Bride by Mistake (13 page)

When she finally pulled back, he started to breathe again. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Sorry I threw my sandwich at you.”

“Apology accepted.”

And then Liza smiled. And Zach’s heart leaped, much like the rabbit that had shot across their blanket.

Only higher.

As they finished lunch, the electricity in the air seemed palpable. A yellow butterfly lighted on the neckline of Liza’s blouse. Zach wouldn’t mind lighting there himself.

You’re a fool, Addison
, he told himself. His feelings for Liza reminded him of his relationship with his ex-wife. He’d fallen for Denise hard and fast, and they’d married six months later. He’d adored Denise and showered her with everything imaginable. Oh, she’d loved the presents, all right. What she hadn’t loved was him.

After she had divorced him, obtaining a large settlement in the process, Zach had closed off his heart. He would never
be fooled again. And no other woman had tempted him until he “proposed” to Liza. At that moment, all control over his life and his emotions vanished like yesterday’s dew. His only salvation was that Liza wanted a platonic relationship and nothing more.

“Zach, I’ve been thinking.”

“About what?”

“About us. You were right about our emotions getting involved. I’m glad we sorted things out. And I want to help you. Really I do.”

Zach’s heart skipped erratically and his throat felt as dry as chalk dust. “That’s good.”

“But not for money,” she said emphatically.

“We’ve established that.”

“I’m doing it mostly for Eloise. I care about your grandmother. She’s a dear lady who’s ill, and you’re trying to make her happy at the end of her life. I admire that.”

Zach’s heart plummeted. Part of him, the crazy part, wanted Liza to continue the pretending because of him. Because she wanted to be with him—to spend time with him. He shrugged off the ridiculous notion.

“Thanks, kiddo. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

A frown creased the smooth skin of Liza’s forehead. “I’m doing this as a friend. Friendship doesn’t require compensation.”

Friendship
. The word stuck in Zach’s throat like tacky peanut butter. If only he’d never kissed Liza. If only he didn’t know the incredible high that produced. Then he could continue their charade without hitting emotional overload.

But he
had
kissed Liza. And kissing her made him hungry for more—for more of her kisses, for more of Liza O’Malley.

“Gram invited us to a dinner dance at the country club tonight. It’s a fund-raiser for the local animal shelter. Are you available?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m available.”

Of course, it wasn’t true. Liza might as well wear a
DO NOT DISTURB
sign around her neck. She was the least available woman Zach knew.

“Want a brownie?” he asked.

“Sure.”

Zach handed one to Liza and his hand brushed hers in the process. Even that gentle touch made his heart lurch.

He’d opened a Pandora’s box when he’d asked for Liza’s help. But how could he have known the pretending would affect him so strongly, that he’d find Liza so desirable?

An image of Denise’s pretty face flashed into Zach’s thoughts. Tough as it was, he must resist Liza’s charms. If he couldn’t manage to curb his feelings, he’d hide them from Liza.

It was the only way.

The Oak Hills Country Club dining room was an elegant place to enjoy a meal. A combo played soft music in the background, but Meg scarcely heard it. Thank goodness Zach had left the table to take a phone call. More than anything, Meg needed an emotional break.

“Liza, dear?”

Meg met Zach’s grandmother’s concerned gaze. “Yes, Eloise?”

“Is something wrong with your shrimp cocktail? You haven’t even tasted it.”

Meg speared a shrimp with her cocktail fork. “Nothing’s wrong with it. I’m just daydreaming.”

“About Zachary, I imagine.”

“Yes. About Zachary.”

“That’s all right, child. Zach’s a real…Let’s see. What would you contemporary women call him? A hunk?”

Meg couldn’t suppress a giggle. “You could say that.”

At that moment—which was all too soon—the hunk in question rejoined them at the table. “Sorry about the business call. I’ve turned off my cell phone for the evening, so I’m all yours, ladies.”

Don’t I just wish
, Meg thought.

The three of them dined graciously within the cherry-paneled walls while an army of waiters met their every desire before they knew it existed. As Meg ate and talked with Eloise and Zach, she felt she was part of them—part of the close-knit bond they shared. She gave herself a mental shake. Harboring these feelings was dangerous. She was a Liza stand-in and did not belong here. But she couldn’t quite push the feelings aside.

Zach smiled at Eloise. “Your birthday’s creeping up. Are you excited?”

For the first time all evening, Eloise’s smile waned. “I suppose so, dear. But I’m turning eighty-five, and most of my life is over. That thought’s a bit daunting.”

“Now, we’ll have none of that,” Zach said. “How old was your mother when she died?”

“Ninety-eight.”

“And your grandmother?”

“One hundred and one.”

“Don’t you see, Gram? You’re just a baby.”

Eloise’s blue eyes brightened and the smile flitted back to her face. “Sakes alive, Zachary. You could sweet-talk your way out of a hijacking.”

“Let’s hope I never have to. I’d rather use my sweet-talking skills on beautiful women.” He patted his grandmother’s hand and turned to face Meg. “How about a dance, Liza?”

Meg’s heart got stuck in her throat as Zach’s dark eyes studied her. One glance from the man and she was an explosion waiting to happen. “I’d like that,” she murmured.

Zach led her onto the dance floor and swept her into his arms. Having him hold her made the fantasy of being important to him more real than ever. It flared from a flicker to a flame.

