Handpicked Husband (Love Inspired Historical) (16 page)

Chapter Thirteen

T
wo days later, Reggie sat beside Adam in the surrey, a picnic hamper at their feet. The Peavys and Jack sat behind them, and Buck trotted alongside.

She hoped her smile looked more genuine than it felt, because their party was getting a lot of notice as they drove through town.

Her neighbors were still abuzz with the news of her engagement. Though no one said it to her face, she’d heard enough talk to know folks were surprised that an eccentric woman like herself, well on the way to spinsterhood, had snared such a prize catch.

But her neighbors’ opinions were the least of her concerns. In fact, she was getting downright desperate. Nothing she’d tried had worked. Though Mitchell, Everett and Chance had put an end to their evening visits, Adam had continued to join them for supper. After all, even though neither of them was happy with the situation, they had to maintain appearances.

She’d used the after-supper discussions with Adam to try to change his mind. Her broad hints that she wouldn’t be opposed to his returning to Philadelphia after the wedding had met with an outright refusal.

Then she mentioned perhaps her grandfather would wish to rethink his plan since she’d found a loophole in the contract. Adam responded by showing her a telegram he received from the judge welcoming him to the family.

All her other stratagems had met with similar fates. Only one option remained. But could she pull it off without turning into a stuttering puddle of red-faced embarrassment?

Reggie squared her shoulders. They would soon find out.

This picnic had been Adam’s idea. To give him credit, he was trying to make this as easy as possible on Jack. He’d come by every day, like a true beau, and had included time with Jack during his visits.

It both warmed and broke Reggie’s heart to see how well they were getting on. Adam would make a fine father.

Too bad she had to try to make sure he never assumed that role with Jack. The boy’s future, as well as her own, was at stake.

At the moment, Ira was doing a good job keeping Jack distracted in the backseat. The conversation between her and Adam, however, was restricted to polite comments about their surroundings and the directions to Split Oak Meadow.

She’d chosen the picnic spot with care. The meadow was beautiful, with a shallow brook, lots of open space for Jack and Buck to romp, and wooded trails that offered secluded spots for private conversation.

Two hours later, Reggie stared at Adam’s back as he watched Jack and Buck play fetch.

She took a deep breath. Time to get this over with.

“Mr. Barr,” she called softly.

“Don’t you think you should call me Adam?” he said without turning. His voice was even, his tone offhand. Had he decided to call a truce then?

“Adam.” She tried matching his tone. “Would you mind joining me for a stroll?”

He did turn to look at her then, his brow quirked up in question. After a moment he nodded and extended his arm. “Of course. Lead the way.”

Reggie cast a quick glance at Ira, tilting her head toward Jack and her old friend nodded a reassurance.

Then Reggie directed their steps toward the tree line. They walked in silence. She turned before they actually entered the woods, following the edge as it curved to accommodate the brook.

Before long, they were out of sight of the others, but still Reggie kept walking. Adam kept pace, obviously waiting for her to break the silence.

At last she stopped and turned to him.

“So,” he asked, “what new plan have you hatched to prevent the wedding?”

She grimaced. “I’m afraid I’ve given up on that for now.”

“Don’t tell me that imagination of yours has finally run dry?”

She smiled in spite of herself. “Let’s just say I’m ready to pursue a new course.”

“So, you didn’t bring me here to discuss wedding plans?”

“Not exactly.” Reggie moved slightly away from him, tearing a strip of gauzy bark from a cottonwood. “I want to discuss what happens afterward.”

“Afterward?”

Reggie met his gaze with some difficulty. “We both agree that this marriage is not one either of us would go through with if we had any real choice.” She looked down, pretending to study the bit of cottonwood bark. “Well, we might not have any choice over whether or not to get married, but we do have a choice in how we conduct ourselves after the ceremony.”

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to spell things out a little plainer than that.”

Heat suffused Reggie’s face. This was even harder than she’d imagined. “What I’m saying is, we don’t have to actually...” She floundered for the right words.
Just say it
.

She swallowed the sudden obstruction in her throat and tried again. “We don’t have to actually consummate our vows.”

There. That should be plain enough.

The silence drew out for what seemed an eternity. Reggie shredded the bark, feeling her emotions fray along with it. If he didn’t say something soon—

“I see.” His tone had a self-mocking edge. “And here I was thinking what a fine catch I made.”

Reggie jerked her head up. She’d expected sarcasm, perhaps even anger, but not this bitterness. She hadn’t stopped to think that he might view it as a rejection of him personally.

“I...I thought you would...I mean surely you agree it would be best, at least for now...”

Her words trailed off as he stepped closer. “Is that
fear
I see in your eyes? I wonder—what is it you’re afraid of?” His irises darkened from blue to storm cloud gray as his gaze captured hers. Even though she heard the mocking tone underlying his words, the intensity in his expression sent a shiver through her, trapped the breath in her throat.

She should move away, put some distance between them so she could think. But her feet refused to respond.

“Is it me that you fear?” He raised a finger to stroke her chin.

His touch was so soft, so gentle.

His finger moved to trace the line of her jaw. “Or is it your reaction to me that has you so on edge?”

Reggie couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. She was very, very afraid he’d just hit the nail on the head.

* * *

Adam saw emotion in Regina’s eyes, saw the softening in her expressive face, and suddenly he was no longer mocking.

He placed his hands on her shoulder, all the while holding her gaze captive with his. When she didn’t pull away, he slowly lowered his head, ready to draw back at the slightest indication she didn’t want this.

