Stand-In Bride, page 18
Once again she was struck by the ridiculous pretense of this false engagement. She and Michael weren’t merely from different social classes, they were from different worlds. They might as well have been from different planets, so disparate were their origins. How could anybody possibly believe that he would ever become engaged to her for real? All the facts revealed how absurd a Michael Fortune–Julia Chandler engagement really was, but the facts kept being ignored, over and over again.
When Erica and Barbara had asked her for the names of people she would like to invite to the party, Julia gave them none, offering no explanations. The true one, of course, was that she didn’t want to entangle anyone else in this charade. And Kia herself had opted out, saying she “flatly refused to take part in a celebration of a wealth-related fraud.”
Yet no one questioned Julia’s lack of guests, no one questioned the validity of the engagement they were celebrating tonight. People smiled and wished them well. Some of the men actually congratulated Michael on his “good fortune,” delighting in the pun. Julia’s mind was truly boggled.
She sipped the second glass of champagne Michael handed her. She rarely drank the stuff, and the few times she had, she’d found the taste unpleasantly bitter. Not this, though. The pale, bubbly liquid was mellow and light and glided smoothly down her throat.
“My face feels ready to crack from all this smiling,” Michael growled as they made a gracious departure from yet another cluster of guests. “And if somebody makes another Cinderella analogy, I won’t be responsible for my actions. You aren’t a downtrodden waif who needed magical intervention by some fairy godmother.”
“Everybody has been very kind. But when it comes to fairy tales, Alice in Wonderland is probably closer to the mark.”
“This particular scene would be the Mad Hatter’s tea party,” muttered Michael.
“And maybe there is a little of the Cinderella story thrown in,” Julia said lightly. “I know you’ll rebel at being cast as a fairy godmother, but your credit card is the magic wand that conjured up this dress.”
She glanced down at the short, sexy, yet elegant ruby red dress she was wearing. Both Michael and Kristina had been adamant that her little black dress, the trusty garment that had served her so well during college and since, would definitely not do for tonight’s illustrious party. Michael insisted that providing a dress for Julia was his responsibility, even going so far as to threaten to bring Sterling to the office to draw up another contract specifying an engagement-party gown as part of their deal. Julia, remembering how long and boring a Michael-specified contract could be, allowed him to buy it.
“You look spectacular in that dress,” Michael said huskily, his eyes straying to Julia, as they’d been doing all evening. Kristina’s plan had been to focus attention on Kate’s ring, enhancing it by duplicating the ruby color with the dress, thus keeping the memory of their grandmother front and center on this special night.
But for Michael, the ruby color did not call forth thoughts of his grandmother. His mind was too filled with thoughts of Julia. Admiring, lascivious, obsessive thoughts of Julia. She was dazzling in that dress, possessing a sexual elegance that left him reeling. He’d proudly accepted all the congratulations from the admiring men present; he’d also wanted to sock a few of them for openly slavering over Julia.
“There’s your aunt Rebecca,” Julia said, gripping his forearm. She was glad to see a familiar face, someone she wouldn’t have to be introduced to. “She’s over there, see?”
Heat rolled over Michael in waves. This was the first time Julia had touched him in weeks, and the feel of her fingers brought forth a sensual memory of that incredible time she’d closed them over a far-more-intimate part of his body. Desire and need coiled explosively in his belly. At this moment, he didn’t feel up to making conversation with his favorite aunt. He wanted to converse privately with Julia. And he wanted their private conversation to lead to a great deal more….
But Julia had already made eye contact with Rebecca, and his aunt was smiling and moving toward them. Accompanying her was a tall, muscular man Michael recognized as Gabriel Devereax, a private investigator whom Rebecca had hired to investigate Kate’s plane crash. Michael assumed that Devereax was also probing into the suspicious fire and break-in at the lab. The investigator looked like he’d seen a lot of the hard side of life, but had yet to be caught unaware by anything or anybody.
“Julia,” Rebecca exclaimed warmly, taking her hands. “You look beautiful to—”
“Please, no Cinderella references, Rebecca,” Michael warned. “We’ve heard enough of them tonight.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Rebecca promised. “I think your story is closer to Beauty and the Beast, anyway.”
