Wedding His Takeover Target (13 page)

Her lungs emptied. Her head spun. Her conscience said
Slow down
but her heart said
Yes, yes, yes.
She offered Gavin a trembling hand and met his dark gaze. “Yes, I'll marry you, Gavin Jarrod. I want to be your wife and spend the rest of my life waking in your arms.”

He took her hand and slid the cool ring onto her finger, then kissed her knuckles. “Thank you.”

Teary-eyed, Sabrina stared at the ring—a symbol of the
kind of happiness she'd never intended to allow herself again. “The stone is beautiful. What is it? A sapphire?”

“A blue diamond.”

Her heart went
ka-bump.
“Aren't those incredibly rare?”

“Not as rare as you.”

The words added yet another fairy-tale twinkle to the evening. But a teensy part of her brain asked if a man who bought priceless blue diamonds would ever be happy with a plain-old-quartz kind of girl.

“Let's go back to the inn and share our news and a bottle of champagne with Henry.”

Sabrina couldn't think of a better way to celebrate except maybe in Gavin's bed. But making love with her fiancé would have to wait.

 

The guilt knife twisted in Gavin's gut every time Sabrina beamed a smile in his direction. She loved him.

And he didn't deserve it.

But he couldn't allow his feelings to show. Not with Henry watching him like a hungry hawk. Sabrina had already been through so much, her parents' betrayal, losing her baby and then her husband. He had no right to pile more misery on her. But backing out of the deal now would hurt her more than sticking it out and letting her love slowly fade over time—as it undoubtedly would.

The inn's phone rang. “I'll get it,” Sabrina said and hustled down the hall.

Henry waited until she was out of the room to set down his champagne flute. “You're determined to do this?”

“I make her happy.”

Henry's snowy white head bobbed. “That you do. If not, I'd be calling off the whole deal despite my concern about her being alone after I'm gone. But I'll be watching.”

“As you should be.”

“Don't think that ring—no matter how much you paid for it—gives you carte blanche to anticipate your vows under my roof again.”

“I understand. We'll have a private ceremony at Jarrod Ridge as soon as I can arrange it. I'm shooting for Monday.”

“Why not here?”

“Because if the marriage doesn't work out, I don't want Sabrina to have any bad memories attached to the Snowberry Inn.”

Henry grunted. Gavin didn't know if the noise indicated approval or disapproval.

Sabrina returned. The confused, or maybe dazed was the right word, expression on her face, made him want to hug her—not a normal reaction for him. He wasn't the hugging type.

“That was Samantha Jarrod. She said she's your sister-in-law. I've been invited to a bridal shower for your sister Erica on the nineteenth.”

Blake must have said something to his new wife. Gavin's family was already bringing Sabrina into the fold. Too late to back out now—even if he could find another way to get his hands on that land.

 

Her wedding day.

Sabrina paced inside the atrium at Jarrod Manor Monday afternoon, struggling to settle her rattled nerves and slow her breathing before she hyperventilated.

She needed to remind herself why she was rushing into marriage. But between shopping for a wedding dress and several walk-in guests at the inn, she'd only seen Gavin once over the weekend before this morning's rushed trip to the Pitkin County clerk's office for their marriage license.

So much for it being bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony on her wedding day.

Was she doing the right thing?

Her conscience had been screaming that question since Gavin had presented her with the prenuptial agreement Saturday evening. Signing the document had seemed like planning the end of her marriage before it began. But Gavin had explained she needed to protect her interest in the inn, and he needed to protect his siblings' interests in Jarrod Ridge. Logically, everything he said made sense, but that didn't mean it didn't bother her.

To focus on something besides the emotional cauldron boiling in her belly she examined the location Gavin had chosen for their ceremony. She had to give him points for choosing a scenic setting.

The solarium with its vaulted ceiling had already been decorated for Christmas even though Thanksgiving was still weeks away. A massive Christmas tree decorated with red and white poinsettias and twinkling white lights dominated one end of the room, lending a festive air to what should be a simple exchange of vows officiated by one of her grandfather's poker buddies—a retired judge. At the opposite end of the solarium a poinsettia and greenery-draped stone fireplace dominated the wall. And in the center of it all, a beautiful brass fountain shaped like the jagged mountains beyond the windows gurgled. Under other circumstances, she imagined that gurgle would be quite soothing.

Chilled, she made her way toward the crackling flames and held out her hands toward the heat. Light from the overhead chandelier caught the Colorado-blue-sky diamond of her engagement ring, revealing the inner fire Gavin had mentioned. She'd fallen in love with the ring the moment she'd seen it, but when she'd learned the blue of the stone happened to be Gavin's favorite color she'd loved it even more. Finding a dress in the same hue felt as if destiny had stepped in to confirm her decision to marry a man she barely knew.

But that didn't lessen her nervousness.

