Richard stared at Destiny and Melanie huddled together in a corner and concluded that his aunt had bought the phony engagement hook, line and sinker. He was surprised by how guilty that made him feel. He forced himself to examine why that was, but the answer was fairly obvious. He’d never before gone to such elaborate lengths to get even with Destiny for meddling. Usually he just took her interference as a fact of life, something she did out of love—annoying but essentially harmless. He had no idea why he’d felt compelled to go to such an extreme this time. He had a feeling it had a lot to do with his conflicted feelings for Melanie herself.
“Guilty conscience?” Mack inquired, regarding him with amusement.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Richard said, not in the mood to share his soul-searching, even with his brother.
Mack shrugged. “Fine with me, though if you were to ask, I could probably help you sort through all these pesky emotions you’re feeling about now.”
“When did you turn sensitive?”
“Scoff if you like, but I have more experience in this area than you do, big brother. I have shaded the truth on more than one occasion to evade Destiny’s scheming. I’m not especially proud of it, but sometimes I’ve found it to be a necessity.”
“No question about it,” Richard said. “I’m just not sure that’s a plus.”
Mack gave him a knowing look. “You actually believe Destiny is buying all this, don’t you?”
Richard was stunned by the suggestion that Destiny wasn’t being taken in. “Of course. Just look at her. She’s practically gloating at having won so easily.”
“Ha!”
Richard frowned at his brother. “What the hell are you suggesting?”
“That our beloved aunt still has the upper hand, that she knows exactly what you’re up to and that she is playing along till you dig yourself in so deep you’ll never get out. Trust me, this engagement will be real before all is said and done. Destiny will see to it. She’s a pro, my friend, and you are a rank amateur when it comes to this kind of scheming.”
“You can’t be serious,” Richard said, even though it made a convoluted kind of sense. Destiny was sneaky enough to do something like that, to give him and Melanie enough rope to hang themselves or, more precisely, to tie themselves together permanently.
“Have you figured out a way to extricate yourself from this once things get out of hand?” Mack inquired.
Richard nodded, his gaze now riveted on the two women across the room. What the devil were they talking about? For all he knew the two of them were in cahoots, plotting against him. Maybe Melanie had been in on the scheme from the beginning, Destiny’s scheme that is, not his. Good God, he couldn’t even keep the schemes straight anymore. Mack was right. He needed a well-formulated escape plan. Fortunately he’d considered that.
“Of course I have a plan,” he told Mack. “You know I never go into anything unless I have an exit strategy.”
Mack rolled his eyes. “This isn’t a business deal.”
“Yes, it is,” Richard said, then felt ridiculous. “Okay, in a way, it is. Melanie and I have an agreement.”
“In writing?”
“Of course not.”
“So if she changes her mind and decides she likes being engaged to you, that she wants to be married to you, you’re prepared for that? Or do you have lawyers on standby ready to break this verbal contract the two of you have?”
“Yes,” Richard said, then decided that wasn’t an admission he was prepared to deal with. “I mean no. No lawyers. Mack, you’re making my head hurt. This is a straightforward arrangement. Melanie and I give Destiny what she wants, proof that we’re together—”
“It’s an illusion,” Mark reminded him.
Richard scowled and kept talking. “Then we break up. I mope around for a while until Destiny finds some other poor woman to try to foist off on me.” He grinned at Mack. “Or until she decides you’re the better candidate for serious romance.”
Mack shuddered. “Bite your tongue.”
Richard warmed to that scenario. “Yes, indeed. I think that’s the way it’ll go. She’ll be furious that I’ve messed this up, decide I’m totally hopeless, then give up on me. She’ll turn to you, then Ben. Given Ben’s current attitude toward the opposite sex, I’ll be a doddering old man before she gets back to me again.”
“You are so delusional,” Mack said. “Even Ben sees Destiny’s scheming more clearly than you do and he’s oblivious to most of her flaws. He was still laughing his head off when he left here.”
That caught Richard’s attention. “Ben’s gone? When did he leave?”
“Ten, fifteen minutes ago. He slipped out as soon as Destiny’s attention was otherwise engaged.” He laughed uproariously at his own pun.
Richard was not nearly as amused. He was also worried about his brother. “Why didn’t you try to stop him from leaving?”
“Have you ever tried to stop Ben from doing whatever he’s set his mind on?” Mack asked. “He’s the most stubborn of all of us, and that’s saying something. Lighten up. He came today and he actually let down his guard for a while with Melanie.”
