Grayson Brothers Series Boxed Set (4 books in 1) (30 page)

Of all the stupid things Kyle had done in his life, kissing Amelia had been the dumbest. He should never have gone to her apartment. He shouldn’t have provoked her to kick his shin or touch him with those soft hands or hover over him with her breasts in his face until his mind had turned to mush. The woman should have kept her hair bound! A teacher wasn’t supposed to look all soft and seductive or melt across his lap like warm honey.

A dead man would have responded to that temptation.

The loud knock on his door startled him. If it was Boyd coming to demand money for his share of the mill, Kyle would throttle him. He banged his empty glass down on the kitchen counter then went to the parlor to answer the front door.

At the sight of Richard Cameron, Kyle’s mouth dropped open. It astounded Kyle to see his oldest, dearest friend standing on his doorstep. “What are you doing here?” he asked, grabbing Richard’s hand in a firm, welcoming clasp.

Grinning, Richard returned the handshake. “I’m looking for someone to share a mug or two with.” He slapped Kyle on both shoulders. “It’s good to see you.”

Kyle assessed his friend, whom he hadn’t seen in four years. Richard still sported his good looks and cocksure attitude. He was a blond, fair-skinned version of Boyd, but rather than irritating Kyle at every turn as Boyd did, Richard had always made Kyle laugh.

“Come on in,” he said, clasping Richard’s neck and pulling him inside.

“Is your lovely bride home?” Richard asked, glancing around the parlor.

“Evelyn married my older brother a few months past and is now the lovely Mrs. Radford Grayson.”

The teasing glint left Richard’s eyes. “I hadn’t heard. I’m sorry.”

Kyle shrugged and feigned indifference. Though he’d forgiven his brother and fiancée for falling in love with each other, his wound was still tender and he had no wish to discuss it. “If it’s ale you want it’s ale you’ll get. Come on.”

Richard closed the door behind him and followed Kyle to the kitchen. “I came to see if you’ve lost your mind. What possessed you to buy Tom’s lumberyard?”

Kyle stopped and stared at Richard. “How could you know about that? You just got back from Philadelphia.”

“Which is why you should have waited, Kyle. I could have warned you off this disaster. You can’t go through with this purchase. The bank is ready to foreclose on that property.”

Willing or not, Kyle had to go through with it. He had to marry Amelia, and tomorrow night he had to convince Victoria Drake that he wanted to marry her daughter.

Kyle shoved open the window to let in the cool evening air then took two mugs into the pantry and filled them from a small keg of ale. Wait until Amelia learned she’d just bound herself for life to the man who had caused her father’s collapse. She would hate him—if she didn’t already.

“Did you hear what I said?” Richard asked, raising his voice so Kyle could hear him in the pantry. “I’m telling you this as a friend, Kyle. “

“I know.” Kyle came back into the kitchen. “I appreciate the warning, but it’s too late.” He handed Richard a mug then raised his own in a mock salute. “I’m getting married.”

“How many mugs of this stuff have you had?”

“Two. I’m marrying Amelia Drake a week from Saturday, and I’m resurrecting her father’s lumberyard.”

Richard’s glass stopped halfway to his mouth, his expression stunned.

“What do I need to do to stop the foreclosure?” Kyle asked.

“Wait a minute!” Richard lowered his mug and shook his head. “What’s going on? You just said you were marrying Miss Drake, but I saw her this morning and she didn’t say a word about it.”

Kyle shrugged. “I proposed earlier this evening.”

Richard stared in silence.

“You’re invited to the wedding.” Kyle gazed out into the darkness. What was he going to do with a wife? Before he’d left Amelia’s apartment, she’d requested that they tell everyone their romantic interest in each other had started the day after her father died. She intended to say that Kyle’s compassion won her heart and that they wanted to marry. To avoid scandal and upsetting their mothers, Kyle had agreed. But the lie tasted bitter.

He didn’t want a wife. He liked his life just as it was—unencumbered by attachments, free of emotional ties that would strangle him.

Maybe he should have walked out. He could have lived with the whispered speculation from the ladies and sly grins from the men. But if word got out that he had been found in her apartment, she would be ostracized. He couldn’t do that to her.

With a silent oath, Kyle cursed society, propriety, and his pathetic inability to escape the shackles he’d just closed around his own wrists. Through his own stupidity he’d bound himself to a debt-ridden lumberyard and a woman who was going to hate him and make his life miserable.

Richard shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Catherine hasn’t said a word about you seeing Miss Drake.”

“Why should she?” Kyle asked, wondering if Richard was hinting that he knew about Kyle’s recent affair with his step-mother. “Miss Drake is a teacher. We’ve had to keep our relationship private.”

