A British Bride by Agreement (6 page)

He leaned toward her.

Her heart sped up. Was he going to kiss
her?

“I was thinking,” he pushed a button,
and two green colored sodas rose steadily out of a cabinet, next to two glasses
filled with ice.
“A week from today?
For the wedding?”

A week?
The air felt
suddenly thick. A million protests rushed to her lips. She brushed her hair
back from her forehead. “First of all, I can’t possibly plan—”

“Mother, with some help from my assistant,
Nick arranges all the Steller family social events.” He studied her reaction.
“I’ve had her get a few things arranged, nothing that can’t be canceled. She
makes a couple of calls and the caterer, musicians, bakers, candlestick makers
show up on time and in uniform. I don’t know how she does it.”

Panic welled in Emma’s throat. She
rubbed her temples. Fear was closing in on her like a used car salesman. Her
mind groped for something from which to begin her protests.
“The
honeymoon?”
She nearly choked on the words. “I don’t think I’m ready
for—”

“Of course, I understand.” He handed her
a glass. “We need time to adjust to each other. I thought for our trip, we
could stay in a two-bedroom suite at my favorite resort in Munich, Germany. Oktoberfest
will have just started and there will be lots of things to do.”

What could she say? It was all being
neatly arranged.
God, please stop me if
I’m going against
Your
will.

 
“Maybe, okay.” The words floated past
her lips and she wrestled with wanting to snatch them back. Despite her nerves,
a feeling of peace lingered. “I will consider your offer. But if I was to agree
to er… your agreement, I have one request.” Her head dipped for a moment. The
horrific memory of the last time she played piano professionally came back to
her in a rush.

The piano keys had become blurry. Her
hands shook. The room felt like it was spinning. A panic attack at seventeen
ended her public performances. “Please don’t ever ask me to play the piano.”

His brows scrunched together. “I thought
you liked it?”

“I do, for myself, and for you, maybe…”
Except she hadn’t touched her piano in over two years.
She
hid her trembling hands as just the thought of playing added to the fright
welling up inside of her. “I just don’t ever want to be asked to perform in
front of a crowd again.”

“No problem.” He
clinked
his glass with hers.” Here is to considering our future.”

She let out a sigh of relief and let the
taste of the fizzy sweet soda fill her parched mouth. “But I would like to
teach piano.
To children.
Do you mind?”

A slow grin tugged across his lips.
“No, of course not.
I’m glad you like children—I’m looking
forward to having some, someday...” His voice trailed off as if he’d revealed a
part of himself he wasn’t ready to share.

Silence hung in the air between them.

Emma looked out the window. She couldn’t
tell him about the panic attacks that ended her professional piano career. She
would never tell him what a disaster her first marriage was. And she would
never tell him about what happened to her last summer. She couldn’t fathom what
he saw in her that made her worthy to be his wife. But it didn’t matter. God
would lead her, and she would follow.
Even if it led to a
mansion.

***

In less time than it took to make a cup
of tea, their limo pulled up to an unassuming Spanish style building of the St.
Louis Country Club. Emma took Jonathan’s hand and followed his brisk steps
inside. She kept her posture taut, hoping his family would approve of her. Or
did she care? Was she foolish to still be going along with Jonathan’s proposal
?
 
Once inside, they were
ushered into a private room where Jonathan introduced her.

 
“Mother, Father, I’d like you to meet, Emma
Banks.”

An older woman dressed in a sapphire
blue suit with diamond earrings and heavy diamond rings cluttering her fingers
paced over to them. She hugged Jonathan first.

A sick feeling
hit Emma’s stomach.
She forced her lips into a wide smile, pretending
to be thrilled to meet what could be her future mother-in-law.

Mrs. Steller took Emma’s hands in her
own. Emma expected them to be stiff. They weren’t. Even more surprising was the
gaze that met her own—a look that sparkled with warmth and kindness, instead of
the calculating appraisal she’d anticipated.

“Emma. What a beautiful name. I want you
to know, I have been praying for you.” Light literally glimmered from the older
woman’s face.

“Thank you,” Emma said, despite the
tightness in her throat. Mrs. Steller’s kindness took her off guard. “And it’s
a pleasure to meet you as well.”

Mr. Steller and Jonathan merely nodded
at each other, and then he held out his hand toward Emma. “
Jonathan,
has told me so many astonishing things about you,” he cast a wary glance at
Jonathan. “I’m surprised you’re a mere mortal.”

Emma shot a glance between Jonathan’s
parents as she shook Mr. Steller’s hand. What had Jonathan told them? Did they
know their relationship was in fact, a business deal? The joy that beamed from
their faces surprised Emma. In the moneyed circles she’d been raised in, she’d
never met a wealthy couple who glowed with such happiness. What made them
different?

Jonathan took her hand and led her to
her seat. He leaned in. “I hope their enthusiasm didn’t embarrass you?”

“No,” she whispered back. “They’re
wonderful.”

Lines etched either side of his slight
grin. She had never noticed them before, or how square the cut of his jaw was.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts.
Don’t
go falling for him. That isn’t part of the agreement
. Emma glanced at two
empty chairs as she sat. She tilted in toward Jonathan. “Who else is coming?”

He frowned. “Mother who’s—”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I called
Janette and Jennifer home to meet Emma, too.” Mrs. Steller leaned across the
table.

“Good, you didn’t eat without us.” A
slim, blonder, female version of Jonathan stepped into the room, followed by a
pretty brunette.