Richard wasn’t comforted by the positive spin. “I hate that he’s exiled himself to that isolated farm of his.”
Mack sighed. “He needs time, Richard. What happened with Graciela nearly destroyed him.”
Richard frowned. “It wasn’t his fault.”
“He blames himself anyway.”
“He needs to listen to reason,” Richard said impatiently. “You’ve told him that. I’ve told him that. I’m sure Destiny has repeated it ad nauseam. Maybe I should have another talk with him.”
“No,” Mack said with surprising vehemence. “Destiny’s right about this one. Ben needs to heal at his own pace. He doesn’t have your thick skin or my cavalier attitude toward life. One day he’ll wake up and put the entire tragedy into perspective, but it won’t happen until he’s ready. If we push him, he’ll just dig his heels in deeper. Next thing we know, he’ll put a lock on the front gate out there and refuse to let any of us in.”
Richard knew Mack was right, but his heart still ached for Ben. Graciela Lofton hadn’t been worth all this pain and anguish. No woman was, he thought until he caught a glimpse of Melanie laughing at something Destiny had said. He found himself sighing.
Maybe one woman was worth it, he conceded. Melanie was smarter than he’d initially given her credit for being, sexier than hell and a good sport. It was an admirable combination, one he hadn’t run into often.
So why the hell was he so dead set on pushing her out of his life just to make some elaborate point with Destiny?
* * *
For a few hours Melanie allowed herself to get caught up in the fantasy. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from the disgustingly ostentatious ring that Richard had slipped on her finger. A part of her actually felt this awful kind of letdown that it was only there temporarily.
Not that she wanted this particular ring, not that she even wanted to be engaged to Richard for real, she told herself staunchly, but it would be nice to have that kind of permanent connection to somebody. To know that he’d be there for her in a crisis, to fall asleep in his arms, to make love to. When was the last time she’d had that? During her ill-fated affair with yet another boss and the closeness then had been as much of an illusion as her supposed engagement to Richard was. She sighed heavily, drawing Richard’s attention.
“Are you okay?” Richard asked, glancing at her quickly as he drove toward her place.
“Just tired,” she said. “Trying to keep all the threads of our story straight wore me out.”
He nodded, his jaw tight. “I can relate to that.”
“How? You spent most of the afternoon huddled with Mack. He knows we’re lying. I was with Destiny, who had a million and one questions about our plans.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That you caught me completely off guard today, that we have no plans.”
“Sounds reasonable. What was so tricky about that?”
She gave him a withering look. “Are you kidding? Ever heard about nature abhorring a vacuum? Well, Destiny has nothing on nature. She now has lists of her lists.”
“Lists?” Richard echoed, his expression dire. “Oh, God.”
She grinned despite her own trepidations. “I see you’re familiar with her list-making skills. Frankly, I was in awe, and I consider myself to be a halfway decent organizer.”
“What sort of lists was she making?” Richard asked warily.
“Guest lists, caterers, florists, photographers, bridal salons, gift registries. I believe there is also a short list of preferable wedding dates to be checked first thing in the morning with your church. I lost track after that one.” She gave him a plaintive look. “She wants to book the church. Isn’t it some kind of sin to book a church for a wedding you know will never take place?”
Richard forced a grim laugh. “Probably not a sin, but definitely a complication we could live without. You haven’t met our minister. He would not be amused.”
“Oh, and did I mention Destiny has also drafted the engagement announcement for your approval, though I wouldn’t count on her waiting? She seems a bit eager to get it into print.”
“Maybe Mack is right,” Richard muttered under his breath, his gloomy expression deepening.
“What?”
“Mack,” he said. “He thinks she’s on to us and is now determined to push us beyond the brink so there will be no turning back.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Melanie said glumly. She regarded him hopefully. “When can we break up?”
Richard didn’t respond. He merely pulled the car to a stop at the side of the road and set the brake.
“Richard? Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“Well?”
“Give me a minute. I need to think about it.”
Melanie wasn’t about to give him a minute. She wanted a solution and she wanted it now. “This plan is backfiring on us, isn’t it?”
“Could be.”
“Then fix it, dammit.”
He gave her an enigmatic look. “Any suggestions?”
“Tell her the truth,” Melanie said impatiently. “How’s that for a novel idea?”
“I’m not even sure I know what the truth is anymore,” he admitted, his expression oddly wistful.
“I’ll tell you what the truth is. We are not engaged!” she said, her voice rising.
