Mail-order Bridegroom Part 28

love. And so did Hunter.""I'm sure you're right. A man as rich as Croesus, as smart as a whip and ashandsome as ever came down the pike is going to sacrifice himself in marriagein order to get his hands on one little old Texas ranch." She heaved a sigh.

"Sounds reasonable to me."Leah bit down on her lip."Stop making so much sense! You're confusing me.""Good. Now for the punchline. Do you love him?"There was only one possible answer to that question. "Yes," she said without a moment's hesitation.

"More than anything."

Her grandmother grinned.

"That's all you need to remember. Here's your purse. Here's the keys to the

pickup. Go to Houston. I'll see you tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the one after that. Go hide out in that apartment of Hunter's and make some babies.I want to be a great-grandma. Soon. You hear me, girl?"

"I hear you. Judging by how loud you're shouting I'm sure Inez, her children and at least two-thirds of our wranglers heard you, too." But she obeyed. Without another word of argument, Lean took the keys and herpurse and walked out of the study. Not giving herself a chance to reconsiderand chicken out, she climbed into the pick-up and started the engine.Pulling a Bull Jones, she spun the wheel and stomped on the gas, kicking upan impressive rooster tail of dirt and gravel as she headed down the drive.

Half a dozen times she almost turned back. But something kept her going.One way or another she'd have her answers--whether she liked them or not.And maybe--just maybe--she could convince Hunter to give their marriage achance. A real chance. She loved him. And she intended to fight for thatlove.

She only got lost twice, but the delay added to her growing tension.

Finally she found the Lyon Enterprises building and pulled into the underground garage. She didn't know how she'd talk her way into the board

meeting, but somehow she'd do it. Stopping at the security desk, she showedher credentials."Leah Pryde," she told the guard."Mrs Hunter Pryde. I'm supposed to meet my husband.""Certainly, Mrs Pryde. I'll ring upstairs and let him know you're here.""I'd rather you didn't," she said, offering her most persuasive smile."I'd like to surprise him."He looked momentarily uncertain, then nodded."Sure. I suppose that would be all right.""Thanks."With a calm that she was far from feeling she walked to the bank of elevators, and all too soon arrived on the ex M ecutive floor. This time no secretary waited to greet her. She glanced down at her clothes and wished she'd thought to change before leaving home. Jeans and a cotton blouse didn't seem quite appropriate. Did they have dress codes on executive floors? At the very least she should have brushed her hair. Her braid was almost nonexistent, loose curls drifting into her face.

She peeked up and down the deserted hallway, aware that it wouldn't be wise to delay much longer. Someone would soon stop her and she didn't doubt for a minute that they'd call security or, worse. Hunter. Looking neither right nor left, she started for the boardroom. If she was going to get thrown out of the place, she'd rather have done something to earn it.

Five yards from the huge double doors, the first roadblock appeared.

"Excuse me," the tall, perfectly groomed woman said.

"May I help you?"

"No," Leah replied and kept walking.

The persistent woman scooted ahead, planting herself square in front of the boardroom doors.

"I'm Felicia Carter," she tried again, offering her hand.

"And you are?"

"Late. Excuse me." Leah brushed past the secretary and reached for the door, but Felicia proved too quick. The woman grasped Leah's hand and shook it.

"It's a pleasure. Miss...?"

"Leah."

"Leah." The handshake turned to an iron-like clasp.

"If you'd come this way, we can find out what your situation is and we can get it taken care of right away."

"We appreciate your help," Leah said with an amiable smile, and turned in the direction Felicia indicated. The second the woman moved from the door Leah broke free, and lunged for the k.n.o.b. An instant later she scooted inside the boardroom and slammed the huge door in Felicia's face, locking it.

"Take care of that," she muttered beneath her breath, and turned to face theboard members.

To her horror there were about twice the number there'd been on her last visit. And every last one of them stared at her as though she'd just pulledup in a flying saucer. At the far end, where Buddy Peterson had last been,sat Hunter, his chair pushed back, his feet propped on the gla.s.s table.Buddy now sat to Hunter's right.

"Don't be shy." Hunter's words, gentle and yet oddly menacing, dropped intothe deafening silence.

