Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée (8 page)

“I've thought about it. A marriage of convenience—I legally adopt my nephew. We end the sham marriage after Dad's gone. The marriage puts a crimp in my life for only a little while.”

“Suppose your dad recovers fully and is here another twenty years? You'd be married to a woman you don't love and vice versa, raising your brother's child. The last wouldn't be bad, but the other terrible. Don't do it.”

“We could divorce. She'd get the benefits of the Rafford money because she would be part of the family.”

“You'd have to share the fortune.”

Nick shrugged. “Not really. I'll be Dad's heir because I'll agree to make Michael and Grace my beneficiaries. She's not a gold digger or she would have gone after Dad's money when she had the chance. If something happens to Dad and then to me—I don't have heirs anyway.”

Jake tilted his head, his deep blue-eyed gaze intent. “I guess
you have a point there. Michael is Bart's child, so that would be good. You'll make your dad happy.”

“Yes. If I can talk Grace into this.”

“She'd be crazy to turn you down.”

“She's independent as hell and fighting to keep us from latching on to Michael. She's scared of losing him.”

“She's his mother and he's actually been her baby from the start from what you've told me,” Jake said. “I guess I can see how you came up with the idea, but a loveless marriage is scary as hell. Marriage is scary as hell. Look at our dads and their failed marriages and the misery it gave everyone.”

“It'll be a cut-and-dried business deal,” Nick said, thinking about Grace's kisses. “Sort of.”

“Not exactly cut-and-dried,” Jake replied in a sarcastic tone. “I saw her. Sparks were flying between the two of you when you didn't know each other. There won't be anything cut-and-dried about a marriage to her. She's hot,” Jake said. “You'll sink like you're in a tar pit.”

Nick grinned as he shook his head. “I don't think you can compare her to a tar pit, and you're right about hot. No, I guess it might turn out to be exciting.”

“Watch out, Nick. You're going to complicate your life terribly. You'll also lose a million dollars in that bet we made.”

“I can stand the million. I don't want to lose my dad's fortune.”

“I don't blame you. No matter how old they get, our dads can't stop trying to manipulate everyone around them. That's one reason you and Tony and I got to be close friends—shoved together first by our dads and then sticking together because we all had the same kind of dad—driven, controlling.”

“If you stop and think about it, we're probably somewhat that way ourselves now.”

“I hope to hell not,” Jake said, with a dark look at Nick. “Are you telling Tony this harebrained scheme of yours?”

“If I see him, I will.”

“Well, I don't think any of us, you included, can say a marriage of convenience would work. Even to a woman like you have in mind. We three know firsthand the likelihood of a successful marriage. At least in the circles we've moved in. I suppose if you go into it with low expectations, you won't be disappointed.”

“I have high expectations of getting back in Dad's will. That's my prime goal. Grace and I should be able to develop a workable arrangement and she won't be hanging on me, falling in love with me.”

“Suppose you fall in love—I don't need to ask that one. You won't. I know you as well as I know myself. No such thing will happen. We were disillusioned long ago.”

“If you're through eating, we might as well head to the poker game. Tony may be there by now,” Nick said, drinking the last of his water and standing. As the two men left the luxurious club dining room, Nick fell into step beside Jake in the hallway.

“By the way, are you going to the private horse sale at the Jenkins ranch next month?” Nick asked.

“I wouldn't miss it. Tad Jenkins has the best horses around.”

“I agree. We'll be bidding against each other,” Nick said, and Jake grinned.

“I won't bid if you start first and you don't if I start first—how's that?” Jake suggested.

“Sounds okay. Every horse he sells will be prime horseflesh.”

“You'll miss it if you're on a honeymoon.”

Nick shook his head. “Nothing will interfere with my attendance at that sale. I can work a wedding around it.”

“Does the little lady ride?”

“I have no idea, nor do I care. I have other plans for my time spent with her,” Nick said and Jake laughed.

“Good luck with your crazy scheme. I hope you know what you're doing. I'm one step closer to winning our bet.”

