McFarlane's Perfect Bride (11 page)

It wouldn't be too many more years before CJ was old enough to make his own decisions, about his future. About the kind of life he wanted to lead.

And it was Connor's job to make sure CJ had the tools and abilities he needed to enjoy a successful, productive, reasonably happy adult life.

“When will you and Ms. Jones get married?” CJ wanted to know.

“We haven't decided yet.”

“Did you get her a ring?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Is it a nice one?”

“I think so. And she seems pleased with it.”

“Well, Dad. Cool.”

“After dinner, I was thinking we would look through the books you brought with you, kind of get you focused on your studies again, review what you see as your strengths, where you're caught up. And where you need work.”

CJ groaned. But it was a good-natured sound. “Do we have to?”

“It'll give Tori a starting point for your first tutoring session tomorrow.”

CJ ate a big bite of the meat loaf Gerda had prepared for them. He chewed and swallowed, took a gulp of his milk and set the glass down firmly. “Yeah. I think you're right, Dad. Something to start with. That would be a good thing.”

 

They worked for three hours that night, going through the schoolbooks from the year before, marking the points where CJ needed more work. They went online and got copies of his grades, so that Tori could see which classes he was weak in.

At ten, they knocked off. CJ put the books away and then came to sit next to Connor on the end of the bed.

“Dad? Do I
have
to be here when Mom comes tomorrow?”

Connor completely understood his son's apprehension.
But there was no getting out of dealing with Jennifer—for either of them. “Yeah. You need to talk to her. You need to tell her how you feel, what you want.”

CJ made a low sound. “Like she'll listen.”

“Respectfully,” Connor reminded him.

“I know, Dad. I remember.”

Connor wanted to hug him. But he'd never been physically demonstrative with CJ. Would it freak the kid out if suddenly Connor started with the hugs?

It kind of freaked Connor out, to think about it.

He settled for firmly clasping his son's shoulder. “It'll be fine.”

CJ snorted. “Come on, Dad. You know Mom. She wants things her way, always has. It's not exactly gonna be fine.”

“She does love you,” Connor said, and wished the words didn't sound so weak. CJ only grunted. Connor added, “You'll get through it.”

“Yeah.” CJ spoke in the affirmative—but he was shaking his head. “I guess I will.”

“Tori will be here when your mother comes.”

“Why?”

Connor had no idea what his son was thinking. He asked cautiously, “Does that bother you, if Tori's here?”

“No, Dad. It's only…that could be weird.”

“Maybe. But Tori says she can handle it. And I think it's a good thing. For your mother to meet my fiancée, to see that we're, all of us, moving on with our lives.” His fiancée. So quickly, the lie was getting to be second nature. He kept having to remind himself that it
was
a lie, to draw the line in his mind, between the roles he
and Tori played and their real relationship, which was amazing.

But not destined to last.

“Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“You kind of spaced out there for a minute. You okay?”

Connor shook himself. “I'm fine.” He got up from the edge of the bed and went to the open door. “Good night.”

“Night, Dad.”

 

Tori was up and dressed and ready to go by seven the next morning. She wanted to be able to head for Connor's instantly if his ex should show up before nine.

But the phone didn't ring.

At nine on the dot, she stood at Connor's door. He opened it and pulled her inside before she even had a chance to ring the bell.

He kissed her. One of
those
kisses. The kind that stole her breath and curled her toes and reminded her of all the lovely things he did to her when they were alone in bed.

Eventually, with great reluctance, she pulled away. “Where's CJ?”

“In his room.”

“Your ex-wife…?”

“Not here yet. Tea? I think Gerda has some around here somewhere.”

“Yes. All right. Tea.” Tea would be good. Something to do with her hands—to keep them from reaching for him.

She followed him into the kitchen, which had
everything a gourmet cook might desire: gleaming granite counters, custom cabinets, name-brand stainless-steel appliances. He heated a mug of water in the microwave and stuck a tea bag in it.

“Thank you.” She put her hands around the cup, taking comfort from the warmth of it.

There was coffee already made. He was pouring a cup for himself when the doorbell rang.

Connor set the half-filled mug on the counter and put the pot back on the heating pad. “Well. I guess this is it.”

