Goody Two Shoes (Invertary Book 2) (22 page)

Caroline could only make a grunting noise. The floor was undulating beneath her feet, and she needed to concentrate on remaining upright.

“Good. I’m glad I have your attention.” She could have sworn she heard a smile in his voice. “You are not the boss of me. Of us. And neither am I. You don’t need to be in charge. Or in control. We do this together. Got it?”

Caroline nodded.

“Good,” he said.

His hand tightened in her hair. She wrapped her fist into his cotton shirt at his waist. Josh pushed back slightly to look down at her. She blinked up at him, feeling slightly dazed.

He smiled slowly. “I’m glad we understand each other.”

Caroline licked her lips as her gaze shot between his mouth and his eyes. Josh took the hint and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was slow and deep and thorough. It swept her away until there was nothing left for her but the smell of him, the taste of him, the feel of him. He nibbled her bottom lip, making her gasp into his mouth. Instantly his arms tightened, his head slanted and his tongue plundered. Caroline’s hands found their way to his head and wound themselves in Josh’s hair. It felt lush against her sensitive fingertips. Josh spread his legs so that they were either side of Caroline. Her whole body was pressed against him and still it wasn’t close enough. At last Josh pulled away. Caroline moaned in protest. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip.

“Not here, baby,” he rasped. “We’ve got to get through this counselling thing first.”

It took her a minute to understand his words. Counselling? With the vicar? She peered behind Josh. They were in the church vestibule. No. They were
making out like horny teenagers in the church vestibule.

Josh smiled against her lips. “Take a deep breath. Don’t freak out. Lightning didn’t hit. Remember, in a little while I’ll be kissing you here officially anyway.”

Caroline took a deep, steadying breath.

“Good girl.” He nodded before taking her hand and pulling her into the church proper.

As Caroline’s head wrestled control from her body, she realised they hadn’t had a discussion like adults. No. He’d overwhelmed her with pheromones and sex appeal until she’d agreed with him.

She narrowed her eyes at him. Sneaky American.

Josh caught her look and winked at her.

Blast it. The man knew exactly what he was doing. Caroline straightened her back, promising herself that she wouldn’t fall for his manipulation again. No matter how good it felt.

With a knowing smile, Josh led them in to meet the vicar.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Helen came home from a day exploring the Scottish countryside to find the castle peaceful for a change. Thankfully the floor was now back where it should be, and she didn’t have to balance on planks to get to the kitchen. She glanced down at her new dress and smiled. It was a yellow sundress with huge blue cabbage flowers. The sales assistant had talked her into matching blue ballet flats and a pale blue denim jacket, of all things. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn clothes that were so bright and fresh. It made her feel younger, which was always a good thing.

When she pushed open the door to the kitchen, she stopped dead. The dining table was set for two, a small vase of pink carnations sat in the middle of it, alongside a bottle of red wine. There were even two pink candles waiting to be lit.

“Damn it to hell,” Andrew muttered from the stove.

Helen turned to see her husband struggling to drain spaghetti, without losing it down the sink. Despite herself, she smiled. “It’s easier if you dump it into a colander.”

He looked at her like she was speaking Japanese.

“A thing with lots of holes,” she explained. “Lets the water out. Keeps the pasta in.”

“Huh. I’ll do that next time.”

Helen shook her head to clear it. Did she hear the words
next time
? “What’s all this, then?”

“What does it look like?” He was concentrating on dishing spaghetti onto plates. “We’re having dinner.”

“Together? The two of us?”

“Do you see anyone else here?”

Helen hung her handbag on the back of a chair and shrugged out of the denim jacket. She saw Andrew’s lips purse and knew he was fighting the urge to criticise the jacket. She almost slipped it back on.

She felt awkward as she watched her husband in the kitchen. There was nothing she wanted to say to him. Nothing either of them could say. Not to mention, this was the first time she’d seen him cook in thirty-five years. It was as though she’d slipped into another dimension.

“Nice dress,” Andrew muttered as he spooned out the spaghetti sauce.

Helen almost fainted on the spot. He noticed her dress? He gave her a compliment? Who was this man?

“Sit,” Andrew ordered. So she sat.

He plonked a huge plate of spaghetti bolognaise in front of her. “I don’t know what the big deal is about this cooking. Seems to me you’ve been complaining for years about nothing.”

Ah, there he was, the Andrew McInnes she knew so well. “Cooking is great if you do it now and then. Try doing it three times a day for thirty-five years and see how it feels. Then add to that the fact you’re supposed to read everyone else’s minds and
know
what they want to eat, so that you don’t have to listen to the whining and complaints when you dish up something they don’t want. Yeah, it’s a blast.”

Andrew glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I suppose if you put it like that, it’s not much fun.”

Helen dropped her fork with a clang. Andrew McInnes had heard something she said. Actually heard it and took it in. It was a red-letter day. Someone inform the Pope.

“So where did you go today?”

Nope, she was wrong. Now was the time to inform the Pope of a miracle. He’d asked a question about her day. She stared at him.

“Well?” he prompted, sounding his usual grumpy self.

“I drove to Fort William and had a look at Glencoe.”

There was silence. Helen forked the pasta. The sauce wasn’t bad, considering she was sure it came out of a jar. He was cooking—yeah, right. He’d boiled water, browned off some meat, added a jar of sauce and cooked some pasta. No wonder it wasn’t that big of a deal to him.

“Is that where you got the dress?”

She stared at him. “Yeah.”

“They have it in any other colours?”

She nodded.

“Maybe we should go back and get you the rest.”