“You’re wearing my ring,” he reminded her mildly.
“It’s fake.”
“I can assure you it’s not.”
She scowled at him. “I mean it doesn’t mean anything. The engagement is a fraud, a hoax, a stupid game.”
“It definitely started that way,” Richard agreed.
Something in his tone stopped her from continuing her own ranting. “Richard?”
He lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes troubled. Then, before she could guess his intention, he leaned across and touched his lips to hers, softly, tenderly. Heat flared as if he’d touched a match to kindling.
They sat by the side of the road, the motor idling, oblivious to the passing traffic, caught up in a kiss that shook Melanie to her very core. She wanted to cling to him, to keep his mouth against hers forever, to taste him, to let that heat build and build until there wasn’t a thought left in her head, until she was only feeling these intense, wicked sensations that he stirred in her.
She hadn’t bargained for this, had told herself a million times not to get involved, not to let down her guard for even an instant. All good resolutions. All wasted. She was involved. She was in love.
She was doomed.
Even knowing that—heaven help her—she couldn’t seem to stop kissing him. Richard was the one who finally backed away, looking as shattered as she felt. A small, annoying smile tugged at his lips.
“What?” she grumbled.
“That kiss felt damn real to me,” he said.
“It can’t be,” she protested, still trying to cling to some tiny shred of sanity.
“Who says?”
“I do. We agreed—”
He shrugged, still looking vaguely amused. “Things change.”
“But they haven’t changed,” she insisted vehemently. “I won’t let them change. I can’t.”
He blinked at her fierce tone. “Why?”
“I work for you, dammit. I told you I will not be put in that position again.”
He nodded slowly, his expression suddenly shuttered. “So you did.”
His easy acceptance of that should have filled her with relief. It didn’t.
“Please take me home,” she requested quietly.
“No problem.”
Trying to put some professional distance between them, she asked, “Are we going to meet with the finalists for your campaign manager’s job this week?”
He shook his head. “I’m having Winifred postpone that.”
She gave him a sharp look. “Why?”
“Let’s just say I’m reexamining my priorities.”
She stared at him blankly. “What does that mean?”
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”
* * *
Melanie was still pondering Richard’s enigmatic remark when Destiny called first thing in the morning a few days after Christmas.
“Richard tells me he’s given you the day off,” she said cheerily.
“I have other clients,” Melanie reminded her.
“No one works during the holidays.”
Melanie couldn’t deny that. Her phone had been silent for several days now. Even Becky was off at the holiday sales, a ritual she engaged in with the fervor of a true shopaholic.
“I was hoping to catch up on a few things while the office is quiet,” Melanie claimed. What she did not want to do was spend time trying to come up with more believable fibs to feed to Destiny. She felt crummy enough about the growing pile of lies as it was.
“Whatever you’re doing can wait,” Destiny said. “I have other plans.” Her tone suggested Melanie was expected to fall in with them without question.
“What?” Melanie asked suspiciously, visions of all those lists still haunting her.
“Just a little preliminary scouting expedition,” Destiny said cheerfully. “It’ll be fun.”
“You want to go shopping today? I’d rather eat dirt.”
“We’ll start with lunch and champagne. That should get you into the proper spirit,” Destiny said, undaunted by Melanie’s lack of enthusiasm. “I’ll pick you up in an hour. Wear comfortable shoes.”
She hung up before Melanie could come up with one single protest that Destiny would buy.
Even though she dreaded the entire outing, Melanie quickly got swept along on Destiny’s tide of excitement. She tried reminding herself that her enjoyment of Destiny’s exuberance was what had gotten her into this predicament with Richard in the first place, but that didn’t seem to work as well as she’d hoped. The woman’s high spirits were contagious.
Before Melanie knew it, she was caught up in the whole shopping thing. She told herself it wouldn’t hurt, just this once, to try on a few wedding gowns in some of the most exclusive shops around. Who knew when she might have another chance to indulge in such a fantasy? As long as she didn’t sign a single credit-card slip or exit a shop with a package, what was the harm?
Her delusion lasted for about the space of a heartbeat. Within no time the shopping excursion began spinning wildly out of her control. Destiny on a mission was a force to be reckoned with. She knew the owners of every elegant boutique in Old Town Alexandria, Georgetown, and in the fanciest malls in the region. She was an indefatigable shopper.
