Tempting Fate (52 page)

But they didn't share a bedroom.  They only shared a name.  And only for one year. 

Maggie knew she could act as Jonah's wife, go to parties, and play the role if it meant that at the end of the year her baby would have a father to call his own.  No teasing and taunting would follow him throughout his life.  But she'd have to make doubly sure she didn't let her heart fall into the trap of thinking that when Jonah looked at her like he was right at that moment, with eyes burning with an emotion she didn't dare acknowledge, that these feelings, these emotions swirling through her were real. 

She absolutely had to remember that Jonah wasn't her husband out of love.  He was hers in name only.

# # #

Chapter Eight

 Jonah's gold watch gleamed under the crystal chandelier as he flipped his wrist to check the time.  The hands hadn't moved any faster than they had they first three times he'd checked in the last ten minutes.  He was going to have to get used to being married and waiting on a woman to finish dressing before going to a charity event.  His annoyance grew rapidly during the twenty minutes he waited in the foyer for Maggie to meet him downstairs. 

He knew it was more nerves than annoyance though.  This was the first public appearance for the two of them as husband and wife.  Most of the contributors didn't know about their marriage.  He hadn't thought to have Denise, his new secretary, put an announcement in the Globe.  But it didn't really matter, since tonight during dinner he would introduce Maggie to everyone as his new wife.

It would be a shock, especially to his partner, Cameron Seaborn.  In the last few weeks, he hadn't had much time to think beyond whipping this fund raising dinner into shape.  And, of course, adjusting to married life with a woman he hardly knew. 

Last he'd spoken to his longtime friend, Jonah was still planning to marry to Catherine.  He had confided little about his grandfather's plans for Wiltshire, knowing that Cameron didn't agree with Jonah's need to hold on to the estate in England.  The events of Cameron's childhood had given him cause to feel that life was too short to hold on to the past.  

Cameron would eventually understand Jonah's motives and get over the shock of him switching brides at the last minute.  If he didn't, then it didn't really matter.  They had a deep enough respect for each other not to let their personal decisions get in the way of business, and more importantly, their friendship. 

But that was Cam.  Jonah wasn't foolish enough to think everyone would take the news so easily.  Just in case, his press secretary was ready with a statement should anyone ask for details of his courtship or lack of it, with Maggie.  Although in the past the press had given positive publicity to the Haven House for Young Wanderers project, Jonah knew how their loyalty could quickly shift, giving them an opening to run with a scandal as soon as they found out Maggie was pregnant.

Jonah wouldn't let them have their field day.  It wasn't just that some backers may not open their check books quite as far, or not at all, when they learned the coordinator for the Haven House project had a shotgun wedding.  Her pregnancy would become known eventually, but it was nobody's business the reason he married Maggie.  There was no need to broadcast the pregnancy or that the baby was not his biologically.  And he certainly wouldn't tolerate anyone slamming Maggie or spreading rumors that may end up hurting her feelings. 

He glanced at his watch again and tugged at his black bow tie with his other hand, sure he'd never get use to wearing this monkey suit if he'd attended a thousand fundraising dinners.  Of course, if they could raise the money for the Foundation's new youth center, it would be worth his discomfort.

“I'm sorry, I know I'm making us late.”

Jonah snapped his gaze up to the top of the staircase, toward the sound of Maggie's frantic voice.  Regardless of his impatience, he was just about to tell her not to worry about the time, that most everyone would be fashionably late anyway, but his breath suddenly caught in his throat.  One look at Maggie and he'd forgotten how to speak. 

Maggie slowly stepped down each step.  He couldn't take his eyes off her if he tried.  And he didn't want to, either.  Jonah didn't know exactly what he'd expected when she'd come home grinning the other night, carrying a large box from an exclusive dress shop in Boston.  He certainly didn't think she'd be wearing an oversized college T-shirt like she'd preferred wearing around the house in the evenings and weekends.  But he most definitely didn't expect this. 

Her rich brown hair was swept up in a tight wrap except for the little rivulets that curled down the sides, framing her high cheekbones.  She had a light touch of makeup kissing the delicate features of her face, like she had the day of their wedding.  Her creamy skin glowed against her ruby red lips.  His eyes were drawn there and lingered, tempted to take a taste.

