A Fortune's Children's Wedding (22 page)

“I am not ‘some guy,' Romina,” Flynt spoke up. “Angelica and I are—”

“I know Angelica isn't a tramp,” Kate cut in. “I understand how compelling passion can be when a couple is young and in love, and it is obvious to me that Angelica and Flynt are very much in love.”

“In love or not, they're getting married before the baby arrives,” cried Romina, “I refuse to let one of my children ever have an illegitimate baby.”

“Baby?” Flynt was flummoxed. “What baby?”

“There's no baby,” Angelica said quickly.

“That's what
I
said in the beginning, all four times that I was pregnant.” Romina's dark eyes were blazing as she paced the room. “What about last night on that plane?”

Angelica and Flynt looked at each other, too stunned to speak. A shocked awareness hit them at the same moment, as they each remembered that second shattering time they'd made love on the plane.

Angelica recalled looking for the condom box…which she'd never found. Flynt realized that he hadn't given a thought to protection that time, he had been agog with the knowledge that he was Angelica's first lover.

His jaw dropped. But how did Romina know what had happened between them last night?

Both his face and Angelica's reflected that crucial question. That Romina proceeded to answer. “What I know is that if you have sex, there's a chance for a baby, Angelica!” Romina proclaimed. “And you're going to be married well before that child is born.”

“Since when have you become such a staunch advocate of marriage, Mama?” Angelica was shaking with fury and fear, a combination so potent that she was emboldened to challenge her mother in a way she never had before. “You've had
four
children and never been married once.”

“You think I'm proud of that? You think I want my daughters to follow in my footsteps?” Romina raged. “Never, Angelica. You and Sarah are not going to make my mistakes, I won't let you.”

“And now she has the Fortune fortune to back her up,” Brandon said cheerfully. “Looks like there's going to be a wedding around here.”

“M
ollie dear, how quickly can you put together a wedding?” Kate asked Mollie Shaw, the pretty, red-haired, young wedding consultant who was owner and operator of a fledgling wedding planning business.

Back in January, Mollie had been hired to plan the wedding of her friend Kelly Sinclair, Kate's former social secretary, to Mac Fortune, Kate's grandnephew and the vice-president of finance with the Fortune Corporation.

Mollie smiled, obviously pleased to have been summoned. Planning a Fortune wedding was a boon for any wedding consultant; it was a bonanza for a newcomer in the business. “You know how quickly we put Mac and Kelly's together,” she reminded Kate.

“And you did a fine job.” Kate made her decision. “Mollie, would you make the arrangements for the wed
ding of my granddaughter Angelica to her—er—fiancé, Flynt Corrigan?”

“Oh yes, Mrs. Fortune, uh, Foster!” breathed Mollie.

“Kate will do, my dear.” Kate grinned mischievously. “Now, would two days be enough time to plan a nice little wedding and reception?”

“Two days?” Mollie gaped at her. “The wedding is only two days away?”

“We'd prefer one day but figured two will give you a sporting chance,” said Kate. “This couple is an edgy pair. Both of them are too guarded and defensive and controlled. It is imperative for them to be married quickly, while still off balance, or we fear they will build walls that will never be breached, figuratively speaking, of course.”

“I couldn't've said it better myself, Kate,” Romina spoke up. She was sitting on one of the cushioned window seats in the bright, plant-filled sunroom. “Any longer than two days, and either Flynt or Angel will get over the shock of us barging in on them and beat it out of here.”

“Everything will be ready in two days, I promise,” Mollie said decisively, though she did look a bit panicked. And curious, though she discreetly refrained from asking any questions.

“We can have the reception here, which should help somewhat,” Kate said consolingly. “That means the cake, the refreshments, the flowers and such, need to be ordered. I'll leave you here with the mother of the bride to go over the details. Come, Brandon, let's let Mollie and Romina work things out.”

Brandon, who was standing beside Romina, crossed the room and took his mother's arm.

Romina advanced on Mollie. “Angelica is my oldest child, and she is very precious to me. I want her wedding to be perfect,” she warned.

“Don't worry about a thing.” Mollie managed a plucky smile. “We'll make sure the wedding is a bride's dream.”

Kate and Brandon departed, leaving Mollie and Romina to their plans.

 

Angelica felt as if she were trapped in a nightmare. Her life had begun to unravel the moment her parents and her grandmother had come bursting into the bedroom like a pack of terrorists bent on seizing hostages.

She felt like a hostage, trailed every moment by someone, either Kate or Romina or a cautious little redhead named Mollie Shaw who asked her things like what flowers she preferred in her wedding bouquet, how many tiers did she want the wedding cake to have and would she like a flavored filling between the layers of cake. When Angelica looked at Mollie as if she'd lost her mind, Romina or Kate would offer their own opinions.

