheets with her, she lay dazed and limp beneath his expert caresses, only wanting more of him. Wanting everything.

All he would give her.

All the pleasure, all the excitement, all the pure joy they would share in this too-brief summer allotted to them.

He kissed her breasts, her belly. And then slowly, his soft lips trailed back up again, along the center of her body. He kissed her throat, scraped his teeth along the curve of her chin. And then, at last, he claimed her mouth. She tasted her own desire on his lips, musky and hot.

Consumed by his burning kiss, she was vaguely aware that he reached out and pulled open the drawer in the nightstand. He lifted his mouth from hers.

She groaned and tried to pull him back.

He whispered, “Wait…”

Wait?

She did not want to wait.

With another groan—one of protest, this time, she opened her eyes. And understood.

With amazing, swift dexterity, he had a condom out and ready. He rolled it down over himself.

“Now?” she whispered on a pleading note.

He granted her a slow smile. “Now.”

“Come here, then. Hurry.” She moaned again, reaching for him, tugging at his hard shoulders, urging him to come to her.

And he did, he covered her, all corded muscle and
burning heat. She reached down between them, encircling him, loving the way he groaned against her lips when she touched him, when she guided him into her, lifting her body up, offering him everything.

He took what she gave, took
her.
And she was ready, so wet and eager. Primed to accept him. He slid in as though he were made for her, made to be with her.

When he moved, she went with him, taking the cues his body gave her, answering back in kind. Wrapping her legs around his lean hips, holding on so tight, she felt for a moment that they were one body, so fully joined there was no separating them.

She cried out when she reached the finish, her body pulsing around him. And he joined her. They rode the wave of completion together. The whole world narrowed down to a hot pinpoint of searing light and pleasure. She rode the light, up and over, to the edge of fulfillment, and then finally over, with a long sigh, into limp satisfaction.

Connor relaxed, too, on top of her. They were both sweating, breathing hard. She kept her arms and legs wrapped around him for the longest time, wishing she would never have to let him go.

 

He didn't want to leave her. But it was almost five.

Reluctantly, he eased his body to the side. He kissed her sweat-damp shoulder. “I have to go…”

She touched his hair, brushed a finger over his cheek. “I know.”

“Want to have dinner at my house with me and CJ?”

She lifted up on an elbow and braced her head on her hand. Her face was sweetly flushed. Even the freckles
on her nose were slightly pink. And her strawberry hair was wild, tangled.

He thought he'd never seen anyone so sexy in his life.

“It's tempting,” she said. “But you two need a little guy time now and then. You've been gone most of the week.”

He leaned close, stole one last quick kiss. “I guess you're right.”

She frowned. “But I was thinking…”

“About?”

“Tomorrow. You said your ex-wife was coming, supposedly to pick up CJ, in the morning.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want me to be there?”

He chuckled. And not really with humor. “You think you're up for that? Jennifer can be a complete bitch when she's not happy about a situation.”

“It's okay. I can take it. I'm a teacher, remember? I'm used to smiling sincerely no matter what, staying diplomatic and upbeat in the most uncomfortable situations. And, well, if I met her, she and I might just hit it off. Maybe she would rethink her unreasonable demands.”

“Seriously, Tori. You don't know Jennifer.”

“In any case, it wouldn't hurt for her to see that I really exist and I'm relatively harmless, would it?”

Actually, he thought it was a great idea. At least in theory. “If you're volunteering, I'm more than happy to accept the support. But I warn you, it could get ugly.”

“I can take it.”

He kissed her again. “And you have to promise that no matter what she says to you, no matter how rude she is, you won't let her change your mind about you and me.”

She put on a very solemn expression. “I promise, Connor. I will be your bogus fiancée until the end of August, no matter what your ex-wife does tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent.” He kissed her again and wished he could linger.

But she pulled away. “Go on, now. Have your evening with CJ.”

He dragged himself up and out of her bed. Then he followed the trail of clothing that led out toward the entry area, separating his from hers and getting dressed as he went.

She pulled on a robe and joined him at the door. “What time tomorrow?”

“Jennifer didn't give an exact time. Just another of her techniques to keep everyone off-balance. Be there at nine?” He waited for her nod. “I'll call you if she shows up earlier than that.”

 

CJ was already at the house when Connor arrived. They had dinner together. CJ talked about Jerilyn, about his job at the Hopping H.

“I got paid Friday,” he announced with pride.

Connor gazed across the table at him and felt real satisfaction at their progress in the past few weeks. His son
was
doing better. And he was also growing up.