Accidentally Married (6 page)

But the kiss didn’t mean anything. She knew that. Just a part to play for his family.

She rolled over and pounded her pillow. Best to forget him. No point in spending all night dwelling on the most fabulous kiss she’d ever had. It was over. Much better to go to sleep and forget all about Jared Jameson.

She rolled to her other side, the sweet taste of Jared still on her lips. Dang.

Maybe thinking about the kiss a little more wouldn’t hurt anything.

Chapter 6

T
he shrill ring of the
phone startled Jared out of a deep sleep. He blinked his eyes, trying to see the clock. Six-thirty. Who would be calling him early on a Saturday? He fumbled on the nightstand, picked up the cordless and growled, “What is it?”

“Jared. It’s Patricia.”

The emotion in his cousin’s voice alarmed him, and he sat up in bed. She wouldn’t be calling this early if it wasn’t important. “What happened?”

“It’s mom. She’s in the hospital.”

Fully awake now, Jared hopped out of bed. “How bad is it?”

“She collapsed last night…after you left.”

“What? Why didn’t you call me?” Panic gripped his chest. He snatched a pair of pants from his closet and tugged them on over his boxer shorts.

“They had to run some tests. I didn’t want to worry you until we knew.”

“Knew what? What do you know? Tell me.”

Silence filled the telephone line, and then a small sob. “She’s not good, Jared.”

His head swam and a lump formed in his throat. “But she was doing better. What are you saying?”

“They aren’t sure what happened. They think it’s her heart. They have nothing conclusive yet.”

Jared swore under his breath.

“She wants you and Madison to come.”

“Madison?” His stomach clenched. This could not be good. “Um, she can’t come. She’s…busy today.”

Patricia’s voice hitched. “Please, she’s insistent. She wants to talk to you and your fiancée.”

Dread closed in on him. This was not happening. He had to fix this, and fast. “Actually, we had a fight on the way home.”

“Then apologize!” Her voice rose. “This is important, Jared!”

He felt like pond scum. No, lower than pond scum. The slimy pieces of filth that aspired to be pond scum. “Okay, okay. We’ll be there.”

“Thank you. And please hurry. Mom’s kind of agitated.”

The doorbell rang, and then came a knocking, and somewhere in Madison’s sleep-deprived mind, she realized she had to get up out of bed and answer it. She doubted Carrie would, after staying out all hours of the night.

Madison pulled on a robe and rushed to the living room. Obviously someone had a problem, with all the pounding going on. She yanked the door open.

The sight of Jared standing there, his dark hair slightly mussed up, his steel-grey eyes boring into her, made her catch her breath.

What’s he doing here?

“I’m not giving you the check back.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“I’m not here about the money.”

His voice sounded funny. Raspy.

She softened her tone. “What do you want, then?”

“Aunt Shelly’s in the hospital.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no. What happened?”

“She collapsed last night. They’re running more tests, but it doesn’t look good.”

“I’m so sorry.” She fiddled with the tie of her robe. “Please tell your family I send my condolences. I hope she gets better soon.” She started to close the door, but he pushed it back open.

“You don’t understand. She wants to see you.”

She’d have been less surprised if he had said he was training monkeys to do the Macarena. “Me! Why me? I barely know her.”

He leaned against the door jamb, a scowl forming on his face. “I think it might have something to do with the fact you told her we were engaged.”

Guilt flooded her, but she didn’t want Jared to see it, so she forced an exaggerated sigh and said, “You make one mistake and no one will let you forget it.”

“Funny. Get dressed. We’re leaving now.”

She made a face. “Fine. It’s not like I have a
job
or anything.” She held the door open and motioned him inside. “Have a seat. I’ll just be a minute.”

He seemed relieved she agreed to go with him. Like she was heartless or something and could deny a dying woman’s last wish.

She froze.

Oh, heavens, what if his aunt really is dying? What if she makes Madison promise to love, honor and obey Mr. CEO Pants? Can a person go to hell for lying to a dying woman?

Pushing those thoughts away, she threw on some jeans and a blouse, spritzed a little perfume, and walked back into the living room. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Jared tried not to stare at Madison, but it wasn’t easy. How she could look that good without any makeup was a mystery. Clad in a v-neck blouse and a pair of jeans that showed off her shapely legs, she could easily have come from a fashion magazine photo shoot. He motioned her outside.

When they got to the parking lot, he opened the passenger door for her. She raised her eyebrows at him but didn’t say anything as she slid into her seat. Yeah, he had been rude yesterday. He probably deserved her silent treatment.

As he pulled out onto the street, his stomach felt cold and heavy, like he’d swallowed a lead ball. Losing his aunt would be harder on him than he’d like to admit. She’d always been there for him. She’d been the one who consoled him as a child when his mother died, a constant in a world where he had to guard himself from feeling too much for each stepmother who came, showered him with love, then left, never to be heard from again.

