A Passion Redeemed (41 page)

Like her doubt.

She cupped her gloved hands to blow on them. 11 know, but the whole thing is so surreal. Seeing Faith again. Her marrying my ex-fiance, me marrying hers. Gives me cold chills."

He lifted her chin with his finger. The soft leather of his glove tickled her jaw. He had that smoky look he'd worn the last forty-eight hours. The kind that fixated on her lips instead of her eyes. He gave her a dangerous grin. "Well, then how about some warm ones?"

Her temperature rose even before his mouth met hers, firm and warm, staking his claim. Heat shot through her, making her dizzy in his arms. Her head languished back, hungry for more. He caressed her lips, gently nibbling, playful at first, then deeper and deeper. His urgency seemed to collide with her own, evident in the press of his mouth and the pull of his hands. And then, with a low groan, he pushed her away, his breathing as erratic as if he'd just run a mile. The glazed look in his eyes defied the words of his mouth. "This has got to stop, Charity."

She snuggled close, brushing her lips up his neck. She felt him shiver. "Why?"

He clamped his hands on her waist and lifted her to the other side of the seat. When she tried to lunge back, he blocked her with a massive hand to her shoulder. Sparks glinted in his eyes. "Give me a chance to cool down, will you?"

She grinned and draped her hands over his extended arm. "But I don't want you to cool down. I rather enjoy raising your blood pressure."

He scowled and peeled her hands from his. "Then I guarantee you'll be one happy woman." He nodded toward her window, his eyes peering past her. "Be good, we're here."

She whirled in the seat and scanned the street, her heart thumping in her chest. The cab jolted to a stop in front of her house. She thrust a hand to her stomach. "I'm going to be sick."

"Here?" He shoved his handkerchief in her hand. "For pity's sake, Charity, I thought it was called 'morning sickness.' It's the bloomin' afternoon."

She sucked in a deep breath and pressed the cloth to her mouth. "I'm okay." She reached for his hand and squeezed his glove. "You'll stay close?"

He squeezed back. "Like a shadow." He hopped out to help the cabbie unload the bags onto the sidewalk, then reached for his wallet. He handed him the fare and tip, then glanced up at the house. "Will everyone be home?"

She stared up at the house where she'd been born and raised, and felt a twinge in her chest. "No ... Father and Faith will be at work, and I think Sean too." A wave of homesickness overpowered her. Tears pricked her eyes.

Home. She lifted her gaze, scanning every inch of the meticulous red-brick three-decker with its pretty wraparound porch. Crisp, white shutters, freshly painted by her father, no doubt, framed an abundance of windows, various shapes and sizes. In the front, perfectly manicured yews surrounded the porch, flanked by her mother's cherished lilac bushes on either side, little more than sticks this time of year. Charity glanced at the sight of her father's towering oak, trimmed within an inch of its life. She smiled. Another victory for Mother in her longstanding battle over light for her garden.

"Ready?" Mitch whispered.

She smiled nervously. "No. Are you?"

He grinned. "Doesn't matter." He hefted her up in his arms. "We're going in."

Halfway up the steps, the door flew open and Katie came bounding out, blond hair bouncing on her shoulders. Jubilant squeals harmonized with Blarney's barking, filling the air with a noisy welcome. "Charity, Mitch! I missed you soooo much." She threw her skinny little arms around Mitch's legs, and her blue eyes danced with excitement as she peered up.

"Katie Rose, you look so old," Charity teased, eliciting another high-pitched giggle from her youngest sister. "Are you dating boys yet?"

"Yuck. I'm only eight. Besides, I'm never gonna do that stuff. Can I see your cast? Does Mitch have to carry you everywhere? Even the bathroom?"

Mitch laughed, propping Charity with his knee so he could scrub Blarney's snout. "Hey there, big guy. Katie, you're way too inquisitive, you know that?"

"What's in-kwiz-a-tiv?"

"Katie Rose, leave them alone. They haven't even stepped foot in the house." Marcy stood on the porch, grinning and swiping her eyes.

Charity's heart squeezed in her chest as she looked up. Marcy held the door wide. "Welcome home, Charity. We missed you so much. And, Mitch-it's wonderful seeing you again."

"Oh, Mother, I missed you too." Charity lunged in Mitch's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around her mother's neck.

Mitch chuckled. "Whoa, girl, we have plenty of time for hugs once I put you down. It's great to see you, too, Mrs. O'Connor."

