A Family Circle 1 - A Very Convenient Marriage (4 page)

"No, but you couldn't afford to keep your house."

"It's too big for one person anyway." Nikki tried to sound as if the thought of losing the house she'd grown up in didn't bother her. But in reality she loved the big old house and hated the thought of letting it go.

"And you couldn't afford to keep the Rainbow Place going," Liz finished, playing the trump card.

Nikki was silent for a moment, thinking about the daycare center she funded in a low-income area. She'd started it four years ago when she'd graduated from college and realized that a degree in American history didn't do much to prepare her for a job in the real world. Not that she'd needed a job, but she had needed something to occupy her time, something to make her feel as if she were making some contribution to the world.

She not only provided the operating capital, she also worked there three days a week. It had become a vital part of her life and it would leave a real hole if she had to give it up. But far more important was the impact it would have on the mothers and children who'd come to depend on Rainbow Place. Without safe day care available, many of the women would have to quit their jobs to stay home with their children. Many of them would end up on welfare.

No, she couldn't let the center close. With the money she'd inherit when she got married, she could afford to keep it open. Without that money, the center's future was in serious jeopardy. She sighed.

"How'd you like to come to a wedding?"

"You and the guy with the dents in his face?" Liz's hazel eyes sparkled with laughter.

"Me and Sam Walker," Nikki confirmed. She picked up her cup and cradled it between her hands, staring down into the amber-colored tea. "Of course, we still have to get Uncle Jason's approval," she added, not sure whether she hoped to get it or prayed that they didn't.

N
ikki adjusted the cuff of her kelly-green suit jacket, using the motion as a cover for a discreet glance at her watch. It was almost one-thirty and, the message she'd given Max had been for Sam Walker to be here at one o'clock.

He was late and she was going to kill him with her bare hands.

He knew how important this meeting was, knew they had to have her uncle's approval in order for her to get her inheritance. But he couldn't even bother to show up on time. This was probably some macho attempt to show her that he didn't have to take orders from her. Not that she'd given him any orders. She'd simply left a message with Max stating the time and place of the meeting she'd arranged.

Perhaps she had been a bit peremptory, but Max would have softened that when he passed the message on to Sam. Which meant that there was no excuse for him being late at all. Except to annoy her, and he was certainly succeeding in that. She became aware that Jason was speaking and forced her attention away from plans for Sam Walker's demise.

"...so I drew out my sword and ran him through, which was an unconventional way to win a trial but effective nonetheless."

"What?" She stared at Jason in bewilderment, wondering just what it was she'd missed. "What are you talking about? Who did you run through?''

The opposing attorney, of course." He seemed surprised that she had to ask. "A very annoying man with an irritating habit of rubbing his hands together like Uriah Heep gloating over his coins. I never could stand him, and neither could anyone else, which is probably why the judge cited me for contempt of court rather than murder."

His blue eyes, only slightly faded by his sixty-five years of living, twinkled at her through the lenses of his neat horn-rimmed glasses. "You missed all the best parts, Nicole. It was a very good extemporaneous effort on my part, if I do say so myself."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Jason." Nikki's smile was both regretful and affectionate. "I guess I faded out on you."

"That's quite all right, my dear. Worried about your young man, are you?"

"Just a little." She nearly choked on hearing Sam referred to as her young man. "It's not like him to be late." She didn't have any idea whether it was like him or not. For all she knew, Sam Walker was always late for incredibly important appointments.

"Would you like to call and find out what's delaying him?"

"No, that's all right. I'm sure he'll be here any minute." She could hardly admit that she didn't know where to call. All she knew was that Sam was a cop; she didn't have the slightest idea what city he worked for.

Luckily, before her nerves were completely shot, Jason's secretary ushered Sam into the office.

"Mr. Walker." Jason rose and went to greet him, which was just as well because Nikki was momentarily paralyzed by her first sight of her husband-to-be.

She'd wondered what he'd look like cleaned up and wearing decent clothes. Even covered with several layers of dirt and rags, he'd had a definite impact on her senses, but that was nothing compared to what she felt now.

Not that he looked all that different, it was just that he looked... different. Taller, even broader through the shoulders, lean hipped and with a long, rangy walk that bespoke confidence and maybe just a touch of arrogance. His dark blond hair was neatly combed and considerably cleaner than it had been the first time they met, but there was still something a little untamed about the way it curled against the back of his collar.

