Southern Seduction (19 page)

He knew Brooke desired him as much as he did her, so perhaps this business deal wasn't such a bad idea.
He'd have the money and a woman to enjoy for a year.

Feeling a tightening in his loins, he readjusted his trousers.
Lately, just the thought of her seemed to produce this annoying reaction. He could picture Brooke lying on his bed with her hair framed out across his pillows. Perhaps in the next year he could get the woman out of his system. He would buy her out and send her on her way.

What could be simpler?

Travis knew Brooke didn't want this marriage any more than he did, so maybe they were both alike. He'd set down a few rules and the rest would be easy, he thought just as he reached up to knock on Brooke's door.

The door jerked opened and Brooke jumped back with a
surprise gasp.

"Sorry," Travis said with a smile.
Brooke’s skittish reaction amused him. He could never imagine her being afraid of anything.

This morning she looked lovely dressed in a deep plum color.
Her cheeks were peach color and those gold eyes of hers glittered as she watched him. "I came to escort you down to breakfast."

"Thank you, but I think I can find the dining room."
Brooke returned dryly.

Travis smiled and offered his arm.
"No doubt that you can, but this is our engagement breakfast. We should look like a loving couple in front of my relatives."

Brooke glanced at him as they made their way to the dining room.
Travis was teasing her --some-thing he’d not done before.

"That means you'll have to remember to smile at me every once in a
while, and perhaps a kiss on the cheek wouldn't hurt."

Travis paused just before they turned the corner.
"I assure you that I can play my part. But I'm not sure how good an actress you are." There was a trace of laughter in his voice. She found this Travis much more dangerous than the other one.

Brooke reached up and placed a light kiss on his lips.
He shot her a quizzical look. "Darling, I assure you that I can act,” she said softly, letting her hand slide down his chest. “Do tell me, exactly what is an engagement breakfast?"

"You'll see," he said, steering her into the dining room.
"Good Morning," he greeted the crowded room.

Brooke was surprised at the crowd gathered.
Travis definitely had relatives.

“
They’re here!” Eliza called out.

"Travis, my dear, you have simply taken us by surprise," a woman walked up to Travis.
She hugged him.

"Aunt Ann
e, it’s good to see you again. I can understand your confusion,” he said with a shrug, “but what can I say other than I fell in love," Travis gave her a ready smile as he dropped his arm around Brooke.

Brooke smiled at the woman to keep f
rom laughing at Travis’s blatant lie. "You must be Eliza's mother," Brooke said as she extended her hand. “I can see where she got her lovely smile.”

"Yes, my dear, I am," Ann
e confirmed, but she glanced back at Travis. "Well, young man, are you going to introduce us, or shall this lovely woman remain nameless?"

“Of course,” Travis said with a nod.
"I would like for everyone to meet my fiancée, Brooke Hammond. I hope you’ll welcome her into the family. Brooke,” he tugged on her arm and she leaned lightly into him, “I’d like to introduce Aunt Anne," he said, then continued down the line introducing her to aunts, uncles and cousins. Most were cordial but not accepting.

Brooke noticed that Travis's grandfather wasn’t present, and she thought that was just as well, but his grandmother was in attendance.
After the introduction, Mrs. deLobel took Brooke’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, but she addressed Travis. “Are you going to change your mind in the next two weeks and present us with yet another female?”

“No, Grandmere,” Travis said patiently.
“Brooke is the one that I will marry.”

“Your mother is not going to be happy,” deLobel said and then she moved over to her place at the end of the table without another word.

As Travis escorted Brooke to her chair beside his, Brooke whispered, “I can see how enthusiastic they are for us. Perhaps, I should check the food for poison.”

Travis actually chuckled, causing more than one of his relatives to gape at him.

Once they were seated, the servants started severing piping hot coffee. Next they brought trays of pastries, one that Brooke particular liked was a tasty pastry called a beignet. It was served warm and dusted with white powder sugar. There were omelets, sausage, and bacon.

“Mother, you should see how beautiful Miss Brooke’s dress is.
Tell her," Eliza said, but added quickly, "Brooke said I could have the dress after her wedding. Isn't that grand, Mother?"

"That is wonderful, my dear, but let's hope it will be awhile before you are getting married.
You are my baby, after all."

"Oh, Mother.
I'm not a baby anymore," Eliza protested.

"In my eyes you are," Ann
e pointed out.

"We can save the g
own for you, Eliza. It will be your first French fashion, no?" Brooke asked.

“No--I mean yes.”
Eliza giggled.

Aunt Anne finished eating and placed her fork on the plate, turning toward Travis, who’d been very quiet during the meal.
"Travis, have you contacted your mother?” she asked, but didn’t let him answer. She shook her head before adding, “You know she isn't going to be happy that she isn't in attendance for your wedding?"

“Grandmere pretty much said the same thing,” Travis told her.
He looked around at his stone-face relatives. They didn't seem to be accepting Brooke like he’d hoped. Only Aunt Anne and Eliza were talking to her.

There would be enough talk among his neighbors about the broken engagement with Hesione.
If his relatives were also standoffish it would make for a long year. Finally, an idea struck him. There was one way to get Brooke into the family’s good graces, quickly."

"Mother was traveling to several cities up North, so I have no idea how to get in touch with her.
Hopefully, she will be pleased with my decision," Travis said, thought he knew she'd be anything but pleased.

