She looked away, then lowered her gaze. “I wasn’t sure you’d agree so I hadn’t given it much thought. I guess I should have, since I arrange weddings for a living.”
“Don’t look so chagrined. This isn’t a normal, run-of-the-mill marriage.”
“Exactly,” she was quick to concur. “I’d like a small gathering. My parents and a few good friends—no more than ten or so. What about you?”
“About that number.” He’d make sure Serle and Stackhouse received invitations.
“I’ll arrange for the ceremony, then, followed by dinner. Is that agreeable?”
He shrugged, not really caring. Small and private appealed to him far more than the lavish gathering Susan had had. At least Savannah wasn’t going to subject him to that, although he felt mildly guilty about cheating her out of a fancy wedding.
“How long do you think you’ll need to come up with any further stipulations?” she asked.
“Not long,” he promised, but he had one thought that he mentioned before he could censure it. “I’d like us to make a habit of eating dinner together.”
“Dinner?” Savannah sounded incredulous.
His sole condition did seem surprising. But he felt that if they were going to the trouble of getting married, they shouldn’t remain strangers. “We need to spend some time together, don’t you think?”
“I don’t see why that’s necessary.”
“It will be if we’re going to create the facade of being married. We’ll need to know what’s going on in each other’s lives.”
Her nod was reluctant. “I see your point.”
“We can share the housework, so you don’t need to worry about me sticking you with the cooking and the cleanup afterward. I want to be fair about this.”
“That seems equitable.”
“I don’t intend to take advantage of you, Savannah.” It was important she believe that, although it was obvious she didn’t. Even married to Savannah, he didn’t hold out much hope of becoming a senior partner. Not when Paul Jefferson was ingratiating himself with anyone and everyone who could advance his career. But if there was the slightest possibility that he might beat out Paul, Nash was willing to risk it. His dislike for the man increased daily, especially since Paul resented that Nash had been given the Don Griffin case and had made his feelings obvious.
“What day should I arrange the wedding for?” Savannah asked, flipping through the pages of a small pocket calendar.
“In a week, if at all possible.” He could tell by the way her eyes widened that she expected more time. “Is that too soon?”
“Not really.... A week shouldn’t be a problem, although people are going to ask questions.”
“So? Does that bother you?”
“Not exactly.”
“Good.” Nash had little success in hiding a smile.
“In that case, I think you should write up the agreement right away,” she said. “You can add whatever provisions you want and if I disagree, I’ll cross them out.”
“Okay. When would you like to tell your parents?”
“As soon as possible. Tomorrow evening?”
Nash stood and replaced his pen in the marble holder. “Is your mother still in the hospital?”
Savannah nodded. “Dad spends almost every minute with her. The nurses told me they tried to send him home the first night, but he refused and ended up sleeping on a cot beside her.”
“He’s taken this hard, hasn’t he?”
Savannah nodded. “He’s worried sick.... That’s the main reason I decided to accept your proposal. Mom loves the sunshine and I can’t think of any place she’d enjoy recuperating more than in Arizona with her friends.”
“In that case, we’ll do everything we can to be sure that happens.”
* * *
“Oh, Savannah.” Her mother’s eyes glistened with the sheen of tears as she sat up in her hospital bed early the next evening. “You’re going to be married.”
Nash slid his arm around Savannah’s waist with familiar ease and smiled down on her. “I know my timing couldn’t be worse,” he murmured, “but I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. We’re thrilled, aren’t we, Marcus?” Her mother smiled blissfully. Nash was eating up the attention, nuzzling Savannah’s neck, planting kisses on her cheek when he was sure her parents would notice. These open displays of affection were unlike him and were fast beginning to irritate Savannah.
“This does seem rather sudden, though, doesn’t it?” her father asked. He might have embarrassed her by acting as if Nash was practically her fiancé that first evening, but he was astute about people, and Savannah knew that convincing him would be much more difficult than persuading her mother. Nash must have realized it, too, because he was playing the role as if he expected to earn an award for his performance as the besotted lover.
“Savannah and I’ve been dating off and on all summer.” He brought her close to his side and dropped a quick kiss on the side of her neck. The moment they were alone, she’d tell him to keep his kisses to himself. Every time he touched his lips to her skin, a shiver of awareness raced up her spine. Nash knew it; otherwise he wouldn’t take every opportunity to make her so uncomfortable.
“Are you in love?” her father asked her directly.
“Marcus, what a thing to ask,” her mother said with a flustered laugh. “Savannah and Nash have come to us wanting to share their wonderful news. This isn’t any time to ask a lot of silly questions.”
“Would I marry Nash if I didn’t love him?” Savannah asked, hoping that would be enough to reassure her father.
“We’d like to have the wedding as soon as possible,” Nash added, looking down at her adoringly.
“There’s a rush?” her father asked.
His attitude surprised Savannah. She was prepared for a bit of skepticism, but not this interrogation. Once he was convinced Savannah loved Nash—and vice versa—she didn’t figure there would be any problems.