And that dress.  While the dress she'd chosen to wear to City Hall was a simple classic design, by contrast the gown she wore tonight was a provocative red, with snug fitting bodice, accentuating the swells of her breast and ample cleavage Jonah hadn't realized she possessed.  It flared out slightly just below her chest where her belly was beginning to show its roundness and flowed like silk on air down to her matching red pumps. 

Where on God's green earth had this incredibly sexy woman been hiding these past few weeks?  He'd always thought she was beautiful.  Maggie had that way about her naturally.  But this was definitely not what he'd expected his pregnant wife to look like tonight. 

She reached the bottom of the stairs and stood in front of him.  His mouth suddenly went cotton dry.  “Perfect.”

“You like it?” she asked, nervously brushing her hand down the front of her dress.  “I didn't know if you'd told anyone I was pregnant.  I didn't want to embarrass you if people started to talk.  It does hide things a bit.  At least no one will stare.”

She thought he was talking about the dress, when in fact he'd meant her.  She looked exquisitely perfect tonight, something right out of a fairy tale.  With one exception.  None of the fairy tales he'd ever read in his youth had a woman who looked so incredibly sexy!

Jonah rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger.  “You're wrong about that.  People are definitely going to stare.”

A look of panic flashed across her face and her sapphire eyes grew impossibly wide.  “Oh, no.  I thought for sure this dress would hide-”

“Everyone is going to think I'm the luckiest man on earth to have a woman as beautiful as you on my arm.”

She dipped her head, color instantly staining her cheeks.  “If you sweet-talked all your dates like this, you wouldn't have needed to ask a perfect stranger to be your temporary wife.”

“I only say what I mean.  And you do look simply breathtaking.”

She tossed him a wry grin, unconvinced.  “Keep that up, Sir Jonah, and I might just decide to keep you.”

* * *

It was like Cinderella's pumpkin ride to the ball, Maggie thought, as she stepped out of the limousine at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.  Except this Cinderella was already on the arm of her handsome prince. 

Jonah led her into the grand ballroom, which was already filled with people mingling in groups.  White linen table clothes, crystal glasses and fine silverware gleamed like diamonds on each and every table.  As she moved around the room, she felt all eyes zero in on her. 

Her hand instinctively moved to cover her stomach, although Maggie was sure her condition was well hidden beneath the flow of her evening dress.  If she wasn't already in her second trimester she'd blame the sudden nausea that made her stomach lurch on morning sickness.

“You don't have to be so nervous.”  Jonah's warm breath tickled her skin as he bent down to whisper in her ear.  

She inhaled deeply, suddenly needing more oxygen than this crowded room provided.  “I'm not nervous.”

He just smiled down at her and wordlessly peeled open her clenched fist, slipping her hand into his and giving it a comforting squeeze. 

They made a direct line to a group of people standing by the mile long head table.  A tall man on the end showed a particular interest in her as they approached.  His gaze rested on her for a long moment, then flitted to Jonah.

He cleared his throat.  “This is an unexpected surprise.” 

Jonah chuckled.  “There was a sudden change of plans.”

“So it seems.”  The man turned to Maggie.  He wasn't quite as tall as Jonah, but filled out his tuxedo all the same.  His hair was a soft brown with golden streaks, a stark contrast to Jonah's rich dark color.  “Jonah has been a bit of a clod hiding a woman as beautiful as you.  Where have you been keeping her, Jonah?”

“Where you can keep your eyes off her.  Cam, I'd like you to meet Maggie,” Jonah said.  He placed his hand on the small of her back in what felt like a possessive gesture.  She was his wife.  But Maggie knew her presence here was all just a formality.  Still, she couldn't help but revel in the feeling of Jonah's strong arm around her.  “Maggie, this is Cameron Seaborn.”

Cameron reached out and took Maggie's hand in his.  She thought he would simple shake her hand in a cordial greeting, but he surprised her by bending his head and brushing a kiss across the back of her hand.

“That'll be enough,” Jonah grumbled, teasingly.  But his arm around her waist held fast.

Cameron eyed Jonah with a devilish grin.  “Afraid of a little competition, are you?”

“Not in this case.”