But instead of pushing him away, she leaned forward, as if impatient with his dallying.

Adam didn’t require further encouragement. He touched his lips to hers, lightly at first, then more fully as she responded in kind.

Truth be told, he’d wanted to kiss her since she’d stepped out onto the road that day, disguised as a sassy country miss. She’d stood up under their disdain with a mix of confidence and self-directed humor that had intrigued him and made him want to protect her.

Suddenly, she stiffened, shattering the mood.

“No!” she protested sharply. “We can’t do this.”

He loosened his hold, allowing her to pull back. “It’s okay. We’ve done nothing improper,” he said, trying to reassure her. “Engaged couples are allowed an occasional kiss.”

She took a step back. “You don’t understand. We
can’t
do this. I won’t have it.”

“You won’t have it?” He dropped his hands to his sides, stung by her vehement rejection. “Seems to me you were of a different mind a moment ago.”

“You caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting you to take such liberties.” The fear was back in her eyes, along with an almost haunted desperation.

“Do you find the thought of my touching you so repugnant?”

Her eyes widened in shock. “No! I mean, it’s not that. I just...” Her chin came up in stubborn defiance. “We just can’t, is all.”

He’d never seen her so rattled before. Was it an embarrassed reaction to her own response to their kiss? Or did thinking about the kind of intimacy a man and woman shared after marriage frighten her? “It’s all right if you want to take it slow.”

Her lips compressed in a stubborn line. “You don’t understand.”

That was an understatement. “Then
help
me understand.”

“I don’t want any of this.” She waved her hands, as if trying to encompass the world. “I don’t know what Grandfather told you, but I’m unwed because I choose to be, not because I haven’t had offers.” Her face hardened. “Surely you’re not the sort of man to take an unwilling woman to his bed.”

Adam’s back stiffened. If a man had dared say that to him, he’d be eating those words right now. “I wouldn’t force myself on any woman,” he bit out. “But I also don’t see myself remaining celibate the rest of my life. And since I also don’t intend to break my wedding vows, we have a problem.”

He folded his arms. He didn’t for one minute believe Regina was truly content with her spinster-aunt status. She was too spirited, to vibrant a woman for that. “You can either tell me what’s really bothering you, or I’ll consider you’ve broken faith with our contract. And that means I take Jack to Philadelphia.”

The stricken, trapped look in Regina’s eyes was almost his undoing. But Adam held firm. He had to get to the bottom of whatever was causing her to take this irrational stand.

She rallied quickly, squaring her shoulders. “The contract only states that I have to select a groom and then marry him within the allotted time. I intend to fulfill that obligation, so far as it goes.” She tossed her head. “If you don’t like my terms, there’s still time for you to walk away.”

Adam shook his head. “I’ve already explained I can’t do that. And from where I’m standing, honoring your marriage vows appears an implicit part of the contract.”

He raised a brow. “I’m just a lawyer, though. If you insist on sticking by your interpretation, we can ask Judge Madison to decide which of us is correct.”

Regina’s hands fisted. Her face reflected so much tightly leashed desperation he expected her to use those fists to pound against him.

She stood locked in that stance for an eternity of seconds. Dark emotions stirred her features, an outer sign of the inner war she must be fighting.

What was it that had such a strong hold over her?

Adam recognized the exact moment she realized she had no choices left, that she had lost the struggle between them. Despair, so deep and poignant it was tangible, flashed across her face. Then her expression closed off.

Without another word, she spun around and walked away.

He let her go, disappointed she hadn’t chosen to tell him what was really bothering her.

Regina was no coward or simpering miss, so what was she so afraid of? Had some man taken advantage of her, hurt her in some way?

A rush of fury flooded through him at the very thought.

That would explain so much—why she had never married, why she’d contented herself with raising someone else’s child, with living in someone else’s home.

He had to convince her to trust him enough to tell him the full story. Once everything was out in the open between them, he could reassure her, could give her the time she needed to overcome her trepidations, to learn what a beautiful thing the God-ordained institution of marriage could bring a loving couple.

Could avenge her honor if that was called for.

But without honesty, any relationship between them was doomed to failure.

* * *

Reggie’s mind skittered in all directions, trying to find a solution to the problem.

There had to be another way out of this mess.

She couldn’t tell Adam the truth, couldn’t take the chance. The stakes were too high.

But, oh, if things were different...

Her lips tingled from the memory of that kiss. There was something so achingly sweet, so affirming, so right about it.

Buck’s barking startled her back to the here and now. She looked up to find Ira watching her with a worried frown. She tried to return a reassuring smile, but could tell he wasn’t fooled.

She turned to watch Jack. He’d stooped down, studying something in the tall grass. Buck was by his side, tail wagging in excitement. Which probably meant they were looking at a bug or frog, definitely nothing dangerous.

Jack glanced up and gave her a little-boy grin, then returned to whatever he’d been studying.

She heard Adam’s footsteps and tensed. She couldn’t face him, not with her emotions so raw. If that made her a coward, so be it.

She quickly closed the gap between her and Mrs. Peavy. “I think it’s time we headed back to town.”

Mrs. Peavy nodded. “The hamper is already packed.”

A few moments later, as they prepared to climb back in the carriage, Reggie had the cowardly urge to ask Ira to take her place in front while she slipped into the back. Her gaze met Adam’s briefly, and the knowing glint she spied there stiffened her spine.