A Passion Redeemed (42 page)

A muscle jerked in his jaw. "What about my peace of mind, Charity? I don't want to lie."

She leaned in to rest her head against his chest with a heavy sigh, then slowly lifted her face to his, her eyes pleading. "Just this once, Mitch. Please?" She reached to feather his neck with kisses. Barbs of heat waged battle against iron-cold will. She continued, her words disarming him as much as her lips. "Maybe we could get married this week, secretly. You know, before Faith and Collin's wedding?" Her hand fluttered to his leg. A flood of heat melted his resolve. She looked up, her lips parted and her eyes issuing an invitation. "Man and wife? In the same bed?"

He stared, his iron will liquefying into a puddle of metal. He focused only on the lips he craved to taste. Dear Lord, he had to have her. Soon.

He jerked away, eyes glazed with desire. "Tomorrow. We get married tomorrow."

A smile eased the worry from her face. "Perfect," she whispered.

He frowned. "Is City Hall open on Saturdays?"

"I think so."

His legs felt shaky as he stood. A spasm twitched in his cheek. Desire or nerves? He wasn't sure. He poked a menacing finger in her direction. "So help me, Charity, after we're married, no more lies. Do you hear me?"

She nodded. "Whatever you say."

He exhaled loudly and headed for the door.

"Mitch?"

"What?"

"I love you."

"Yeah, I know." He jerked the door open.

"Do you love me?"

He turned to give her a sulking gaze, wondering which was stronger-the desire to make love to her or the desire to put her over his knee. He groaned inwardly. No contest.

"Yes, unfortunately."

She giggled and clasped her arms around her knees. "Good. Will you send Mother up? I can't wait to tell her everything that's happened."

He grunted and left the room, an uneasy feeling settling in his gut.

Yeah, neither could he.

Faith sighed. He stood before the fireplace staring into the flames, head bent and hand propped on the mantle. His shoulders sagged far too much for a man newly married. It had been over a year since she'd seen him, but she could still read him like the front page of the Times. And the news wasn't good.

"Congratulations."

He spun around, his blue eyes registering surprise. "What?"

She moved into the parlor, fiddling with her nails. She gave him a tentative smile. "Congratulations ... on your marriage. It certainly shocked us."

He exhaled and dragged his fingers through his hair. "Yeah. Me too."

She felt like a schoolgirl as she lowered herself to the loveseat, more from the need to calm her nerves than to converse. Seeing him again was unsettling. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him.

"How are you?" She stared at him with a pointed gaze, noting the absence of a smile on his handsome face. He cuffed the back of his neck with his hand, then dropped on the sofa with a grunt. The once-familiar action brought a smile to her lips.

He sat on the edge, arms cocked over his knees. "Okay, I guess."

"Just okay?"

He sighed and leaned back, a smile working its way to his lips. "Good. I'm good."

"You look good, that is when all those worry and frown lines disappear."

"You look good too, Faith. Collin must be treating you well."

Heat broiled her cheeks and she nodded. "He is." She looked up, a tease in her tone. "Except when he heard you were coming. Suddenly he started acting like a grizzly yanked out of bed." Her lips tilted up. "Reminds me of you."

He grinned, and his eyes softened. "Yeah. I can be a bear. At least I gave you practice."

"So. Charity got her man, after all. Must have been God's plan all along."

"Yeah, I guess. Even though I fought it tooth and nail."

She focused on her clasped fingers. "Do you love her?" Every breath and muscle stilled in her body as she awaited his reply. When he didn't answer, she glanced up.

He looked away and sighed, then returned his gaze to hers. "Yeah, I do."

Faith released the air from her throat, but it did little to clear the tension from her body. She chewed the edge of her lip and assessed him through narrowed eyes. "Then, what's wrong?"

He huffed out a loud breath and jumped to his feet. He turned to study the flames in the hearth. "Blast it, Faith, why are you able to do that? Delve in and see my soul?" He turned to look at her. There was a glimmer of pain in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?"