Rebecca introduced Gabe to Julia, taking great care to explain that he was a private investigator and not her date for the evening.
“I see.” Julia was puzzled. “Are you here tonight on a case, Mr. Devereax?”
Devereax shrugged. “Not really.”
He was a man of few words, and he didn’t expend any on the allegedly engaged couple. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Rebecca, Julia and Michael slowly drifted away.
“This night isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I remember one really bad date I had when the guy wouldn’t speak or even make eye contact.” Julia laughed reminiscently. “He mumbled hello when he arrived at the door and didn’t say another word for the rest of the evening. I had to do the talking for both of us, and you know I’m hardly a terrific conversationalist myself.”
“No, I didn’t know that. You’ve always managed to hold up your end of the conversation with me.” Michael drained his glass.
“Oh well, that’s different,” Julia said. She finished her own glass of champagne. “You’re my boss. And it’s not like we’re actually dating, so there isn’t that—well, you know—that pressure.”
“The guys you date pressure you for sex?” The thought outraged him. And her admission that she considered him her safely neutered boss and nothing more was additional fuel to his internal fire.
“No!” Julia’s cheeks turned the shade of her dress, ring and shoes. “I didn’t mean to imply that. I meant the social pressure, you know, to keep the conversation going and to—”
“Michael, when do you intend to introduce me to your little bride-to-be?” The shrill, unmistakable voice of Sheila Fortune sounded behind them.
“Uh-oh!” Michael muttered in a low voice. “Speaking of social pressure, get ready for a megadose of it.”
The Fortunes hadn’t been thrilled with the prospect of inviting Sheila to the engagement party, but at Michael’s insistence bowed to convention and extended an invitation to the mother of the groom-to-be. Though he was aware of Sheila’s propensity to stir things up, he recognized his duty as a son not to snub her publicly.
He and Julia turned around and faced her as a unit, smiles pasted bravely on their faces. “You already know Julia, Mother,” Michael said through his teeth. “You’ve met her a number of times when you’ve come to my office.”
“That girl in your office was a plain little mouse,” Sheila said, eyeing Julia from head to toe. “She blended into your boring corporate wallpaper. I could never remember what she looked like, so I don’t remember meeting her.”
Sheila Fortune continued to scrutinize Julia with her startling eyes. They were accented by her brilliant aqua dress, which was undoubtedly expensive—all those beads and sequins added up, Julia knew. Yet Sheila’s gown was a little too loud and a little too tacky, especially in comparison to the understated good taste of Barbara and Erica and the other women at the party. Sheila’s gaudy jewelry and brassy hair did not lend a much needed touch of class, either. She’d had so many nips, tucks and various additions to her body that she had a fake, stretched look to her, and her brittle air was discomfiting.
But the woman was Michael’s mother, and Julia had been raised to be polite. “Hello, Mrs. Fortune,” she said, maintaining her smile. She knew that Sheila insisted on that appellation despite her divorce nearly a quarter century ago. “I’m Julia Chandler.”
Sheila tossed her head, and her long, dangling diamond earrings battered against her neck. “Are you pregnant?” she asked bluntly.
“Mother!” Michael gasped. “Of all the—”
“No, I’m not,” Julia said quickly.
“You don’t have to lie to me. I’m not Erica or Barbara, who pretend to be so sweet and sincere and who act as if that thought had never crossed their minds. Ha! It’s crossed everybody’s minds, but I’m the only one honest enough to ask. Why else would Michael be marrying his secretary or whatever you are? I am not being malicious, I’m merely curious to know when the baby is due. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandmother. Again!” Sheila added morosely.
“I’m not going to have a baby. We’ve never even gone to bed together,” Julia blurted out, and then clasped her hands to her flaming cheeks in horrified embarrassment.
