The Tawny Gold Man (11 page)

Chapter 9

Marry me. Marry me. Marry me.

The words seemed to reverberate through her mind like the aftereffects of an explosion. Stunned, feeling as if she were caught in a vise that was slowly squeezing the air out of her body, Anne stared at him mutely, unable for several minutes to articulate even the smallest word. Had he gone mad or had she? He couldn't be serious. Or could he? The idea that he'd even consider giving up his freedom just to get control of the company was beyond her comprehension. When finally she managed to loosen her tension-taut vocal cords, her voice came in a strangled squeak.

"Marry you? How could that solve anything?"

"I would think the answer to that would be evident," he replied smoothly. "Actually the benefits would be twofold."

Her throat working spasmodically, Anne brought a measure of normalcy to her tone.

"I must be a little slow this morning, since I fail to see—

"Anne," Jud chided gently, "get with it. If you marry me, you could support me in this, and possibly future deals, without actually giving up control of your stock. At the same time you'd still hold the check rein the old man intended. Being my wife would in no way compel you to go along with anything I wanted to do. But, at the same time, as my wife I'd know that once given, your support would not be withdrawn."

"As you suspect it would be otherwise?" Anne asked sharply.

"Might be," he corrected. "You have one very weak spot, Anne, and that's your love for Troy and Todd. There would always be the outside chance they would get to you. I don't care to take that chance."

"But, but if I agree to be—" She couldn't even think the words—be your wife—let alone say them. "To go along with your idea, Troy and Todd will think—"

"Of course," he interrupted impatiently, "for a while. Until they finally realize I'm not out to rob them of their inheritance. They are Cammerons, and I don't think it will be too long before their basic intelligence overrides their resentment."

And then what, Anne thought dismally, the dissolution of a marriage made in expediency? Before she could voice her thoughts, Jud veered from Troy and Todd.

"I said the benefits would be twofold. The first, of course, would be to me, but the second would be solely yours."

An intriguing piece of bait thrown out casually, Anne bit at once.

"In what way?"

""You could save face by beating Andrew to the altar."

Beating Andrew to the ... Anne's eyes went wide.

"Andrew is getting married?"

"Wellll—" Jud drew the word out thoughtfully. "I can't answer a definite yes on that. I do know he has made a proposal. I also know the lady is giving it serious consideration."

The idea of Andrew getting married didn't bother her in the least, but she was curious.

"What lady?"

The answer came fast, flat, and emotionless.

"Lorna."

Anne's eyes closed against the sudden pain in her chest. Change twofold to threefold, and number three is the real and most important one. How any woman could consider Andrew over Jud mystified Anne. But then, perhaps Jud had never made a proposal to Lorna. At least not of a legal nature. Anne didn't like the direction her thoughts were galloping in, but one in particular would not be denied. Lorna could not give Jud what he coveted the most. The control of the company he thought of as rightfully his. How much he coveted it hit Anne where she hurt the most. Not only was he willing to give up his freedom to get it. He was willing to give up the woman he loved as well.

"Well, Anne?" Jud prompted.

Anne kept her eyes tightly closed, her mind working furiously. Could she do it? Could she commit herself to a man so ruthless he'd cast aside the woman he loved to achieve his ambition? The answer came clear and simple. Yes. Only a few short weeks before she had begged him silently to name his price, had vowed she'd pay anything. Her feelings had not changed, except perhaps to grow stronger. Being his wife and not his love would not be easy to live with. But the eventuality of being separated from him completely was totally unbearable. So, right or wrong, she was still willing to pay the price.

"Anne?"

To Anne's distracted mind Jud's tone seemed to hold a note of anxious hesitation. Jud anxious? With a brief shake of her head, Anne dismissed the possibility. Lifting her lids, she looked steadily into Jud's hooded amber eyes.

"All right, Jud. I'll do whatever you say."

His breath was expelled slowly, indicating how anxious he really had been. Well, of course he was, Anne mused unhappily. He had taken a shot at his own particular star; now he could relax, his shot had hit its target.

"Anne, I—" He hesitated, as if groping for words, then, becoming brisk, all business, he stated, "I want to do it as soon as possible. These people are getting edgy and I'm not going any further on this contract until I have my ring on your finger and your word on your compliance with my wishes. We'll set the wheels in motion tomorrow morning, but meanwhile, I think we'd better make an announcement to the family at the lunch table." He eyed her warily before adding, "Does that meet with your approval?"

Anne sighed in resignation. What did it matter? It was a business arrangement, wasn't it? To insist on the usual fuss and flutter would not only be farcical, it would be blatant hypocrisy.

"I've already said I'll do whatever you say, Jud." Anne paused, softly adding, "It really doesn't matter when or how, does it?"

In the action of leaning back to pick up the folder on his desk, Jud turned back to her sharply, his eyes glittering with an emotion totally unfathomable to Anne.

Certain she did not want to hear what he was about to say, Anne jumped to her feet and hurried to the door.

"If we have an announcement to make, I think I'd better freshen up and change."

She had just stepped into her room when he caught up with her and, giving her a gentle push, he followed her in and closed the door.

"Anne, we have got to discuss how we're going to handle this."

He strolled across the room and dropped lazily into the chair Troy had vacated such a short time before.

"If your mother and the twins get even a hint at the reason for this marriage, the silent rebellion they've been engaging in will turn into open warfare."

He ran his eyes over her speculatively then asked dryly, "How good an actress are you?"

"Actress? I don't understand."

Raising his eyes, as if seeking assistance from above, he sighed heavily.