“Well, where does that leave Catherine then?” Richard asked.

“What you mean?”

Their gazes locked for several tense seconds until Richard shrugged. “I just wanted to know if I can bring her to the wedding.” He gave Kyle a sheepish grin. “She hasn’t gotten out much since my father passed away. She would enjoy the wedding... that is, if you’re inviting me to your ceremony.”

Kyle’s stomach knotted. He’d been a fool to think things couldn’t get worse. Although Richard had invited himself, Kyle really wanted his friend at his wedding. That meant he couldn’t refuse to invite Catherine without being rude or causing suspicion.

“Of course, Richard. I’m sure Lucinda will be there, too.” If Kyle remembered right, Catherine’s youngest sister was one of Amelia’s friends. At least she had appeared to be during their school years. Kyle didn’t even know what company Amelia kept. Their marriage was going to be a disaster.

* * *

“Mama, do you remember asking if I ever wanted to marry?” Amelia asked.

A look of expectancy and concern etched her mother’s face as she glanced between Amelia and Kyle, who were standing in the foyer. “I remember, why?”

“At the time, I didn’t think I ever would.” Amelia tried to smile, but her lips were too stiff. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m getting married.”

For the first time in her life, Amelia saw her mother’s bottom hit a chair without an excess of hoisting skirts and fluttering hands. “You what?”

“I asked your daughter to marry me last night,” Kyle interjected, his statement straightforward but quiet and respectful.

Her mother’s expression brimmed with disbelief. “You’re getting married? The two of you?”

Amelia nodded and glanced at Kyle who stood beside her doing a terrible job of looking pleased about their engagement. He’d worn the same expression an hour ago when they’d told his mother about their wedding plans. Amelia had expected Nancy to be upset or suspicious of the circumstances, but she’d seemed sincerely pleased and had said it was high time Kyle shared his life with a good, loving woman.

“But Kyle has already paid for the mill,” her mother said, glancing between Amelia and Kyle, confusion filling her eyes.

“He’s not marrying me for the mill, Mama.”

“He’s not?”

Amelia shook her head, trying to keep her heartache from showing.

Her mother’s brows furrowed. “You barely know each other.”

Amelia gazed up at Kyle with what she hoped to be a convincing display of adoration, but inside she trembled. Unable to bear his stoic expression, she turned back to her mother. “Since Papa’s collapse, Kyle’s compassion and kindness have eased my heartache and given me someone to depend on. You were right about me needing a man in my life, Mama, so I’ve accepted Kyle’s offer of marriage.”

Her mother sagged against the back of the brocade chair and stared up at Kyle. “What is she talking about?”

“She’s telling you that we’re two adults who are old enough to understand the commitment we’re making.”

Amelia’s heart ached because Kyle wasn’t professing his love, but he was a man who wouldn’t lie to anyone for any purpose.

Her mother laughed with a touch of hysteria then shook her head. “You two are serious?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Very serious,” Kyle added.

Silence descended then slowly mushroomed through the room until the standing clock in the foyer sounded like an iron hand maul striking a stone. “Are you doing this for me?” her mother asked.

Amelia would never admit that her mother’s security and peace of mind was a major part of her motivation for marrying Kyle, but a straight denial wouldn’t convince an astute woman like her, nor would it be the complete truth. Knowing only one way to convince her mother, Amelia cupped Kyle’s chin and planted a kiss on his mouth. “Does that answer your question, Mama?” The astonished expression on her mother’s face matched Kyle’s and made Amelia laugh, but she prayed she didn’t sound as hysterically insane as she felt.

“Well, I... my goodness.” Her mother pressed a hand to her chest and her eyes misted. “I’d always hoped for the day when you’d make this announcement, but I thought your father would be beside me and that we’d... that he would... oh, honey, he would have wanted to give you away.” Tears spilled over her lower lids.

Amelia pulled her mother into her arms. She glanced at Kyle and saw compassion pooling in his dark eyes and was relieved that his heart wasn’t immune to someone else’s suffering.

Her mother patted her face with her handkerchief and straightened her shoulders. “So much has happened lately that I’m just overcome with everything.”

Amelia bit her lip. She was overcome, too. With loss. With sorrow. With regret.

“When are you planning to wed?” her mother asked, stepping out of the circle of Amelia’s embrace.

Kyle tapped his hat against his thigh. “A week from this Saturday unless it puts too much of a burden on you.”

After a moment of surprise, her mother squinted at them. “There is something you’re trying to keep from me, isn’t there?”

“Yes,” Kyle said.