Charity looked past her mother to see Steven extending a hand. "Welcome home, sis."

"Steven, sweets saints above, you've grown two feet, at least." She pulled him into a hug. "A handshake for your longlost sister? I don't think so." She grabbed him to her side and kissed him on the cheek.

He grinned and pulled away. "Hi ya, Mitch."

"Hi ya, Steven."

"Welcome home, Charity. We missed you." Beth stepped forward to hug her sister with a shy smile on her full lips.

Charity gaped. "Beth? Is that you? Goodness, you look like a woman!"

A deep blush shaded Beth's cheeks. She ducked her head. "I'm almost sixteen."

"She's in love," Katie taunted.

"That's enough, Katie Rose," Marcy warned, shooing everyone inside the door. "Mitch, put her in the parlor, on the sofa, if you will." She turned to Beth. "Beth, will you and Steven get the luggage please? And Katie, run upstairs and tell Faith they're here."

Charity's stomach tightened, along with Mitch's hold. She glanced up to see the smile stiffen on his face. She turned to her mother. "Faith's home? I thought she'd be working."

Marcy ushered them into the parlor with a wave of her hands. "Oh, she hounded your poor father for the afternoon off so she could be here when you arrived. She's upstairs putting the finishing touches on your room. She wanted it to be perfect."

Mitch laid Charity on the sofa. Their gazes locked. "It's going to be fine," he whispered.

She swallowed hard and nodded, squeezing his hand.

Katie tugged on his sleeve. "Come on, Mitch, carry me like I have a broken leg."

He laughed and took off his gloves, shoving them in a pocket before slinging his coat over the back of the loveseat. He picked her up and tickled her. "Oh, I like this. You're much lighter than your sister."

Charity gave him a smirk. "Thanks a bunch, Dennehy."

He grinned and sat down, tucking Katie into his arms.

Marcy plopped down beside Charity and cuddled her. "Oh, I can hardly believe you're finally here. Your father hasn't slept a wink this week, he's so excited. Do you realize it's been over two years since you've seen each other?"

Footsteps thundered down the staircase. Charity looked up, and the air locked in her lungs.

"Charity, you're here!" Faith flew across the room and bearhugged her sister. "It's so good to have you home."

"It's good to be home," she whispered, shocked at the wetness that sprang to her eyes. She squeezed her sister back. "It's been a long time."

Faith laughed and pushed at a tear of her own. "Too long. Lots to catch up on." She stood and turned, as if suddenly aware that Mitch was in the room. Her smile softened to shy. "Hello, Mitch."

Katie was wiggling on his lap like an earthworm in soggy peat, but he barely noticed. He stared, his eyes drinking her in like a man in a drought. She'd always had a glow, but never more than now. She blinked, her smile tentative and tears glimmering in those beautiful green eyes.

He forced the words past wooden lips. "Hello, Faith. You're looking well."

She blushed and lowered her gaze, then nodded her head toward Charity. "Did she give you as much trouble as she used to give me?"

His grin broke the tension in his face. He fixed Charity with a telling look, steadied by the vulnerability in her eyes. "Worse. But I'm bigger than her. Of course, the broken leg and arm helped."

"He's a bona fide bully, Faith, as you probably already know."

Faith grinned and crossed her arms. "Oh, yes."

Marcy laughed and embraced Charity again. "I'll bet you two are thirsty. Faith, would you mind bringing the cider in from the kitchen? And Beth, can you help her with the cookies, please?" Marcy started tugging on Charity's gloves. "Here, let's get that heavy coat off. So, how was the trip? It's a long seven days, isn't-Oh!"

Marcy's feeble cry caught Mitch's attention. He stopped bouncing Katie on his knee long enough to look up. She held Charity's left hand in her trembling fingers, her cheeks burnished with a pink glow. "Charity ... is this a wedding band?"

Mitch froze, arms wound around Katie as she straddled his knee. Marcy's eyes flicked over to him, expanding in shock at the ring he'd forgotten to take off. "Are you two married?"

He flipped Katie off his knee onto the sofa, where she landed with a giggle. "No, of course not, Mrs. O'Connor, it was just a precau-"

"Mitch, it's no use. They're going to find out sooner or later." Charity's eyes pleaded from across the room. She flashed him a nervous smile, then turned toward Marcy. "Oh, Mother, we were going to surprise you tonight at dinner, but I guess we forgot to take our rings off."

Mitch jumped to his feet as blood rushed up his neck. "Charity, no!"

