The Manning Sisters (28 page)

Once again her words fell into a void and she was left to wonder at his thoughts. “Cody…please,” she whispered when she couldn't tolerate the silence anymore.

He pivoted sharply. “I know you. You're warm and loving, and you won't do anything that might hurt another person. You refuse to disappoint anyone—except yourself.”

If he understood her so well, then surely he'd be patient just a little longer. She was about to say that when he added, “You've allowed your parents to manipulate you all your life.”

“That's not true,” she burst out, wanting to defend herself, angry that he'd even suggest it.

“They handpicked a husband for you, and you went along with it.”

Her shoulders slumped, but her indignation had yet to cool.

“You didn't love James then and you don't love him now. Or so you claim.”

“I love
you,
” she cried. “How many times do I have to say it?”

“Yet when James offered you an engagement ring, you accepted his proposal.”

“I…I…” Her outrage went limp for lack of an argument. Everything he said was true, but it had happened before she'd met Cody.

“You're so eager to take care of everyone else you're willing to sacrifice your own happiness.”

“All I need is a few more days, just until this trial…” She didn't finish, since nothing she said was going to change his mind.

“Frankly I have a strong suspicion that you're going to wake up one fine morning married to dear old James and not realize how it happened.”

“That's ridiculous.” She folded her arms to ward off an unexpected chill. “I swear to you that will never happen.”

“You swore to me you were going to break the engagement when you arrived back in Seattle, too. Remember?”

His eyes challenged her to deny it. She couldn't. He met her stare, but it was Christy who looked away first, Christy whose gaze flickered under the force of the truth.

“But how could I have known about the engagement party?” she asked weakly. Then, gaining conviction, she said, “You're not being fair. To even suggest I'd go ahead with the wedding is—” she searched for the right word “—ludicrous.”

“Is it really?”

“Of course it is! You make me sound like some weak-willed…I can't imagine why you'd want anything to do with me if that's how you feel.”

“I love you, Christy, and it's going to hurt like crazy to walk away from you. My request isn't unreasonable, although I know you don't agree with that.”

She leaned against the door frame. “You can't ask me to make that kind of decision! Not right this minute. I need time….” In the back of her mind she was desperately praying the Mulligan case would be thrown out of court that afternoon and this whole regrettable affair could be laid to rest.

She might win the lottery, too, but she couldn't count on it.

“Is the decision that difficult?” Cody asked, frowning. “That on its own says something, whether you admit it or not.”

Christy shut her eyes and took a deep breath. The man she loved, her entire future, was about to walk out the door, and she knew of no way to stop him short of destroying another person's happiness.

Straightening, she glared at Cody across the room. “I don't know what's right anymore,” she said defiantly. “How can I? All everyone does is make demands of me. First it's Mom and then James and now…you.”

Then she started to cry. She couldn't help it. Her shoulders shook and her chest heaved as the sobs convulsed her and tears cascaded down her cheeks.

She heard Cody mutter a swear word. “Christy, please, I can't stand to see you cry,” he whispered hoarsely.

He could break her heart, but he couldn't stand to see her cry. Christy found the thought almost laughable.

Cody moved across the room and took her in his arms. His hands stroked the hair away from her brow. With him she felt secure. With him she felt warm and protected. She hid her face in his shoulder as the emotion worked through her. He held her until she was able to draw in a deep, shaky breath. Christy could feel her control slipping back into place.

Still Cody held her, his hands caressing her back. For the longest time he said nothing. He continued to hold her close, and after several minutes Christy became aware of how intimate their position was.

She sighed longingly and tested her discovery by tenderly kissing his neck. A moment passed in which she waited for him to protest or ease himself away.

Experiencing a small sense of triumph when he didn't, she leisurely investigated the warm, tantalizing skin, making slow, moist circles over the hollow of his throat.

“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Oh, please, Cody, just kiss me. I'll be all right if you do that.”

He didn't immediately comply; in fact, he seemed inclined to ignore her, as if nothing would be proved, nothing would be solved by kissing.

He froze when she placed her hands on each side of his strong face, sliding her lips up his jawline and over his chin until their mouths were joined.

Cody pulled his mouth from hers. His whole body seemed to be shaking as he inhaled. He walked over to her sofa and sat on the edge, his elbows on his knees. “What are we going to do?” He shook his head in despair. “I'm not strong enough to walk away from you,” he said starkly. “I thought I could.”

“I won't let you go.” She sat next to him, resting her forehead on his shoulder, and sighed. “I love you so much…. I'd give anything to marry you today.”

Cody went stock-still. “What did you just say?”

“I
won't let you go, Cody. I can't,” Christy repeated.

“Not that,” he said, bolting to his feet. He started pacing again, and when she didn't immediately speak, he added, “It was after that.”

She frowned. “I love you?”

“Not that, either. The part about marrying me today.”

“I would.” She didn't feel any hesitation in saying as much. Almost from the first day she'd met the sheriff of Custer County, she'd known she was going to love him all the days of her life.

“Will you marry me, Christy?” His expression was so open and sincere that she felt tears stinging her eyes.

