The Texan's Contract Marriage

Five

Dressed in a tailored white silk dress with a skirt that ended below her knees, Camille stood poised to walk up the aisle in a small chapel in the Saint Louis church she had attended all her life. Her arm was looped through her father’s, and he smiled at her. “You look beautiful. I hope you’re happy.”

“I will be, Dad,” she said, watching Ashley walk up the aisle.

“This isn’t what we’d hoped for you when Mom and I talked about all of you growing up and marrying, but if you’re all right with it, we will be, too. As long as you’re sure you’re not doing it for the money.”

“Absolutely not. The money is a plus, but I’ve tried to keep that from influencing my decision. This is about Noah.”

“I hope you mean that. Camille, if this marriage doesn’t work, then get out of it,” Anthony Avanole said solemnly. “You’ll have enough money to invest it and never touch it. Use the interest from it and what you have if the amount grows. It’ll be there to give back to Marek if you need to.”

“I know, Dad,” she said, looking at the tall, handsome man who stood waiting at the altar and within moments would be her husband. “Marek and I think this marriage will work. Time and again, I’ve been over all the reasons.”

“The money is a blessing for you and for all of us. It will change our lives, but I don’t want it at the cost of your happiness.”

She shook her head. “It won’t be. I won’t stay in the relationship if it’s unhappy or not the best for Noah, for all of us.” The marriage still dazed her as much as the ring on her finger. She glanced down at her hand as she held the large bouquet of white orchids, lilies and white roses. Her eight-carat diamond with sapphires and diamonds along the gold band sparkled on her finger. The contradictions in her wedding were as numerous as in Marek’s personality. A small wedding, an enormous bouquet and a huge, dazzling diamond. A honeymoon for two people who were almost strangers. She looked again at Marek, feeling her pulse racing. Jess was best man because Pete Rangel, Marek’s father, had asked Marek to let someone stand in for him because of his crutches. His dad had been happy that Marek had asked him, even when he could not accept.

When Camille had asked Marek about it earlier, he had made it clear to her that he was happy to have Jess as his best man.

“It’s time,” the wedding planner said, and Camille and her dad started the walk up the aisle. As she neared Marek, she saw the somber look on his face, a look she recognized. He was fighting his emotions, and she could imagine he was thinking about his fiancée and the wedding he had expected to have.

She hurt for him, wishing she could erase his ache, knowing no one could. He stepped to her side to take her hand, his dark eyes unreadable. He smiled, but it was perfunctory.

She went through the ceremony, repeating her vows, too aware she was taking an enormous risk as well as aware of Marek’s pain.

The moment the minister said, “You may kiss the bride,” warmth returned to Marek’s eyes as he focused on her. His kiss was light, but the look he gave her was reassuring.

When they turned to face the guests and their minister introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Marek Rangel, her parents smiled at her and her mother dabbed her eyes. Marek’s parents smiled, even though Marek’s mother also had tears.

Marek took her arm to walk up the aisle, and she smiled with relief that the ceremony had ended.

They had pictures with both of their families. Even though it was a small wedding, there were more guests than she had originally thought they would have. They constantly talked to guests, and it wasn’t until Marek began the first dance with her that she was alone with him. He held her lightly, smiling at her, but it was a strained smile. A muscle worked in his jaw and she hurt for him, certain he was thinking of his fiancée.

“You look beautiful today,” he said. His voice sounded labored, and she would be thankful when the reception was over and they could get away.

“Thank you. You look handsome, and your pain doesn’t show very much,” she said, wishing she could do something to help him.

“I’m all right.” He glanced beyond her, looking around the large ballroom. “Our security is tight and I don’t think there are any unwanted people looking for pictures or a story.”

“The security is the best ever.”

“You’re as calm as a summer morning. But then you’re accustomed to going on stage and hiding what you feel.”

“I’ve made my decision, and I’m hoping for the best. Noah has been on his best behavior all day as if he senses something special is happening.” Marek’s slight smile looked real this time, and she relaxed a little. “Perhaps someday we’ll dance and you’ll be delighted that I’m the person in your arms.”

“I am happy over this, Camille. In more ways than you can guess. You’ve brought me out of the grief I had sunk into. I think this union is going to be great for all of us.”

“That’s what I’m counting on, too.”

“We’ll do all right together, because we each have our own lives and we’re really not going to be together that much,” he said, sounding as if he were preoccupied. “The arrangement we have is a trial—remember that. As much as we can, we’ll live together under the same roof when you’re not performing, and for now you’ll call the ranch home. As soon as possible, we’ll all go to the ranch.”