“So that’s your strategy? Playing hard to get? Holding out for a wedding ring?” Sheila’s eyes narrowed. “You’re far more clever than I thought, Julie. That prim getup of yours was just a disguise, hmm? An effective tactic, for sure. Watching a woman change from a shy little mouse to a hot little tease is intriguing, especially to a jaded man like Michael. Oh, I can guess exactly how you played it, opening a few buttons to show some cleavage, hiking up your skirt to show some leg and then—”
“Mother, stop this at once!” Michael ordered sternly. “And my fiancée’s name is Julia, not Julie.”
“I have no intention of stopping until I have my say. As a mother, I’m entitled.” Sheila glared at her son. “So proper little Julie dangled the bait and you went for it hook, line and sinker? Oh, Michael! Though when she’s not playing the office frump, she is an attractive girl, I’ll give her that,” Sheila said grudgingly. “That dress she’s wearing must have set you back plenty, Mike. Oh, I know you bought it for her. That bratty Kristina told Jane all about the shopping trips with Julie and how you paid for everything. Frankly, I’m astonished. I remember you swore off buying gifts for women after that tramp Delilah made such a fool of you.”
“That was a long time ago, Mother, and certainly has nothing to do with the current situation,” Michael said defensively.
“Perhaps, perhaps not.” Sheila shrugged, then gave Julia a hard stare. “You’ve managed to ingratiate yourself with the whole family, haven’t you, Julie? And even though you’re wearing Mike’s grandmother’s ruby ring, you still haven’t come across in the bedroom.” She gave a shrill laugh. “I’m sure you won’t until you get that wedding band securely on your finger. Oh, I know all about your kind, with the so-sweet facade and the calculating mind of a divorce attorney. If you didn’t have your hooks in my son, I’d actually admire you, Julie. I’d ask you to pass along some tactical advice to my daughter, Jane, who is clueless when it comes to managing men.”
Julia said nothing. She felt clueless when it came to managing Sheila Fortune.
“Mother, you’ve completely misinterpreted everything,” Michael said tightly. “I want you to apologize to Julia and—”
“Apologize to her for what?” Sheila raised her voice. “I’ve been complimenting the girl. She’s certainly displayed far more cunning and guile than you have, Michael.”
“Aunt Sheila! It’s so good to see you!” Rocky Fortune rushed over to the trio and threw her arms around Sheila, taking care not to touch her hair or makeup. “You look gorgeous tonight—as usual, of course.”
Over her aunt’s shoulder, Rocky winked conspiratorially at Michael and Julia. She’d noticed the increasingly tense encounter and had appointed herself as intercessor.
“Aunt Sheila, that color is perfect on you!” Rocky exclaimed with credible enthusiasm. “Nobody can wear shades of blue the way you do.”
Sheila preened. “Blue is my best color,” she agreed. “And you look just precious yourself tonight, darling. So girlish and natural. I’ve seen your twin sister, and that dress of hers is way too trendy and glamorous for a family party. But dear little Rocky, you look just right. I bet you bought your dress off the rack in one of those mall stores, didn’t you? Probably on sale, too. You’re so practical! How I admire that because my preferences and tastes simply cannot be economized.”
“Thank you, Aunt Sheila,” Rocky said angelically. “Now, I want to hear all about what you’ve been doing. I’ve hardly seen you since I moved to Wyoming.”
“Wyoming,” Sheila repeated with a martyred sigh. “You’re living there now, too, aren’t you, dear? I just don’t understand the appeal of that place. Kyle moved there, and it’s as if he dropped off the face of the earth. I am quite upset that he couldn’t be bothered to fly back to Minnesota for his own brother’s engagement party and—”
“Kyle is especially busy with the ranch right now, Mother,” Michael interrupted. “He called to explain and I understand.”
“Well, I don’t.” Sheila pouted. “And I notice that stepbrother of yours isn’t here to celebrate with you tonight. Couldn’t he bring himself to leave his ranch in Wyoming, either?” She glanced at Julia. “Did you know Michael has a stepbrother named Grant McClure? He is Barbara’s son by her first husband.”
Julia nodded her head uneasily. “Yes, I knew that.” She also knew that Sheila was taking aim and was about to fire.