“I know what I'm doing. Now if I can just convince Grace,” Nick said, deciding Christmas Eve would be the time to propose.

M
onday before Christmas, Grace kissed her aunt goodbye. Clara would not be back to Dallas until after the first of the year.

“Have a wonderful time with your son,” Grace said, hugging Clara. “Glenda will be here part of the time to help with Michael, so you enjoy yourself.”

“I will, but I'll miss Michael. You take care,” Clara said solemnly. “I'll worry about you Christmas Eve. I know Eli Rafford wants Michael and will keep after you until he gets what he wants.”

“Stop worrying. I won't let that happen. An immediate worry is what do I give them for gifts. Both men have everything they want,” she said, having spent the past week wondering about what to give Nick.

“You'll think of something. You've already given Eli Rafford the best gift possible in taking Michael for Christmas.
Take care of yourself and Michael,” Clara said again. “And I want one of those copies of the Christmas photographs.”

Grace gave her aunt another hug and watched her hurry to her car. She turned away, thinking about what to give the Rafford men—impossible task.

That night and the days and nights to follow, Grace was busy catering Christmas parties until Christmas Eve arrived. The booked parties were over until the day after Christmas when they started up again.

It took the afternoon to get ready to go to Eli Rafford's for the night. As she packed, the butterflies in her stomach grew worse. She dreaded dealing with Michael's grandfather while excitement mounted over being with Nick again.

She picked up Michael, smoothing his thick black hair. He was dressed in a navy jumper and a white sweater. She kissed his cheek. “You look adorable,” she told him, smiling at him as he cooed and babbled. “Now please don't spit up on my sweater,” she said to him, turning to look at both of them in an oval mirror. Her hair was clipped behind her head and she wore a red sweater and red wool skirt—maybe a poor choice with a baby. She glanced down at him. “Remember, no formula on this sweater, please. This is your first Christmas, sweetie.”

She looked around her tiny living room, at the Christmas tree placed on a table to keep it away from Michael, who crawled well now. She had a few presents under the tree for him, but he was too little to open his gifts. She could imagine the toys that awaited him from his grandfather.

The doorbell rang and she hurried to face Nick, whose intent gaze knotted her insides as always.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, smiling at her while she motioned for him to come inside. He stepped in, filling the narrow hallway and moving into the living area. “Ah, you're all ready for Christmas,” he said, walking to her tree. In a
black topcoat over his suit, he dominated her small living room, which seemed to shrink in size when he entered.

“Our tree isn't fancy, but he's too little to know what's happening. He's beginning to crawl, so I had to keep it out of his reach,” she said, while putting on Michael's coat and then buckling him into his carrier.

“Good idea. Dad had a child's fence put around ours. We have a nanny for the evening to help you with Michael, so you can eat in peace and quiet. If it's all right with you, we'll let her give him a bottle if he wants one while we eat.”

“Thank you. That's fine,” she said. She would be present to make certain Michael was taken care of, yet it would give her a chance to enjoy eating without interruptions. If Michael was awake, she rarely got through a meal without being disturbed.

“I didn't think you'd object, since we'll all be right there. She came with high recommendations,” he said, smiling. He turned to her and her heart missed a beat.

“I'm sure she did,” she said. “It will be a nice change.”

Nick walked up to place his hands on her shoulders. “I've missed seeing you.”

“Nick, there's not much point in us seeing each other.”

“I don't know about that. We have Michael between us. I have a feeling we're in each other's lives for a long time to come.” Her heart drummed as she looked into his warm dark eyes. “You look beautiful, Grace,” he said in a husky voice.

“Thank you.” She gazed up at him, thinking he looked energetic, sexy, appealing.

In turn, he looked amused as he studied her. “I'd rather stay right here with you,” Nick said in a deep voice. “My dad is waiting, though. He's been counting the minutes until it was time to get you. Otherwise, we wouldn't rush back.”

“But since he is waiting, we should go. Besides, Michael
will eventually stop sitting quietly and amusing himself in his carrier.”

