His Virgin Wife: The Wedding in White / Caught in the Crossfire / The Virgin's Secret Marriage

“It doesn’t pay enough to keep me in decent suits,” he said in a vicious tone. “When I think of how I used to live, how much I had, it makes me sick.”

“What did you do before you were a teacher?” she asked, fishing delicately.

“I was in real estate,” he said, but he didn’t meet her eyes. “It was a very lucrative business.”

“Couldn’t you get a license here in Montana and go back into it?”

“Nobody wants to buy land in Montana these days,” he muttered. “It’s not exactly hot real estate.”

“I suppose not.”

The music ended and he escorted her to the table, where Mack and Vivian sat fuming.

Vivian got to her feet at once. “And now it’s my turn,” she said pertly and with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Sure,” Whit said easily, and smiled as he led her onto the dance floor.

“What was all the conversation about?” Mack wanted to know.

“I was trying to draw him out about his former profession. He said he was in real estate in Nevada,” she said, with a wary glance toward Viv and Whit, who were totally involved with each other for the moment.

“And I’m the tooth fairy,” Mack said absently.

Natalie laughed helplessly.

“What?” he demanded.

“I was picturing you in a pink tutu.”

That eye narrowed. “You’ll pay for that one.”

“Okay. A white tutu.”

He shook his head. “Finish your drink. We have to leave pretty soon. I have an early appointment in town tomorrow.”

“Okay, boss,” she drawled, and ignored his stormy expression.

As it turned out, Mack took Natalie home first and walked her to her front door.

“Try to stay out of trouble,” he cautioned. “I may see you at the grocery store tomorrow.”

“Sadie shops. You don’t.”

“I can shop if I want to,” he said. He searched her bright face. “Just for the record, I wanted to take them home first.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

One shoulder lifted and fell. “It isn’t the right time. Not yet.” He bent and brushed a soft kiss against her forehead. “This is to throw them off the track,” he whispered as he stood straight again. “A little brotherly peck should do the trick.”

“Yes, it should.”

His gaze fell to her soft mouth for an instant. “Next time, I’ll make sure I take you home last. Good night, angel.”

“Good night.”

He winked and walked to the car, whistling an off-key tune on the way. Natalie waved before she went into the house. She’d wanted Mack to kiss her again, but maybe he’d had enough kissing that afternoon. She hadn’t. Not by a long shot. She didn’t want to feel this way about Mack, but she couldn’t help herself. She wondered how it would eventually work out between them, but it was too disturbing to torture herself like that. She cleaned her face, got into her gown and went to bed. And she dreamed of Mack all night long.

Chapter 6

The phone rang on the one morning during the week when Natalie could sleep late. It was Mack, and he sounded worried.

“It’s Viv,” he said at once, not bothering with a greeting. “I had to take her to the emergency room early this morning. She’s got the flu and it’s complicated with pneumonia. She refused to let me put her in the hospital, and I’ve got to fly out to Dallas this morning on business. My plane leaves in less than an hour and a half. The boys are off on a hunting trip. I hate to ask you, but can you come over and stay with her until I get home?”

“Of course I can,” she replied. “How long are you going to be away?”

“With luck, I’ll be back by midnight. If not, first thing tomorrow.”

“I don’t have to go in to the grocery store to work until tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be glad to stay with her. Did the doctor give you prescriptions for her, and have you been to the pharmacy to pick up her medicine?”

“No,” he said gruffly. “I’ll have to do that—”

“I’ll pick them up on my way over,” she said. “You go ahead and catch your flight. I’ll be there in thirty minutes if they have her prescriptions ready.”

“They should be,” he said. “I dropped them off before I brought her home. I’ll phone and give them my credit card number, so they’ll already be paid for.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank you,” he added. “She feels pretty bad, so she shouldn’t give you much trouble. Oh, and there’s a little complication,” he said irritably. “Whit’s here.”

“That should cheer her up,” she reminded him.

“It will, as long as you don’t look at him.”

She laughed. “No problem there.”

“I know you don’t like him, but she won’t believe it. If there was anybody else I could ask, I wouldn’t bother you. I just don’t like the idea of leaving her alone with him, even if she does have pneumonia.”

“I don’t mind. Honest. You be careful.”

“The plane wouldn’t dare crash,” he chuckled. “I’ve got too much work to do.”

“Keep that in mind. I’ll see you when you get back.”

“You be careful, too,” he said. “And wear your raincoat. It’s already sprinkling outside.”

“I’ll wear mine if you wear yours.”

He chuckled again. “Okay. You win. I’ll be home as soon as I can.”