“That will be a totally new experience for me and my sisters. Noah won’t know the difference,” she said, enjoying dancing with Marek as she always did. He looked incredibly handsome, and for a fleeting second she wished life had been different. The longing was gone as swiftly as it had come.

“You can get whatever decorator you want,” Marek said. “We’ve already made changes at our Dallas house.”

“Our house—it will take a while to become accustomed to thinking that way. I’m still astounded at how fast you got the changes in I wanted.”

“It’s our house from this day forward, until we make a legal change.”

“That sounds permanent. The ranch is another thing I’m trying to become accustomed to. Horses, cattle, ranches—I know nothing about them.”

“Ranch life is pretty plain. It’s hard work, but just taking care of cattle, horses, land, fences, a million things strung out over lots of land. It won’t mean much to you, and when you’re there, you won’t even know it’s going on.”

“My ring is beautiful. Thank you again.”

“I’m glad you like it. Let’s get through this and out of here when we can. I’m ready to be alone with you. You look gorgeous today.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him. “You’re nice. You look supremely handsome.”

He smiled. “Mutual admiration. That’s good. There’s so much that’s good. I’m happy, Camille.”

They circled the dance floor in silence.

“I like dancing with you, but we can do that on our honeymoon,” Marek said finally. “After this dance, we probably should circulate and talk to guests so we can get out of here sooner. I want you to myself,” he repeated.

“Marek, just a reminder, I can’t rush into anything physical.”

“We’ve agreed on that subject, and I promised it would be mutual.” He leaned close to her ear. “I’ll tell you now. I’m going to seduce you, Camille. I want to make love to you. You’re a desirable woman,” he whispered, making her tingle, although she suspected he was trying to smooth over the lack of deep feelings between them.

“I could be a little green woman from Mars and you wouldn’t notice,” she said.

“Not true. I know I’m with a beautiful, desirable woman,” he said in a warm voice, looking down at her in one of the rare moments when it seemed as if he really saw her as a woman.

The ballad ended and another began. Her father appeared to ask her to dance, and Marek left to ask his mother.

By early afternoon she saw Marek give her a look and then glance toward the door. She sat at a table with her family. “I think we’re leaving now,” she said. She gave each one a hug and stopped longer with Ashley. Noah had fallen asleep beside her in his carrier. “Don’t hesitate to text about anything. Keep in touch.”

“You’ll hear from me often. Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. We’ll all take care of him.”

“Take care, Ashley, and call if there’s anything. Marek can have us flown right back here.”

“I know he can. See you in a few days. Enjoy the water and palm trees. And your handsome husband.”

Camille laughed and hugged her sister briefly. “I will.”

Joining her, Marek took her hand to rush to the waiting limo that took them to the airport and a Rangel plane.

*

As they headed east over Texas, Marek gazed out the window. Noah would be part of his life now. He already had an attorney working on the adoption. In spite of wanting this marriage and being overjoyed that Camille had accepted, he had hurt earlier today. The morning had distressed him, bringing back too many memories of Jillian.

The marriage ceremony had opened old wounds. Camille had been aware of his pain. Her kindness and understanding and, later, her happy expectations and quiet cheer, had lifted him out of the hurt. She was a beautiful, intelligent, talented woman. For that afternoon, at least, he had forgotten and set aside the past, something that was happening more and more since she had come into his life. Now he reached out to take her hand, then impulsively tugged her closer and leaned forward to kiss her. It was a brief kiss because anything longer would set him on fire.

When he sat back, he smiled at her, and she smiled in return. “It’s been a good day,” she said. He nodded.

She had been convincing in assuring him that a marriage of convenience was all right. He knew people who felt that way and then fell in love and marriage was the thing they wanted most. She had made her choices, and both Camille and her family seemed happy.

Their wedding night would be a letdown for most, but they had had a frank talk about their plans for this honeymoon and both had agreed to set aside a physical relationship at this point in their lives. He would let their relationship develop at whatever pace worked out, but he wanted to make love to her. It would please him if they could have a real wedding night.

He thought about the day’s events. His parents had seemed wary of Camille and Noah. They always had great interest in Ginny’s girls when they were with them. Once they returned to California, they seemed to retreat back into their own world. Perhaps they’d come around to welcoming Camille and Noah.

Shifting his attention to Camille again, he wished her long hair was down. She looked sophisticated, composed, satisfied. Her expression and demeanor hid the stormy emotions he was sure she battled.

“You look beautiful. You have all day,” he said, meaning what he told her.

“Thank you. And you look breathtakingly handsome in your new tux and your fancy new boots.”

