The First Wife (4 page)

“Tony?” She tilted her head to look up at him. “It doesn’t seem to fit him.”

“It will, when you get to know him.” He turned her in his arms. “What do you think
so far?”

“That it’s so beautiful, I won’t ever want to leave.”

“What about me, Bailey?” He tipped her face up to his, expression fierce. “Promise
you’ll never leave me. That we’ll have babies and grow old together.”

It was what she’d always wanted. A family. Meals around a big table, familial chaos
with laughter and bickering siblings. What she’d never had.

Logan looked so sad it broke her heart. “Children and grandchildren,” she said. “We’ll
raise them here, together. I’ll never leave you. I promise, Logan.”

He drew her to the bed. With the French doors open to the cold day, they made love.

CHAPTER FOUR

“You son of a bitch!” The woman’s voice came from downstairs. “You get your sorry
ass down here this minute!”

Bailey sat straight up, dragging the sheets with her. “Oh, my God, someone’s in the
house!”

Logan groaned. “Not someone. Hurricane Raine.”

“Your sister?” Bailey squealed.

“Two minutes!” the woman shouted. “Or I’m coming up there!”

“Hold your bladder,” he yelled back. “I’m coming!”

Logan sat up, a smile tugging at his mouth. “I think she heard about us.”

“This is so humiliating.” Bailey brought her hands to her face. “What if she
heard
 … you know. The balcony door was open.”

“It’s okay, baby.” He leaned across and kissed her. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”

But Bailey wasn’t about to hide in the bed—naked, for heaven’s sake—and miss this
first chance to meet her new sister-in-law. Or chance that the outspoken woman wouldn’t
charge up here to see her for herself.

The moment Logan exited the room, she leaped up and began throwing herself together.
After finishing by pulling her hair into a ponytail and dabbing on a bit of lip gloss,
she headed into the hall.

And stopped on the landing. She heard them, although they stood at the bottom of the
stairs, out of her line of sight.

“How could you do this to me, Logan? I’m your sister.”

“And I love you. But it’s my life.”

“And I like to think I’m a part of it.”

“You are, Raine. C’mon.”

Bailey heard the affection in his tone and smiled.

“She’s so sweet,” he said. “You’re going to like her. I promise.”

“That’s what you said about True.”

“And you liked her.”

“At first. Then she turned on us.”

“I don’t want to talk about her. And I won’t. Not today.”

“You don’t see the parallels? You thought she was sweet, too. You brought her home,
just like this—”

Bailey crept closer and was just able to peek down at them.

“—surprise! ‘Meet my young, beautiful wife! Love her. She’s family now.’”

The bitterness and anger in Raine’s voice shocked her. As did the news that Logan
had done this before, gotten married in a romantic whirlwind.

Bailey had thought she was special, that their love was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence.
Apparently not, if Raine was to be believed. Bailey pushed the thought—and the way
it hurt—aside and refocused on their conversation.

“They’re two different people,” Logan said, voice low, reassuring. “You’ll see.”

Raine lowered her voice; Bailey had to strain to hear. “But you’re the same. I can’t …
I couldn’t stand to see you heartbroken again.”

Bailey stepped out into the open. “You won’t have to,” she said clearly, forcing a
confident smile. “I love your brother with all my heart.”

Raine looked up at her. She was beautiful—brown hair so dark it was nearly black,
classic features—a feminine version of Logan save for the color of their eyes. Instead
of light green, hers were a deep, rich brown.

And right now, they glittered with fury.

“Here she is,” Logan said. “My beautiful bride.”

His smile chased the chill away. She descended the stairs and went to his side. He
drew her close, arm possessively around her.

“Bailey Abbott, meet my sister, Raine.”

Bailey smiled brightly at her new sister-in-law, and held out her hand. “Hurricane
Raine,” she said. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

Something in the woman’s expression shifted subtly. Admiration? For her backbone?
Or anticipation? As if she’d decided Bailey could prove a worthy opponent … or an
easy target?

She took Bailey’s hand. “You’re right, Logan. She’s not True. I think she and I are
going to get along famously.”