Amelia’s stomach flipped. They’d agreed not to concern her mother with any of the circumstances surrounding their engagement. If he broke his word she would kick him right in his sore shin again.

“We want to make sure there’s no slight to Amelia’s reputation because of my visit to the school yesterday.”

Her mother’s expression filled with horror and she looked at Amelia. “What did you two do?”

“Nothing, Mama. Kyle came to propose to me and the board members found him in my apartment. That’s why we want to marry right away.”

“Then you’re marrying Amelia to protect her reputation?”

“Yes.” Kyle glanced at Amelia, but she couldn’t read the emotion in his eyes. He turned back to her mother. “I should have waited for a more appropriate time to talk to your daughter, but my impatience brought me to the school and has jeopardized her reputation. Amelia accepted my proposal last night. With your permission, we would like to move forward with our wedding plans.”

“Well, I... I’m shocked by your announcement, but if you’re sincere, Kyle then I’ll welcome you as my son-in-law. Tom would have been so pleased by this.” Her nostrils flared, but Amelia gave her mother credit for not crying. “We’ll have the wedding here unless you object.”

“Whatever makes Amelia happy,” he said, but Amelia couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic.

On Saturday evening Amelia met Jeb in the upstairs hall of her mother’s house. Because of her fabricated story, everyone waiting below would expect her to be happy about marrying Kyle. She wasn’t happy. She was heartbroken.

“I’m sorry your pa’s not here to do this,” Jeb said, his face drawn and eyes tired as he held her hand. “He would tell you how beautiful you look and how proud you’ve made him. I will tell you the same thing.”

“Thank you, Jeb. It means so much that you’re doing this.”

He angled his head to see her eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked. “It’s awfully sudden.”

Amelia tensed, afraid that her apprehension was apparent in her expression, that Jeb could sense her reservations about marrying Kyle. Jeb and her mother had enough to worry about. “I’m just sad about Papa. That’s all.”

Jeb studied her with sharp interest and Amelia forced a smile. “Truly.”

“All right then. Let’s get down there before I embarrass myself and start blubbering.” He hooked her hand in the crook of his elbow and guided Amelia to the top of the stairs.

She gazed down at her guests. Their faces were lifted to watch her descend the stairs. Her mother stood with Agatha Brown and Nancy Grayson at the front of the crowd. Evelyn glowed like an emerald in her deep green dress. Lucinda stood beside Duke, looking angelic in her gown of sky-blue satin, her pleasure at being Amelia’s maid of honor obvious in her smile. Radford held Rebecca and stood at the back of the crowd with Boyd—and Richard Cameron.

Catherine Cameron stood beside Richard looking shy and uncomfortable, but it was the sight of Richard standing in her parlor on her wedding day, a mere week after propositioning her, that sent a brutal jolt through her. Her heart thundered as she fought her panic.

She had forgotten that Richard was Kyle’s friend. Kyle didn’t know about the brief romance she’d shared with Richard during his first summer home from college.

Amelia gripped the railing and reminded herself to breathe, to keep her legs beneath her. Whatever happened she would keep her chin in the air. She had to convince her guests and her mother that she was happy, that she wanted to marry Kyle, and she would die before letting Richard know otherwise.

With that thought in mind she kept her eyes on Kyle. She told herself it didn’t matter that he was angry with her, that he was too arrogant and ambitious, that she’d had to marry him. It could have been worse. It could have been Richard waiting for her in some clandestine place, shredding her self-esteem each time he walked away without offering to marry her.

In that moment, Amelia knew she’d made the right decision. She was able to appreciate how handsome her future husband looked in his dark brown suit and starched tan shirt that closed at his throat with a matching bow tie. He stood tall and proud with his face lifted toward her as she descended the last steps. She dredged up a ghost of a smile, but his dark eyes revealed a hard, guarded businessman who was simply assuming a burden he felt was his responsibility.

Amelia had suddenly become an actress in a tragic play.

She would find a way to be gracious to Richard, a man she wanted to forget and to ignore Kyle’s coldness so she could speak her vows with him. She couldn’t imagine how deep she would have to dig to be able to consummate those vows, or to bridge Kyle’s resentment and make their marriage into more than a mistake.

Her legs trembled as she and Jeb stepped onto the parquet floor then moved to stand next to Kyle and Duke. Pastor Ainslie climbed onto the first stair tread and turned to their guests. “Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?”

“Her mother,” Jeb said. “And me.” He placed Amelia’s hand in Kyle’s waiting palm then stepped back to stand beside her mother.

Kyle squeezed Amelia’s hand and she glanced at him in surprise. Though she was expected to be sad because of her father’s recent passing, she had to look at Kyle with love in her eyes, not dread.