She swept a hand down the long satin skirt and shifted her shoulders in the sheer lace and beaded bolero jacket overlaying the strapless satin sweetheart top. The dress was a little lower cut than she was accustomed to wearing, showing the top curves of her breasts. She turned to let the flames warm the skin left bare by the deep V-back of the dress.

She hadn't had a wedding dress when she'd married Russell. They hadn't had the money for one.

Stop. Don't think about Russell today.

The door opened, providing a much needed distraction, and Gavin strode in looking powerful and charismatic in his black suit, white shirt and blue-and-black-striped tie. He had a red rosebud in his lapel and one hand behind his back. Her heart quickened.

“Are you ready?”

If she said no would he wait? “I think so.”

He swept out his arm, revealing a gardenia and red rose bouquet. “For you. Henry said these were your two favorite flowers.”

His thoughtful gesture reminded her of one of the reasons why she'd said yes. Gavin was generous and considerate. He might not have said he loved her yet, but he did show it. “Thank you, Gavin. The flowers are beautiful.”

“So are you.” He traced a fingertip over her neckline beneath the sheer bodice, making her shiver as desire swept a few doubts under the expensive rug beneath her feet. “Your dress is sexy.”

“I'm glad you like it.” Blushing, she accepted the bouquet and lifted it to her face, drawing a deep breath of the heady fragrance. “Mmm. Smells good.”

“Where's Henry?”

“Judge Roberts has cataracts and can't drive. Pops is picking him up.”

“I could have sent a car rather than have you waiting here alone.”

“It's okay. I've been…gathering my thoughts.” More like gathering her nerve.

Gavin lifted her chin with his knuckle. “Sabrina, if you're having doubts, now's the time to say so.”

The fact that he was giving her an out went a long way toward soothing her fears. “I want to marry you, Gavin.”

“Good. Because I can't wait to hold you in my arms tonight. It's been a long weekend without you.”

The last of her misgivings melted. “I can't wait either.”

He took the bouquet from her, set it on a nearby table and pulled her into his arms. He lowered his head and she met him halfway, needing to feel his hunger. The kiss didn't disappoint her. From the moment his mouth opened over hers, she felt the restraint in his firm possession, in the deep sweeps of his tongue and the way his hands tightened on her upper arms.

He tasted of mints and coffee and Gavin. He shifted his stance, then his palms coasted downward to her waist. His hips pressed against hers, generating heat, hunger and enough eagerness on her part that she should be ashamed of her out-of-control desire. But she wasn't. As much as she'd enjoyed her numbness before meeting Gavin, she now relished the way he made her feel alive with nothing more than a glance or a touch.

The doors opened, startling them apart. Pops and Judge Roberts ambled in. Judge Roberts rubbed his hands and grinned. “Looks like we need to get this knot tied good and tight as quickly as possible.”

“Amen,” Gavin muttered beside her, making her smile. At least the passion wasn't one-sided.

And for better or worse, Sabrina decided she couldn't agree more. She wanted to get the wedding over with so she could stop questioning whether she was doing the right thing.

 

The gold band weighed heavily on Gavin's finger as he washed his last bite of wedding cake down with champagne at the end of the brief wedding reception he'd arranged for Sabrina. He owed her that much since she'd had none of the fanfare at her first wedding. His family would probably insist on something larger later since he'd kept them away from the ceremony, but for now he wasn't looking forward to playing the besotted bridegroom in front of the people who knew him—and his aversion to marriage—best.

He signaled the photographer he'd hired to give them a moment and smoothed a loose curl from Sabrina's soft cheek. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes with happiness shining in her eyes, and he felt the impact of that glance like a caress. It took him a second to recall what he'd been about to say.

He cleared his throat to ease the sudden thickness. “We need to get Henry and Judge Roberts on the road before dark. I'll walk them to the car.”

She smiled and lifted her hand to lick a smudge of cake icing from her finger. He intercepted her and carried her finger to his mouth. The tastes of Sabrina and white chocolate buttercream icing mingled on his tongue. Her pink lips parted on a gasp and her pupils dilated, igniting a corresponding hunger in his belly. The woman had bewitched him, but not even a passion this strong could endure the absences his job would require.

But until that day, he would focus on the here and now. In a matter of hours he would have her in his bed, naked, wet, and begging him to taste her other sweet spots. He ground his teeth but he couldn't contain the groan rumbling up his chest. “Give me five minutes.”

She licked her lips, unconsciously inviting him in for a
quick kiss that ended up lingering until he almost forgot he had business waiting. A flash from the camera jarred him away.

“Take your time. I need to run to the ladies' room anyway.” Her voice sounded breathless and a flush tinted her cheeks.

And he didn't want to leave her. But the signed deed was the reason for this farce, and he wouldn't end the day without having it in his possession. Once he had it he'd call Blake and give him the go-ahead to contact the construction team.