CHAPTER FIVE

The smell of grilling steak wafted on the evening air. The sound of laughter mingled
with the tinkling of the courtyard fountain. Paul had arrived first, with flowers
and wine. Raine had never left, instead heading straight to the bar, then out to sit
alone by the pool, bundled up in her coat.

To Bailey, her sitting out there alone had felt weird. Logan had assured her that
isolating herself was his sister’s way and that she would join them when she was ready.
Or not.

She did, finally, her smile and behavior bright, but brittle. So brittle, Bailey feared
the wrong words would shatter her into a million pieces. Paul, on the other hand,
was affable and generous. Smiling at her, working to include her. Even so, she could
see the strain around his eyes.

She wondered if he could see the strain around hers. If they all could. These people
were so different than she. Beautiful and worldly. This place, so much … grander.
Like a movie set, she decided.

She said so, and they all looked at her. Raine smiled, clearly delighted with her
naivete. “And what kind of movie will this be, my surprise sister-in-law? A comedy?
Or a tragedy?”

“Why, neither, of course.”

The man’s voice was silky and deep, with what sounded to Bailey like a European accent.
They all turned.

“August,” Raine said, sounding amused. “You never miss the chance for an entrance.”

He kissed Raine’s cheek, then turned to Bailey. “And you must be the new Mrs. Abbott.”

Physically, he wasn’t a big man, yet in every other way seemed larger than life. Black
hair pulled back in a ponytail, his dark coloring a dramatic contrast to the white
silk shirt he wore. Tight jeans; a brilliantly white smile.

He caught her hand, met her eyes as he brought it to his lips. “Obviously, this movie
is a romance. Epic, no doubt.”

Bailey smiled. “August,” she said, feeling everyone’s eyes on her and sensing this
was a test, “you’re just as charming as Logan warned me you’d be.”

He laughed. “And you, Bailey, are as young and lovely as I expected.”

She wasn’t certain what he meant by that, but she wasn’t about to let him best her.
“A testament to my husband’s excellent taste?”

“Something like that.”

Logan announced the steaks were done and they assembled around the grand dining room
table. Bailey would have preferred a more casual evening, but Logan had insisted it
was a celebration, so only the finest would do. So, they had set the table, using
linens and china and lighting the long white tapers inside antique hurricanes.

After only a few minutes of polite conversation, the interrogation began. Bailey had
been waiting for it. How could they not be curious? Here she sat, a stranger, virtually
forced upon them.

And as she had also expected, it began with Raine. “Bailey, tell us about you. Where
are you from?”

“Nebraska. A little town named Broken Bow.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “I’ve never actually met anyone from Nebraska.”

“Now you have. Finally, you can call your life complete.”

Beside her, Logan stifled a chuckle.

“What about your family?” Paul asked.

“I don’t have any.”

Raine made a choked sound and grabbed her water.

August leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “How very interesting.”

“I’m not certain what you mean by that.”

“He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Raine said. “He’s just trying to be clever.”

He laughed and went back to his wine and Raine refocused on her. “I’m curious,” Raine
murmured, “how does one end up with no family at all?”

“I’m an only child, raised by a single mother. She—” Her throat closed over the words.
She felt like an idiot and looked helplessly at Logan.

“Her mother passed away recently,” he said. “The loss is still very fresh.”

“I’m so sorry,” Paul said to her. “Forgive me for bringing it up.”

Raine stabbed a piece of steak. “Was it sudden?”

Bailey cleared her throat. “It depends on your definition of sudden. For me, it was.
She was diagnosed with bone cancer, and six months later she was … gone.”

Logan laid his hand over hers. “Bailey withdrew from school to care for her.”

“What were you studying?” Paul asked.

“To be a teacher,” Logan answered for her. “Elementary education.”

“I’m going back.” Bailey smiled. “Logan tells me Southeastern has a good program.
And that I could easily commute.”

“They do,” Raine interjected. “I’m a professor there. In the art department.”

“Logan told me.”

“Of course, Logan and I are Tulane grads.”

The subtle stress she put on the words made it clear Southeastern was fine for people
like her, but not them. Bailey’s hackles rose. “Why’s that? It’s more expensive?”

“Catfight,” August murmured, bringing his glass to his lips.

