Page 25 of Texas-Sized Scandal

“Somehow that isn’t making me feel any better,” he said. “I hate seeing you like this.”

She wanted to be able to laugh and flirt and somehow turn this entire thing around, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t in her at this moment. All she could do was muster a weak smile as Pixie came running back to the door and she stepped aside, her dress falling back into place as she let the dog back inside.

“Should I leave?” he asked. “Would that make this all better?”

She had no idea. “I am so lost right now, Slade. I can’t tell if anything will help. I don’t know what to do and for the first time in my life, I’m going to be responsible for another person...a child. I’m just losing it in a way that I never thought I would.”

“You’re not alone,” he said. “I’m here.”

“But you won’t be for long.”

“Can’t we just take this as it comes? Live in the moment?”

She wanted to say no. But really, what options did she have? She loved this man and right now, she wasn’t strong enough to tell him she wouldn’t settle for the bread crumbs he offered her.

“Yes, let’s try that.”

He didn’t look convinced but spent the rest of the evening doing everything to make her happy. He drew a bath for her, washed her hair and then read to her because he knew she liked the sound of his voice. And she tucked the memory away along with her sadness because she didn’t want him to know that when he was sweet to her like this, it made her ache for what could have been.

Nine

Planning a big soiree to announce their engagement was the last thing that Melinda wanted to do. Oh, who was she kidding? It was the exact thing she wanted to do and had been secretly dreaming of for most of her adult life. But she also knew the bigger deal that was made out of the engagement, the harder it was going to be to move on when it was over. Slade had said they’d reassess after three months, but she had also heard the iron in his voice when he said he didn’t want to get married.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew that she had to keep her head about this, but she couldn’t help looking down at the huge rock, the Conti family heirloom, that Slade had slipped on her finger after he’d made love to her last Wednesday night. It was a week later and he’d been good to his word, escorting her to functions and even setting up a romantic lunch with her so that the media would have some photos to run other than that scorching hot kiss they’d shared at the opera...the one that had outed them.

“Earth to Mels... Anyone home?” Angela asked as she handed her a coffee and sat down across from her at the party planners. This kind of engagement announcement party was going to require the big guns and since they were holding it on Saturday, it really didn’t give her enough time to do it on her own. Her father hadn’t been over the moon at the news, but he liked Slade so he’d offered to foot the bill, which had reassured Melinda that his money troubles were all speculation and rumor.

“I’m trying not to be jealous of the fact that Daddy is so happy about your engagement and is still trying to convince me to break things off with Ryder.”

“How is everything going with Ryder?” Melinda asked. “I thought Daddy would soften toward him now that he’s out of jail.”

“You know Daddy. He’s tried, but he really can’t seem to stop hating on Ryder,” Angela said. “But that’s not what we are here today to talk about. How can I help?”

“I’m just trying to figure out how to get this all done,” she said.

“You’ll do it and it will be the event of the season,” Angela said. “You’re always good at making your dreams come true.”

There was a note of melancholy in her sister’s voice. Their father had yet to give his approval of Angela’s engagement, even though Ryder was a successful businessman.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“It’s not your fault. But if Daddy says one more thing about how Slade is the catch of the century, I might have to remind him Slade’s family is a bit...shady.”

Her father just said things like that in what Melinda could only guess was the hope that Angela would drop Ryder and find another man, a man that in his eyes was a better one. Though Slade had assured her that he wasn’t part of the Bartelli business, it was hard to dodge these kinds of inferences. “He’s not like that, Angela.”

“I know,” her sister said, putting her hand over Melinda’s. “I’m sorry, it’s just hard to see Dad talking about Slade like he’s the perfect future son-in-law and treating Ryder like he’s some kind of disease.”

She squeezed her sister’s hand. She had been so caught up in her own crazy life she hadn’t really been there for Angela lately.

“I’m sorry. Slade’s not perfect,” Melinda said. “I wonder if Dad would come around if we had a double wedding.”

“Double wedding?”

“Yes, you know like we used to play when we were little. Remember?” she asked. But even as the words were leaving Melinda’s mouth, she wondered if she were going crazy. Ryder and Angela were in love—real love—and about to really get married. She and Slade had some crazy, sexy lust thing between them, a baby that neither of them planned for and a temporary engagement that he had no intention to fulfill.

“You’re sweet, but I don’t want to intrude on your special day...or mine,” Angela said.

“Well, if you change your mind...I don’t mind making this about us instead of me,” Melinda said. “I’m really not much for the spotlight. And a double wedding might be the thing to change the attitude of the journalists covering Dad’s...troubles.”

---