That was it. Helen put her fork down and turned to him. “Okay, what’s going on?”

He tried to look innocent. “Nothing. We’re having a nice dinner.”

She folded her arms. “We never have a
nice
dinner. Usually we eat in silence or you watch sports while you eat and I sit beside you. What’s with the conversation?”

“Can’t a man take an interest in his wife?”

“I’m sure
he
can. But
you
never do.”

He glared at her. “Eat your food.”

Helen stared at him for a moment, before picking up her fork. She was uneasy. She wasn’t sure whom she was having a meal with. They ate in silence for a while. Now
this
she was used to.

“Did you have a word with Josh about marrying that woman?” Andrew said.

“That woman’s name is Caroline.”

“He’s making a fool of himself.”

Helen felt her back tense. “He’s thirty-five, he can do what he wants, how he wants to do it.”

“But marrying a woman he doesn’t even know? A woman who clearly doesn’t have a clue about life? What use is that going to do him?”

Helen put her fork down carefully. “I like Caroline.”

“She’s not for Josh. What good is a librarian going to do him when he’s wheeling and dealing in Hollywood? She’s never even been out of the country. All she’s going to do is slow him down.”

Helen felt her hackles rise. “Slow him down in regards to what?”

“His career.”

She leaned towards him. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but Josh’s career is already where it was supposed to be. There’s nowhere else to go. Sure, he can do the same thing better, or slightly differently, but he has nothing to prove anymore. Not to anyone. So how, exactly, is a lovely girl like Caroline slowing him down?”

“She doesn’t even know how to dress. How is he going to take her on the red carpet? He’ll be a laughing stock. Hell, he is already. Have you seen the news? She’s got the old folk manning barricades at the edge of town. There’s a group of women who sit and knit while they ‘screen’ people.”

Helen stood up. “I know. I met them this morning. I invited them for coffee.”

He scoffed at her, making it clear he thought she was a fool.

“That’s it, Andrew McInnes, I’ve had enough. You’re old and mean and bitter. You don’t see Caroline for the woman she is, the woman who is lovely and kind and good for Josh. You don’t see me for the woman I am either. This dinner isn’t about spending time with your wife. It isn’t about mending bridges. It’s about you trying to salve me so that you can get things back the way you want them to be. Well I don’t want them like that. I don’t want
you
like that.” She pointed a finger in his face. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to pack up and get out of the castle. Fifteen minutes and then I’m calling in people to turf you out. Because unlike you, I’ve been making friends here in Invertary. I haven’t been spending my time alone and bitter and miserable. So pack up and get out. I’ve had enough of you.”

She spun on her heels and walked towards the door. Then she had another thought and turned back to him.

“I don’t know what happened to you. You used to be strong, daring, fun. I liked that man. I
loved
that man. If that man came back, he might have a chance. This one”—she pointed at him again—“isn’t worth my time.”

And then she stomped up the stairs to her bedroom.

Caroline and Josh waited in the meeting room for the vicar to stop faffing about and join them. A sharp elbow hit Josh’s side, making him flinch. “What was that for?”

“You can’t kiss your way out of trouble, Josh McInnes.” Caroline’s voice was low, even though they were the only two in the room.

“That’s not what I’ve been told.” He couldn’t help but smirk. His lips had gotten him out of all sorts of trouble.

“So,” the vicar said as he entered the room. “How did you two get on with the homework?”

Caroline was all business again. “We did well. We’re working our way through the book. I think we have about half answered now. Right?”

She turned to Josh, who couldn’t begin to express how much he didn’t care about the homework. “Right.” Even he could hear it lacked conviction.

The vicar didn’t seem convinced, but he limited his criticism to a glare. He smiled at Caroline. “Caroline and I had a chat this week about the ceremony. She’s agreed to the common vows, although she refuses to vow to obey.”

Josh burst out laughing. “Sorry.” He held up a finger, asking for a minute. “That’s better. I’m fine now. It’s passed. I’m serious. This is serious.” He cleared his throat. “It would have been surprising if she
had
vowed to obey.”

Caroline glowered at him. “No woman vows to obey these days.”

Josh patted her knee. “Especially you, baby. I’m pretty sure you’re genetically incapable.”

She gave him the evil eye. “Do you
want
me to vow to obey?”

He tried to swallow the laughter that bubbled up as he held up his hand in surrender. “I want you to vow what you’re happy with and then stick with it.”

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“No.” Josh was struggling to keep it together. “No, I don’t want you to vow to obey.”

She stuck her little nose in the air, pleased that he’d clearly come to the correct conclusion. Josh started to laugh again as his stomach muscles began to cramp.

“Don’t mind him,” she told the vicar. “He’s easily amused.”

The vicar studied them for a moment. “So, when do you two want to start a family?”

“Straight away,” Josh said as Caroline said, “In a year or so.”

They looked at each other as the vicar patted his belly, obviously pleased with himself.

“You want to try for a family straight off?” Caroline seemed terrified at the thought.

“I’m not getting any younger.” Josh wanted to add
and neither are you
, but thought better of it.

“You’re only thirty-five; you have years ahead of you to make babies.” She blushed. “I mean have children. I thought we’d spend some time getting to know each other first before we added children to the mix. Men don’t have a deadline—there’s no hurry for you.”

Josh inclined his head and gave her a searing look through his lashes. She bit her bottom lip as she watched him. He hoped her thoughts had gone in the same direction his had gone—south. Very south. Straight to the baby-making part of this discussion. He eyed the curve of her hips and wondered how fast he could get her out of her clothes.