“Oh, yes,” she whispered. She'd probably be the only woman in the world engaged to two men at the same time, but that couldn't be helped.

“I mean now.”

“Now?”

“I'd like us to be married this afternoon.”

Her heart responded with a quick, wistful beat, but Christy didn't see how a wedding, that day, would be possible.

“Maybe it's different in Montana, but Washington state has a three-day waiting period after we apply for the license.”

A satisfied smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “Idaho doesn't.”

“That may be, but Idaho's over 350 miles from here. If you're only going to be in Seattle three days, we'll end up spending two of them on the road.”

“That's easily fixed. I'll rent a plane.” He smiled a breathtaking smile that was so appealing, she thought she'd die a slow death if he didn't make love to her soon. “Am I going too fast for you?”

“No,” she rushed to assure him, although her mind was abuzz. “It's just that I'm having trouble understanding. What about James?” She hated mentioning fiancé number one, but she had to be sure they were doing the right thing for the right reasons.

“What about him?”

“Will I…do I have to tell him about the wedding? I mean, it won't make much difference if he learns I've married you a couple of days from now or even next week. I'm only suggesting I delay telling him because of the trial.”

Some of the happy excitement left Cody's eyes. “I'll leave that up to you. As far as James is concerned, I don't know what's right or wrong anymore. All I know is that I love you more than I thought it was possible to love any woman. It scares me to think I could lose you.”

“There isn't the slightest chance of that.”

His smile was sad. “I meant what I said earlier about being afraid you'd end up married to James. I've had nightmares about it, wondering if I'd get a call in the middle of the night. I actually dreamed that you phoned to explain how everything got out of your control and you'd married James before you could come up with a way to stop the ceremony.”

“I would never allow such a thing.”

He gave her a distrusting look, and although it injured her pride to admit it, Christy could understand Cody's concern.

“I feel a whole lot better making
sure
that couldn't happen.” The warmth in his eyes removed the sting his words might have inflicted. “I learned a long time ago to cover all my bases. Marrying like this might not be the best thing, but we're making a commitment to each other, and heaven help me for being so weak, but I need that.”

Heaven help
him!
Christy felt herself go soft. “Oh, Cody, I love you so much.”

“Good,” he said, his voice slightly husky, “because you're about to become my wife.”

He smiled, completely disarming her. If Christy had a single argument, which she didn't, one of those devastating smiles would have settled it.

“How soon can you be ready?”

“An hour?”

“I'll check the phone book and make the arrangements while you dress.” He took her hands and helped her to her feet, pausing long enough to plant a kiss on her unsuspecting lips.

In a daze Christy walked into her bedroom and searched through her closet for something special enough for her wedding. Smiling to herself, she walked to the door and leaned idly against it. “The whole thing's off. I don't have anything decent to wear,” she said, teasing him.

Cody sat at her kitchen table, leafing through the impossibly thick yellow pages. He glanced up and chuckled. “Don't worry about it. Whatever you put on is going to come off so fast it'll make your head spin.”

Christy chose a soft pink suit she'd purchased the year before at Easter. Carrying it into the bathroom, she closed the door. Quite by accident she caught her reflection in the mirror above the sink and gasped at the pitiful sight she made.

Leaning over the sink, she studied the woman who stared back at her. Her short dark hair was a mess, as if it hadn't been combed in weeks. Her eyes were another thing. Christy had always considered her distinctive blue eyes to be her best feature. Now they were red-rimmed and bloodshot as if she'd been on a two-day drunken spree. Her lips were red and swollen, although she attributed that to Cody's kisses. That man could kiss like nobody's business. She went weak all over again, remembering the feel and taste of his mouth on hers.

Bracing her hands against the sink, she was forced to admit that she was probably among the most pathetic creatures on earth. Yet Cody had looked at her as if she was gorgeous.

The man definitely loved her. That worked out well, since she definitely loved him.

 

Cody couldn't keep still. He couldn't seem to make himself stop pacing Christy's living room. Four steps, turn, four more steps, turn again.

He glanced at his watch. She was already five minutes past the hour she'd told him she'd need. What could be taking her so long? She'd locked herself in the bathroom, and he hadn't heard a peep since. His mind was beginning to play cruel tricks on him. Perhaps she'd changed her mind about going through with the wedding and, not wanting to hurt his feelings, she'd climbed out the bathroom window.

That thought revealed the shocking state of his mental condition more than anything he'd said or done in the past two hours. He'd flown into Seattle with one purpose. Either he'd settle this craziness between him and Christy or he'd end their relationship.

He hadn't counted on her enthusiasm. She'd been giddy with happiness when he'd arrived. Okay, he was the giddy one. He'd had no idea she was going to throw herself into his arms the moment she opened the door. Not that he'd minded…A slow smile relaxed his mouth. Everything had progressed naturally from there.

Cody had always considered himself a strong man. Not muscular or brawny, although he could hold his own and often had. His real strength, he felt, was his stubborn determination. He liked to think he had a will of iron.

Christy had proved him wrong in world-record time.