“Well, I wonder if you know that when Grant was just a small child, he chose to live in Wyoming with his father?” Sheila’s eyes flashed. “Yes, he deliberately decided not to come to Minnesota to live with his mother and Nate. Isn’t it sad when a child chooses not to live with his own mother, Julie? I simply can’t envision it myself. My children lived with me, of course. And though Barbara is always insisting that she and Grant are so close, the truth is, he chose to grow up with his father in Wyoming.”
“Wyoming is a beautiful state, Aunt Sheila,” Rocky interjected. “I hope you’ll come out for a visit sometime and stay with me.” She turned to Michael and Julia. “Why don’t you two go and mingle with the crowd while Aunt Sheila and I catch up?”
Sheila was ready and eager to yield to Rocky’s attentive interest. Michael quickly pulled Julia away from the pair.
“Rocky is definitely in the right business. She is gifted when it comes to finding people who need to be rescued,” he murmured, glancing over his shoulder to see his cousin listening patiently as his mother chattered on.
“Whether it’s the wilds of Wyoming or the Fortune mansion in Minneapolis, Rocky comes through,” Julia agreed. She was deeply appreciative of being saved from that mortifying conversation with Sheila Fortune. “Your mother seems to like Rocky,” she added. That came as something of a surprise; she didn’t think Sheila liked anybody.
“Rocky has always been friendly, and Mother has never found reason to envy her. As a child Rocky was an independent, adventurous tomboy, and now she flies planes. It’s her twin, Allie, who really bugs my mother. Allie’s always drawn a lot of male attention, and then she went on to become a successful model. An unforgivable sin in Sheila Fortune’s eyes.”
Julia thought of Snow White, the wicked queen and her magic mirror, and the basic psychology underlying that tale. “Some women view other females as competition, no matter what their age.”
“Do you?” Michael asked abruptly.
His question startled Julia. “Why, no.”
“So you’re not the competitive or the jealous type? If another woman draped herself around me, you wouldn’t care?”
Julia blinked owlishly. Her conversations with Michael, though brief and disjointed due to constant interruptions tonight, definitely had taken an odd turn. “I wouldn’t have the right to care,” she reminded him. “But if a woman draped herself around you this evening, it would look awfully strange to the guests, considering this is supposed to be our engagement party.”
Her attempt to lighten his sudden dark mood proved futile. Michael frowned and looked away from her. Confused, Julia wondered what to say next. She hoped he wasn’t one of those personalities who turned mute and brooding after a few drinks…or even worse, into a snarling, contentious boor.
“Hi, you two!” Kristina joined them, looking gorgeous in a stylish, sexy dress of ecru silk. “I noticed that you escaped unscathed from Sheila, thanks to our own brave, Rocky. Was Sheila positively horrible to you, Julia?”
“Actually, she was complimentary.” Julia glanced from Kristina, whom she was delighted to see, over to Michael, who was still scowling. She tried again to make him smile. “Sheila said I have more cunning and guile than Michael does.”
Michael didn’t laugh, but Kristina did. “The high priestess of manipulation praised your cunning and guile? You should be very proud, Julia!”
Kristina noticed Michael’s lack of response. “What’s with you, Mike?” she demanded. “You should be elated that our hoax is working so well. You’ve fooled everybody at this party, and that is no small thing. Instead you look as surly as a—”
“I hate the music the band is playing, okay?” Michael interrupted testily. “I’ve heard car alarms that sound better. Who hired that band, anyway? Do you realize they’ve played the “Electric Slide” twice in the same hour? I mean, come on! That’s torture!”
Kristina eyed him strangely. “Good grief, you sound like Granddaddy ranting and raving about the decline of pop music.” She turned to Julia. “Our Grandfather Ben used to say there hasn’t been a good song written since Jerome Kern.”
“Well, I’m beginning to believe the old man had a point,” growled Michael.
“Michael really isn’t an “Electric Slide” type of person,” Julia explained.
“Well sure, but he doesn’t have to go nuclear over it,” said Kristina. She threw up her hands in an exaggerated gesture of concession. “Okay, big brother, tonight your wish is my command. I’ll go have a talk with the band right now.”