“Yes, it is,” Raine responded. “But it was tradition that we should go. Mother and
Daddy did, their parents as well. Things like that are important down here. Family
things.”

Bailey bristled. “My mother studied at the school of hard knocks. And performed brilliantly.”

“Touché.” August looked at Raine expectantly.

But before the other woman could respond, Paul jumped in. “Do you ride, Bailey?” he
asked.

“I used to. But haven’t in years.”

“A country girl like you?” Raine cocked an eyebrow, looking almost amused. “Why not?”

“Don’t laugh, but I’m afraid of horses. Terrified, really.”

No one laughed. A hush fell over the table.

“Well,” August said, lifting his glass in a toast, “there’s a first. Lady of the manor,
ruling over all she sees, terrified of what she sees the most of. To you, Mrs. Abbott.”

“Shut up, August,” Raine snapped. “You’re such an idiot.” She turned to Bailey. “They’re
the most beautiful, gentle creatures on the planet, how could they scare you? What
happened?”

“I was thrown. Nearly trampled.” She looked at Logan. “When you told me what happened
to Henry, it was all too real.”

Logan curled his fingers around hers. “A boyfriend convinced her to get on a horse
she had no business riding.”

“Typical,” August said, smirking at Logan. “Leave it to a man to convince a levelheaded
girl to do something dangerous.”

Logan ignored him. “She’s going to give it a try again.”

“When I’m ready,” she added.

“Of course, when you’re ready, baby.” He looked at Paul. “What do you think about
her riding Tea Biscuit?”

He smiled. “Perfect choice. She’s a retired polo pony. Very sweet, as gentle as they
come.”

“We keep her around because she’s good company for weaning foals,” August said.

“And for children to ride,” Raine added.

Paul cleared his throat at Raine’s dig, obviously uncomfortable. “Logan, tell us how
you two met.”

He looked at her. “You tell them, sweetheart.”

“It was so romantic.”

“I’ll need more wine for this.” August held up the empty bottle. “Do you mind, Logan?”

“Of course not.”

“It was the first night of my vacation”—she glanced at Logan—“both of our vacations.
I was walking on the beach and was attacked.”

Paul grinned. “Smooth move, Logan. Gutsy.”

He laughed. “It would have been but I’m not that slick.”

“He saved me,” she said. “My own knight in shining armor.”

Raine rolled her eyes. “God help us.”

“He stayed with me the whole time, even though it took hours to wait for security,
then the police. I told him he could go on, but he insisted.” She sighed. “We watched
the sunrise together. It was the most romantic night of my life.”

“Excuse me while I retch,” Raine said lightly. “Pass the bottle, August.”

“We spent every moment after together,” Bailey said.

“Then extended our vacations—”

“Because we couldn’t bear to say good-bye.”

“This could be part of a trend,” August said. “Lots of trends seem to be developing
here.”

Paul sent him an irritated glance. “So you decided good-bye was off the table?”

“Exactly. We just … knew.” Logan gazed into her eyes. “It was right. We were meant
to be together.”

“He proposed—”

“And she said yes.”

Paul jumped in. “And as they say, the rest is history.”

“Happily ever after,” Bailey said, beaming up at Logan.

“Obviously then, he hasn’t told you about True?”

The table went silent. Everyone looked at Raine.

“Why wouldn’t I have?” Logan asked, voice low, vibrating with something Bailey had
never heard in it before but recognized as dangerous.

“We both know why, my dear brother. In this family, there’s no such thing as happily
ever after.”

CHAPTER SIX

The days flowed one into the other. After a week, Bailey still couldn’t believe she
was here, in this magical place, married to her very own Prince Charming. They had
spent nearly every moment of the past days together, but today he’d had to go into
New Orleans, to see to his land development and management firm.

Which left her alone in her new home for the first time. She considered finishing
the arrangements to have her things shipped from Nebraska or calling and catching
up with her friend Marilyn, but decided to go exploring instead.

Bailey laced up her Nikes, grabbed her jacket and headed outside. She would visit
the stable, see if she could muster the courage to offer a carrot to the mare Logan
had picked out for her. How could she be afraid of a horse named Tea Biscuit?