His musky aftershave wrapped around her like mist on a meadow. To her delight, Zach was a skilled dancer, and they moved gracefully across the floor. As a ballet teacher, dancing was part of Meg’s very being. As natural as breathing.

When Zach leaned to whisper in Meg’s ear, she hoped it would be sweet nothings. “You dance better than you used to,” he said. “You haven’t stepped on my foot once.”

So much for sweet nothings.
“I’ve been watching
Dancing with the Stars
,” she quipped, resisting the urge to step on his foot now. Really hard.

“Hmm. You’re getting quite an education from television.”

“Shut up and dance,” Meg said.

And they did. Meg was glad she’d worn the yellow satin tea-length dress and her strappy sandals. With Zach handsomely tucked into that charcoal suit, they made a dashing couple. And while they danced reasonably close, it wasn’t cheek-to-cheek close. Not body-deliciously-merged-to-body close.

As if he’d read her mind, Zach said, “Since Gram is watching, I’d like to hold you closer. She’s quick to spot inconsistencies.”

“You’re right. We need to think of everything.”

A moment later they did dance cheek-to-cheek close. And body-deliciously-merged-to-body close. Meg’s heart pounded like an overwound metronome.

“I’m not sure we’re doing enough to set up our coming engagement,” he said softly. “Gram has to believe we’re serious about each other.”

The deep timbre of Zach’s voice and his nearness hurled Meg’s emotions into overdrive. “So what do you suggest?”

He cleared his throat. “You know. More hand-holding. More touching.”

“You promised me a platonic engagement.”

“And you’ll have it when we’re alone. But when Gram is with us, we should…”

Zach got stuck on the word
should
.

“Should what?”

“Turn up the heat.”

As far as Meg was concerned, the heat was already turned up. Past boiling point.

She sighed. “I guess we can’t relate casually, then have you slip a huge diamond on my finger.”

“So we agree? More touching in Gram’s presence?”

“We agree,” she said.

Mistake. Big, big mistake
, she warned herself. Suddenly, thoughts of Martin kicked in. Her serious boyfriend—practically her fiancé. To her chagrin, Meg hadn’t thought about Martin much since she’d started pretending. It seemed that her make-believe life was usurping her real life.

So what are you going to do about it?
her conscience probed. But as she’d done all along, Meg ignored her conscience.

They continued dancing incredibly close through the rest of the song and the next as well. Being so delectably near Zach wrapped Meg in a dreamy fog. She caught a glimpse of Eloise’s smiling face as Zach whirled her across the floor. At least Zach’s grandmother was happy.

We do make a great couple
, Meg thought dreamily.

A totally pretend couple
, her logical self reminded her. While being wrapped in Zach’s embrace made their relationship seem real, she couldn’t get caught in the charade.

Meg sighed. She’d known she was in trouble the minute she agreed to Liza’s scheme. But she’d never dreamed how much.

“Y
OU LOOK LOVELY
in that dress,” Zach told his pretend fiancée.

“Why, thank you, sir. And you look stunning in that suit.”

He nodded. “Compliment accepted.”

As Zach held Liza in his arms, he was enjoying the experience far too much. He’d danced with her a few times before, and her dancing was adequate. But tonight she’d graduated from novice to professional. Sometime during this last number Zach felt they’d merged into one person. But common sense told him that wasn’t the case.

He wished Liza’s lavender scent wasn’t so mesmerizing, and that her satin dress wasn’t so soft and intriguingly feminine. How could he possibly provide Liza with the platonic engagement he’d promised?

Then he remembered that she’d just given him permission to turn up the heat. For Gram’s sake, of course. When Zach pulled Liza closer, he heard her draw a shaky breath. Her body molded to his like the snug fit of a silk stocking.

She met Zach’s gaze and he felt suddenly immersed in Liza O’Malley, transfixed by her loveliness and femininity. Before he could remind himself he’d promised
not
to kiss her, he leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers.

For Gram’s sake. For show
, he told himself. But even
he
wasn’t stupid enough to believe it.

Liza sighed softly. The sweet sound reminded Zach of the first spring breeze after a long winter. She rested her head on his shoulder as they continued to dance.

Zach stroked Liza’s hair, which felt as smooth as the satin fabric of her dress. If they continued like this, they could convince Judge Judy they were in love and planned to be married!

But when the music stopped, a semblance of sanity returned. Zach’s thoughts flashed back to Denise and the way she’d enticed him with her femininity and beauty. He’d believed Denise loved him, but she had been pretending all along. All she really loved was his money.

As Zach escorted Liza back to the table, he realized he’d been fooling himself. The music, dim lights, and Liza’s nearness created an illusion. And if he had a grain of sense, he wouldn’t fall in love again. He’d never recovered from his first broken heart. Now that the intimacy of the dance was past, maybe his good judgment would kick in. At least he hoped so.

To Zach’s relief, Liza played her role well. After a great meal and an evening of laughter and storytelling, Zach escorted his ladies to the Lexus and drove Gram home.

“I’m afraid I must be impolite and not invite you children in,” Eloise said when they pulled up to her house. “I’m especially tired tonight.”

“Why don’t you wait here, Liza, while I see Gram inside?”

“Fine. Good night, Eloise.”

“Good night, Liza dear. I had a lovely evening.”

“So did I.”

Ian answered the door, and Gram stumbled as she stepped over the threshold. As Zach and Ian grabbed her, Zach felt a stab of concern. “Are you all right?”

“Just a bit shaky.”

“Here, madam. We’ll help you to your chair.”