“Do you have an overnight bag packed?” Nick asked, picking up the carrier with Michael and glancing around.

She slipped into her long black coat. “Yes, a bag for each of us and a small box of toys and things for Michael.”

Nick took the bags from her hands, shouldered them, picked up Michael and opened the door. Carrying the box of toys, she turned off the lights, locked up and left with him.

“Christmas Eve,” she said.

“We'll always remember spending it together,” Nick reminded her. “Have you been busy constantly?”

“Yes. The past hour has been my quietest for the entire week.”

“I can imagine. I could have rescued you from that, whisked you away until tonight. Next time, let me know.”

“Thanks, but I had work to do. We've had parties booked day and night, so I couldn't have escaped had I wanted to.”

“Get ready for a party yourself. Small party, that is. Dad is as excited as a kid about tonight.”

“It's a grand holiday,” she said.

“This is definitely the best part,” Nick said.

She remained in the grip of excitement as they drove through the estate grounds once again. A cold front and a dense fog were settling in and it was cozy in Nick's car. Michael cooed in the back as they wound up the driveway. The minute they stepped inside, she drew a deep breath, reminded again of the Raffords' wealth and power.

The mansion had been turned into a winter wonderland. Trees with myriad lights sparkled at spaced intervals along the great hallway.

“Nick,” she said, halting to stare at the enormous tree standing between the two curving staircases. It had to be at
least twenty feet tall and decorated with hundreds of twinkling ornaments. “This is fit for royalty.”

“My father probably thinks he
is
royalty,” Nick remarked drily. “It's just a big tree.”

“Maybe to you, because you've grown up with trees like it. To me, it's magical, amazing. How I wish Michael knew what he was seeing. It's magnificent.”

“That's not the family tree. It's in the great room and that's where we'll spend the evening.”

Garlands of greenery and red ribbons draped the banisters of the winding staircases. “Michael, look,” she said to the baby in his carrier, “Isn't it beautiful? Nick, this is enchanting. I'm sorry he's too little to know what's here.”

“He will next year,” Nick said, and she gave him a startled glance. She hadn't thought in the long term about Eli and Nick remaining in her life. The thought of them becoming permanent in her life had just become more real.

“I brought presents in that bag you're carrying,” she said.

“You didn't need to. Michael would have been enough of a gift.”

She walked beside Nick, overwhelmed again by her surroundings, wondering why she had ever thought for a second that she wouldn't be diminished, made to feel insignificant the minute she entered the mansion again.

They passed through the wide double doors to the great room, where Nick told her most receptions and formal parties were held. Another huge tree, this one white, was festooned with ribbons and more sparkling ornaments and bows. She stopped in front of it in awe. “What fantastic Christmases you must have had,” she said, momentarily forgetting what he had told her about his childhood holidays.

“Some years I wasn't here,” he reminded her, and she turned to stare at him.

“I'm sorry, Nick,” she said. “Now I think it was best that
Bart didn't marry Alicia, not that he ever had any intention of doing so. Michael would have grown up in the same manner.”

“Good evening,” came a voice behind them and she turned to see Eli Rafford enter the room. He crossed over to shake her hand and then looked down at Michael as Nick removed the baby from his carrier.

“Ah, he's a fine-looking boy. Thank you so much for coming. I've looked forward to this since you accepted my invitation. I think he's grown in the past few days.”

She smiled as Nick took her coat to hand it to a staff member who had materialized quietly. Grace took Michael from Nick, watching while Nick put her presents around the foot of the huge tree along with a mound of gifts already under the tree. She looked at the luxurious Christmas trimmings and thought about her own meager decorations and single, small tree and wondered how Michael would feel about his two families. She was certain the Raffords were in her and Michael's life to stay. Unless Eli tried to get rid of her.

She glanced up at Nick, who turned to look into her eyes with a questioning expression.

“I'll take Michael's things to the nursery where Vanessa, the nanny, is,” Nick said, picking up a bag and leaving.

