The Wanted Bride (A Contemporary Romance) Read online

  One more and he could claim his prize. He stood at the line, the ball in his hand, focusing on the pins at the end of the lane. He began his approach, and when he went to release the ball, he heard her.

  “Oh dear, my bra came unhooked.”

  The ball slipped from his hands. It rolled down the lane, missing the pocket. With a clunk it hit the pins, taking out three before the ball spun into the gutter.

  He lost.

  “Oh my,” she cooed. “I don’t think that’s enough to beat me. I think I’ve just won.”

  He turned, and she had such an impish expression on her face it was all he could do to keep from throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out of the bowling alley, where he would proceed to claim his prize regardless of the score.

  “What?” She laughed. “I play to win.”

  “I think maybe I need to help you with that bra problem.” He moved toward her. “Please God, let it be a front hook.”

  She moved behind the console, but nothing was going to keep him from reaching her. He chased her until he was close enough to grasp her arm and pull her to him.

  He stared down into her eyes and felt his world tilt. “I’m buying dinner, but I’m taking my prize.”

  She smiled at him, that cocky irresistible grin. “I’d be shocked if you didn’t.”

  His lips barely brushed hers. He didn’t dare let them linger for fear of taking her right there in the bowling alley. “That’s just a quick sample of what is to come later, when we’re alone.”

  Her eyes went all smoky, and she licked her lips. “The sample was good, but I’m still resisting dessert.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Later that evening, Matt walked Valerie to the door of his sister’s home.

  “Are you coming in?” she asked him, her heart racing with anticipation, knowing full well that he was going to kiss her. Valerie’s knees shook with nerves. How could she want something so bad yet be so afraid? It wasn’t like this was their first kiss. Yet, this kiss felt like the first time.

  Why was that, she wondered?

  “No.” He halted at the door. “It’s late, and the kids are probably asleep.”

  She glanced at him and swallowed, feeling more nervous than a virgin.

  He drew her into his arms, hunger reflecting from his eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun at the bowling alley.”

  “When was the last time you lost?” she teased. His arms around her were solid and dependable.

  “Whether I lost or won is debatable,” he reminded her.

  “Spoken like an attorney.”

  “Since the outcome of our game is in question, I think it only fair that I claim my wager.”

  She smiled at him, feeling happy for the first time in months. “If that’s your way of telling me you’re going to kiss me, I wish you would just get on with it.”

  He laughed softly and leaned in closer to her lips. “Oh no, I intend to take my time. And leave you wanting more.”

  His words sent desire spiraling through her, leaving her taut and needy.

  His mouth covered hers, and she swayed toward him, her hands clasped onto his shoulders as desire sapped her strength. Her legs wanted to buckle as she rocked closer to him, aching to feel him tight against her, wanting this kiss more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life.

  She opened her mouth to him, hungering for more than just the touch of his tongue, wanting the intimate caress of his flesh. A yearning ignited deep in her soul as his kiss pressed deeper and harder while his hands cupped her bottom and brought her snug against him.

  She reveled in the feel of him, hard and strong against her. And the longing she felt frightened her. Longing led to loving, and so far she’d not been successful in that area of her life.

  She broke the kiss and pulled back, opening her eyes slowly. She needed to regain some sense of control. “I think I better go in.”

  His lips touched her forehead. “I don’t want to let you go, but I better leave while I still can.”

  Reluctantly, she stepped out of his arms. “Thank you for such a fun day.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I had a great time.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He opened the door for her. “Good night.”

  “Good night,” she said and closed the door behind her. Part of her wished he wouldn’t leave, yet she knew that was improbable, impractical, and impossible. Where had her resistance gone?

  Valerie watched through the window as he bounded down the stairs and across the yard to his Jeep. For a moment she stood there and marveled at how spending the day with Matt had left her feeling great.

  Oh, there was still a small wall of resistance, but more and more chinks appeared in that wall each day. And that both thrilled and frightened her.

  Every day they seemed to grow closer, and if she closed her eyes and pretended that she were really Valerie Brown, not Valerie Burrows. she could see them together.

  Funny how she seldom thought of Carter. She didn’t miss him. Often, she thought of her father and wished she could call him. But she wasn’t ready to face Carter, and talking to her father could mean she had to deal with her ex-fiancé. Right now that would be disastrous.

  Because soon she would have to tell Matt the truth, and until she did, she didn’t want to see Carter or her father.

  The taillights of Matt’s Jeep disappeared, and she slowly strolled into the living area. McKenzie sat bent over two scrapbooks.

  “Hi,” she said, glancing up, her eyes red rimmed.

  “Hi,” Valerie replied, concerned as she looked at her friend, seeing the pain on her face. “What are you doing?”

  McKenzie sighed. “I’m trying to create scrapbooks for my children about their father’s life.”

  “Oh.” Valerie sank into the rocking chair across from McKenzie.

  “Putting this together has brought up so many memories of John.”

  “Why are you doing it now?” Why would McKenzie put herself through such misery?