She also knew her own mind and had little patience for salesclerks who wasted time showing them anything less than the best. Despite the brakes Melanie tried valiantly to put on, Destiny merely waved off her objections and headed for the next store. Short of planting her heels and making the woman drag her along behind, Melanie was at a loss. Her vow not to use her credit card for a single purchase was never once tested. Destiny wielded hers with the skill of a woman for whom money held no meaning beyond its purchasing power.
“I can’t let you do this,” Melanie uttered more times than she could count. She was wasting her breath. The packages kept piling up. The only conceivable thing that might slow Destiny down would be running out of trunk space, Melanie thought hopefully as she tried to cram one more package into the already jammed trunk.
“Looks like that’s it for the day,” she said a bit too enthusiastically. “We’re out of room.”
“Nonsense. We’ll just have everything else sent,” Destiny said, turning to march off to the next store on her exhaustive list.
“You can’t be serious,” Melanie said. “I’m wiped out.”
“Really?” Destiny regarded her with surprise. “I’m just getting my second wind, but if you’re tired, I’ll take you home.” She beamed. “I can’t tell you when I’ve had such a wonderful time. What time should we get started tomorrow? Another day or two like this one and we’ll have made real inroads.”
“In what? Bolstering the national economy?”
Destiny laughed. “That, too. Is ten o’clock good for you?”
Melanie ran through a frantic litany of excuses. Alone, none of them seemed to do the trick, but combined they finally bought her the next day off.
“The day after then,” Destiny said adamantly, obviously not inclined to be put off a second time. “I’ll pick you up at nine. We’ll start with florists and caterers, then do a bit more shopping.”
Melanie felt her stomach start to churn. “I can’t let you do all this. It’s wrong.”
“I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
She was, too. Melanie could see it in her eyes and that made her feel even guiltier. Panicked that the frenzy would only get worse, the second Destiny had gone, she got into her own car and drove to Richard’s office. He was bound to be there. She hauled along a few packages—the veritable tip of the iceberg—to help her make her point.
Richard glanced up when she came charging in under a full head of steam. His gaze narrowed. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”
“Yes, well, the day is full of surprises. I wasn’t expecting this, either.” She dumped the packages on his desk. It made the piles on Christmas morning seem a little sparse. “Look what she’s done,” she moaned.
“Destiny?” he guessed as if there might be some other crazed shopper in the family.
“Who else?” she snapped. “She picked out china and silver, bought my veil—it’s hand-tatted French lace, by the way—and started on my trousseau. She would not take no for an answer. She said I have a position to live up to as your fiancée. She wouldn’t let me pay for a thing, not that I could afford to pay for one sterling-silver place setting, much less the twelve she ordered. We have to stop this, Richard. It’s getting out of hand. No, it’s beyond that. It’s completely crazy. Destiny had the time of her life and I feel like the lowest slug on the planet.”
Even as she ranted, he reached into a bag and pulled out a silky negligee. His eyes immediately filled with heat.
“Yes, I can see that,” he murmured.
It was said in a placating tone she found totally annoying. Nor did he look nearly as distressed as Melanie had anticipated. “Richard, are you hearing what I’m saying? This has to stop. She’s spending a fortune on a wedding that is not going to take place. She’s out of control. This whole mess is out of control.”
“I hear you.” He held up the negligee, that hot gleam still in his eyes. “This doesn’t have to go to waste, though, does it?”
She stared at him. “What?”
His gaze caught hers. “It would be a shame to let this go to waste, don’t you think?”
Her pulse raced. “Are you crazy?” she asked, her voice a little too breathless. Surely he wasn’t suggesting…
“Come away with me,” he said. “Please.”
“I don’t think—”
He smiled. “There you go. Don’t think. I’ve spent the whole day doing enough thinking for both of us. Just say yes, Melanie. We’ll go down to the cottage for a few days.”
“So we can figure out how to handle this?” she said, still trying to maintain the illusion that that gleam in his eyes did not mean what she thought it meant—okay, what she wanted it to mean.
His smile spread. “That’s one reason.”
She regarded him suspiciously. “What’s the other one?”
“So I can see you wearing this,” he said quietly, letting the filmy material run through his fingers. He met her gaze again. “And take it off of you.”
Oh, God, she thought, her heart hammering.
“Well?”
In her head, she heard herself saying no. It was loud, clear and decisive. She repeated it just to be sure.
Then she looked into Richard’s expectant gaze.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Apparently she wasn’t satisfied that her life hadn’t descended into total heartbreak yet. She was determined to careen wildly straight into disaster.