He wiggled his foot. “Thank you. I don’t know about fancy, but they are new, clean and comfortable.”

“The boots made the men in the wedding look like the cowboys they are.”

“Frank didn’t have on boots. Just Jess and I did. My dad wore them. He’s continued wearing them even after leaving the ranch.”

“I’m excited about our destination. I know this may be old to you, but it’s a marvel I haven’t experienced before.”

“Enjoy yourself. Just don’t swim alone except in our pool.”

“Our pool. You’ve made the transition quickly.”

“I’m trying to. This is what I wanted and I’ll go as far as I can to make it work. In every way, Camille,” he added, thinking about the physical side. Her cheeks flushed, so he knew she understood his reference and reacted to it.

She turned to look outside, and he glanced down at the band on his finger. It seemed unreal in so many ways. Marek touched the band, which was wide and plain gold. Jillian’s face floated in front of him, her cascade of white-blond hair, her large blue-green eyes, her smile that always made him smile in return. He took a deep breath. He missed her so and she was supposed to be sitting beside him as he headed off for his honeymoon. Instead, he was traveling with a black-haired beauty he barely knew.

“You’re thinking about Jillian, aren’t you?” Camille asked gently, touching his hand.

“Yes. It’s the wedding that’s triggered a lot of memories. They’ll fade out of my thoughts. Sorry.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I understand.”

“I’m surprised, because you’ve never lost anyone extremely close.”

She shook her head. “No, but I’ve played characters who have, and I have given a lot of thought to feelings and reactions.”

“Maybe that’s part of your success,” he said, speculating about her and realizing he should hear her perform. “I wonder if Noah will sing. Kern could whistle. That was his musical ability.” He grinned. “My brother didn’t sing. If he did, the dogs started howling.”

She laughed, and his insides heated. She was not only beautiful, but desirable. Her laughter was an enticing, contagious sound.

“You should have had more laughter today,” he said.

“I’m doing all right. I never thought about Noah singing. Right now, I think more about him talking. Do you think your family will ever accept Noah or me?” she asked.

“If we stay together, probably more than they do now. They’ve surprised me. I didn’t expect the reaction I got from them at all. Frankly, I think my mother is afraid to let go and love him. She loved Kern. When we were growing up, I always thought she favored him. Ginny and I both did. Kern was probably more lovable than we were. He could charm anyone. I think she’s scared of getting hurt again if she gets too close to Noah. If she lets go and loves him, she wouldn’t want to go back to California. My dad could be feeling the same. Don’t let it worry you. They’ll go back to California before we return and you won’t see them for a long time.”

“I’m just sorry they didn’t welcome Noah. He’s a sweetheart. They know you did a paternity test, don’t they?”

“Yes, they do,” Marek said, unable to understand how his parents could so easily reject Kern’s baby when they knew he was their grandson. “Don’t worry about it. They shouldn’t be that important to you. I think they tried to avoid seeing Noah, just so they wouldn’t become attached. We’ll be together sometime when Ginny’s girls are around and they’ll have to get to know him. If they do, I expect them to change. How can they resist him?”

She smiled. “I quite agree. He’s the most adorable baby in the whole world,” she said, and Marek smiled with her. “Ahh, I made you smile. That’s good. A real smile.” She patted his hand, a light, warm touch that heightened his awareness of her.

“Well, at least my family has accepted you. Actually, they’re grateful for all you’ve done for us.”

Marek reached over to take a pin out of her hair. “I like your hair down. The wedding is over and it’s just us.”

She smiled at him as her long, raven locks fell.

“Giving away money is the easiest part of this. Making the changes in our lives—that’s the hard part. You can’t always predict the outcome of your actions,” he said, concentrating on taking down her hair. When it fell freely, she shook her head. His pulse quickened. The midnight cascade fell over her shoulders, framing her face and giving her a more earthy appearance. With her lush curves and flowing hair, she looked hot-blooded and passionate. He could remember kissing her in total detail because it had been a sizzling kiss.

“Were you and Kern always close?”

“Yes. He just tagged along after me and I accepted that. Sometimes I thought he was a pest and would shake him, but most of the time I let him come with me or do what I was doing. By the time we were out of high school, we were becoming close, a closeness that grew as we did things together. As adults, the age difference didn’t matter. I miss him every day. I could count on him for a lot.”

“That’s sort of a description of my relationship with Ashley. Not so much Stephanie, who is older. A lot of the time she did her own thing. She has a deep regard for money, so you couldn’t have picked a better way to win her over.”

“Works with most people,” he replied, even though he knew it was a cynical attitude.