Her stomach lurched. But she answered with a smile. “Yes. I think so.”

They went back down the central hallway together. She detoured to the living room as they passed it. “I'll wait here. Don't want to overwhelm her at the door.” He gave her a nod and continued on to the entry.

Tori perched on a chair in his big, well-furnished living room. She heard the door open, and then a woman's voice—tight, controlled. Connor said something.

And then two sets of footsteps approached.

Connor and a beautiful, very angry-looking blonde appeared in the doorway to the hall. “Jennifer, my fiancée, Tori Jones.”

The blonde dismissed her with a look and said to Connor, “Is CJ ready? I want to get going right away.”

Tori kept her smile in place as she rose. “It's so great to finally meet you.”

Jennifer granted her an icy glance. “Yes, well.” And instantly turned back to Connor. “CJ. Where is he?”

Connor shrugged. “In his room.”

“Take me to him. Now.”

“Sure. This way.” Connor sent her a rueful look over his shoulder as he and Jennifer left the doorway.

Tori waited, too nervous to sit back down, until he returned a couple of minutes later.

“Gee,” she said when he entered the living room. “That went well.”

He let out a heavy sigh. “Sorry. Really.”

“Don't be sorry. I volunteered to come, remember? And I still think it's good, that she's met me, that I'm…real to her, you know?”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

She frowned. “So…what now?”

“I don't know. We wait, for a few minutes anyway. Give CJ his chance to say what he needs to say.”

“What if she tries to drag him out of here?”

Connor actually chuckled. “She's no bigger than he is anymore. And he can be seriously un-draggable when he's made up his mind about something.” He took her hand. “Come on. Let's sit down.” He led her to the sofa and they sat together.

A tense couple of minutes passed. They held hands; they were quiet, waiting.

And then Tori heard the sound of high heels swiftly, furiously tap-tapping the hardwood floor in the central hallway. The blonde appeared in the doorway again.

“Connor. I told you to have him ready to go. He's not packed. He says he's not going.”

“Jennifer, I don't know what more to say to you than I already have. We all agreed he's staying here for the summer and we are keeping that agreement.”

Jennifer fumed. Tori could almost see smoke coming out of her delicate, diamond-bedecked ears. “Get him ready. Get him ready now.”

Connor let go of Tori's hand and stood. “No, Jennifer. I will do no such thing.” Tori rose to stand beside him. A show of solidarity couldn't hurt.

Jennifer looked ready to take Connor's head off with her perfectly manicured hands. “You know what you're asking for, don't you? I will call my lawyers. I'll get a court order. He's going, one way or another.”

“I've already called
my
lawyers,” Connor said calmly.

“You're bluffing.”

“Jennifer. Why would I bluff about such a thing? I called them two hours ago, at nine sharp Eastern time. I told them I'm getting married again and I'll be able to make a fine, supportive family environment for my son. So I'm suing for joint physical custody.”

Jennifer's plump red mouth dropped open. “You're not serious.”

“Yes, I am. I've also told them about our agreement for this summer and your decision to go back on it. I've explained that CJ wants to stay with me.”

“How dare you?”

“I am his father, Jennifer. He's fifteen and his say in this does matter.”

“I will have him physically removed from this house.”

“No, you won't. My lawyers are aware of your threats and taking steps to block your efforts as we speak.”

Jennifer pressed her fingers to her temples, as if suddenly stricken by a really bad headache. “I cannot believe that you're doing this to me.”

Tori started to speak, to try to ease the tension a little—though she had the sinking feeling she was com
pletely out of her depth here. That it had been unwise of her to come.

Connor spoke before she did. “I'm not doing this to you, Jennifer. You are not the issue here. CJ is. And I'm doing this for him.”

“You are a selfish, selfish man.”

“I'm sorry you feel that way.” He grabbed for Tori's hand again. Aching for him, she gave it, twining her fingers with his. He said to the blonde in the doorway, “You are more than welcome to see CJ anytime this summer, if you'll simply do us the courtesy of calling in advance. But for now, I think it's best that you go. Please.”

“What do you care, you bastard?” she demanded. “You never cared.”

