Bride by Mistake (16 page)

“Is it okay if we have popcorn for dessert?” he asked as he went to answer the phone.

“That’s fine.”

“Would you mind making it for us?”

Oh, great, another hide-and-seek adventure lay ahead. At least she knew where Zach’s kitchen was.

Meg hurried into it and started opening and closing cupboard doors hunting for a popper, corn, oil, and butter.
Bang, bang, bang, bang.
The kitchen doors in this place must number in the thousands!

As she continued searching, she thanked her lucky stars the phone call took time. While she wasn’t fortunate enough to locate a popper, she did locate a large iron kettle with a lid and
placed it on the stove. She found oil in the pantry, and after scrutinizing the well-organized shelves, spotted the popcorn. Having collected the essentials, Meg set to work.

When Zach entered the kitchen, he said, “Yum. There’s nothing like the smell of fresh popcorn.” He came to stand beside her as she shook the pot. “Why didn’t you use the electric popper?”

Because I couldn’t find it.
But Meg didn’t say those words, either.

“I told you I’ve been watching the Cooking Channel,” she ad-libbed. “One of the shows features a return-to-the-past approach. My grandmother popped corn this way.”

“Interesting.”

He bought it.
Meg sighed. She was turning into a pathological liar. A convincing one, at that!

“Will you grab the butter?” she asked.

“I can’t believe you said that. What about all the fat grams?”

“Hey, we only live once.”

Zach shot her a puzzled glance and dutifully took the butter from the fridge.

“E
XCUSE ME
,” Z
ACH
said as he reached into the bowl for more popcorn. Several times now his hand had brushed against Liza’s in the process. Each time, Zach felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. But he shrugged off the exciting sensation. He’d reinstate their former friendship if it killed him.

The two of them sat on his couch with their feet propped up on the coffee table. Liza’s toenails were painted a shade of fire-engine red that caught Zach’s attention. Even the woman’s toes were pretty, starting with her big toes and sloping gracefully down to the little ones. With a sense of guilt, he yanked his gaze off her feet. His efforts to reestablish the brother-sister thing didn’t include ogling Liza’s feet.

Liza fidgeted beside him and Zach wondered if she was enjoying the movie. He fought off a strong urge to slip his arm around her and pull her close.
That’s not the least bit brotherly
, his conscience reminded him. Zach was good and ready to give his conscience a leave of absence. Then he’d ditch this platonic nonsense, smooch with Liza, and miss at least half the movie.

Unable to stay quite so far away from her, he placed his arm on the back of the couch. Liza, who was about to pop a handful
of corn into her mouth, glanced at him as he inched closer. Zach kept his eyes glued to the screen and pretended he wasn’t breaking the rules.

They turned their attention back to the movie. Several minutes into the story, Liza’s fidgeting increased. “Will you put the movie on pause?” she asked.

Zach did. “What’s wrong?”

“This theme hits awfully close to home, don’t you think? Not a word these characters tell each other is true.”

“It’s just a movie, Liza.”

“But we’re no different, Zach. Our relationship is just a pretense too. That makes me uncomfortable.”

“It shouldn’t. The situations are totally different.”

“How do you figure that?”

“We aren’t keeping secrets from each other. We’re both aware of the arrangement. And our pretending is a gesture of goodwill. To help Gram.”

“So you think our scheming is more moral than the movie?”

“No question. It’s far worse for a couple to deceive each other than for us to deceive Gram.”

Liza looked positively stricken. “Oh, dear,” she said. “You’re absolutely right.”

Zach’s arm, which was supposed to remain on the back of the couch, slipped down around Liza’s shoulders. Casually, of course. “This is a romantic comedy, kiddo,” he said, giving her a little squeeze. “Not a study in ethics.”

“I understand that. But I’ve thought a lot about what’s okay to do in secret, and when people should be up front with each other.”

“Being completely honest is essential in a serious relationship. Even between friends. I value that in you, Liza. You’re always up front with me.”

Liza’s long lashes fluttered anxiously and her green eyes widened. She bit her lip and looked like she’d just lost her best friend.

“What is it? Do you have something to confess? I know—you’ve fallen for an attorney in your office and you’re afraid to tell me.” Zach prayed that wasn’t the case.

She sighed. “I have nothing to confess. And I’m just speculating.”

“You’re awfully serious for someone who’s just speculating.”

“Forget it, Zach. Let’s watch the rest.”

He hit
PLAY
, and while he knew he should move his arm, he couldn’t make himself. He had to touch some part of Liza. If her shoulder was the only thing allotted to him, he’d settle for her shoulder. After all, it was smooth and soft. And far better than nothing.

Ten minutes later Liza sprang to her feet. “I can’t finish this movie, Zach. I have to leave. Right now.”

He stood. “Hey, I rented these movies especially for you. I thought you’d like them, since you’re usually stuck watching action films.”

“The gesture was sweet and I appreciate it. But I have a headache and I need to go home.”

Disappointment surged through Zach. He’d been trying to restore their former relationship, but that wasn’t working. Now he’d upset Liza. Were his true feelings showing through?

“All right then,” he said. “I’ll take you home.”

They slipped on their shoes and Zach escorted Liza to the Cadillac. They drove the distance in silence. When he started to climb out of the car, she said, “Stay put. I can manage just fine. Thanks for dinner and the movie. Sorry I cut the evening short.”

“Hey, no problem. I’ll call you soon.”