Faith entered the parlor carrying the cider, with Beth right behind her. She stopped, her brows bunched in a frown. "What's wrong?"

Marcy put a hand to her mouth and squealed, sealing Charity in a tearful hug. "Oh, my goodness, Faith, they're married! Charity and Mitch are married."

Mitch clenched his teeth and shot Charity a heated glare. "Charity?"

"Married?" Faith's voice was weak. The tray rattled as she set it on the table.

Mitch took a step toward the sofa, grinding his jaw. "Charity, tell them the truth."

Charity, locked in a tight hug, peeked over her mother's shoulder. "Well, the truth is that Mitch and I got engaged on the ship ..."

He let out a slow breath, chancing a glimpse in Faith's direction. Her face was white.

Charity bit her lip and gave him a shaky smile. "But we were so much in love, we decided we couldn't wait. There was a priest aboard ship who married us."

"What?" Mitch's mouth dropped open.

Marcy jumped up to throw her arms around him with another loud squeal. "Oh, Mitch, I couldn't ask for better sonsin-law than you and Collin. I'm so happy!"

The muscles in his body were numb as he stood, Marcy hugging his waist. He carefully unlatched her arms to look in her face. "Mrs. O'Connor, you've got it all wrong. We are not-"

"Mother, Mitch is just worried that you and Father will be angry for cheating you out of a wedding, but I told him that Father would probably thank him for sparing the cost." She suddenly twisted on the sofa, clutching her stomach. "Oh!"

Marcy spun around. "Charity, what's wrong?"

She doubled over with a groan. "I think I may have another spell of seasickness coming. Mitch, can you carry me to the bathroom, please? Now?"

He clamped his lips and swooped her up in his arms, burning her with a look. He strode in the direction of the downstairs bathroom, aware of everyone's eyes on his back.

"Wait, Mitch, I think I'd better go upstairs instead and lie down a bit. Mother, everyone, can you come up in a few moments after I'm settled, so we can talk?"

"Absolutely." Marcy hurried toward the door.

Mitch grunted and tore up the steps two at a time. Charity seized in his arms with another painful groan and he halted, glancing over his shoulder at Faith, who followed on the steps below. "Which way?"

She scooted around and continued down the hall, leading them to her and Charity's bedroom. She pushed the door wide. "The bed on the left."

Mitch fought the urge to drop Charity like a sack of potatoes, but Faith stood at the door. He set her down carefully, then straightened, his fists clenched at his sides.

"I'll leave you two alone," Faith said. "We'll be back up in a few minutes. I know Mother is dying to talk to you." The door clicked closed behind her.

Mitch glared, thunder rumbling in his chest. "Just what the blazes was that all about?"

She pressed a hand to her stomach and scrunched her nose. "Oh, Mitch, let's not fight, please? My stomach is so queasy."

He began to pace, his eyes boring into hers at every turn. "A lot more than your stomach is going to be queasy if you don't start telling the truth. Now I'm going downstairs right now and give it to them straight since the truth obviously gives you indigestion."

She sat up with panic in her eyes. "Mitch, no! I don't want to be separated, please? We've spent the last week together and there are two beds in here. Can't we just stay together?"

He blinked, amazed at the way her mind tracked. "Lie to them? Deceive them into thinking we're married? Why are you doing this?"

"Because I don't want to be alone with Faith. I'm not ready. And I need you close. Please?" Her hand moved from her stomach to her throat, clutching as if she couldn't breathe.

He shook his head and started for the door. "No, I won't do it. I told you before that we are not starting our marriage off with a lie."

"Mitch, wait!"

He stopped at the door, his back rigid. "What?"

"I know I don't appear to be thinking rationally ..." She looked away with a gnawing of guilt. "But I am terrified that if a baby comes ..."

He turned and waited.

"I'm afraid it could be early and reflect poorly on us."

He slacked a hip and groaned. "For pity's sake, babies come early all the time."

Her face went pale and she began to heave. He hurried to her side and sat, pushing his handkerchief in her hands.

She clutched it to her mouth. "No, Mitch, I don't want anyone to know. I'm so ashamed."

He sighed and pulled her in his arms. "Your family has a right to know. They love you."

"Later, yes. But not right now. I'm so scared and shaken, I couldn't bear it." She looked up, her eyes entreating his. "Please, Mitch, will you do this for me? Just this one time? One tiny, white lie? For my peace of mind?"