“Really?  I'll bet you haven't even mentioned me to Maggie yet.”  

Jonah chuckled and pulled Maggie to his side.  This time the gesture was unmistakable.  He was claiming what was his.  “I'm not sorry to inform you that this lovely lady is already spoken for.  We were married a few weeks ago.”

Cameron's eyes widened, his competitive stance vanished.  “Married?  But I thought...  You never mentioned a word about it to me when we spoke on the phone the other evening.”

“I was saving my surprise for this evening.”

“Indeed!  Congratulations.”  He bent his head, and this time, Cameron kissed Maggie on the cheek.  “Married.  I'm thrilled for you.  For you both.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Although there were no exchanges of affection other than a brief handshake from the two men, the warm glint in their eyes showed there was a special friendship between them.  Maggie wondered why Jonah had chosen tonight to reveal to his friend that they'd married when it was so clear they weren't merely colleagues.  And if they were such good friends, why he didn't just confide that theirs was a marriage just for show.

It was none of her business, she told herself as Jonah led her through the crowd to her seat at the long head table.  If Jonah chose to tell anyone at all that they were married, it wouldn't change the fact that they only planned to be married for a year.  Maggie wondered what he would say, if anything, when people found out she was pregnant.

The evening dragged on.  Jonah had warned her that charity events such as this could be tiresome and this one proved to be so.  As Jonah stood at the podium, introducing Cameron to the crowd, Maggie fought to keep her eyes open.  She'd already worked a full day at the coffee shop and was starting to wilt like a sunflower starving for a drink of water.

“As most of you know, I've been waiting to make an important personal announcement.”

Maggie perked up, knowing what was coming next. 

“I'd like to introduce you all to my lovely wife, Margaret Wallace.”

The room erupted into applause and once again all eyes were focused on her.  Jonah extended his hand and motioned for her to join him at the podium.  Flash bulbs exploded in the room as she took Jonah's side and then again when he bent his head and kissed her cheek.  On the ride to the hotel, he'd warned her that the press would make a fuss.  She wasn't used to so much attention.  But now that she was married to Sir Jonah Wallace, a man who managed to garner much attention from the press because of his work, she'd have to get used to it.  People were bound to be curious about the woman who'd managed to catch the most eligible bachelor in Boston. 

The press could have their photo ops.  She'd get used to it.  At least for the next year, she told herself as she blinked away the white dots the blinding flashbulbs left in her vision.  After the year was up, her life could easily fall back into obscurity again.

When the applause died down, she returned to her seat at the head table.  The mayor's wife and the head of the Boston Police Dept. congratulated her.

“Now that the hotel as sufficiently stuffed us all with their fine food, I'll introduce my right hand man, the person responsible for helping me found the Haven for Young Wanderers in England, Sir Cameron Seaborn.” 

The room erupted once again in applause, this time directed at Cam.  The only thing she could think of when he started to speak was how much she wanted to crawl into her bed and sleep.

It was hours later when Maggie finally was able to sink deep into the soft black leather seat in the back of the limousine.  The air conditioning was like a salve to her skin after being stuck inside.  Outside the car door, Jonah shook Cameron's hand, and she heard him make Cameron promise to drop by the house on Sunday for dinner. 

“How do you think it went?” Maggie asked as Jonah slid in the seat next to her.

“I'd say very well.  Cameron has a way of charming money out of the stingiest of supporters.  He'll work hard to raise the necessary funds for the Haven House.”

“You don't enjoy these things very much.”

His eyebrows slid up on his forehead.  “It shows?”

She nodded.  “Cameron was in full form though.”

“That's why he's in charge of raising the funds.  I'm better at organizing the logistics.”

“I'm surprised you never mentioned him before.  You make a good team.”

Jonah nodded, fatigue pulling his features down.  He shut his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose as if it would better help clear his vision.

“We didn't exactly have the time to spin all our childhood tales.”

No, they hadn't had enough time to get to know all the ins and outs of their lives.  That only made distance between them massive, both figuratively and literally.  The back limousine seat was enormous and although Maggie knew Jonah wasn't purposefully trying to keep his distance, a train could run between them with plenty of room to spare.  She turned sideways in the seat, resting her head against the cool leather.  It helped bridge the gap between them just a little.