She nodded and hurried to the front door. As she disappeared inside, Zach knew he was in trouble. He’d tried valiantly to rechannel his feelings for Liza, but he’d failed. She had graduated from the buddy category into…

Into what?
Zach wondered. Was he falling in love with Liza? Was he willing to take a risk and trust her with his heart?

That possibility sobered him. Denise had taught him that trusting brought only disappointment and heartache. He shook his head and sighed. How could he consider giving his heart again?

“It’s a good thing you’re five hundred miles away, Liza,” Meg said when her sister phoned the next evening. “If you were here, I would strangle you. Barehanded!”

“What did I do?” Liza asked innocently. She’d pulled that a lot growing up. When the twins got in trouble, Liza was a pro at faking innocence.

Meg filled Liza in on the previous night’s misadventures, detail by detail. Liza suppressed a chuckle as Meg told her about the driving fiasco and how she’d gotten lost in Zach’s mansion of a house. After several attempts to stifle her giggles, Liza burst out laughing.

While there was nothing funny about it, the pressure of recent days had caught up with Meg. But in spite of herself and the nightmare she was living, Meg laughed too. And once they started, the sisters couldn’t stop. They laughed until their sides ached.

Meg wiped her eyes with a tissue and gasped for breath. “There’s nothing funny about the mess I’m in,” she said. “Sometimes I’m not sure which twin I really am.” She sighed. The weight of pretending grew heavier each day.

“I heard you sigh. What’s the matter?”

“I’m so confused. Part of me wants to end this farce as quickly as possible. But another part of me doesn’t want the playacting to stop.” Meg could hardly believe she’d said those words.

“Aha. Face it, sis. You’re falling for Zach. And it’s the head-over-heels kind of love.”

Leave it Liza to misinterpret. “I most certainly am not. That’s pure nonsense.”

“Why else would you want to keep pretending?”

“Because I like Zach. I enjoy his company as a friend.”

“It’s more than that. You have deep feelings for the man. And it’s time you own up to them.”

“I have deep feelings for Martin,” Meg snapped. “You do remember Martin, don’t you? The man I’m practically engaged to?”

The line went silent for several moments and Meg wondered if they’d gotten disconnected. “Yes, Meg,” Liza said, sounding subdued. “I do remember Martin.”

At times, Meg found it far too easy to push Martin out of her thoughts. But that was a mistake. Martin, her loyal, caring boyfriend, waited for her back home. She couldn’t afford to forget that.

The doorbell rang, saving Meg from further consideration of her dilemma. “I’ve got to run,” she said. “Someone’s at the door.”

“Probably Zach.”

“That’s impossible. Zach is attending a baseball game. I won’t see him until tomorrow.”

“Keep me posted, Meg. And think about what I said.”

“Good-bye, Liza.”

As Meg hung up, she felt more troubled than ever. She’d hoped talking with Liza would help resolve her crisis. But her twin wasn’t helping one bit. Was Liza making any effort to get home early? Or was she just pretending?

When Meg opened the front door she found Ian, Eloise’s butler, waiting on the porch. He held his cap in his hands.

“Miss Liza? Do you have a minute to talk with me? I’m sorry to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding. Of course I have time to talk. Come in.”

Now what?
Meg wondered as she and Ian took opposite chairs in Liza’s living room. Had Ian come to discuss Eloise’s deteriorating health? Meg’s stomach knotted, and she braced herself for more bad news. She hoped it wasn’t too devastating.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Meg asked.

“No, thank you. I can’t stay long,” Ian said, twisting his cap nervously.

“What’s the matter? Is Eloise having problems?”

He shook his head. “Madam is well. Very well, indeed.”

“Oh, Ian, that’s good news. Zach is so worried about her.”

“I know. And I’m very sorry about that.”

“You shouldn’t feel bad. It isn’t your fault Eloise is ill.”

“Actually, it is. You see…” A flush colored Ian’s cheeks, and he twirled the cap even faster. Meg realized he hadn’t looked directly at her since he’d arrived.

“You can speak frankly,” she told him. “I know how to keep a secret.” Boy, could she keep a secret!

Ian placed his cap on the end table and, for the first time, met Meg’s gaze. “I think the world of Mrs. Addison. I would do anything for her. Anything that would make her happy.” Devotion echoed in his words.

“I’m sure you would.”

“You see, Miss Liza, Mrs. Addison has one abiding wish: for Mr. Zachary to marry and settle down with the right woman before she passes away. It would mean the world to her.”

“I’m aware of that,” Meg said.

“Since Madam will be eighty-five tomorrow, and since Mr. Zachary hasn’t shown any evidence of…” Ian paused a moment, then tried again. “Since Mr. Zachary doesn’t seem inclined toward marriage, I thought I’d help out a little.” He cleared his throat and the flush deepened. “Romantically speaking.”

Meg couldn’t make sense of the conversation. “What do you mean, Ian? Romantically speaking?”

“I wanted to encourage Mr. Zachary to get on with his life.” Ian nodded, assuming he’d made himself perfectly clear.

Meg shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t understand.”

He cleared his throat again. “What I’m trying to say is that I’ve been deceitful, my dear Miss Liza. Inexcusably deceitful.”

Well, he’d picked the right person to talk to about deceit. Meg had elevated it to an art form.

“How have you been deceitful?”

“I told Mr. Zachary that Mrs. Addison has a heart condition.” He paused, took a deep breath, and then said, “But that isn’t true.”

Meg’s hand flew to her own heart. “You mean she doesn’t?”

“Mrs. Addison’s health is excellent. Stellar, for a woman of eighty-five.”

“Oh, Ian. I’m glad Eloise isn’t ill.”