She managed a tremulous smile and he returned it with an encouraging nod. They turned toward the pastor who asked her to love, honor, and obey her husband, and Amelia promised she would and prayed she could. Kyle vowed to love, honor, and protect his wife, and Amelia silently asked him to add the word
forgive
to his vows.

“Is there anyone present who has a reason to protest this marriage?” the pastor asked, and Amelia knew she was going to faint. She couldn’t even breathe as she imagined Richard lifting his blond head to announce that she was a fraud, that only a few days ago, she’d been considering the proposition of becoming his mistress. The silence in the room deepened, lasting an eternity before the pastor smiled and closed his Bible. “You may kiss your wife, Mr. Grayson.”

Kyle sealed their vows with a brief kiss.

Amelia pulled back, but summoned a believable smile for her husband. Her
husband
. Her stomach wrenched so hard it nearly doubled her over.

Kyle tightened his grip on her arms and pulled her close, making it look as if he were kissing her cheek. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

She nodded, but she was definitely not all right. How on earth would she convince her mind and body in the next few hours that she must become this man’s wife?

“We’ll leave early,” he said, and her stomach took another wild turn.

“Quit mauling the bride,” Duke said with a laugh. He and Lucinda offered their best wishes as everyone surged forward to do the same.

“Be good to each other, honey.” Her mother gave Amelia a fierce hug then she turned to remind Kyle of his duty.

Amelia found Evelyn and they embraced, rocking in warm silence. “I’m so happy for you,” Evelyn said, sincerity and joy flowing from her voice. “Kyle needs you in his life. He might seem hard-edged at times, but that’s only a cover when he can’t express what’s in his heart.”

Amelia drew back and stared at Evelyn, but before she could encourage her friend to reveal more about Kyle, Boyd hooked his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t believe a word Evelyn says. I’ve known Kyle as long as she has and he’s as stubborn as a mule. You’d have done better to marry me,” he declared with a flirtatious wink.

For the first time in over three weeks Amelia found an honest smile. “I suppose you feel safe proposing to me now that I’m married to your brother?”

Boyd grinned and she almost felt sorry for the woman who would try to tame him. If he had ever turned that look on her with sincere interest, he would have owned her body and soul. His eyes twinkled and he gave her shoulders a light squeeze. “Welcome to the family, sis. Now, I’m dying to know what on earth attracted you to my brother.”

Amelia couldn’t deny being attracted to her own husband, but she found herself unable to expound on Kyle’s virtues when he was staring straight at her.

Kyle joined the group with Duke and Radford in tow and Boyd lowered his arm, stepping back to stand beside Lucinda Clark and her sister Catherine.

Lucinda smiled at him, but it was a friendly exchange rather than flirtatious. “Actually, that’s a very good question, Boyd.” Lucinda’s green eyes revealed a hint of mischief that Amelia had never seen before. “But I’d rather know what men find most attractive in a woman.”

Instead of answering, Boyd grabbed Richard by the coat sleeve and pulled him into their circle. “We need your opinion on something.”

Hearing the commotion, everyone else in the parlor turned their attention to the small cluster surrounding Kyle and Amelia, and the two of them exchanged a glance that suggested they’d both prefer to be anywhere else in the world.

“Lucinda wants to know what men find most attractive in a woman. I say it’s her figure,” Boyd said.

“That’s not true,” Radford interrupted. “A woman’s hair is the first thing a man looks at.”

He winked at Evelyn and she laughed, a bright smile lighting her beautiful face. “Let’s take a census. Duke, what attracts you to a woman?”

“Her cooking abilities.” His answer made all of them laugh and the heat that had branded Amelia’s face began to lessen. Perhaps she was taking this all too seriously. Perhaps they were all just having a bit of fun to celebrate the evening.

Boyd nudged Richard in the ribs. “Well?” he prompted. “What do you think?”

Richard looked at Amelia and her breath jammed in her lungs. She pressed a fist beneath her rib cage, silently cursing Kyle for inviting him. How could Richard stand there looking so innocent while knowing he’d taken the gift Amelia was supposed to give her husband?

With a glance at his step-mother, Catherine, that seemed rich with unspoken meaning, Richard slowly shifted his gaze to her youngest sister Lucinda. The adoration in his expression was enough to make Amelia’s stomach burn. The wretch! The traitor! He hadn’t wanted her at all! Sweat prickled her neck and she clenched her fists. Richard had looked at her like that once, as if she had the power to take him to his knees, but Amelia had learned that Richard ultimately held the power.