He pulled a small box from his pocket
and address the crowd. "Since this is my engagement breakfast, I’d like to continue the Creole tradition of presenting my future wife with a ring. I know this has been sudden, but Brooke simply left me breathless the first time I saw her." He reached over and took her hand in his, wanting to laugh out loud at the doubtful look in her eyes. She always seemed to be waiting for something to happen, like she was constantly on edge. "I hope you will wear this ring with the pride of my family and I’d like to tell them our little secret."

"Secret?" Brooke repeated as she took the box from him.
What was he up to? she wondered.

"Yes, darling," he said.
"Brooke is going to have my baby which is the reason for our hasty marriage."

Everyone started talking at once.
Brooke gaped at her future husband as if he'd grown horns out of the top of his head. She was so stunned that words wouldn't come out.

Travis had just taken her new reputation and destroyed it with one outrageous sentence.
His realities would think she was a loose woman. And she wasn't a loose woman -- anymore. For God’s sake, she hadn't had sex in a couple of years. She had a good mind to hit him! Maybe it would knock some sense in his thick head.

But before she acted upon her thoughts all the women were gathering around her chair
, congratulating her, and offering advice on how she should take care of herself. She couldn't believe that these people were treating her like a queen when they had barely spoken to her a few moments ago.

She glanced at Travis, who sat there grinning like a fool.
"Are you not going to look at your ring?" he asked.

Brooke stared at the small, black box in her hand, all but forgotten.
She turned the box around and removed the top. There, nestled in black velvet, was a large ruby surrounded by twinkling diamonds. She'd never expected anything like this. After all, it wasn't a real wedding. Yet Travis had made a point of getting her something nice. Then again it could be the ring he purchased for Hesione. She peered over at Travis to find him still smiling. He seemed to be enjoying all of this way too much. Where was that scowling face she’d grown accustomed to seeing? Perhaps, he was a good an actor, after all.

He reached over, removed the ring from the velvet cloth, then slipped it on her finger.
It fit perfectly. Sitting there twinkling at her was the biggest gem she'd ever received.

Travis shoved up from his chair and moved over to help Brooke to her feet.
“To our future,” he said before he kissed her on the cheek, playing the game with perfect pretense. Brooke smiled at him, determined to play her part as well. They must have succeeded because all Travis’s realities applauded.

When everyone had left, Brooke clutched Travis’s arm.
I would like to speak to you.”

“I thought you might,” he said softly, then escorted her to his study.
Once they reach some privacy, Brooke whirled around. He ignored her and went over to his desk leaned against the front and folded his arms. “Well?”

She was so angry she gritted her teeth as she paced back and forth.
Now everyone would think he had to marry her.

"You don't like your ring," he drawled with a smirk she didn't care for.
He seemed to be amused by the entire situation.

“It is probably hand-me-down from Hesione!”

“That is where you’re wrong, my dear. I purchased this ring two days ago, choosing a ruby because it seems to suit your fiery personality. Like the way you just looked at me, as if you wanted my blood.”

“Yes, that thought did cross my mind after the lie you just told.”
She smiled sweetly. “Just what are you going to do when there is no baby forthcoming?" She didn't wait for him to answer. "I can't believe you just told a blatant lie. And how does that make me look? I’ll tell you -- like a whore. Your grandfather already thinks I'm a whore, so why not let the rest of the family think so?"

Travis reached out to stop Brooke’s pacing.
"I did it for you."

She glared at him and spat, "An
d you expect me to believe that?"

"I know how my family thinks.
By telling them you’re pregnant they immediately accepted you into the family. Rest assured they will not breathe a word to anyone. It would tarnish the family name.” Travis gave a half-laugh. “Believe me they put great store on how the family is perceived."

"But I'm not expecting," she told him.

Travis gave her a slow smile as he allowed his gaze to rake over her. "It’s only a small technicality. You will be before long."

She could feel the sexual magnetism that made Travis so self-confident.
"This could be a marriage in name only."

Travis caressed her check with the back of his finger.
"Do you really want to miss all the pleasure we'll have?" His question was quite and seductive.

“
It's a terrifying possibility,” she finally said. He drew her into his arms. Her heart skipped a beat, then began to hammer. "You might regret it," she warned him.

"I'll risk it," Travis murmured huskily.

The shock of his mouth on hers inflamed her. His tongue flicked over her lips teasing her to part them as his hands moved down her back, molding her body until it fit the curves of his own. She felt ripples of excitement.

Their closeness was like a drug, lulling her to euphoria, leaving her trembling.
Her quivering lips parted and Travis took advantage, kissing her endlessly. His body imprisoned hers in a web of growing arousal. Her vow not to become involved with this man shattered into a thousand little pieces.

With a supreme effort Brooke jerked back, a little stunned at how fast Travis could rule her emotions.
She wasn't use to that happening. "I--I think we need to wait until after the wedding." Since he had volunteered to marry her, she wanted to do it the correct way. She didn’t want to feel cheep or dirty.

It took a moment for Travis to think straight and his vision to clear.
Brooke seemed to be an itch he just couldn't scratch. The more he scratched the more he itched. It was both exciting and irritating at the same time. "You sound like a virgin," He couldn't stop the cynicism in his voice; he wanted her so badly. "And I do believe that you’re a widow unless you've lied to me."

He thought he saw a guilt-ridden expression flash across her beautiful face, but it was gone in an instant.

"I might not be a virgin but it has been a long time. And it’s going to be a while longer for you." she said sweetly, then smiled at his frown. "I intend to do this correctly."