Page 25 of Fairy Tale Husband

She didn’t dare admit the truth. Instead she gave a forlorn little shrug. “It doesn’t matter what I’d hoped, Jake. Irealize now it was a foolish dream. We’ll do it your way.”

“You’re damned right we will. But just to set the record straight, let’s hear the truth.” He grasped her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “You deliberately kept silent about those kids. And you did it because you knew it would be too risky to explain their existence before that wedding band hit your finger. Have I missed anything?”

Guilt swamped her. Her expression must have given her away because his eyes iced over. Misery filled her. Why, oh why had she agreed to Laura’s stipulation? Judging by the look on Jake’s face, it had been a costly error. She took a deep breath. “Yes, Ideliberately didn’t tell you about Buster and Chick. Iwould have been up-front about it, Iswear. At least, Iwould have if I hadn’t already lost three fiancés as a result of that sort of honesty.”

His hands tightened, anger rippling across his countenance. “You didn’t tell me about those kids because you accurately guessed that I’d never have married you. Then you wore that damned nightgown in an attempt to seduce me, knowing full well I’d do anything to have you. And once I’d had you, I’d be stuck with our bargain. Isn’t that right, my sweet little virgin?”

She shook her head frantically, appalled by his reasoning. “No. That’s not true. You said you needed to consummate the marriage. Iwas just—”

“Sacrificing yourself for the sake of the boys?” His mouth curled to one side. “How noble.”

Tears gathered in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. “I’ve done everything you’ve requested. You warned me our marriage would only be temporary and I’ve agreed. You asked that we consummate the marriage and I did. What more do you want from me?”

His gaze turned steamy. “It isn’t complicated. You figure it out.”

“I mean, does our marriage stand or not?” she asked bluntly.

With a muttered exclamation, he released her. “I don’t have much choice. If I let you go, Ilose everything. And I’m too close to winning to allow that to happen.” He crossed to the window and stared out at the landscape for endless moments before swinging around to face her. “Okay. The marriage stands, but fair warning. You deceived me once. Don’t let it happen again. You won’t like the consequences.”

His threat barely impinged as she struggled to conceal her jubilation. “Fine,” she agreed. “And just so you know, Iwould have been frank about the boys if you’d asked.” She lifted her chin. “But you didn’t.”

His eyes narrowed, reflecting his skepticism. “I guess we’ll never know for sure, will we?” He didn’t give her a chance to debate the issue. “Well, wife, what now? Ican’t say this is a very auspicious beginning to our relationship.”

Wynne reluctantly allowed him to change the subject. Besides, what good would debating the point do? He’d never believe her. “All I have asked, and still do ask, is that you protect us from Mrs. Marsh.”

He released a gusty sigh. “I’m supposed to slay your dragons, is that it?”

Wynne nodded. “That’s it.”

“Tell me about this Mrs. Marsh. Who is she?”

“She’s the boys’ aunt, my brother-in-law’s sister.”

“And you call her Mrs. Marsh?”

“She discourages familiarity,” Wynne explained wryly. “And she has both the money and the power to indulge her preferences. Right now, the preference she’s indulging is a powerful maternal streak, and she’s not happy that Tracy and Rob appointed me the boys’ guardian.”

“How did they die?”

“In a car crash.” Her expression turned somber. “Chick was with them when it happened. He hasn’t spoken since—except to Buster.”

“Poor kid.” Sympathy intensified the grim lines bracketing his mouth. “What’s with the odd names? Or are they nicknames?”

“Nicknames. Benjamin Curtis and Charles William, alias Buster and Chick. Buster is eight and Chick just turned five. They’re very close.”

“I noticed. They never strayed more than a foot apart.” He hooked a thumb through his belt loop and eyed her intently. “You ever have them in for counseling?”

She nodded. “Buster seems to have made quite a bit of progress, but Chick... Aside from the trauma of the accident, Ithink he’s also afraid Mrs. Marsh will get hold of them again.”

“Again?”

“She took care of them for several weeks right after the accident.”

“Is she really that bad?”

Wynne shrugged. “She means well, Isuppose, but we have our differences. One problem is that I’ve been home-schooling them this year because they couldn’t bear to be separated. Mrs. Marsh objected. She feels the boys would be better off in a private school. It’s one her brother attended, but neither of them wants to go. Nor do I think it would be a smart choice right now. Plus, she’s... Well, she’s rather strict.”

“Strict isn’t bad.”

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