Feeling protective of her friend, Amelia had to bite her lip when Richard kissed Lucinda’s hand. “The most attractive thing about a woman is her smile,” Richard said, but he didn’t laugh, nor did he spare Amelia another glance. His eyes and his attention were for Lucinda whose soft laugh stayed in the circle of their group instead of ringing through the room like a desperate attempt to draw attention to herself. Lucinda didn’t need to beg for attention. Men’s eyes were automatically drawn to the petite, slender blonde with slanted green eyes and an angelic smile.

Boyd nudged Richard in the ribs. “If you’re not going to propose, get out of my way so I can.”

With a laugh, Richard released Lucinda’s hand. “Spare your pride, Boyd. I think Lucinda would decline both of us. But perhaps Catherine would be kind enough to suffer our attention for a while this evening.”

Catherine’s smile faltered, but Evelyn saved her from having to comment, by asking Jeb, “What’s your opinion on attraction?”

Jeb glanced at Amelia’s mother, who had been quiet all evening, her heartache apparent despite her efforts to smile. “Their eyes,” he said. “The way they show everything a woman is feeling.”

Jeb’s words touched Amelia, but it was the shadow of sadness in Boyd’s eyes that intrigued her.

Evelyn tapped Kyle on the arm. “Your turn, and don’t try to get out of answering.”

He released an exasperated sigh. “All right. It’s a woman’s intelligence.”

Boyd and Richard burst out laughing and the ladies pretended to swoon. Radford and Duke grinned like idiots, but Amelia looked at him in surprise. He valued intelligence?

He folded his arms across his chest and glared at his male companions. “What?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Matt Carson claims he married Charlotte Ladamere because he loved her mind.” Boyd hooted. “Every man in this town has loved more than Charlotte’s mind, Kyle.”

“I haven’t.”

“Well, there’s one,” Boyd said, not in the least chagrined at his crude statement in front of the ladies.

“Two,” Radford said, slipping his arm around Evelyn’s shoulders.

Duke arched a censuring brow at Boyd. “Three.”

Boyd held up a hand. “Don’t even say it, Jeb and Richard.” He looked at Kyle. “You can’t tell me a woman’s intelligence is so attractive that her reputation doesn’t matter.”

Richard’s eyes locked with Amelia’s. As if someone had pulled a plug from her lungs, her breath rushed out so fast she nearly lost her supper.

“If the rumors are true about Charlotte,” Kyle said, “then it obviously didn’t matter to Matthew.”

“Then you’re saying it shouldn’t matter whether a bride is pure or not?”

“I didn’t say that,” he countered, irritation filling his voice. “I just said it may not have bothered Matthew.”

“Which implies that it would matter to you?”

“Of course it would!” Kyle said. “Now stop being an idiot. You’re embarrassing the ladies.”

Richard glanced away, but Amelia knew he’d seen the shame in her eyes. She could have killed him in that instant. Her hands trembled and her fingers itched to rake his handsome face. He’d ruined her reputation and would have thought nothing of doing it again, had she been inclined to accept his offer.

She stepped from the cluster of friends and family who were there to celebrate a marriage that would never be more than a business arrangement at best—a nightmare at worst. “I’ll get some glasses for our toast,” she said. Before anyone could offer to help, she hurried across the room, praying she’d make it to the kitchen before she threw up.

* * *

Kyle leaned in the kitchen doorway watching Amelia at the counter arranging glasses on a serving tray. She wore her hair in a loose twist up the back of her head. Though her gown of midnight black was fancy enough for their wedding while still being appropriate for mourning her father, it looked sleek and provocative to him.

His gaze swept from her magnificent hair to her midnight hem and he imagined sliding the gown off her shoulders and unpinning her hair. Soon they would be alone and he would sink his fingers into the autumn strands and pull her down beneath him. That was the only positive thing he could say about this whole wretched mess.

She turned toward him then and his heart jolted. She looked panicked and near tears, her gaze darting around the kitchen as if she wanted to escape.

He levered himself off the doorframe and shook his head to clear the image of her in his bed. “What troubles you?” he asked, crossing the kitchen.

She cast a nervous glance toward the kitchen door. “We’ve made a dreadful mistake. I’m not the right woman for you.”

“Isn’t it a little late to be having this conversation?”

She met his eyes, her own filled with fear. “What if you find out that you don’t like me? What if we’re miserable together? What if you hate the way I keep house, and I dislike your sense of humor? What if we’re not suited at all?”

“If you’re trying to tell me that I’m not the man for you, I’ll walk back in there and end this now.”

“No!” Amelia sagged against the sink. “It’s not you, Kyle. I didn’t mean that at all.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m not... I... I’m afraid that you’ll regret this night for the rest of your life. I’m afraid that you’ll never forgive me for... forcing our marriage.”