“Oh, my word!” For the first time she noticed stockings hung on the mammoth fireplace, one for each of them, including one with her name and one with Michael's.

“We have stockings.”

“Of course we do,” Eli said, chuckling. “It's Christmas. They are hung for Santa. Now, let me hold my precious grandchild,” he added. “Come sit near us, Grace, and tell me more about Michael.”

After placing Michael in Eli's arms, she sat close in a wing chair. As frail as Eli appeared when he was standing, his arms looked strong and his hands large, and he seemed to have a
firm grip on Michael, who was happily playing with a teething ring.

Nick returned to sit near them, facing her. As she talked, she was aware of Nick listening, watching her with a faint smile on his face. Once she caught him studying her legs and when he glanced up and their eyes met, his were hot, filled with so much desire that her heart skipped.

“The photographer should be here right away. Thank you for consenting to pictures.”

“It'll be great to have Christmas pictures of Michael,” she responded.

It was only minutes later the photographer was announced and for the next hour, pictures were taken and then the photographer packed his equipment and was gone.

“Michael is a happy baby,” Eli observed. “What a marvel he is. A special baby. Your sharing him with us this Christmas is the greatest possible Christmas gift.”

“It's good for the two of you to know each other,” she said. Under different circumstances, she would have been delighted to find the grandfather and uncle in Michael's life. As it was, her fear of Eli had been pushed aside slightly for this evening.

When Michael became wiggly, she spread a small blanket on the floor and put some of his toys on it, setting him down. He sat happily playing before beginning to crawl around. She scooped him up. “He's getting around better every day. He likes to explore.”

“Let's go meet the nanny and I'll show you Dad's new nursery. Excuse us, Dad. We'll be back shortly.”

As they entered the hall, Nick reached out to take Michael from her. “I'll carry him. You've probably carried him for hours.”

“Actually, yes I have. I don't mind yet because he's not too heavy.”

“Sometime I'll give you the grand tour of this house.”

She laughed. “I hope I don't get lost tonight. And Michael will be staying in my room, right?”

“Unless you want a different arrangement. If you don't want him in the same room, he can stay in the nursery with Vanessa, because she's staying the night.”

“I'd rather have him with me when I go to bed. He sleeps through the night, but I wouldn't want him to wake in a strange place with someone he barely knows.”

“I figured that. Vanessa will put him to bed in the room where you'll sleep and she'll sit in there with him until you turn in. Then she'll stay in her own room. We have a third floor filled with staff who live here. As you could see driving up, there's as much room as a hotel.”

“A very large hotel,” she said. “Michael may not be happy going home with me someday when he grows accustomed to what he has here.”

Nick gave her an inscrutable look and she wondered what was on his mind. “Why the look?” she asked.

“Just thinking about what you said. You're his mother and you love him. He'll always be happy going with you. Here we are,” Nick said, taking her arm while he carried Michael with his other arm. They entered a large, enchanting nursery that reminded her again of the Raffords' wealth. The room held a double bed, a baby crib, dressers, tables, a rocking chair, two other chairs, and was decorated with nursery rhyme decor. A bin contained toys. A tall blond woman stood when they entered.

“Grace, this is Vanessa Otis. Vanessa, meet Grace Wayland, and this is Michael.”

“He's adorable,” Vanessa said, taking the baby from Nick. “Hi, Michael,” she said to him before smiling at Grace. “When did he last eat?”

“He'll probably be hungry soon because it's been long
enough since the last bottle. I brought formula, bottles, baby food, and he takes some finger food. Everything is in his bag.”

“I have Michael's bag with his things and I can fix the bottles. I have six younger siblings, so I'm accustomed to babies,” she said, smiling at Grace, and Nick waited while Grace gave instructions about Michael's bottle.

When they left, Nick walked beside her. “Are you going to worry about him?”

“No. Vanessa seemed competent, and I imagine she has plenty of credentials, in addition to her own siblings, and has been thoroughly checked out.”