Angel in Disguise (24 page)

She grasped his hand, willing him to feel her love.

Stepping away, he turned, put a smile on his face and waved to the crowd. The spotlight found him, the band played his song and Senator Sam, the People’s Friend, strolled to his place on the dais. On his one side applauded his devoted, adoring wife. On the other, his chosen heir.

The heaviness in Sunny’s chest had nothing to do with the empty chair beside Bruce. She only grieved for what should have been, not for anything she’d ever really had.

The senator reached the dais, nodded to Bruce who looked into the wings and extended his hand to a pretty brunette who swiftly moved to that empty seat.

Pete squeezed her shoulder, and she clasped his hand. While the attention was still on the guest of honor, they slipped away and walked toward the foyer.

“Are you satisfied?” George called, coming up behind them as they neared the escalator. “Is this what you wanted?”

She sighed. “George, I’ve said over and over what I wanted.”

He nodded. “I know, and you’re feeling pretty sorry for yourself right now.”

That was a low blow.

“If you knew the truth, you’d understand why Sam has pressed so hard, why Eleanor has been…well, the way she is.”

The truth? What now? George just didn’t give up.

“We’ve all been sworn to secrecy, but it’s going to come out in a few minutes anyway. I’d rather you heard it from me. Hon, your dad is seriously ill.”

She gasped.
Please God, let this just be another ploy.
Even if it was a wicked payback, she’d prefer it. “How seriously?” she asked.

“It’s Alzheimer’s, and Sam’s losing ground pretty fast. Tonight he’s going public with it. He’s stepping down from his senate seat and endorsing Bruce to fill it. It’s a perfect springboard for Bruce’s presidential bid.”

It would work. She could see that.

“You’ll never know how much he wanted you on that stage tonight,” George said, shaking his head sadly.

No, but she could imagine. How horribly frustrating for them that she hadn’t cooperated.

Emotion whirled around her—despair for her father’s condition, sadness that her mother would lose her companion and the reason for her existence, rebellion that they’d expected her to marry Bruce, guilt that she couldn’t fulfill their dream. The power of those emotions was a crushing weight.

“How long have they known about Daddy?” she asked, still trying to take it in.

“Privately, we’ve all wondered for some time. But just before Easter your dad went in for a checkup, and it became official.”

“‘Just before Easter,”’ she repeated. No wonder her mother had called and urged reconciliation. This explained her mother’s shrill desperation and her father’s urgent reminders of his love.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. Mother would need her like she never had, and Daddy would need to make things right with God while he still could. Lord help her, she’d be there for both of them.

Pete felt so bad for Sunny, he couldn’t think of a thing to say. He held her all the way to the car, already regretting the strong stand he’d taken with her dad.

How would this change things between them? She’d said she loved him. Even loving him, would she believe she had to follow her father’s last wishes? Would guilt drag her back to Bruce?
Please, God, not that.

“Do you mind if we have the top down?” she asked when the valet attendant brought the car.

She could ask for the moon, and he’d want to provide it.

But she seemed to want nothing more than a ride in the soft night, the wind against their skin, its coolness dulling their senses, heading for nowhere, just away from where they’d been.

Minutes passed, and his stomach growled. Thinking about filling his belly seemed inappropriate, but food might do both of them good. Since they were all dressed up, he could take her someplace fancy, and he offered. But all Sunny wanted was a cheese-burger and a chance to get out of her sequins. That was fine with him.

They went through a drive-thru and picnicked on fast food in his car. On the way to her house, they joked quietly about christening his leather seats with sesame seeds and spilled fries.

At her place, she disappeared to change. He shucked out of the bow tie and jacket, loosened the buttons at the neck of his shirt, rolled up his sleeves and waited for her on the deck. When she reappeared,
she wore a lavender T-shirt tucked into jeans and a sweet, sad look in her eyes.

Wishing he could ease that sadness, he said, “You are one gorgeous woman, Sunny Keegan.”

Shaking her head, disclaiming it, she said, “I’m not, but I loved it when you told Mother I was.”

Someday he’d insist she stop denying his compliments, but not tonight. Tonight was for cuddling, not lectures.

They swayed in her hammock, her head on his shoulder, their arms wrapped around each other. The light from her kitchen windows illuminated her face, and the love in her butternut eyes made him swallow hard.

“What was that ring you described to Lisa?” he asked.

“A three-carat marquis,” she said, smiling. “A diamond big enough to impress, but not so ostentatious it wouldn’t look real. Lisa would respect such a beautiful ring. Any woman would.”