Madison played with the small clutch purse on her lap. “You said your aunt was sick. Do you mind if I ask what’s wrong?”

His stomach rolled and he gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to talk about his aunt. That was none of her business. He liked to keep personal matters to himself. It was better that way. Safer. He hesitated, unsure of what to say.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry. It’s just—if we’re supposed to be engaged, I probably should know…” Her voice trailed off.

He sighed. She was right. There was no good reason he should keep her in the dark. “She has been fighting cancer in different forms for years. She’s been in and out of the hospital. The cancer is gone, thank goodness, but now they think something’s wrong with her heart.”

Madison nodded, her face grave. “You’re obviously close. Tell me about her.”

Even though his instinct was to tell her to shut up, he swallowed and resigned to answer her questions. He was forcing her to come with him…to put on this pretense. She had a right to ask about his aunt.

“I was only five when my mother died. Aunt Shelly lived close, so she came over a lot. Helped me through the hard times.”

“Must have been difficult for your father, too.”

Jared held back a sneer. “Yeah. So tough on him, he went out and found a new wife. Like replacing a light bulb. Here you are, Son. Here’s your new mom. Only she left after a year. Aunt Shelly was there to pick up those pieces too.”

“She sounds like a lovely woman. Was she ever married?”

“Yes. Patricia’s father was an officer in the air force. He died overseas a year before my mother died.”

Madison looked down at her lap. “She’s been through a lot.” A variety of emotions played across her face, none of which he could read.

“She has.” A silence settled between them, for which Jared was thankful.

Madison clutched her purse and followed Jared through the automatic hospital doors. The antiseptic mixed with the distinct smell of old people rushed at her and almost made her gag.

She hated hospitals.

Her nerves jumped as the two of them entered the elevator. She peered up at Jared, who looked like he was playing a game of poker. Stoic. In control. Nicely dressed in a pair of slacks and a polo shirt. He even smelled nice. Was that his aftershave? She leaned a little closer and sniffed. Man, he smelled good. The elevator closed in on her, and she felt light-headed. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

“See, hospitals and I don’t really get along. They give me the heebie jeebies.”

He frowned. “You don’t have to do anything. You don’t even have to say anything. Just walk in with me. Remember, you’re the one who—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” She huffed. “You don’t have to keep saying it.”

The elevator doors swished open, and she almost ran out. Being penned up in a small place with Jared was playing tricks on her. She almost felt attracted to him.

They entered room 308, and Patricia was immediately at their side. “I’m so glad you’re here. Mom’s been asking for you.” She pushed them toward the bed. Shelly lay there, a white sheet covering her up to her arm pits. She had an IV in one hand, and her face looked even paler than yesterday.

“Jared, Madison…thank you for coming.”

Madison glanced around the room. The whole family was there. Mark and Zachary sat in the two chairs. Irene stood looking out the window, her arms crossed. Maxwell stood by his wife, his hand on her shoulder.

“I think you all know I’m dying.”

Madison jerked her head toward Shelly and a startled gasp came from Irene. Patricia sobbed into a tissue, and Zachary crossed the room to be by her side.

Maxwell frowned. “Now, Shelly, you shouldn’t say such things.”

“Hush. Everyone knows it. I’m just brave enough to say it out loud.”

Madison stole a glance at Jared. His face was a mask, yet his eyes appeared moist, sad. And when he blinked, a tear escaped and fled down his cheek. She turned away, embarrassed to be privy to his emotion.

Shelly waved her hand. “Now, don’t everyone get all upset. I’m ready to go. I’m not afraid of heaven. In fact, I’m looking forward to being with my Henry again.”

Several people nodded, and Patricia pulled another tissue from the box on the hospital tray.

“There’s only one thing I want done before I go.”

Everyone in the room gazed at Shelly, collectively holding their breath.

“I want to see you kids get married.” She motioned to the two engaged couples.

Madison’s knees went weak and the room spun. Jared’s strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her upright.

Shelly twisted in her bed to look at the calendar on the wall. “The way I see it, this had better get done quickly. How does next week sound?”

Patricia squeezed Shelly’s hand. “Of course, Mama. Anything for you.” She looked back at Madison and Jared, her eyes pleading.

Madison’s throat closed and she couldn’t speak. She could barely breathe. She looked at Jared, her eyes wide. He shifted his weight. “Well…um…that’s really short notice…”

Patricia glared at him.

“I mean…of course we’ll…uh…you know…” His face flushed.

“Two weeks then.” Shelly brushed a piece of lint off the bed sheet. “Please? All I want is to see my daughter and my nephew happily married.”

Jared swallowed. “Um…well…”

“Okay,” Madison said, before she knew what she was doing. “Two weeks. We’ll be able to pull a wedding together by then.”

Jared looked like he had eaten a live frog.

Irene crossed the room and pulled the two couples into a group hug. “Well, then, we’d better get busy. We’ve got a double wedding to plan!”