Connor didn't defend himself. Which was probably the best choice at that point. “You should go,” he said again. “Now.”

For maybe thirty seconds, Jennifer stood frozen in place. And then, with a small, enraged sound, she announced, “You will hear from my lawyers.”

“Got that. Loud and clear.”

Jennifer still refused to go. She hovered there, for an endless moment longer. Tori feared she was going to say something really terrible, something that would finally do it, would serve to break Connor's iron control.

But in the end, she simply whirled on her designer heel and headed for the door. Tori counted it a small blessing that at least she didn't slam it on her way out.

C
onnor sank to the sofa again. Tori sat, too.

He said, his voice stark, barely more than a whisper, “God. She hates me. She's the mother of my son and she hates my guts.”

“Connor, don't.”

“I thought for a while that she was over all that, that we'd each moved on with our lives. But no. She still hates me.”

Tori had kind of figured that out already, but with Jennifer's angry words echoing in her head, the truth became all the more agonizingly clear. She wished she hadn't come—at the same time as she remembered the way he'd grabbed for her hand. As if he needed her, took strength from her presence there.

He seemed to sense the direction of her thoughts.
“I was glad you were here. Just more proof of what a selfish bastard I am.”

“You're not, Connor. You're not.”

“But I really hate that you had to witness that.”

“Not your fault,” she reminded him. “It was my idea.” She felt she just had to say something in his defense, since he seemed unwilling to do that for himself. “It takes two to make a bad marriage, or at least, that's what I've always believed.”

He gave her a rueful glance. “Don't defend me. Please.”

“Well, okay. What do I know, anyway? I'm just the fake fiancée.”

“You know a lot.” His voice was tender. “And as bad as that was, I still think I'm doing the right thing, for CJ.”

“Me, too.”

There were footsteps in the hallway. CJ appeared and stood in the open doorway where his mother had been. “She's gone?”

Connor replied, “Yeah.”

“She was so mad, Dad.”

“Yeah. She was.”

CJ raked his shaggy hair back off his forehead. He looked very young right then. And there was way too much hurt in the eyes that were so much like his father's. Hurt and determination, too. He stood up straighter. “I think I need to get to work, you know?”

“Good idea,” said Connor. “I'll take you now.”

CJ gave Tori a shy glance. “See you at two, Ms. Jones.”

She sent him a bright smile. “Yes. I'm looking forward to working with you, CJ.”

“You could ride along with us,” Connor suggested.

Nervously, Tori twisted her engagement ring, caught herself doing it, and made herself stop. “I have lunch at noon with Allaire. And you two might have a few things to talk about. I'll just go back to my place, thanks.”

 

CJ was silent on the drive to the Hopping H. And Connor couldn't think of anything constructive to say then, anyway. Plus, he was worried about Tori.

He never should have allowed her to be there when Jennifer showed up. Tori shouldn't have to deal with crap like that. It wasn't her problem and he feared that the unpleasant encounter had only made her have second thoughts about their temporary engagement.

Halfway to the guest ranch, he knew he was going to race back to Tori's place as soon as CJ got where he needed to go. But then, as he pulled the SUV to a stop in front of the ranch house, he decided that he would leave her alone for the rest of the day.

The woman deserved a little time to herself now and then.

If she changed her mind about everything, so be it. He would certainly understand why.

“Thanks, Dad.” CJ got out of the vehicle and ran up the steps to the front door. He went in.

And Melanie came out. She waved at him to wait and then ran to his side window.

He rolled it down.

She made a funny, disbelieving face at him and then accused, “Jerilyn says you and Tori are getting married. Is it true?”

Great. More lies to tell. “Yeah.”

“Connor. Since when?”

“Yesterday afternoon. I got down on my knees and begged her. She said yes. We went to Bozeman and bought the ring.”

Melanie let out laugh. “Seriously? Really?”

He felt like a jerk for deceiving her. But he continued to do so anyway. “Yeah. Seriously.”

She was shaking her head. “You're a fast worker, big brother.”

“I see what I want, I go after it.”

She reached in the window and patted his shoulder, a fond sort of gesture that made him feel even more like a lying creep. “You certainly do. And I'm happy for you. She's a wonderful person.”