As the day progressed, the nightmare showed no signs of abating.

There was really going to be a wedding. Mara was flying in tomorrow with Sarah and Casper, with whom she'd been staying since Romina's flight to Minneapolis with Brandon. TJ was invited, too, but didn't have enough notice to get the time off from work.

“I'm so thrilled for you, Angel!” Mara had squealed over the phone after Romina broke the news and issued
the invitations and travel arrangements. “The kids are crazy with excitement. We've never flown before, and we're flying first class! Flynt is a wonderful guy, Angel. He's perfect for you!”

Angelica knew that. She was perfect for him too…but marriage? She'd just begun to slowly accept the idea that love might not be an illusion or a delusion, she'd just faced the fact that she loved Flynt…

But he didn't love her, of course. How could he, when he didn't believe in love? And being forced to marry her would be the death knoll to any hopes of him ever coming to love her. Angelica's eyes burned with hot tears.

Mollie noticed. “This wedding is very sudden,” she said hesitantly.

The two young women were alone in the library where Mollie had several flower books lying open on a long table.

“It's sudden because my paranoid mother and my crazy father and my eager-to-help grandmother are forcing us to get married!” Angelica's voice shook.

“Oh,” Mollie murmured.

Angelica sensed her empathy, and for a moment she considered asking Mollie for help in escaping. But she refrained. The poor girl was trying to build a business, and if she were to alienate the Fortunes, she might just as well declare bankruptcy.

Anyway, where would she go, except back to Birmingham where she would easily be found? For a moment the fugitive underground network sprang to mind, and she clamped down on that thought, just as she shut out the possibility that she actually wanted this forced marriage to take place.

“I can't believe I'm trapped in this mess!” Angelica lamented aloud, flopping down on one of the leather-and-rosewood chairs.

Mollie's fingers brushed over a page of brilliantly colored flowers in one of the books. “Uh, we really don't have to discuss flowers for your bouquet right this minute,” she said tactfully.

“Can I assume that
this mess
is a reference to me?” Flynt stood at the threshold of the library.

Angelica's heart seemed to jump into her throat and then plunge to the pit of her belly. He was wearing a tan suit, light blue shirt and he loosened his tie as he walked toward them. He looked every inch the professional, successful and very sexy business executive.

She hadn't seen him since this morning, when they'd been ambushed by the Fortune Bedroom Patrol. As Romina had continued to berate and threaten, Kate had suggested—strongly—that Flynt leave for the time being. He had willingly accepted the out she'd offered.
And left!

The thought of his speedy exit still made Angelica seethe. He'd deserted her! “You said it, not me.”

Flynt came to stand beside Angelica's chair, though he looked at Mollie as he addressed her. “Would you mind leaving us alone?”

“I want her to stay. After all, Mollie is planning our
wedding,
Flynt.” Angelica gave a tight smile. And stood up. Having him tower above her chair definitely put her at a disadvantage.

“Okay, then, Mollie, plan away.” Flynt picked Angelica up in his arms and sat down with her on his lap.

Unbidden, came a flash memory of her on his lap last
night in the darkened violet and ivy bedroom. They were naked and hot and wild, and he'd shown her how to straddle him while— Angelica felt her body ignite and she hopped off Flynt's lap and practically ran around to the other side of the table. He watched her and laughed quietly, as if he'd tapped into her own private memory bank, as if he knew exactly what she'd remembered. Of course, he did share those memories of last night's passion.

“Mollie must think we're the clients from hell,” muttered Angelica, still blushing.

“Oh, no, I love a challenge!” Mollie succeeded in sounding sincere.

The sound of a small child's squeal of laughter sounded in the hall, accompanied by Kate's own hearty laugh. The sounds grew louder and nearer, and in a moment Kate joined them, accompanied by a cute little girl about three years old. The child's laughter ceased the moment she saw Flynt, Angelica and Mollie. She immediately hid behind Kate.

“This is Lilly,” Kate said reaching around to put a comforting hand on the little girl's head. “She is visiting with me for a little while today.”

The trio in the library greeted Lilly, who suddenly looked ready to burst into tears.

“Let's go into the kitchen and see if Cook is ready for us to make those Easter Bunny cookies, darling.” Kate scooped the little girl up in her arms.

“Easter Bunny cookies in May?” Flynt asked, perplexed.

Lilly nodded shyly. “I like the Easter Bunny,” she whispered.

“Well, of course you do!” Kate hugged the child. “And I think Easter Bunny cookies are a wonderful idea, no matter what time of year.”

Lilly was smiling again, her head against Kate's shoulder as she was carried from the library.