He wore a well-tailored gray suit and a white shirt. Paired with this conservative attire was a fuchsia-and-black tie, patterned with indescribable swirls and dots. Just looking at it made her dizzy.

Or was it looking at Sam Walker that made her lightheaded?

"Mr. Drummond. I'm sorry I'm late. I had to testify at a hearing this morning and the proceedings were delayed."

"I understand. The legal system is many things, but timely if s not."

The two men shook hands. "I think Nicole was beginning to get a little worried, though," Jason continued, turning toward her with a fond smile. "I thought she was going to wear out her watch, she looked at it so many times."

"I'm sorry you were worried, darling. I should have thought to call from the courthouse." Sam's smile was a masterpiece of concerned affection.

"Darling" stared at him, barely managing to keep her mouth from gaping. This was the unwashed, unkempt, uncivil man she'd met less than a week ago? This attractive, well-dressed man looking at her as if be adored her?

She realized that Jason was watching them, waiting for her response, and she managed to force a smile that she hoped looked more natural than it felt. "That's all right. I knew it had to be something important that kept you." She stood up so that she wouldn't feel at quite such a disadvantage.

"Next time, I'll be sure to call and let you know I'm running late."

He crossed the room to where she stood and reached toward her. Momentarily confused, Nikki half extended her hand, thinking he meant to shake it. But that wasn't what he had in mind. He did take her hand, but only to use it to draw her toward him.

The wicked glint in his eyes dispelled the illusion of loving affection and gave Nikki warning of his intention. She turned her head slightly and the kiss aimed at her mouth landed on her cheek instead. Even that small contact had more impact than she liked. He was too close, too large and too male. She could smell the subtle, woodsy scent of his cologne, feel the faint, masculine roughness of his chin. She didn't like him being so close, forcing her to be so aware of him.

Sam lifted his head and looked down at her with every appearance of adoration. "I'm sorry I worried you, sweetheart, but I'm glad you care enough to worry."

Nikki guessed there were women who would have been charmed by his boyishly wicked smile. Foolish women who might actually enjoy this little game he was playing. If they'd been alone, she would have shoved him away and probably planted her fist in his face. But with Jason looking on, she couldn't do either. A quick glance told her that the other man was standing behind his desk, watching them with an indulgent expression.

"That's all right, darling."

Her smile was enough to chill Sam's blood but there was no time to avoid the spike heel that was planted squarely on the toe of his soft leather dress shoe and then slowly ground down. Pain sliced across the top of his foot.

If they'd been alone, he wouldn't have bet money on his ability to resist the urge to shake her until her perfect white teeth rattled. Probably caps, he thought uncharitably. His hands tightened on her shoulders and their eyes did batde.

She was a spoiled, rich little brat and the next year stretched ahead of him like an eternity.

He was an overbearing, obnoxious, mercenary male and the next year was going to be absolute hell.

"You two will have time for that later," Jason said, smiling at the pair of them. "Why don't you have a seat, Sam. I hope you don't mind if I call you Sam. I don't see any need for formality, do you?"

"Not at all." Sam released Nikki's shoulders and swallowed a sigh of relief as she removed her heel from his foot. He resisted the urge to check for blood. From the feel of his foot, she must have sharpened the heel of the damned shoe into a stiletto.

He sat down in the chair beside Nikki's and tried not to notice the subtle floral scent of her perfume, which was like a summer breeze wafting across a bed of roses. An ounce of the stuff probably cost as much as he made in a week, he reminded himself.

"Nikki told me that she'd explained the situation with her grandfather's will to you and the necessity for this interview," Jason said. "She tells me that you'd just as soon walk away from this inheritance rather than rush her into marriage."

The look Sam shot Nikki held grudging approval. He'd wondered how he was supposed to convince her grandfather's attorney that he wasn't marrying Nikki for her money. She'd done a perfect job of smoothing the path.

"I don't want her to feel as if she has to make any decisions in a hurry. It's not like I'm marrying her for the money," he added, with a smile. Which was more or less true, since his money, the money for Mary's surgery, was coming out of what she already had. One thing he'd learned from doing undercover work was that it was always best to stick as close to the truth as possible.

"I'm glad to hear it." Behind the smile in Jason's eyes was a shrewdness that warned Sam that it would be foolish to underestimate him. He steepled his hands together on the desk. "Nikki hasn't really told me much about the two of you. Where did you meet?"