She swallowed hard. "I've missed you too, Mitch. Just because I'm marrying Collin doesn't mean I don't love you." She glanced away. "You're a dear friend. Always will be."

"I love you too. Guess I always will. It was difficult getting over ... us, but I think I have. At least, I hope I have."

She rose to her feet. "Look at me, sitting down on the job. Mother asked me to get you that glass of cider and maybe a sandwich if you wanted one. Are you hungry?"

"You have to ask?"

She laughed and headed to the door. "As if I could forget. The bottomless pit." She shot a playful smile over her shoulder. "Wanna keep me company while I feed you in the kitchen?"

She pushed through the swinging door and pulled a chair out from the table. "Sit. Ham sandwich okay? Mill-, or cider?"

His eyes followed her as she raided the icebox. "Ham's great. And milk."

She busied herself with the preparations, her cheeks warm from his piercing gaze. She looked up. "You're awfully quiet for a dear friend I haven't seen in over a year." She tried to concentrate on slicing two thick slabs of Marcy's homemade wheat bread. "Care to discuss what's bothering you?"

He leaned back in the chair. "No."

She paused, knife in hand. "Have you prayed about it?"

His jaw compressed, shifting back and forth the slightest bit. "Yes."

She slapped the ham on the bread, then wiped her hands on a towel. She crossed her arms and gave him a look that made him smile. "Well, then, did you listen for his answer?"

He kneaded his forehead with his fingers. "Yes. No. I'm not sure."

"Mustard or horseradish?"

He looked up. "Huh?"

She lifted her brows. "On your sandwich."

"Oh. Mustard."

She slathered the sandwich with care, then patted the bread on top. She put it on a plate and set it in front of him. Hesitating for just a moment, she put a shaky hand on his shoulder. "You're talking about Charity, aren't you? You're not sure?"

He reached up to put his hand over hers and clutched tightly, his head bent and his voice strained. "No."

She squeezed his shoulder and padded back to the icebox to pour him a glass of milk. She pushed it toward him and sank in the chair. "It doesn't matter, Mitch. God is faithful. You're married now. He'll help you make it work."

"No."

Faith blinked. "What do you mean 'no'? Of course he will."

"I mean we're not married."

The blood drained from her cheeks. "What?"

Mitch picked up the sandwich and took a bite, heaving a sigh as he did. "She lied. Something she has a true talent for, I'm discovering."

"You're not married?" Faith sagged in the chair, mouth gaping.

"Nope." He continued to chew, staring straight ahead.

"But she said you got engaged on the boat ..."

He took a swig of milk. "That much is true."

"But why lie about being married? What's the point?"

He swallowed a big bite of the sandwich and glanced at her. "She's afraid."

"Of what?"

He studied her as if to gauge how much to divulge, his cheeks stuffed with food as he chewed. He swallowed and picked up his glass, then drained the milk.

She rose to get him a refill. He clamped his hand on her arm and pulled her back. "No. We don't have much time. I need to talk. And pray. Charity's in trouble."

Faith stared at his hand on her arm, then up at his face. Her chest tightened. "What do you mean in trouble'?"

He inhaled, then released it in one long, agonizing breath. "We think she's pregnant."

Her gasp echoed in the room "No ... you didn't. .

A hurt look clouded his eyes. "No, not me. You know me better than that. How much did Bridget tell you?"

"That Charity was beaten by a man she was engaged to briefly, the man from your past, Rigan Gallagher."

A hard veneer settled on his face. "Yeah, otherwise known as scum of the earth. At any rate, she led Bridget and Mima to believe that he only beat her, but she was lying about that too."

Faith's eyes widened in shock. "He raped her?"

Mitch glanced up, his expression grim. "Apparently. She started throwing up on the boat the last few days, sick with nausea, especially in the morning. Said she was late, that her time of the month never came."

Heat scalded Faith's cheeks. "Dear Lord."