Jonathan moved from his seat and walked
around to the other side of the long table to embrace his sisters. “I thought
you two were still shopping in Munich.”

“We were, but Father sent the jet to fly
us back for some family event. What’s the scoop?” The taller of the two sisters
walked passed her brother and made her way over to Emma. “I know. Jonathan has
talked this beautiful gal into marrying him.” She leaned in to hug Emma. “I’m
so sorry, but you’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life.”

Emma swallowed hard.
“Mistake?”

CHAPTER FOUR

Jonathan froze. Emma’s suddenly pale expression
flashed like a beacon of alarm. Surely she knew his sister was joking? He kept
his stride calm, resisting the urge to race to Emma’s side. What happened to
him? Somehow, in bringing Emma to meet his family and win their approval he
realized how much he wanted her to agree to marry him.

Jonathan shot a glance at Jennifer’s
mischievous grin. Was she telling Emma about the time they took their golf cart
and rode it down the highway? Or maybe the Christmas when Jonathan saw Santa
Claus kiss his mother and he had punched the white-bearded guy in the stomach?
Surely his sisters wouldn’t reveal any details of his wild partying days. His
shoulders slumped. Of course, every sordid detail had been played out in
tabloids in St. Louis, but surely Emma never read any of those.

But when Emma pressed a hand to her
mouth and tears filled her eyes, a warning filled him. Had she changed her
mind?

“Jennifer, what are you telling our
guest? She looks positively shocked.” His mother picked up her menu.

Jonathan came and stood by Emma and as
he leaned down to whisper in her ear, her light floral scent stirred the
consuming attraction he’d thought he’d permanently shoved away. Running his
fingers through his hair, he willed his thoughts to be practical, and not the least
bit romantic. This was a business deal that he had to close. “Whatever she’s
told you,” he spoke quietly, “it’s not true.”

Her eyes widened. “She said I’m making
the biggest mistake of my life.”

His traitorous heart lurched. The
realization engulfed him that she was someone he cared for very deeply. A rush
of longing parched his mouth and every persuasive deal-making, business savvy
word he knew, lodged in the back of his throat.

Emma, with her sparkling green eyes, her
quick smile, her spark of joy, was someone he needed more than he wanted to
admit. Feeling out of control, he tried to return his focus on his goal to gain
her consent to the agreement, but right now her full lips were only an inch
away from his and he wanted to kiss them. Anxious not to lose her, he sat down
and took her face in his hands. “What do you believe?”

Her gaze was steady. “That for some daft
reason God has picked you for me to marry.”

He fought the overwhelming urge to pull
her into his arms and hold her close. What was his problem? His blood surged
through his veins. If he didn’t curb his attraction to her, this could be the
biggest mistake of
his
life.

“So, you will marry me?” He held his
breath. He really didn’t want to be so fascinated. He didn’t want to make a bad
decision. He didn’t want to let his heart be vulnerable to a woman again, no
matter how beautiful the face, how soft the skin—

“Yes.”

He resisted the impulse to scoop her up
and swing her around. He pressed his lips together.
She said yes!
“Should we tell them?”

She swallowed, and then looked up at him
with trusting eyes.

His gaze fell to the floor. He didn’t
deserve her. She was putting her future into his hands, not knowing that he
needed her to advance his career. That he had been plotting this moment since
he saw her at her husband’s funeral, looking
lushishly
beautiful in all black. But she needed him financially, he reasoned. And she
knew it was an agreement. His heart hammered in his chest with the strength of
a train speeding down a train track. He looked up at her tentative smile.

 
“Yes, let’s tell them.”

Energy shot through his entire body.
Determined to seize the moment, he pulled Emma to her feet and squeezed her
hand. “I have an announcement to make. Emma has agreed to become the next Mrs.
Steller.”

“Oh, wonderful.”
His mother
beamed.

The tinkling of glasses sounded around
him. His parents and sisters were laughing and tapping their glasses with their
spoons, demanding they kiss.

His smile was plastered on. He didn’t
know if he could handle kissing her.

But despite his protestations, his
sisters were practically shouting, “Kiss her!”

He reached over and held Emma’s face in
his hands, but when he did, Emma stiffened. Did she regret her decision? Alarm
bells rang in his head. He should have chosen someone more plain, or selfish,
or obsessed with wealth like Dede. Emma was too sweet, too real, and way too
good-looking. He was losing control of his emotions.

The clanging insistence
that
 
they
kiss
continued to fill his ears.

Her green eyes looked up at him unquestioning.

He clenched his jaw. He didn’t want to
fall in love, but Emma’s lips were so tempting. He leaned in toward them,
hoping he could stop at just a short kiss.

As he pressed his mouth to her soft, warm
lips, the sounds of laughing, and tinkling glass faded away, and his attraction
to her deepened with each passing second. And when she touched his face with
her fingertips, it felt as if he were being branded. His lips searched her
mouth parting her lips slightly. An engulfing heat filled his body. He wanted
to linger there, to pull her closer, to tell her this was becoming way more
than an agreement, but somehow he summoned the strength to pull back. Emma
didn’t look at him, but he could feel her body trembling. The kiss didn’t last
long enough according to his sister’s protests, but for Jonathan, it was too
long.
Too intimate.
Too dangerous.

He sat back into his seat and casually
took a long drink of water. How could he keep his heart from falling for her?

“I hope you don’t mind, Jonathan, but
when you asked me to check on dates, I had to move your wedding up a day.” His
mother directed the waiters to begin service.