“Yes. She is.”

“When's the wedding?”

He groaned. “Hold on, will you? We just got engaged.”

“All right, I won't push for the details. Yet—and I have an idea.”

“Uh-oh.”

“Don't be so negative. You haven't even heard what it is.”

“No, but I have a feeling you're going to tell me.”

“We need a party.” She gave a firm nod. “An engagement party. I'll call Allaire. We'll get right on it.”

This was getting out of hand. “Hold on. Don't make a big deal. Please.”

“Oh, come on. It will be fun. And you and Tori together, engaged to be married, that calls for a celebration. “

“Would you mind if I checked with Tori first? I don't even know if she's told Allaire.”

“Of course, she's told Allaire. They're best friends.”

“Melanie. I mean it. Wait.”

She folded her arms across her middle. “Fine. Talk to Tori. And get back to me. Soon.”

“All right. I promise. I'll talk to her.”

“How did it go with Jennifer?”

“About as expected. She was furious. She's calling her lawyers. I already called mine.”

“It will work out.”

“I hope so.”

“You did the right thing—and I mean it about the party. Talk to Tori. Get back to me. I'm giving you twenty-four hours on it and then I'm calling Tori myself.”

 

“I can hardly believe it,” Allaire said with a combination of wonder and disbelief. “He asked you to marry him and you said yes?”

“That's right. I love him,” Tori said simply. She neither choked nor stumbled over the words. And when they came out, they sounded true. Real.

Yes, she'd spent the two and a half hours since leaving Connor's house wondering if she ought to call a halt to this dangerous charade before they got in any deeper.

But then she'd come to the Tottering Teapot for the weekly girls-only lunch and she'd sat across from Allaire at their usual lace-covered table. And she'd made the announcement, simply and directly. With no fanfare.

And no hesitation.

Allaire sat back in her chair. She studied Tori's face for several seconds that seemed like a lifetime and a
half. And then, finally, she nodded. And she smiled. “I'm happy for you. And he's a lucky, lucky man.”

Tori couldn't help nodding back. “Yes, he is. And I'm a happy woman.”

Allaire looked at her sideways. “Ahem. Your left hand.”

“Yes?”

“It's under the table.”

Tori giggled like a high-school girl. “Yes.”

“Come on. Let me see it.”

Tori lifted her hand and held it out across table.

“Wow,” said Allaire. “Just…wow.” She grinned at Tori. “I take back every small-minded thing I ever said about him. That is one gorgeous ring.”

“I know. I love it.”

Allaire raised her teacup. “To you, my dear friend. And to Connor. And to all the happiness that love can bring.”

Tori clinked her cup with her best friend's. They sipped in unison.

Strangely, at that moment, beaming across the table at Allaire, Tori didn't feel like a liar or a cheat.

She felt happy. And hopeful. Like a woman in love.

 

Connor dropped CJ off at two, as planned. He didn't come in, just waved from the SUV when Tori opened the door.

CJ and Tori worked for the agreed-on two hours. He'd brought his grade reports and several books he and Connor had bookmarked the night before, so he could show her where he was in the classes he'd taken the previous semester.

By the end of the session, Tori felt the tutoring was
going to work out well. CJ seemed seriously committed to getting caught up. And he was a very smart boy. Now he was willing to apply himself, she had little doubt that he would be ready for his junior year when he went back to school in the fall.

At four, as they were finishing up, Jerilyn appeared.

CJ confessed he'd invited her. “I hope that's okay, Ms. Jones…”

She told him it was great and ushered them into the kitchen for snacks and juice. The doorbell rang again.

“That's Dad. He said he'd come get me this time in case I had too many books to carry on my skateboard.”

Tori left the kids in the kitchen and went to let him in. “All finished?” he asked when she pulled open the door.

“We are.” Strange how her heart felt lighter, just at the sight of him. “And Jerilyn got here a minute ago, too. Want some juice and crackers?”

He glanced past her shoulder. “Where are they?”

She almost laughed. “In the kitchen—and you're whispering.”

“Yeah, well. After this morning, I've been a nervous wreck, waiting to ask you…”

“What?”

“Are we…still on with this?”