“If I hadn’t thought this would be good for Noah, I wouldn’t have agreed for any amount,” she said quietly, and he gazed into her blue eyes that held him as if she had immobilized him.

“I don’t think you would have,” he replied and they lapsed into silence.

“I can’t wait to get there.”

“We’ll get there in time for a swim, and then we can have a long, leisurely dinner overlooking the water. And there are palm trees around the veranda. I made sure of that before I leased this place.”

She smiled. “I want to wish the plane there now. It sounds like paradise.”

He didn’t want to point out that paradise would be doing this with a person she loved. She seemed happy, and he wasn’t trying to shoot down her joy because it was a difficult situation. A strained honeymoon with a stranger, both of them locked into a paper marriage of convenience. He had never expected to find himself in any such thing. And he would not have been if Jillian had lived. He would have been married to her by now, perhaps starting his own family, and he would have had to let Noah go and only see the child from time to time. Taking a deep breath, he dropped his thoughts of Jillian and any “what-ifs.” With Camille to keep his mind elsewhere, he was finding it easier to focus on the present, and that’s what he needed to do—try to be the best husband and dad he could be.

When they finally flew over the Caribbean, Camille hovered by the window, fascinated as a child by the bright blue water below. “Marek, it’s beautiful! It’s what I’ve imagined.”

“Camille, you’ve been south and have seen sights like this—Houston, San Diego, Miami.”

“Only Houston—I haven’t gone to Galveston or along the coast. I’ve been on northern coasts and in Europe, but I haven’t been to Miami or San Diego.”

“I’m surprised.” He smiled slightly again, watching her turn back to look, glad she was enjoying herself because he thought this so-called honeymoon in Grand Cayman was cheating her in too many ways.

They landed, and all her attention was on their surroundings as they drove to the villa he had leased. It was within high walls with a gatekeeper. The security wasn’t obvious, but Marek had already hired a company and knew it was in place. When they stepped out of the limo he took her hand to go inside.

“I love this,” she said, inhaling deeply, her gaze roaming over the sprawling villa. “I see we’ll have security here.”

“We will and a full staff who will stay out of our way. Under the circumstances I didn’t see any point in dismissing the staff,” he remarked.

“This is a magic place and maybe magic will happen.”

“You’ve been performing in make-believe stories too long,” he said, still amused by her enthusiasm. “Don’t count on magic. I know you have been places far more exotic and beautiful than this.”

“It’s what captures your fancy that becomes so special. And this does mine more than castles and mountains and bustling cities.”

He swept her into his arms, and her eyes flew wide. For the first time since they had flown away from the U.S., he had her full attention. “I’ll follow an old tradition even though it’s ridiculous for us. This may be the only marriage for either one of us, so I intend to do what I can to make it work and to keep you happy.”

She smiled broadly and wrapped her arms around his neck, her blue eyes ensnaring him in that manner she had. “Watch out, my husband, or you’ll cause me to fall in love with you. Neither of us can cope with that.”

“I don’t think there’s much danger, but if you do, we’re married.”

“If I do, then I will do everything in my power to make you fall in love with me,” she whispered, suddenly looking solemn. “That’s a promise,” she said, tapping his chest with her forefinger while he carried her over the threshold and inside.

He looked at her intently, desire stirring as it had the night he had kissed her. It had surprised him then and it did now. With their gazes locked, he set her on her feet. She still had her arms around his neck and she gazed up at him, fires in the depths of blue, a sultry invitation that made his heart beat faster.

He forgot the past and was lost in the moment. His gaze lowered to her mouth and he remembered her steamy kiss, a kiss that had jolted him and pulled him solidly into the present. He leaned down, placing his lips on hers while her arm tightened around his neck.

She pressed her soft curves against him. She was tall, warm and enticing. The moment his mouth touched hers, thoughts shut down, desire flickered to life. He tightened his arm around her narrow waist, pulling her closer against him. Long-dormant feelings stirred. His body came to life, heart pounding, fire consuming him while she kissed him passionately in return.

Her kisses were fiery and demanding. That energy and zest for life that she exhibited channeled into passion and melted him. His body responded fully. Desire rocked him. She surprised him when she leaned away. “Marek, wait,” she gasped. “Let’s not complicate our lives more. I’m not ready for a purely physical relationship in spite of saying marriage vows today. We’ve both agreed on that.”

Raising his head, he tried to get his breath. His body needed to cool. He desired her and suspected it would take little to crumble her argument and seduce her.

“I want to wait, and our kisses are leading to lovemaking,” she added. “This isn’t what either of us planned.”