Mitch expelled a halting breath. "I started thinking about Anna, what Rigan had done to her and how it ended. I was afraid. Afraid that Charity might do something ... hurt herself ... like Anna." He looked up. "I swear I had no intention of marrying her even though I love her. I can't trust her, Faith, and that scares me to death. So much so that I planned to return immediately to Ireland and make a go of it with Kathleen. Until this."

Tears stung Faith's eyes. She stood up and put her arms around Mitch's shoulders, clutching him tightly. "Oh, Mitch, I'm so sorry. For both you and Charity. And Kathleen. I know how much she's always cared for you."

He leaned against her and closed his eyes. "I had to tell you. Charity begged me not to say anything to anyone. She's ashamed and embarrassed. But I need your prayers. We both do."

Faith sniffed and sat back down, taking his hands in hers. "I'm glad you could confide in me. Prayer is the only thing that will chase the hurt and fear from your souls. God will work this out for good, you mark my words. He's so faithful."

His smile was gentle. "I know. I had a good teacher."

She closed her eyes and lifted her chin. An assurance flooded her senses that she hoped would transfer to Mitch. "Dear Lord, what would we do without you in our times of need? Charity and Mitch need you, now more than ever. Give them peace and wisdom in this situation. Show them exactly what to do. Help them to get through this, and Kathleen too. And if for some reason," Faith swallowed hard, "this marriage isn't what you want ... we ask you to stop it. Amen."

Faith opened her eyes to see Mitch watching her. She smiled. "Feel any better?"

"Yeah. Until I have to go upstairs and sleep in that room with her."

Faith jolted upright. "No, you can't!"

"Yes, I can. Do I have to remind you that I learned restraint from the master? Besides, we're going to sneak away and get married in the morning." He hesitated, his brows puckering. "City Hall is open on Saturdays, right?"

Faith bit her lip, thinking. "I think so, till noon, but I'm not sure."

He groaned. "Well, either way, this is our secret. You can't tell your family." He squeezed her hand. "Sorry to kick you out of your room."

She bit her lip. "Maybe I should stay."

He grinned. "No. Your praying would keep me up."

He stood and tugged her to her feet, his expression tender. "You were absolute murder getting over, Faith O'Connor, but I'm in love with your sister now, against my better judgment. But I sure could use a hug from the best friend I ever had." He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tightly, his head buried in her neck. "God knows how I've missed you."

She closed her eyes and smiled, hugging him back. "I've missed you too, Mitch."

"Not too much, I hope."

Her body went stiff at the sound of Collin's voice.

She jerked out of Mitch's arms as blood whooshed into her cheeks. She put a shaky hand to her face. "Collin! I didn't expect you this soon."

He stood with a hand on the door, one hip slacked. A muscle jerked in his cheek. "Apparently."

"Mitch and I were just praying."

"Is that what you call it?"

Mitch's jaw hardened. "It was perfectly innocent, McGuire. The woman's engaged to you, for pity's sake. What more do you want?"

Collin singed him with a look. "To stay out of the clutches of her former fiance would be nice."

Mitch took a step forward. "You're a moron, McGuire. You don't deserve her."

Collin rushed across the room, his fists knuckled tight.

Faith threw herself against him with palms to his chest. "Stop it! Mitch is a guest in our home. I'll not have you ter rorizing him because of your pig-headed jealousy. He's in love with Charity now."

Collin's chest heaved and his teeth clenched tight. "Yeah? He's got a strange way of showing it. Crammed against you so hard, you'd need a crowbar to pry him off."

Faith swung around to face Mitch, one hand still pressed against Collin's chest. "Mitch, would you mind excusing us, please? There's cider and cookies in the parlor. Help yourself."

Mitch glared at Collin and then glanced at Faith. "Sorry, Faith. I didn't mean to cause trouble." He strode to the door. "Some idiots don't know how good they have it."

Collin lunged as Mitch left the room, but Faith yanked him back. Her eyes burned hot. "You were way over the line."