“I have to tell you, I did have second thoughts.”

He looked stricken. “I knew it.”

“But then I went to lunch with Allaire…and told her we're getting married.”

Those dark eyes of his were velvet-soft. He
stepped over the threshold and took her by the arms. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” She moved back a step. He came right with her and nudged the door shut behind him.

For a moment, they simply regarded each other. Looking up at him, so close she could feel the heat of his body, seemed to steal all the air from her lungs. And strangely, a thousand butterflies had somehow gotten loose in her stomach.

He lowered his dark head. She raised hers. They shared a kiss as sweet and tender as any kiss could be.

When he lifted his head, he said, “Melanie insists that she's calling Allaire and setting up an engagement party.”

She chided, “Don't look so grim. Tell your sister thank you. When people get engaged, the ones they love want to celebrate.”

He grumbled. “That's pretty much what Melanie said.”

“Shakespeare has a quote for this.”

“I know, I know. The one about tangled webs, right?”

“That's it. So I think we should just go for it, you know? We're in this and, unless you want to back out now, Connor, we're staying in it for the next eight weeks or so.”

“I don't want to back out—I just keep thinking that
you'll
want to.” His voice was gruff.

“Well, stop. I'm not getting cold feet, okay? I agreed to do this and I'm sticking by my agreement. Stop second-guessing me.”

He pretended to look chastised. “Yes, Ms. Jones.”

“That's better—now come on in the kitchen before the kids come looking for us.”

CJ and Jerilyn were at the kitchen table, each with a large glass of orange juice and a plate of organic potato chips.

“Dad, I had a good lesson,” CJ announced proudly. “Didn't I, Ms. Jones?”

“We made great progress, yes.”

“Dad, can Jerilyn come over for dinner? Afterward, she says she'll help me with my homework—if
her
dad says it's okay, I mean.”

“Of course,” Connor said. He arched a brow at Tori. “Join us?”

“I'd love to. Yes.”

 

In the sunny summer days that followed, Tori and Connor were together every chance they got. They shared dinners with CJ—at Connor's and at Tori's. Connor would come over to her place in the mornings when CJ was at the Hopping H. And sometimes he also showed up late at night, after his son was in bed. They went out to romantic dinners, once to the resort again, and once into Bozeman to Tori's favorite restaurant there.

Word of their engagement spread fast in Thunder Canyon. There were congratulations on everyone's lips. And each one seemed sincere.

They told his parents and hers. It seemed the wisest course. They didn't want them to hear it from someone else. Her dad and stepmom gave their blessing. His parents didn't sound too thrilled. But at least they were polite in their chilly, distant way.

After they talked to the McFarlanes, Tori teased him
that she now knew of at least two people who wouldn't be the least bit sad to see their engagement come to an end.

Connor grabbed her close and kissed her until her head was spinning. “Don't talk about it ending,” he growled. “We've barely begun.”

She almost said,
It doesn't
have
to end, you know.

But shouldn't he know that? Of course, he did. He cared for her a lot. But he'd made it painfully clear that he didn't intend to marry again. She had to remember that it wasn't forever, that the fantasy they were living was just that. And it was destined to end before the leaves started to fall.

On Thursday, the first of July, a week and three days after Jennifer declared she would sue for full custody, Connor was served with papers from her lawyers. He shrugged and told Tori that Jennifer would be getting his countersuit that same day. She thought he seemed pretty confident.

But then, he always did. He had another meeting with Caleb Douglas that Thursday evening. Caleb's mostly silent partner, Justin Caldwell, showed up that time, too, with his wife, Katie. Justin was Caleb's illegitimate son. And Katie was a close friend of the Douglas family, who had spent several years living in Thunder Canyon as something of an honorary daughter to the Douglases.

Later that night, in her bed, Connor told her that Justin seemed fond of his father and of his half brother, Riley, as well. Connor said Justin wasn't a factor in the sale. Justin was willing to do whatever Caleb decided.

“I got the feeling that he
wasn't
willing to invest any more money, though. And that he'd be happier if Caleb either decided to sell—or found a way to get
more investors to put in some green until the economy picks up enough steam that they start seeing real profits again.”