  “Because his memory is slipping away from me. I hoped this project would bring him back. But it’s made me realize, even more, that he’s gone forever.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “It’s important for the twins to see how much we loved one another.”

  McKenzie swiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m sorry. Seeing the pictures makes me miss him so much.”

  “It’s okay,” Valerie said. “Tell me about John. How did you know that he was the one?”

  McKenzie dipped her head, her look distant. When she raised her gaze, there was such a sweet smile on her face, though her eyes remained sad. “I didn’t, at first. For a long time we were good friends. I could tell him anything, and he understood me. Then, one night he kissed me, and our friendship took a new turn. Six months later, I knew we would marry.” She swallowed and looked at Valerie, her emerald eyes shining with sweet memories. “I’ve never been closer to anyone.”

  Valerie thought about her own experience with Carter. Had they ever been close? Would she have confided her problems to him? She searched her heart, needing to know why she hadn’t recognized the problems between them.

  Actually, being with Carter had never been easy. The only thing they’d shared was his profession being the same as her dad’s and her father’s approval. Nothing else. So, why had she agreed to marry him?

  Could she have been seeking her father’s approval? Was that her reason for agreeing to marry Carter? Her father had introduced them. He’d pushed her towards him, and when she’d expressed doubts, he’d reassured her that Carter would take care of her. She’d wanted to make her father happy and in the process become unhappy.

  More and more, it made sense. She’d known her father would be pleased when she agreed to marry Carter. To gain his love and acceptance, she’d almost sacrificed her own happiness.

  McKenzie interrupted her troubling thoughts. “So you and Matt went out tonight?”

  Valerie smiled, the tast
e of his kiss still on her lips. The sound of his name filled her with delicious warmth as she remembered the day. “We went bowling this afternoon. Then he had to buy dinner since I won.”

  “You beat my brother at bowling?” McKenzie asked, shocked.

  “Yeah, by two pins.”

  “And he didn’t get mad?”

  Valerie laughed. “No.”

  McKenzie shook her head and snickered. “I would have loved to have seen that game.”

  “Why?”

  “Matt is one of the most competitive individuals I know.”

  “Well, he lost tonight.” Valerie wanted to talk more about McKenzie and her husband. She felt the need to understand the differences between her relationship with Carter and McKenzie’s bond with her husband, John.

  Valerie refused to settle for a mediocre relationship ever again. She would never let anyone persuade her when deep down she knew something wasn’t right.

  Whomever she was with, she had to know that nothing and no one would come between them. She wanted a connection that could withstand whatever life threw at them, in good times and bad.

  She wanted a partner. She wanted a lifetime of love with one man.

  “So what made your relationship with John different from anyone else you’d dated?”

  For a moment McKenzie stared out the window, thinking. Finally she turned and gazed at Valerie, a sincere expression on her face. “John put my needs first. Always, even when he was sick. With just a glance, I knew what he was thinking. I wanted to spend all my time with him and no one else. He was always in my thoughts. I soon realized I loved him, and then, one night he told me he loved me. After that, we were only apart the night before the wedding.”

  “And your brother didn’t want you to marry him?”

  McKenzie sighed. “Our parents divorced when we were kids, and Matt swore he would never marry. The divorce is something he refuses to talk about, but I know it left him scarred. After seeing me and John, I think he realized that with the right person, marriage could be a loving, lasting commitment.”

  Valerie shook her head. “That’s the key phrase. With the right person.”

  “I can’t imagine trying to find someone else right now. I still love John and probably always will.” McKenzie wiped away another tear that slipped down her cheek.

  “I hope you’re not alone all of your life.”

  “No, but I don’t know if it’s possible to have two great loves in one lifetime. And I’m not willing to settle for second best.”

  With clarity, Valerie completely understood. “I know what you’re saying. I came close to making a big mistake.”

  “You were married?”

  “No, I was engaged. He’s the reason I came to Colorado.”

  Valerie didn’t say anything else. She didn’t want to talk about Carter. She didn’t want any sympathy as to what he had done. She wanted to put the past behind her and start her life afresh. She wanted to explore this attraction with Matt.

  She enjoyed being with him. She thought of him often. They had a great time, and there was a rightness, a comforting presence when they were together. One look at him and she felt her blood give a little rush, and when he kissed her, she almost melted.

  The fire, his apology, his offer to get to know one another had made her realize she should explore this thing between them. Yet, she was possibly wanted in Texas. Her father and Carter were probably still looking for her, and she’d lied to Matt.

  How could she tell Matt the truth without him hating her?

  She’d found so much more than she’d ever expected in coming to Colorado. She loved the life she’d created here, but how would Matt react when she told him the truth, and how could she stay when she’d lied about everything?

  #

  Valerie strode into Matt’s office the day after the bowling tournament. All night she’d looked forward to, yet dreaded, seeing him. Somehow she had to tell him the truth before they went any further.

  “Hey,” she called out as she took off her coat and gloves.

  Matt sat at his desk, his briefcase open and a telephone in his hand.

  “Yes, I need two tickets to Dallas, Texas, leaving from Denver tomorrow,” Matt said into the phone. “Do you have an earlier flight?”