“Do you know if little Lilly is one of my cousins?” Angelica asked Mollie. “It feels so strange to have relatives and not know who they are or how they're related to me.”

“I know what you mean,” Mollie said quietly. “Lilly is Jack Fortune's little girl. Jack's father is Stuart Fortune whose father was Caleb Fortune. Caleb and your grandfather Ben were brothers. Got that?” She smiled slightly.

“No. Too many names and generations. It's like having to memorize all the presidents,” Angelica complained.

“How about all the kings of France?” suggested Flynt. “Ever have to do that? I failed a history test, thanks to that one.”

“My worse downfall was listing the Roman emperors,” admitted Angelica. “I found it impossible.”

“Makes keeping track of the Fortunes seem like the proverbial piece of cake.” Flynt smiled at her. Angelica smiled back.

Mollie looked heartened, now that her volatile clients appeared to have declared a truce. She tried to extend the amiable mood. “I guess I'd better not mention Ben Fortune's other brothers, and all
their
children and grandchildren.”

“Not unless you want me to come down with a mi
graine—this would surely be the day for it.” Angelica shot Flynt a challenging look. He arched his brows.

“You know a lot about the Fortunes, Mollie,” Flynt observed.

“She'd have to, for her business and all,” said Angelica. “Since there are so many Fortunes, one of them is bound to be getting married at any given time.”

“Like you, sweetheart,” mocked Flynt. Angelica's face grew stormy again.

“Uh, something like that.” Mollie appeared intent on studying the colorful patterns in the Oriental carpet. “I—I was recently hired to plan Chloe Fortune's wedding to Mason Chandler. She's another one of your cousins, Angelica.”

“Congratulations, to you and to Cousin Chloe,” Angelica said flatly. “So who is Lilly's mother?”

“Lilly's mother, Sandra, was killed in a car accident recently, and now she's come to live with her father.” Mollie's face was grave. “Jack hardly knows Lilly because he and Sandra have been divorced for two years, and she made it almost impossible for him to visit his own child.”

“That poor baby!” cried Angelica.

“She seems happy being with Kate,” Flynt pointed out.

Mollie nodded in agreement. “But Kate can't take care of a three-year-old full-time, not at her age, and with everything else she has to do. Lilly is shy and scared, and I don't think things are working out too well with the nanny Jack hired. I—I'm so worried about her.”

Angelica decided that she really liked the young wed
ding consultant. Her compassion for Lilly Fortune, a sad little motherless child, was admirable.

“A child
needs
a mother,” Angelica declared. “Is this Jack guy dating someone nice? Or will he go for some trophy bimbo who can't be bothered with children and will make Lilly's life a living hell?” She warmed to the subject. Discussing little Lilly's situation distracted her from her own. “You know, if this Jack marries a witch, we can help Lilly. We can rescue her from—”

“A father is equally important to a child, Angelica,” Flynt sounded stern. “Lilly doesn't need rescuing from her own father. And stop trying to recruit Mollie for Nancy Portland's underground!”

“I wasn't! I was just—”

“I don't think Jack Fortune's a jerk,” Mollie inserted hastily. “And I don't know if he's dating anyone. He seems to want to be a good father.” She backed slowly toward the door, her eyes darting from Flynt to Angelica. “If you'll excuse me, I have to make some calls. Um, urgent calls. We can discuss the bouquet later, Angelica.”

“Well, we scared her off,” Flynt said dryly. “She thinks we're crazy.” He shrugged. “Hmm, maybe we are.”

Angelica hurried to the door of the library and saw Mollie scurry down the hall. “The bouquet can be dandelions and poison ivy for all I care,” she called to her.

“Make it white orchids,” Flynt called, even louder. He'd come to stand behind Angelica. “That's your favorite flower, right?”

He
was
right. “How did you know that?” she demanded, astonished.

“You mentioned it once. I remember what you tell me, Angelica.” He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to draw her back against him.

Angelica resisted and ducked under his hands, escaping his hold. There was too much unresolved between them for her to allow her judgment to be clouded with sexual urgency.
Again!
She returned to the long table, methodically closing each flower book while she spoke.

“I remember what you said, too, Flynt. About love being an illusion. That marriage is doomed to fail because the couple will end up not being able to stand the sight of each other. But when Romina and Brandon and Kate insisted that you marry me, I didn't hear you say ‘no.' And why is that, I wonder? Because you see me as a—a pipeline to all that Fortune money?”

Flynt shoved an impatient hand through his hair and looked up at her. “So this is how you've spent your day? I've been at my office, clearing my schedule and trying to keep on top of everything, while you've cast yourself in the role of pitiful heiress being forced to marry a gold-digging cad? Give me a break, Angelica!”