LITMIR.BIZ

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polished hardwood floor, into a large family room with leather furniture and a wide-screen television. Two men stood and she knew she wouldn’t have picked them out to be Ryan’s relatives, either.

      “Brett, this is Ashley Smith,” Ryan said, as a tall, thin man with blond hair came forward to shake her hand. The shared family characteristic was their green eyes. Ryan turned to a brown-haired man, who was much shorter and stocky. “This is my baby brother, Cal.”

      “Welcome, Ashley. We’re already impressed, because you’re the first woman Ryan has brought home to meet us. We’ve never figured out whether he’s embarrassed about us or embarrassed about the women in his life.”

      “I’m going to be embarrassed about you if you don’t stop,” Ryan joked, and they all laughed.

      “Please have a seat,” Zach said, and then Brett offered drinks. Ashley requested her usual glass of water.

      After they politely asked about her family and job for a while, Brett crossed the room to her. “Well, lookie here,” he said, taking her hand, with the engagement ring. He glanced at her and then at Ryan, who shifted closer to her on the sofa and draped his arm around her shoulders.

      “You’re as observant as your brother,” Ashley said, smiling at Brett.

      “Dad, y’all, we’re engaged. Ashley is going to marry me,” Ryan announced, and from his tone and manner, she didn’t think anyone would guess their true situation.

      Ryan’s dad let out a whoop and came to hug her. “Welcome to the family!” he exclaimed, with so much warmth, she hurt. Everything that happened made her yearn for true love. This sham marriage was a cheat, robbing Ryan, as well as her. Why couldn’t he see that?

      “That’s the best news I’ve had in years,” Zach declared.

      The brothers congratulated Ryan, good-naturedly gave her condolences, and their mood became more festive.

      Finally, everyone sat down again and they talked about the wedding, then moved on to other topics.

      As she listened to the brothers chatting, Ashley felt more reassured about Ryan. He had a good relationship with his father and siblings, with a lot of light bantering going on. Yet they included her in the conversation. She enjoyed them all and knew she had one less worry, one less blank spot about her fiancé.

      Finally, Ryan glanced at his watch, stood and reached for her hand.

      “Before we leave, folks, we have one more announcement that, at this time, is for family only.” Ryan looked down at her and his green eyes were warm, surprisingly filled with pride. His expression would convince anyone that he was happy over the announcement he was going to make.

      “Dad, you’re going to be a grandfather! You guys will be uncles.”

      Chaos ensued with the brothers whooping and congratulating them, and Ryan’s father giving Ashley another hug. He had tears in his eyes as he gazed at her. “I can’t tell you what this means, Ashley. I had given up on these guys and resigned myself to never having grandkids. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.”

      “I’m so glad,” she said, smiling at him. “We’re excited about it, too.”

      Cal and Brett slapped their brother on the back, thanking him for getting them off the hook with their father, while Ryan beamed with such convincing joy that she felt another pang, wishing they were truly in love, wondering what his family would think if they knew this marriage was taking place because Ryan had coerced and bribed her. As she watched him with his family, it was difficult to reconcile the friendly, relaxed son and brother with the determined, arrogant male who would go to such lengths to get his way.

      It was another two hours before they got away, and as they drove off, all the men stood in the yard, waving at them.

      “You have a great family, Ryan,” she said with sincerity.

      He grinned. “You sound surprised.”

      “No, I just didn’t know.”

      “So now maybe I’m one small degree more acceptable.”

      She didn’t answer, thinking about all that had happened between them. He picked up her hand and brushed a warm kiss across her knuckles. “Stop worrying so much, Ashley.”

      “I’m trying, Ryan,” she answered. “It’s difficult,” she said, thinking about his father and brothers.

      “It’s obvious that at some point in time, about four months back, you found me likable,” he said dryly. She started to pull her hand free, but he tightened his grip.

      “Calm down, Ashley. You’re annoyed because you want to make every single decision yourself. Let me hold your hand.” He raised it to his lips to brush another kiss there.

      “By the end of two weeks, I’ll be a wreck with wanting you,” he said in a hoarse voice that set her nerves humming.

      “The two weeks will fly by,” she said, thankful for all she had already accomplished.

      “Not quickly enough for me.”

      At her door he gave her a light kiss and left. As she moved around, getting ready for bed, she thought about all that had happened during the weekend. Ryan had a great family, and she was more relieved over that discovery than she’d let him know. She realized that the more she was with Ryan and the more she learned about him, the more likely it was that she would fall in love with him. She paused with her nightgown in hand.

      Was she already in love with him? They were together constantly now, and everything she learned seemed to increase his devastating appeal. They were opposites in so many ways, yet they were compatible, too, about families, schools for their baby, dancing and even being together, when marriage wasn’t the issue. He had always made her heart pound just by being there. But were her feelings for him stronger now because she was more involved with him? Was she already in love with Ryan, when he didn’t love her in return?

      Seven

      Two weeks later, on Saturday morning, Ashley stood in front of an oval mirror in the bride’s dressing room at Ryan’s church. She gazed at herself, while her grandmother stood beside her smoothing out her veil. “You look so beautiful, Ashley. If only your mother could see you!”

      “You look pretty, too,” she said, thinking her grandmother did look lovely in her slim-fitting rose silk dress, her silver hair turned under. On her shoulder was a gardenia corsage from Ryan. “I can’t believe this day is actually here.”

      “It is, and it’s time for me to go, since I’ll sit in front, in your mother’s place.” She placed her hands on Ashley’s shoulders. “I wish you all the happiness in the world. You must be marrying a fine man, Ashley. He’s been amazingly generous and kind to us. I know about the mortgage and about his offer to send Jeff to college.”

      “Dad seems to be happy and grateful. I was afraid he would refuse to let Ryan help.”

      “I think Ryan convinced him that we’re part of his family now and he’s part of ours, so it’s all the same. But of course, it never really is. You’re fortunate, Ashley. You’re marrying a fine man.”

      “I am, Grandmother,” she answered, feeling thoroughly insincere, wanting to cry that she really didn’t know Ryan that well, and they didn’t love each other. Or at least, he didn’t love her.

      She turned to hug her grandmother, wondering what would have happened if she had told Ryan no. It was too late for such speculation now. She stepped back, and Laura straightened Ashley’s train.

      “This is a gorgeous dress and perfect for you. Now c’mon, girls, it’s time,” she said to the bridesmaids, who wore yellow sheath dresses and carried bouquets of mixed spring flowers with huge yellow tulips.

      They filed out with her grandmother, and Ashley turned back to the mirror to look at herself, unable to believe what she saw

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