Married By Mistake!. Renee Roszel

at Stadler. That’s all. Can you forgive me?”

      Lucy swallowed to ease the lump of emotion that had formed in her throat, then nodded. “Sure—sure...”

      “Hey.” Elissa inhaled, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “How about some tea? Since you won’t let us celebrate your birthday until Helen and the twins are home, we might as well have a cup of English Apple to commemorate year number twenty-six. What do you say?”

      Lucy nodded. “Sounds good.” She managed to smile and even make direct eye contact with her sister, who looked so upset by her slip of the tongue that Lucy couldn’t be angry with her.

      “Want some help?” Jack asked.

      “No.” Elissa faced him, thumping her fists on her hips. “Cardsharps must clean up the mess.”

      “I presume that’s straight out of ‘Elissa’s Gin Rule Book for Sleazoids Who Beat Her’?”

      “Chapter one.” She lifted her chin in haughty affront. “Sleazoid.”

      After Elissa. left the room, Lucy discovered that Jack was silently watching her. He bent one knee, curling an arm around it. “Would you like to play with me?”

      She felt a strange tremor along her spine and shook it off. Helen’s prediction that afternoon had left its lingering effect, and Jack’s innocent question seemed erotic. Shaking her head, she sat farther back in the fluffy couch, clutching the pillow she’d been toying with to her breasts. “Oh—no, I’m not very good at gin.”

      “Neither is Elissa.” His grin was so appealing she found herself smiling back. “You tell her I said that and you’re toast.”

      She nodded. “I know.”

      They watched each other for another minute before Jack tilted his head in a way that told her he was there to listen if she wanted to talk. It was bizarre how he could communicate so much without a word. No doubt it was because she knew him so well.

      She shook her head. “I don’t think you can help me with this, Jack.”

      “I could try.”

      Uncomfortable under his close scrutiny, she cleared her throat. “Just be my friend. Okay?”

      Pursing his lips, he nodded. “Right.”

      He began to pick up the cards and she scanned him as he moved. Watched the energy of his actions, his economy of motion. The clothes he wore were simple, but rich. His beige trousers emphasized hard thighs and taut hips. His shirt was an emerald green knit, and as he moved, muscle rippled, making a tantalizing show of shoulders and arms. She lounged her head back, casually gazing, almost feasting. It was surprising how the simple act of gathering a few cast-off playing cards could be such eye candy.

      His knuckle scraped against her ankle as he retrieved the last fallen card, and she yelped, not aware that she’d slipped into a daydream.

      “Sorry.” He came up beside her and sat on the couch to shuffle the cards. The broken one flipped out of the pack and landed in her lap. She gasped and flinched. “Aren’t we a little jumpy tonight?” As he picked up the playing card, his fingers grazed her inner thigh through her trousers. Her body registered his brief touch with a queer tingling. “You seem nervous, Luce.”

      Restive, she tossed aside the pillow she’d been clutching, then thought better of it, squeezing it against her breasts as some sort of blue damask barrier. “No—no, I’m not nervous,” she lied, then wondered why in the world she was. She and Jack were about as close as any man and woman could be who weren’t really brother and sister. She avoided his scrutinizing gaze, focusing on his chin, deeply cleft and tan. Casting around for a safe topic, she asked, “Why are you in town, Jack?”

      “I thought Elissa told you. I’m thinking of opening my fifth Gallagher’s Bistro here in Branson.” She met his eyes, not realizing she’d done so until his half-mast glance was sparkling into hers. “I figured what’s good enough for New York City, Chicago, L.A. and London is good enough for the Crosby girls.”

      She smiled against her will. Suddenly shy, she scanned her lap to avoid his intense eyes. “Speaking on behalf of all the Crosby girls—I thank you.”

      “It’s nothing.” His hard thigh brushed hers as he relaxed back. “Nice fire.”

      “Bragging?” She was surprised to find herself ribbing him for a change.

      He chuckled. “I’m almost as good at fire building as I am at playing gin.” He nudged her with his elbow. “Sort of a Jack-of-all-trades.”

      She groaned. “That pun never gets any better.”

      He shrugged and she felt it. He was sitting very close. Which was fine. She had nothing to fear from him. Just because Helen said she and Jack were going to be married didn’t mean Jack had amorous intentions toward her. And that was absolutely for the best, since the last thing on her mind was romance.

      “Tired?”

      “No.” She shook her head, leaning against his shoulder. It was true. She wasn’t tired, just downhearted, lost, emotionally adrift. Sleep seemed like the best escape, and her body was willing to oblige.

      “Elissa’s fixing your birthday tea.”

      “I’m awake.”

      He shifted to put his arm around her. “Sure you are, Luce.”

      She didn’t know how long she napped in Jack’s embrace before the doorbell woke her.

      “I’ll get it,” Elissa said.

      “Just in time,” Jack murmured against her hair. “You didn’t fall asleep, did you?”

      “No...um—no—I’m wide...” She pushed away from him, her denial thick and slurred. When she straightened and looked around, she noticed a silver tea tray sitting on the coffee table.

      He laughed softly. “You’re not that wide.”

      She peered at him, fuzzy-headed. “What?”

      His grin crooked, he started to say something, but Elissa interrupted. “Lucy, a telegram for you.” She shifted toward the parlor entrance as Elissa breezed in, waving the yellow paper. Disquiet marred her lovely features. “Maybe Stadler’s had a change of heart and has decided to crawl back.”

      Lucy took the telegram and tore it open. “You don’t have to be so unhappy about the idea.”

      Elissa sat down in the leather chair beside the couch, worriedly eyeing her sister. “Well, before this English Apple turns to ice, I guess I’ll go ahead and pour.” She picked up a cup and the pot.

      Lucy scanned the message, unable to believe her eyes. She had just read it a second time when a keening cry tore through the quiet and she felt faint. Somewhere, she heard the sound of a teacup breaking and splintering into pieces.

      “Lucy!” Powerful male arms came around her, keeping her from slipping to the floor. “You screamed. What’s happened?”

      CHAPTER TWO

      LUCY was dismayed with herself. She’d never fainted in her life. But this news was so awful. A shiver ran through her, bringing her fully back to consciousness.

      When she realized Jack held her in his arms and was laying her on the couch, she let out a moan of embarrassment and pushed at his chest. “Oh—oh, I’m okay. Don’t—don’t...”

      “Shush,” he admonished. “You’re as white as a ghost.”

      “Oh, Lord!” Elissa cried. From her angry tone, Lucy knew her sister was reading the telegram that had tumbled to the floor. “That pig! That putrefying slab of pork! He’s coming here!”

      Jack’s worried glance lifted to Elissa although he didn’t rise. With one hand on Lucy’s shoulder, he