“I want Savannah with me,” Nash answered. “It took me a long time to decide to marry again and now that I have, each day without her feels like an eternity.” He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips, then placed a series of soft kisses on her knuckles. He was overdoing it, making fools of them both, and Savannah fumed.
“You feel the same way about Nash?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she returned smoothly.
“I’ve waited all my life for a woman like Savannah.”
Savannah couldn’t help it; she stepped on Nash’s foot and he yelped, then glared at her accusingly.
“I’m sorry, darling, did I hurt you?” she asked sweetly.
“No, I’m fine.” His eyes questioned her, but she ignored the silent entreaty.
Her father stood at the head of the bed, which was angled up so that her mother was in a sitting position. They were holding hands.
“Do you object to Savannah marrying Nash?” her father questioned.
Her mother’s sigh was filled with relief and joy. “Savannah’s far too old to require our approval, and you know it. She can do as she pleases. I don’t understand why you’re behaving as if this is some...some tragedy when our little girl is so happy. Isn’t this what we’ve prayed for all these years?”
“I know it’s come at you out of the blue, Daddy,” Savannah whispered, the words sticking in her throat, “but you know me well enough to know I’d never marry a man I didn’t love with all my heart.”
“The sooner Savannah’s in my life, the sooner I can be complete,” Nash added with a dramatic sigh.
Although he was clearly making an effort to sound sincere, it was all Savannah could do not to elbow him in the ribs. Anyone who knew Nash would recognize that he was lying, and doing a poor job of it. Presumably he was more effective in front of a jury.
“I should be out of the hospital by Friday,” her mother said excitedly. “That’ll give me a couple of days to rest at home before the wedding.”
“If you need a few extra days to rest, we don’t mind waiting. It’s important that you be there, isn’t that right, darling?”
Savannah felt him nudging her and quickly nodded. “Of course. Having you both there is more important than anything.”
Her father shook his head. “I don’t understand why you insist on having the wedding so soon. You’ve only known each other for a few months.”
“We know each other better than you think,” Nash said. The insinuation that they were lovers was clear. Savannah bit her tongue to keep from claiming otherwise. If Nash was trying to embarrass her, he’d surpassed his wildest expectations. Her face burned, and she couldn’t meet her parents’ eyes.
“I don’t think we need to question Savannah and Nash any longer,” her mother said. “They know their own minds. You have my blessing.”
“Daddy?” Savannah whispered, holding her breath.
He didn’t say anything, then nodded.
“There are a thousand things to do before Wednesday,” Savannah said abruptly, bending over to kiss her mother’s pale cheek. “If you don’t mind, Nash and I’ll leave now.”
“Of course,” her father said.
“Thank you so much for the wonderful news, sweetheart.” Her mother was tiring; their departure came at the opportune moment.
Savannah couldn’t wait until they were well outside the hospital room before turning on Nash. “How dare you,” she flared, hands clenched at her sides. The man had no sense of decency. She’d told him how important it was to be convincing, but Nash cheerfully went about making fools of them both. His behavior angered her so much she could hardly speak.
“What did I do?” he demanded, wearing a confused, injured look that was meant to evoke sympathy. It wouldn’t work—not this time.
“You implied...you—you let my parents believe we were lovers,” she sputtered. And that was just for starters.
“So?” Nash asked. “Good grief, Savannah, you’re thirty years old. They know you’re not a virgin.”
She punched the elevator button viciously. The rush of tears was a mingling of outrage and indignation, and she blinked furiously in an effort to keep them from spilling.
Nash exhaled softly and rubbed the back of his neck. “You are a virgin, aren’t you?”
“Do you mind if we don’t discuss such private matters in a public place?” she ground out. The elevator arrived just then, and Savannah eagerly stepped on.
There were a couple of other people who stared at her. Her limp sometimes made her the center of attention, but right now she suspected it was her tears that prompted their curiosity.
She managed to keep quiet until they reached the parking lot. “As for that stupid declaration of being so crazy about me you couldn’t wait another minute to make me yours—I wanted to throw up.”
“Why? You should be praising me instead of getting all bent out of shape.”
“Praising you? For what?”
“Convincing your father we’re in love.”
“Oh, please,” Savannah whispered, gazing upward. The sun had begun to set, spreading shades of gold and pink across the sky. It was all so beautiful, when she felt so ugly. Nash was saying the things every woman longs to hear—beautiful words. Only, his were empty. Perhaps that was what troubled her so much, the fact that he didn’t mean what he was saying when she wanted it to be true.
“You’re not making any sense.” His patience was clearly gone as he unlocked the passenger door, then slammed it shut. “Let’s have this out right here and now.”
“Fine!” she shouted.
“I was doing everything I could think of to convince your parents we’re madly in love. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t that the objective?”
“You didn’t need to lay it on so thick, did you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you have to hold on to me like you couldn’t bear to be separated from me for a single second? The kissing has got to stop. I won’t have you fawning all over me like...like a lovesick calf.”