"Come on in."

"Okay." She took a single step forward. "I think that's far enough."

For an endless minute their gazes met and held--and if his was implacably

black and remote, she didn't doubt for an instant that hers was filled with a mixture of defiance and fear.

The phone at Hunter's elbow emitted a muted beep and he picked it up.

"Yes, Felicia, she's here. Relax. I'll take care of it." He hung up and

addressed the board members. "Ladies. Gentlemen. My wife."

Cautious murmurs of greeting drifted around the room and after a long, tense moment, he asked, "What can we do for you, Leah?"

She swallowed hard. Maybe she should have rehea.r.s.ed this part at some point

during the drive. She glanced at him uncertainly."Iwondered. " She took a deep breath."I wondered if there was something you have to tell me."His eyes narrowed and he removed his feet from the table and straightened in his chair.

"No. Is there something you have to tell me?"

So, he wasn't going to admit who he really was. He'd warned her that he'd never explain himself again. Still, he had to know that she wouldn't be hereif she didn't at least suspect the truth. He had to know that the cards were stacked against him. And yet he expected her to trust him . or not. It was that simple. And suddenly she realized that despite everything she'd beentold, despite all the facts that proved his duplicity, she did trust him.

And she loved him.

"No," she whispered.

"I don't have anything to tell you."

His mouth tightened.

"Then if you'd excuse us?"

With a pa.s.sion that brought tears to her eyes she wished she'd never come,

that she'd never listened to Bull Jones, that she'd never given an ounce of weight to any of the despicable suggestions he'd made.

Did she believe Jones more than Hunter? Never. Now she'd failed.She'd failed her husband, and she'd failed herself. When it came to achoice, she'd chosen to doubt him. And he'd never forgive her for that.

Her shoulders sagged in defeat and she started to turn away. Then she froze.

What had he said that night at his apartment?

"I've never had anyone give me unconditional trust before--never had anyone stand by me in the face of overwhelming odds. I guess it's a futile dream.

Still. it's my dream. "She set her jaw. No. She wouldn't walk away. She wouldn't give up.She loved him. She loved him more than anything in her life. More than Dreamseeker, to ore than her employees, even more than the d.a.m.ned ranch. Hewanted blind trust? Fine. She'd give it to him."Yes," she said, turning around again.

"I do have something to say. In private, if you don't mind.""Ladies, gentlemen. Sign the papers," Hunter ordered, snapping his briefcaseclosed and lifting it from the table.

"If you'll excuse us. My wife and I have a few matters to discuss inprivate." He stood and walked to a door that opened on to a small office offthe conference-room. Shutting them in the restrictive confines, he tossedhis briefcase on to the desk and turned to her.

"What the h.e.l.l is this about, Lean?"

She gathered her nerve to speak, to say the words that were long, long overdue.

"The whole time we've been married you've asked for only one, thing from me.

You told me that it's more precious to you than anything else. I offered to

box it up for a wedding-gift if I could.

Well. Here it is. My gift to you. It's up to you what you do with it. "

She opened her purse and pulled out the gift-box from the jewelers.

He stared at it, making no move to take what she offered. "What is it?""Open it and find out."He took the box then, and ripped it apart, removing the statue. She heard the swift intake of his breath, saw the lines of his jaw tighten. And thenhe looked at her, his black eyes aflame with a fierce, raw joy."Do you mean this?" he demanded."You trust me?"She nodded, biting down on her lip.

"With all my heart."

A brief knock sounded at the door and Buddy Peterson stuck his head in the office.

"Papers are signed and the boardroom's all yours. By the way, that was agutsy move. Some might call it chivalrous. You could have lost everythingyou own."

Hunter inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"Instead I won." He glanced at Leah.

"Everything."

Buddy grinned.

"I guess things will change now that you own the whole shooting-match."

"Count on it," Hunter agreed.

The door closed behind the executive and they were alone again.

"I.

don't understand," she whispered.

"I thought you already owned Lyon Enterprises."

He shook his head.

"Not until two minutes ago."

"And before that?"

"I was their chief rival... and their worst nightmare."

She could hardly take it in.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because until the papers were signed there was nothing to tell. Like the