Newlywed Games (21 page)

She closed her eyes. “I was just going back inside.”

He slipped his arm around her shoulders and walked her back in. “Your mom said you looked upset when you raced out of the lady’s lounge, that she saw you almost run down another poor woman.” He gave her a sideways glance. “She and my mother both think you could be pregnant.”

“What?”

He chuckled. “They were going on about pregnant women getting upset for no apparent reason.” His smile was filled with mischief. “We could just tell them you are, and they’ll quit.”

“Quit!
You think they will quit? It would only be the beginning. It would be adding fuel to the flame. They would want to know when it is due. What names we have picked out and buy a boatload of useless baby stuff.”

He held up his hands, laughing. “Okay, okay, I see your point.”

“Then they would drag me around maternity clothes shopping and stuffing cigars in your mouth.”

“You win.” He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “It was a bad idea.”

She hadn’t meant to lash out at him.

His tender gaze settled on her. “Now tell me what upset you and sent you out into the cold without a coat.”

What upset her? Tell him what upset her?

She fought the irrational urge to burst into laughter. Either that, or tears. How could she tell him what had upset her? There was too much to choose from! This had, without a doubt, been the worst day of her entire life. Bruce had caught her paying for rings to go along with her lie. A strange man nearly walked in on her in the bathroom. She was surprised by her “in-laws” and forced to compound lie on top of lie. She’d been humiliated on the dance floor, and then hounded by two mothers with one thing on their minds—babies that would never be. And last, but most definitely not least, there was the charming Charmaine Altman. How was she supposed to even
begin
to describe that encounter?

“Oh, not to worry, dear. I just had an unpleasant run-in with a woman whose tongue is as sharp as razors and
who minced no words about being after the man I’m in love with. But really, it was nothing.”

Upset? Oh no, she wasn’t upset. She was ready to explode! But the last thing she wanted to do was tell Bruce all of that. So she just gazed up at him wide-eyed.

“What makes you think I’m upset?”

“For one thing, your hands are shaking.” He took them in his. “And they’re ice-cold.”

“It’s just from being outside. I’m fine.” She freed herself from his grasp.

“Sweetheart, please—” His tone and the concern in his eyes were almost Meg’s undoing. She couldn’t resist when he took her hands again, tugging them gently. She was about to throw caution to the wind and move forward, letting him fold her into a comforting embrace and spill all her worries, all her fears.

But she was saved by the bell. Or rather, by a well-modulated voice from behind them.

“Bruce, darling. Fancy seeing you here.”

He went stiff, as did Meghann, and he clenched his jaw at the sound of Charmaine’s velvety voice.

Bruce turned and hooked his arm around Meghann’s waist. “Charmaine.” Meghann was relieved to hear how cool his words were.

“I hear congratulations are in order.” She looked from Bruce to Meghann and back again, then held her hand out to him.

“Thank you,” he said with a nod to her hand but made no move to take it.

If he truly disliked this woman as much as he acted, then why didn’t he tell her to just go away? Why suffer
her company a moment longer, unless…

Unless there was some truth in Charmaine’s words.

The woman’s coy smile slid to one of disdain as she looked from Bruce to Meghann. “All part of the game, sweetheart. Right, Bruce dear?” She batted her lashes at him and turned with a flare, making a grand exit to keep all eyes on herself.

“What was that all about? What did she mean by game?” Bruce’s voice held a no-nonsense tone.

“It’s nothing really. Let’s go back to the table.” She made a move to go, but he stopped her with a hand on her elbow.

“Was Charmaine in the lady’s room?”

Meghann stared at the ground, her lips clamped shut. The last thing she wanted to do was get into this now. Here. In the lobby, of all places.

“She said something to you, didn’t she? What?”

“Bruce, please. This is hardly the place.”

“She said
game.
You didn’t tell her what is really going on between us, did you? She could and would ruin everything.”

Meghann had a sinking feeling something was going to come of her conversation with Charmaine, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it. And she wasn’t sure she would like the outcome. “She…she sort of saw my ring.”

Only because I shoved it in her face.

“So she thinks we’re married?” He sounded relieved.

“Wouldn’t you?” She noticed Brock approaching and added quickly, “Bruce, please, can we drop this? Here comes your brother.”

“Smile,” he said, turning toward his brother.

“There you two are,” he said and came to a stop. “We were beginning to wonder if you skipped out on us for a secret rendezvous. I was sent to fetch you back.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I could always tell them I couldn’t find you.”

“But that would be a lie, and the last thing we want you to do is lie for us, brother dear. Would we, darling?”

Meg bit her lip at the harsh tone of Bruce’s comment. He was frustrated that their discussion had been interrupted, that was obvious. But she couldn’t do much about it now. Nor, to be honest, did she want to.

I wish this were over, Lord. I wish I’d never started it! I wish I’d kept my big, fat mouth shut, no matter how crazy Mom made me.

But wishing didn’t change anything, so with a sigh, she shook her head. “No, of course not. Lying never works, does it?”

Bruce’s eyes flickered at that, but she just turned from him and took Brock’s arm. “Come on, brother Brock. Let’s get back to the party.”

By the end of the meal, Meg thought she’d go stark-raving mad.

The entire evening had been riddled with hints about grandchildren over broiled swordfish, duck à l’orange, and a few other food items that she couldn’t even begin to identify. It didn’t matter; her appetite had left her long ago, which only spurred yet another comment about morning sickness.

Meghann closed her eyes. She was sick all right, but morning had nothing to do with it. It had been bad enough with her mother’s occasional comments, but now Mom had encouragement.
It will only be a couple more days. Bruce promised they won’t stay long.