"Meet?" Sam looked at Nikki. He cocked one eyebrow, as if to suggest that she should answer the question. She swallowed and searched her suddenly blank mind for a reasonable response. God, why hadn't they worked out these kind of details ahead of time?

When the panic in her eyes made it clear that she didn't have a clever response handy, Sam answered Jason's question himself. "We were introduced by a mutual friend, actually. After everything Max told me, I knew even before I met her that Nikki was the perfect woman for me."

Nikki was torn between gratitude and anger. There was nothing in what he'd said that could arouse Jason's suspicions but she was not blind to the double meaning behind his words. "After everything Max told him," indeed. All Max had had to say was that she was rich.

"Max?" Jason asked. "Didn't I meet him at your house, Nicole?"

"Yes. We've been friends for years."

"A lawyer, isn't he?"

Nikki swallowed. He couldn't possibly suspect the truth just because Max was a lawyer, could he? "Yes, he is."

"Seems like there are a lot of us around," Jason said casually. He leaned back in his desk chair and studied the two of them for a moment. "Nikki tells me that the two of you haven't known each other long."

"Not long," Sam admitted. "But I knew exactly how I felt about Nikki from the first moment I saw her." He threw a loving glance at Nikki, who fumed under the laughter in his eyes.

"Love at first sight, hmm?" Jason's smile was indulgent.

"Something like that."

Nikki would have given a great deal to have planted her fist smack dab in the middle of Sam's smiling mouth. She could only hope that Jason would take her blush for one of modesty rather than rage.

"I didn't approve of the way Lyman drew up his will and I made no secret of that. But he was a stubborn man.'' He peered at Sam from under bushy gray eyebrows. "You might be warned that stubbornness is a family trait," he added, smiling.

"I'll keep that in mind." Sam glanced at Nikki, hoping he looked fond rather than irritated.

"I couldn't persuade him to change his mind, so I drew up the will as he'd requested and agreed to be executor. And neither my disapproval of the provisions of the will nor my fondness for Nicole can be allowed to color my judgment," Jason said firmly. "Lyman may have been stubborn and, I think, misguided in this, but he did love Nicole and he honestly felt he was doing what was best for her. As his friend, as well as his attorney, I must do my best to carry out his wishes."

There was a moment of silence while the potential bride and groom considered the import of his words. Obviously, Jason was not averse to approving their marriage, as long as he was convinced that they were getting married for the right reasons.

An image of Mary's small face flashed through Sam's mind and his jaw tightened. He'd walk through fire to get her the help she needed. But, while walking through fire might be easier than spending the next year with Nikki Beauvisage, it wouldn't do Mary any good.

Without taking his eyes from Jason Drummond, he reached for Nikki's hand, which lay on the arm of her chair. She jumped in surprise and automatically tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold ruthlessly.

"I understand your concern," he said to Jason. "And I appreciate it. Nikki is a very.. .special woman. She certainly deserves the very best." His shrug was self-deprecating. "I don't know if I'm that, but I can tell you that marrying Nikki means more to me than anything else in the world."

He threw Nikki a look that held both warning and command. The next few minutes were critical. A five-year-old's health hung on whether or not Jason believed they were in love.

Jason nodded as he leaned back in his chair. He let his eyes drift from the couple in front of him, focusing instead on the swath of smoggy sky visible out the window. Sam and Nikki waited, unaware that they were still holding hands, unconsciously drawing support from the contact.

The silence seemed to stretch forever, but in actuality, it couldn't have been more than a few minutes before it was broken. Jason slowly looked away from the window, his faded blue eyes drifting from Nikki's face to Sam's before settling on their linked hands.

"The two of you are very sure this is what you want? That you really want to marry each other?"

"More than anything, Uncle Jason." There was so much sincerity in her voice that Nikki almost believed herself.

"Absolutely, sir." Sam was startled by the fervor of his own response. But he did want to marry her, just not for the reasons Jason Drummond thought he did.

Jason pinched his lower iip between thumb and forefinger, looking at the pair of them with eyes that seemed able to penetrate the suddenly flimsy-seeming fabric of their charade. They waited, hands clasped, neither of them breathing. Once again, Jason's gaze dropped to those linked fingers and his expression took on a pensive air.

After a moment that seemed an hour long, he nodded slowly. "All right. You have my blessing."