“Fine. I won’t lay another hand on you as long as we’re together. Not unless you ask.”
“You make that sound like a distinct possibility and trust me, it’s not.”
He laughed shrewdly, but didn’t reply. The look he gave her just then spoke volumes. Savannah found herself getting even angrier.
“You could practice being a bit more subtle, couldn’t you?” she went on. “If anyone should know the power of subtlety, it’s you. I thought you were this top-notch attorney. Don’t you know anything about human nature?”
“I know a little.” He went strangely quiet for a moment. “You don’t think we fooled your father?”
“No, Nash, I don’t,” she said, calmer now. “The only people we seem capable of fooling are ourselves. I’m afraid this simply isn’t going to work.”
“You want out already?” he demanded, sounding shocked and surprised. “Our engagement isn’t even three hours old and already you’re breaking it.”
“We don’t have any choice,” she insisted. “Anyone with sense is going to see through this charade in a heartbeat. If we can’t handle announcing the news to my parents, how do you expect to get through the wedding ceremony?”
“We’ll manage.”
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“We did before, didn’t we?” he asked softly. “At Susan’s wedding.”
He would bring that up. The man didn’t fight fair. Her behavior at the wedding ceremony had been a slip of judgment and now he was waving it in front of her like a red flag, challenging her to a repeat performance. “But that wasn’t real...we weren’t the center of attention.”
“Like I said, we’ll manage very well—just wait and see.”
Nash walked around to the front of his car and leaned against the hood, crossing his arms. “Your parents are okay with it, so I suggest we continue as planned. Are you game?”
Savannah nodded, feeling she had no other choice. She suspected she could convince her father that she was in love with Nash; she wasn’t sure he’d believe Nash was in love with her.
* * *
Nash was busy at his desk, reviewing the latest settlement offer from Don Griffin, when his secretary buzzed him and announced that a Mr. Marcus Charles was there to see him without an appointment.
“Send him in,” Nash instructed. He closed the file, set it aside and stood.
Savannah’s dad was a gentle, reflective man who reminded him a little of his own father. “Come in, please,” Nash said pleasantly. “This is a surprise.”
“I should have phoned.”
“We all behave impulsively at one time or another,” Nash said, hoping Savannah’s father would catch his meaning. He’d tried hard to make it sound as if their wedding plans were impulsive, which was more or less the truth. He’d tried to convince her family that he was crazy in love with her and, according to Savannah, he’d overplayed his hand. Perhaps she was right.
“Do you mind if I sit down?”
“Of course not,” Nash said immediately, dismayed by his own lack of manners. Apparently he was more shaken by this unforeseen visit than he’d realized. “Is there anything I can get you? Coffee, tea, a cold drink?”
“No, thanks.” He claimed the chair across from Nash’s and crossed his legs. “It looks like Joyce will be released from the hospital a day early.”
Nash was relieved. “That’s wonderful news.”
“The news from you and Savannah rivaled that. The doctor seems to think it’s what helped Joyce recover so quickly.”
“I’m pleased to hear that.”
“It’s going to take several months before s
he’s fully recovered, but that’s to be expected.”
Nash nodded, not thinking any comment was necessary. He was rarely nervous, but he felt that way now.
Marcus was silent for a moment. “So you want to marry Savannah.”
“Yes, sir.” This much was true and his sincerity must have rung clear in his response because it seemed to him that Savannah’s father relaxed.
“My daughter’s accident damaged her confidence, her self-image, at least in emotional situations.” He paused. “Do you know what I mean?”
“Yes,” he said honestly.
Marcus stood and walked over to the window. “I’m not going to ask if you love Savannah,” he said abruptly. “For a number of reasons that doesn’t matter to me as much as it did earlier. If you don’t love her, you will soon enough.
“You came to me the other night seeking my blessing and I’m giving it to you.” He turned and held out his hand.
The two men exchanged handshakes. When they’d finished, Marcus Charles reached inside his suit jacket, withdrew a business-size envelope and set it on Nash’s desk.
“What’s that?”
Marcus smiled. “Savannah’s mother and I thought long and hard about what we should give you as a wedding present, then decided the best gift would be time alone. Inside is a map to a remote cabin in the San Juan Islands that we’ve rented for you. We’re giving you one week of uninterrupted peace.”
Eleven
“What did you expect me to do?” Nash demanded as they drove off the Washington State ferry. “Refuse your parents’ wedding gift?” This marriage was definitely getting off to a rocky start. They’d been husband and wife less than twelve hours and already they were squabbling.
“A remote cabin...alone together,” she groaned. “I’ve never heard of anything more ridiculous.”
“Most newlyweds would be thrilled with the idea,” he said.
“We’re not most newlyweds.”
“I don’t need you to remind me of that,” Nash snapped. “You try to do someone a favor...”
“Are you insinuating that marrying me was a favor?” Savannah was huddled close to the door. “That you were doing it out of kindness?”