tried to remember how to breathe.
“Did I miss something?” Lowe asked.
Jeanie didn’t answer. Married. The finality of the word gnawed at her, and she rushed to her room to try to figure out what to do next.
Chapter Fifteen
Probably, he shouldn’t snoop.
Yet he’d told Lowe to investigate the text he’d seen—albeit basically reading over her shoulder—since he felt he almost needed to know more, and Jeanie certainly hadn’t been forthcoming with the information.
The text he’d caught a glimpse of over her shoulder in the car chilled him.
I saw you on the TV. We need to make a new deal or I’m coming for her.
Kaycee? What other her would have Jeanie responding in panic every time she read something on her phone?
Jeanie had said they were sisters, but what if there was more to the story? He knew there was something, but words like “kidnapped” bounced around in his head.
His Jeanie wasn’t the kidnapper type. And if she’d kidnapped the kid, the person texting her wouldn’t be able to make veiled threats. The person would just turn her in or something, right?
The mystery, which he’d hoped would be cleared up by some tactical snooping, so far remained tangled even more with the added information he’d spied on the phone. The email on his own cell phone proved the investigator still hadn’t found out more, a disheartening turn of events. It seemed most information could be found quickly, yet his bride-to-be remained an enigma. He sprawled on the couch, trying to hide both his annoyance and curiosity about her, before shouting, “Are you almost ready? We need to get going.”
“Coming!” Her breathless response trailed down the hall and, a moment later, Jeanie came around the corner. “You’re the one who said I needed to look even more outrageously rich than normal tonight.”
He couldn’t find words.
Stunning. A description he’d used hundreds of times to compliment women, but the true definition snapped into place when she added a self-conscious smile, just for him. Like old gold, her hair fell in curls, artfully disarrayed like the elegant up do couldn’t contain the wealth of shining softness. The gown, burnished copper, made her skin look creamy and allowed her eyes to really stand out. She spun, slowly, and glanced over her shoulder at him. “So, do I pass inspection?”
Swallowing hard, he realized he should be doing something.
Standing. Yeah, I’ll stand up.
He found his feet and tried not to stumble over his words like an awkward teenager. “You look lovely, Jeanie.” He heard the raspy, husky need in his voice, even if she didn’t seem to.
Her smile turned rueful, and she moved to his side. “Sure.”
“What? Seriously, you look beautiful. I’m afraid to touch you and rumple you.” Which was a flat out lie. He wasn’t afraid to touch her…even though he resisted the impulse to do so. He wanted to dive his fingers into the hair, loosen the pins, and watch it fall over her bared shoulders. Then he’d kiss them and work his way up her neck until he could nibble that ever-tempting, full bottom lip.
“Well, thank you then, but we still need to talk. You can’t really want to marry me.” The doors opened, and she pulled away from his arm to lean on the wall.
“But I do.” He paused. “Are you reconsidering?”
“It’s crazy. I know what you said, what kind of position your father’s put you in, but…it sounds crazy to do this.” She huffed out the words, her pretty brow crumpling as she spoke.
“Maybe it is crazy. I won’t force you to marry me. But imagine, if you would, that we do go through with it. You’ll be in the penthouse, at least for part of the year. You’re not a stranger, not any more. We both get what we want if we do it, neither of us get what we want if we don’t, so why not just do it?” Getting out in the parking garage, he rushed to her side of the car to hold the door open.
“You’ve known me, what? A few weeks?” She
“Did I miss something?” Lowe asked.
Jeanie didn’t answer. Married. The finality of the word gnawed at her, and she rushed to her room to try to figure out what to do next.
Chapter Fifteen
Probably, he shouldn’t snoop.
Yet he’d told Lowe to investigate the text he’d seen—albeit basically reading over her shoulder—since he felt he almost needed to know more, and Jeanie certainly hadn’t been forthcoming with the information.
The text he’d caught a glimpse of over her shoulder in the car chilled him.
I saw you on the TV. We need to make a new deal or I’m coming for her.
Kaycee? What other her would have Jeanie responding in panic every time she read something on her phone?
Jeanie had said they were sisters, but what if there was more to the story? He knew there was something, but words like “kidnapped” bounced around in his head.
His Jeanie wasn’t the kidnapper type. And if she’d kidnapped the kid, the person texting her wouldn’t be able to make veiled threats. The person would just turn her in or something, right?
The mystery, which he’d hoped would be cleared up by some tactical snooping, so far remained tangled even more with the added information he’d spied on the phone. The email on his own cell phone proved the investigator still hadn’t found out more, a disheartening turn of events. It seemed most information could be found quickly, yet his bride-to-be remained an enigma. He sprawled on the couch, trying to hide both his annoyance and curiosity about her, before shouting, “Are you almost ready? We need to get going.”
“Coming!” Her breathless response trailed down the hall and, a moment later, Jeanie came around the corner. “You’re the one who said I needed to look even more outrageously rich than normal tonight.”
He couldn’t find words.
Stunning. A description he’d used hundreds of times to compliment women, but the true definition snapped into place when she added a self-conscious smile, just for him. Like old gold, her hair fell in curls, artfully disarrayed like the elegant up do couldn’t contain the wealth of shining softness. The gown, burnished copper, made her skin look creamy and allowed her eyes to really stand out. She spun, slowly, and glanced over her shoulder at him. “So, do I pass inspection?”
Swallowing hard, he realized he should be doing something.
Standing. Yeah, I’ll stand up.
He found his feet and tried not to stumble over his words like an awkward teenager. “You look lovely, Jeanie.” He heard the raspy, husky need in his voice, even if she didn’t seem to.
Her smile turned rueful, and she moved to his side. “Sure.”
“What? Seriously, you look beautiful. I’m afraid to touch you and rumple you.” Which was a flat out lie. He wasn’t afraid to touch her…even though he resisted the impulse to do so. He wanted to dive his fingers into the hair, loosen the pins, and watch it fall over her bared shoulders. Then he’d kiss them and work his way up her neck until he could nibble that ever-tempting, full bottom lip.
“Well, thank you then, but we still need to talk. You can’t really want to marry me.” The doors opened, and she pulled away from his arm to lean on the wall.
“But I do.” He paused. “Are you reconsidering?”
“It’s crazy. I know what you said, what kind of position your father’s put you in, but…it sounds crazy to do this.” She huffed out the words, her pretty brow crumpling as she spoke.
“Maybe it is crazy. I won’t force you to marry me. But imagine, if you would, that we do go through with it. You’ll be in the penthouse, at least for part of the year. You’re not a stranger, not any more. We both get what we want if we do it, neither of us get what we want if we don’t, so why not just do it?” Getting out in the parking garage, he rushed to her side of the car to hold the door open.
“You’ve known me, what? A few weeks?” She
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