"Sweetheart, I think the remark you made earlier about being a little slow today was a gross understatement. I mean, darling"—the darling was heavily emphasized—"that we are going to have to play to the gallery. Convince them we have suddenly fallen deeply, urgently in love. In other words, we have got to clean up our act. If we continue taking verbal potshots at each other they'll be on to the play in no time. Now, do you understand?"

"Oh, perfectly, darling." She added even more emphasis to the darling but some of the impact was lost as her voice wobbled. "Curtain up, let the play begin."

His soft laugh attacked her nervous system and, feeling her suddenly weak legs would no longer support her, she sank onto the bed.

"You are one fantastic little girl, you know that, chicken?"

If his laughter had undermined her poise, the silky purr he used on her now threatened to destroy her completely. In one fluid movement he was on his feet and moving across the room to her. One long finger hooked her chin, lifted her head.

"As they said in practically every cowboy movie ever made"—his voice took on the twang of a heavy Western drawl—"you'll do to ride the river with, pardner."

Dipping his head, he placed his mouth against hers and murmured, "A kiss in lieu of a contract, Anne." Then the pressure of his lips increased and his mouth, causing her heart to jump like a demented acrobat, drove out all reason and sanity.

"Yes, indeed," he whispered as he lifted his head after a few long moments. "You'll do very nicely. Now, I'll let you get changed, as Margaret and Melly are back from church and ready for lunch."

He had reached the door before Anne had gathered her wits enough to ask haltingly, "Jud, about this marriage. Will it be ... I mean will you want—" She faltered, searching for the words.

"A normal sexual relationship?" he supplied softly.

Anne swallowed hard, then nodded. His face gave away nothing of what he felt, his eyes remained steady on hers.

"Yes."

A finally, no-questions-asked yes.

"But, I never—" Anne bit down on her lip. "I mean, I don't know if I can. I—"

"Oh, you can," he countered. "The way you respond to my kisses convinces me of that." He studied the pink stain spreading across her cheeks a moment, then added gently, "But don't worry, honey. I'm a patient man, and I'll be
 
very
 
careful not to rush or frighten you."

After a quick shower Anne slipped into a light, cotton dress, applied a touch of color to lids, cheeks, and lips, and was finishing her hair when her door opened. Jud stood in the hall freshly showered and shaved, looking far too attractive in dark brown moleskin pants and a soft fawn shirt.

"Are you ready to go down?" he asked quietly. "I think it would be best to confront them together and get it over with."

Nervous, and trying hard not to show it, Anne licked her dry lips.

"Yes, I'm ready."

She left the room and walked beside him down the hall to the top of the stairs, where she paused, throwing him a quick glance.

"Do you want me to tell them or will you?"

"I think I'd better." He shot her a brief, devastating grin. "Your voice is none too steady." He started down the stairs, his hand grasping hers. "Don't give yourself away, Anne," he cautioned. "Or all hell will break loose. Just follow my lead and we'll be home free."

As they entered the dining room, Jud's hand released Anne's and slid protectively around her waist.

The action did not go unnoticed. Anne saw the surprise that filled her mother's eyes, the question that narrowed both Troy's and Todd's. Only Melly seemed unaware of the sudden tension in the room.

"About time you two showed up," Melly scolded lightly. "I'm famished. For some strange reason a long, uninspired sermon always makes me hungry. Now we can eat."

"In a moment." Jud's quiet, serious tone sent his aunt's eyebrows up. Anne felt his hand tighten at her waist as he said calmly, "Anne and I are going to be married."

He could not have achieved a better effect if he had dropped a snake onto the table. Melly looked stunned, Todd and Troy jumped out of their chairs, and Margaret gave a small disbelieving shriek.

"You are what?"

"Getting married."

Jud's unruffled reply seemed to incite rather than calm them.

"But you can't," Margaret gasped.

"Can't?" One pale eyebrow arched arrogantly. "I assure you we can."

"But, Jud," her mother moaned. "Anne is your stepsister."

"Step being the operative word," he retorted. "It has no bearing at all."

"Now who's playing games, Jud?" Troy's voice was nasty. "And what's the name of this one? Force the twins into line?"

Todd's eyes, their color cloudy with an equal mixture of anger and hurt, fastened on Anne's.

"Or should we substitute the word blackmail for games? I might have expected something like this from him, Anne. But not you. Never you."

Anne paled. Jud's face went rigid and Margaret cried, "Todd!"

During the exchange Melly's head had swiveled from one to the other, her confusion mirrored on her face. Her glance settling on Jud, she sighed.

"I don't understand. What is the problem, Jud? Personally I'm delighted."

Jud's face softened, and he smiled gently at his aunt.

"Thank you, Mel. Don't be alarmed. There is no problem here I can't handle."

"Big man," Troy spat. "You're not forcing me into anything. You'd sell your soul to get your own way down at the mill, wouldn't you? Well, you can go to hell." His furious glance pierced Anne, and she gasped as he added, "And you can go with him."

Anne felt Jud go stiff beside her, felt the sharp pain as his fingers dug spasmodically into her waist. He frightened her. Everything about him frightened her, from his contempt-filled, cold eyes, to the still, coiled menace that emanated from every inch of him. Finally his chillingly soft purr broke the silence that had gripped the room.

"I don't have to force you into anything, Troy. You'll do as you're told." His voice went softer still, causing a shiver to tingle along Anne's arms. "And if you ever speak to your sister like that again, I will take the hide off your back. Strip by slow strip. Now make your apology."

Again the room was smothered in silence and Anne's fingers curled into her damp palms. When she felt Jud move in Troy's direction, she moaned softly.

"Troy, please."

Troy's eyes, weary and fear-filled, shifted to Anne's pale face and with a soft sigh of defeat he murmured, "I'm sorry, Anne."

"Jud?"