During the early-morning flight, he'd given himself a pep talk, outlining everything he intended to say. He'd planned to meet with her, explain his position and ask her as calmly and unemotionally as possible to make her decision.

It was either James or him.

If she chose the attorney, Cody was prepared to accept her choice serenely and walk out of her life.

Other than the rocky beginning of that conversation, everything had gone as he'd hoped. Never mind that Christy had managed to break down his resolve within five seconds. The instant she was in his arms, he could feel himself start to weaken.

No woman, not even Becca, had ever had as much control over him.

Now he and Christy would be flying into Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and getting married. Smiling, Cody settled against the back of the sofa. He recalled when Russ and Taylor had come back to Cougar Point after serving as chaperones for the drill team, traveling with a busload of high school girls to Reno. They'd left town barely speaking to each other and arrived home a few days later married.

Cody could still remember how surprised everyone was. Most folks agreed Taylor was the best thing ever to happen to the opinionated Russ Palmer, but there'd been skeptics, too.

Understandably. Taylor was a city girl. Russ was a rancher. Taylor had only been in town three months.

But when folks in Cougar Point learned that Cody had married Christy after knowing her less than
one
month, there'd be even more raised eyebrows.

That didn't disturb Cody in the least. He loved Christy beyond a doubt, and next month when he stood before the citizens of Custer County to be sworn in as sheriff, she'd be at his side. It would be the proudest moment of his life, and he wanted her with him.

The bathroom door opened, and Christy stepped out. Cody turned around to inform her that she was twelve minutes late. His teasing comment wilted before ever making it to his lips.

She was stunningly beautiful, dressed in a pink linen suit. Her hair was perfect, her makeup flawlessly applied. Christy Manning was so beautiful, Cody couldn't help staring at her. It took more effort than he could believe just to close his mouth. He was too tongue-tied to utter a single word.

“Do I look all right?” she asked, gazing at him expectantly.

For the life of him, all Cody could do was nod.

Christy smiled and held out her hand. “Then let's get this show on the road.”

 

The ceremony itself took place later that evening in a wedding chapel overlooking the crystal blue waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Between the time they obtained the license, purchased a pair of gold bands and made the arrangements for the wedding itself, Cody half expected Christy to express some doubts.

She didn't. When she repeated her vows, Christy's strong, clear voice had sounded so confident and poised, he couldn't help marveling—and feeling both humbled and honored by her love.

The flight back to Seattle brought them into the airport shortly before midnight. In the space of one day Cody had traveled from Montana to Washington state, then had flown a two-seater Cessna from Seattle to Coeur d'Alene and back again. He should've been exhausted, but he wasn't. In fact, he felt more alive than he could ever remember being in his life. All he had to do was glance at Christy, who delighted in flashing him a sexy, slightly naughty smile, to feel the blood shoot through his veins.

They returned the Cessna to the hangar and headed toward his rental car. He held the door for her and pressed a light kiss on her lips when she climbed inside. She leaned against him, and it took all his restraint not to deepen the kiss right then and there.

He needed a moment to let his mind clear. “Where to, Mrs. Franklin?” he asked, sliding behind the wheel of the car.

She responded with a blank look.

“Choose any hotel you'd like.” He wanted the best Seattle had to offer for Christy. A honeymoon suite. Champagne. Silk sheets. Room service.

“But I didn't pack anything,” she protested.

Cody was about to comment that she wouldn't need any clothes, but he didn't get the chance.

“I have this white silk baby doll gown. Would you mind if we went back to my apartment so I could put a few things together?”

“Your wish is my command, Mrs. Franklin.”

Resting her head against his shoulder, Christy sighed audibly and murmured, “I like that in a man.”

At the apartment complex, he went inside with Christy. His own suitcase was still there.

Christy hurried into the bedroom, then reappeared a moment later. She walked shyly up to him, then placed her hands on his chest. Cody gazed down at her as she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.

Cody's response was immediate. He cradled the back of her head as he returned her kiss—and then some. Soon she was weak and pliant in his arms.

“What was that for?” he asked when he found his breath.

“Because I'm so happy to be your wife.”

Cody locked his hands at the small of her back and glanced longingly toward her bedroom.

Christy reached up, kissed his cheek and deftly removed the Stetson from his head. Cody frowned when she tossed it Frisbee fashion across the room. It landed on a chintz-covered cushion as neatly as if he'd set it there himself.

Next her fingers were busy working loose the knot of his tie. “Christy?” Her name tumbled from his lips. “What are you doing?”

“Undressing my husband. I've decided I don't want to go to a hotel room, not when we're both here. Not when I can't wait another minute for us to act like a married couple.”

“You're sure?” He didn't know why he was questioning her; he wanted her so much that he was trembling.

“Very sure.” After discarding his tie, she began to unfasten his shirt buttons.

Cody's hands roved her back, his fingers seeking and not finding a zipper.

She peeled open his shirt and lightly ran her long nails down his bare chest. Shudders swirled down his spine as she nuzzled his neck, nibbling and sucking and licking her way to the throbbing hollow of his throat.