She would just have to grin and bear it. After all, she was only reaping what she had sown.

“Meghann looks tired,” Olivia said with concern. “We shouldn’t keep her out late in her condition.”

Meg’s mother nodded in agreement, barely containing her grin.

Meghann looked from one woman to the other, fighting the urge to scream. Would they blame that on her
condition,
too? She sighed. “I do not have a
condition.”
She tried to sound calm. “And I do not
plan
on having a condition for a very long time.”

The two mothers nodded at one another knowingly.

Bruce put a supportive hand on her arm. “Please, we’ve told you the truth. Meg isn’t pregnant. We’d really appreciate it if you’d refrain from talking about this further.”

Duly admonished, the two women fell silent. As usual, when Bruce spoke, he was obeyed.

At long last the time came for them to go home. Since they all couldn’t fit in Bruce’s Infinity, Brock had driven Meghann’s mother in the Corvette.

“We’ll take the ‘Vette.” Bruce exchanged claim tickets with Brock. “Would you take the others home? We’ll meet you there.”

The valet brought the Corvette first and Meg and
Bruce were off—but she realized they were heading in the opposite direction from Bruce’s apartment. He fit well behind the wheel and shifted smoothly. He seemed to belong there and obviously enjoyed driving his toy.

“Where are we going?” Meghann asked.

“It’s been a long day. I thought you could use a break from your mother and mine, and we should check on a certain black Lab.”

“I would like to see Lucky.”

“It will also give you a chance to tell me exactly what Charmaine said to you. This time without interruption.” His tone left no room for argument.

M
EGHANN SWALLOWED HARD.
S
HE THOUGHT THIS CONVER
sation was finished. Evidently not. “It was nothing, really.”
Please drop the subject.
She didn’t want to think about that woman at all. She could still feel Charmaine’s icy stare and her haughty laugh.

Bruce reached over and took her hand. Meg looked at him in surprise.

Why would he do that when they were alone?

“Meg, it’s clear she upset you, and I want to know what lies she is spreading.”

Hope sparked inside her.
Lies? Were they lies?
She hoped so…with all her heart. “Why do you think she told me lies?”
Because I’ve lied?

“Charmaine Altman is incapable of telling the truth. Unless, of course, it gets her what she’s after.”

Do you think I’m incapable of the truth, as well?

His mouth was a thin, hard line. “She will say anything to get what she wants.”

“And she wants you.” Meg hoped she didn’t sound as jealous as she felt.

“Well, this is one time Charmaine is not going to get what she wants. I have absolutely no interest in her. All I want from that woman is her absence.”

“She said you two were seeing each other at the hotel.”

Maybe that’s why he gave you the time off…so you wouldn’t see them.
She closed her eyes against the suspicions.
Shut up! Just shut up!

“She said that?”

Meg opened her mouth, then shut it. Had Charmaine actually said that? She thought back.

“Do you really think he’s at the hotel all that time alone?”

Don’t embellish, Meg. You’ve done enough of that. Speak the truth.
“Well, no…but she implied it.”

The engine roared as he downshifted and made a quick turn into a grocery store parking lot. He parked away from the store entrance in a deserted section of the lot. His knuckles were white from the grip he had on the steering wheel.

“I take it we’re not here to shop?” she asked, trying to lighten his dark mood.

He turned to face her. “Tell me every word she said.” His words were forced like it was a chore to get them out.

He was not going to be dissuaded or put off. Fine then, she would tell him. He asked for it. This day had already gone from bad to worse, she might as well make a complete disaster of it. “Let’s see, she started off by saying my dress was drab and that I am a lowly employee and beneath you.”

His grip tightened on the wheel.

“She said she broke your heart when she left you and the engagement ring you offered her was much bigger than the ring you’d given me, so I was unimportant.”

“Me, marry
her?”
His words came pouring out, like lava erupting from a volcano. “No way! I never proposed to that woman. She did all the chasing. But I knew before long that she was the type of person to get what she wanted, then stab you in the back and laugh while washing the blood from her hands. She’s a user and a manipulator.”

He leaned his head back against the seat, running a hand over his eyes. “What ever attracted me to her in the first place?”

The fact that he had once been attracted to her stabbed at Meghann’s heart. “She’s beautiful.”

He was silent for a moment, and then he sighed. “I was an idiot.”

She swallowed against the pain his words caused her. He had been attracted to her looks. He couldn’t deny it.

“Meg, there is beauty—” his voice dropped a little and he touched her shoulder—“and there is
beauty.
Charmaine Altman is an ugly person where it counts.”

“She was convinced she’s going to get you back. That you were using me to make her pay for hurting you.” She wanted to know the truth about Bruce’s relationship with this woman, even if it irreparably wounded her, so she plunged ahead. “She said she would have you back, that you’d be together…in every way…and that she’d be sure to keep you on a short leash.”

“I will never be in that woman’s bed again!”

At Bruce’s spat-out words, Meghann sucked in a quick breath. She felt as though someone had seized her heart in an iron fist and squeezed it until she wanted to cry out from the pain.

The look on Bruce’s face told her he regretted the words, wished he could recall them, but it was too late.

Charmaine had told the truth. She and Bruce had been lovers.

Struggling for breath, Meg looked out the window, studying the darkness that seemed to be pressing in on her. “She said you two were…involved.” With gritted teeth, she tried to swallow down her unwanted tears.

So much for your knight in shining armor. At least you know now your dream man isn’t the man of character you thought he was.

“I’m sure the word she used was
lovers.”
His heavy words were controlled and measured. “Meg, please let me explain.”