“We’ll get one for you, a really pretty one.”

“You’re not going to get me a ring,” she protested. “It was just fun to see Lisa’s reaction.”

“But we’ll need a ring. I want you to marry me.”

She looked into his eyes, not saying a word.
Please, God, don’t let her refuse me.

“I’d love to marry you…” she said softly

He heard the “but,” and chill dread crossed his heart.

“But…”

There it was.
Lord, don’t let her turn me down.

“Not now. I’m afraid of what I’d be getting you into.”

That didn’t make a lick of sense. “If this is your way of letting me down easy, I’d rather you just came right out and said you don’t want to marry me.” His voice was gruff, but he couldn’t help it.

Sunny’s heart sank. She’d hurt him. But she couldn’t ask him to go through the trials ahead, dealing with her mother, her father, even Bruce and all the inevitable pressures from the media. How could they start a new life together in the midst of such turmoil?

Regardless of the past, she was determined to be the most loving daughter ever. They came as a package, all of them—Daddy, Mother, Bruce and now, even the new woman in Bruce’s life. It wasn’t something she would wish on an enemy, let alone the man she loved. How could she make him see that?

“If you can’t say it,” Pete said, his voice cracking, “I guess I understand.”

“But that’s not it!” she denied, stroking his brow. “I love you more than I knew a person could. But a marriage should be started in joy and happiness. You heard George. My life is going to be a mess for a long time. I can’t drag you into it.”

Pete closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh of relief. That’s all it was? He hugged her close, willing her fears away. “Don’t you know I want to share your life, no matter what it’s like?” He lowered his mouth to hers, letting his kiss tell her how much he needed her, how much he would always love her.

And she returned his kiss in the sweet Sunny way he adored, holding nothing back, loving him for all
she was worth. That was his girl, his strong, courageous sweetheart.

When he couldn’t take any more without wanting what they would save for marriage, he tucked her head back on his shoulder and held her tightly against him. Let her feel his heart race. Let her know what she meant to him.

“I know this girl,” he said, stroking her hair, “who’s a great one for trusting God.” He heard her quick intake of breath. “She’s a very lucky girl.”

His girl nodded against his chest.

“Not only does she have genuine angels who watch over her, but she has this ordinary guy who loves her so much, he tries to beat those angels to their jobs. I don’t think she has a thing to worry about.”

“You’re right,” she said, lifting her head sky-ward. “Lord, forgive me. I do trust You.”

Looking into the stars himself, he added, “Lord, both of us trust You. You’ve got the best seat in the house. You can see it all. We know we don’t have to figure this out on our own.”

His shirt felt wet. He knew women needed tears, but he’d never get used to them. Of course, Sunny could cry if she had to, but, please God, not any more tonight.

“I have an update on the story about the little red-haired princess,” he said, hoping to dry up those wretched tear ducts.

“You do, do you?” She sniffed, wiping her eyes.

“Uh-huh. You knew, of course, that the little redhaired girl grew up to be a beautiful princess—”

“Oh, Pete, not beautiful.”

“I’m telling the story. She grew up to be a very beautiful princess, and one day she kissed an ordinary guy who—”

“He wasn’t ordinary. Make him a handsome prince or the story’s over.”

Man, she was tough, but at least the tears had dried up. “The princess kissed this prince who was extraordinarily handsome.” He checked to see if she was satisfied.

The big smile said she was.

“That kiss turned the prince’s life around, and he decided to give up his sorry life as a beach bum and build his princess a kingdom called…tat, tahhh… Sunny Valley!”

“Sunny Valley! Oh, Pete!” Tears welled in her eyes again.

Not that again. “The builder—” he said hurriedly.

“The prince,” she corrected.

“The prince,” he agreed, “drew up plans for nice family homes where kids could play with their dogs anytime they wanted and no kid’s best friend was the chauffeur.”

Smiling through her tears, she asked, “How many kids?”

“The prince thought the princess should have input on that.”

“I just wondered if the kids would have to share bedrooms or if they’d have their own.”

“Well, you see,” he said, ending the story because he couldn’t wait any longer to kiss his girl again, “one of the nice things about the prince being a builder is how easy it is to add on.”

“Mmm,” she replied, meeting his lips.

He guessed that meant she thought so, too. He couldn’t say for sure, not when he was lost in loving Sunny.

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ISBN: 978-1-4603-1155-4

ANGEL IN DISGUISE

Copyright © 2000 by Patt Marr

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