  He stared at her, his eyes seeming to assess and fill her with warmth the cold outside couldn’t touch.

  “Okay, just a moment.” He covered the phone with his hand.

  “Can you leave tonight? We could spend the night in Denver and then catch a seven a.m. flight to Dallas tomorrow morning.”

  “What?” she asked, horrified. Panic surged through her, leaving her shaky. She couldn’t go back to Dallas. She couldn’t get on an airplane. She couldn’t spend the night with Matt.

  “I told you I have a case in Dallas, and I’d like for you to go with me,” he said calmly. “I’m purchasing our airline tickets.”

  “I can’t leave. I can’t go with you to Dallas.”

  He frowned at her and uncovered the phone. “I’m going to have to call you back. If I give you a credit card, could you hold those tickets for me?”

  “I’m not going,” she said again for emphasis as he gave the woman on the phone his credit card information. Of all the arrogant moves, he was reserving the flights even though she’d told him no.

  He hung up the phone.

  “I told you no.”

  “Why can’t you go to Dallas with me? The trial starts day after tomorrow and should last about two days. I could use your help.”

  “For what? Why do you need me to go?” she asked, frustrated by his presumptuous attitude.

  “I thought you could do some research at the courthouse on another case for me. We could have some fun while we were there,” he said, his voice rising.

  Of all the places in Dallas she didn’t need to be, the Dallas County courthouse ranked at the top. As an attorney, her father spent a lot of time there. And Carter was there almost every day. Panic seized her at the thought of confronting her father and Carter. She wasn’t ready. She liked the life she had created here. She wasn’t ready for her life here to change.

  “I’m not going.” Anger crept into her voice. Last night she’d felt guilty for telling him lies about who she was, but today, once again, he’d pushed her.

  “I don’t have a driver’s license. How could I get on the plane? It’s just not possible for me to go.”

  “I’m sure Jesse could take care of your license for you. All we’d have to do is get you a picture ID, and they would let you on.”

  “And soon we’d be in bed together,” she said, trying to divert his attention away from the picture ID. No photo ID-no law enforcement.

  He smiled, and that just made her angrier.

  “Don’t tell me it hadn’t crossed your mind,” she said, her voice rising. Angry tears formed behind her eyelids and threatened to spill.

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  Yesterday they’d had so much fun together, and she’d anticipated being with him today. Her guilt over the lies she’d told him had led her to consider telling him the truth. Now all she felt was pressure. Pressure she refused to accept.

  There was no way she could tell him the truth. Not now. Her secrets were safe for another day.

  “I’m not leaving Springtown with you. Not today, tomorrow, or any other day.”

  Something in the tone of her voice must have gotten through to him as suddenly his shoulders stiffened. His eyes darkened, and she knew she’d finally reached him.

  “Fine,” he took a deep breath and looked down at his open briefcase. “I’ve got to pack. I don’t have any work for you today.”

  She reached for her coat and gloves hanging on the rack. She yanked them on. “Have a great trip.”

  She walked out, slamming the door behind her. Yeah, it was a childish gesture, but it gave her a small amount of pleasure. Damn him!

  Why couldn’t he accept things as they were? Why, when she’d begun to accept
their attraction, had he pushed her too far?

  Cold afternoon sunshine couldn’t warm the tear that slipped down her cheek. This was not how she had hoped to spend the afternoon with Matt. This was not what she’d planned. Damn him. She had to continue to lie.

  #

  Two days later, Matt sat in his hotel room in Dallas. The trial was progressing smoothly, and his client was happy. His trip was successful, so why wasn’t he ecstatic?

  Matt longed to go home to Colorado. He wanted to go back to his small law practice. No. It wasn’t his law practice that drew him home.

  He missed Valerie something awful.

  He hated the way they had parted, and he couldn’t sleep at night for replaying that dreadful scene over and over in his head. Once again his impatience had gotten in the way. He should have handled things differently.

  He assumed after the wonderful day they’d had that she would want to go away with him. He’d been wrong. Something held her back, and until they crossed that hurdle, he had to learn to quit pushing her.

  Matt picked up the phone and dialed his sister’s number, needing to speak to someone other than the four walls that surrounded him.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi,” she said, surprise in her voice. “Are you home?”

  “No.”

  She paused. “How is it going?”

  “Good. I should be home late Saturday night.”

  “Great,” she replied.

  There was a period of silence. “You don’t normally call.”

  “Is Valerie there?” he asked, unable to stop himself.

  “Yes, would you like to talk to her?”

  “Yes,” he said curtly, not knowing what he was going to say. Only that he had to repair the damage he’d done two days before.

  “Hello,” she said, her voice sounding uncertain.

  “It’s me,” he replied.

  “Yes?” she asked, not at all friendly.

  Unable to stop himself, he launched in. “Look, I know I pushed you the other day, and I’m sorry. It’s just that I like being with you, and I didn’t want to come to Dallas alone. It wasn’t about the fact that I wanted to sleep with you, though I admit that thought crossed my mind.”