Releasing her hand and backing away was more difficult than it should have been. He did it anyway and joined the men by the door. “Gentlemen, shall I see you out?”

Once the door closed behind them, Henry nodded to Gavin then turned to Roberts. “Elwood, can you give us a minute?”

Roberts nodded, slapped Gavin on the back and shook his hand. “Congratulations, son. You are indeed one lucky bastard.”

More bastard than you know.
“Yessir, I am.”

After the judge walked away Gavin gestured to a small sitting area around the corner. He and Henry made their way to the secluded spot. “You have the signed deed?”

“I do.” Henry offered the folded document. “A deed for a deed, as promised.”

Satisfaction rolled through Gavin as his fingers closed over the paper. He finally had what he wanted—and he'd achieved something not even his father had been able to manage—getting the land back.

“What is that?” Sabrina's question jerked Gavin's attention away from his prize. She stood in the hallway. Holding Gavin's gaze, she quickly closed the distance and plucked the paper from his hand before he could think of a way out of this mess.

She unfolded it, scanned it and then looked up at him with confusion puckering her brow. “This is the deed to the mine.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me you were just doing business today and that this—” she rattled the page “—isn't connected to our wedding.”

“It's nothing for you to worry about, girlie,” Henry said and tried to take the deed from her. She snatched it out of reach and focused on Gavin.

“You said Pops agreed to sell the land to you.”

He debated his options. Honesty was his only course. “I said we agreed on the terms.”

She frowned. “If you bought the property where's the check?” She held up a hand before Gavin could reply. “Think very hard before you lie to me.”

Henry shot Gavin a warning look, but Gavin ignored it. The pain in her eyes cut him to the bone, crushing his triumph over achieving his goal.

He had to fix this. Or he'd lose her.

S
abrina searched her grandfather's face and then Gavin's. Both looked back at her with matching thin-lipped, guilty-as-sin expressions and her stomach sank.

“A deed for a deed,” she repeated the words she'd overheard through numb lips, trying to make sense of them. Unfortunately, the only option wasn't a palatable one. Why would the two men she loved the most deceive her?

She focused on Gavin. “Did you marry me to get the mine?”

He shared a long look with her grandfather and each silent second ticking past deepened her misgivings and tightened a vise around her chest.

“Did you, Gavin?” she repeated.

“Jarrod—” her grandfather growled in what sounded like a warning.

“Sabrina needs to know the truth.” Gavin's solemn dark eyes met hers. “That was the original plan.”

An arrow pierced her heart, but this one hadn't come from Cupid's bow. This one had come from an assassin. Her marriage was a sham. “The original plan? Explain that, please.”

Gavin paused and swallowed. “As soon as I met you on that porch I wanted you. And then we touched, and I knew I'd stop at nothing to have you. I've never reacted to a woman that intensely or that fast in my life. That was before I met Henry and he laid his suggestion on the table.”

“His suggestion? And what was that exactly?”

Again, he hesitated for a moment as if choosing his words very carefully. “That I take the time to get to know you. Sabrina, with or without the land we would have ended up together one way or another.”

“So all this…” Heartsick, she swept a hand to indicate her dress, the hotel, him. Her throat closed up. Her eyes burned. “You faked it.”

He gripped her upper arm and led her a short distance away from her grandfather, then dipped his head to speak close to her face. “Do you believe I could fake the desire I feel for you? The hunger that eats me up inside until I can barely think? Name one thing that's happened between us that feels phony.”

He'd lowered his voice to that sexy rumble that made her tremble. She didn't want to believe him, but for a man who was usually hard to read she couldn't deny the sincerity in Gavin's eyes. Her emotions churned wildly. How could his comments simultaneously hurt her and send her heart flying?

Did he love her or had he just used her?

She jerked her arm free and moved a few steps away from Gavin to try to regain control. That left her staring at her grandfather. “So this was your idea.”

Pops's eyes and his hangdog expression begged for forgiveness. “Sabrina—”

Gavin's hands settled on her shoulders. “Henry saw the chemistry between us and prodded me to follow through because he loves you, and he doesn't want you to be alone if anything ever happened to him.”

And then she realized there was a much larger issue here. For Pops to be this desperate he had to be hiding more than his matchmaking. “The pressure you've been putting on me to find someone over the past few months…it's because you're not well. Isn't it?”

Pops shrugged. “I've been better.”

“Don't keep secrets,” she warned. “Not about something this important.”

“I'm feeling my age, girlie, that's all. Colleen would want me to see you settled, before—”

Before he joined her, she finished silently when he didn't. “I don't need a babysitter, Pops. You and Grandma taught me well. I can take care of myself and the inn.”

“I'm not talking about a keeper. It's like I've told you. Life is meant to be shared. I want you to experience what your grandmother and I had, Sabrina. You need to know what it feels like to know that one person in this world will always support you and be there for you until God calls 'em home. You didn't have that with Russell. He was off doing his job—” She opened her mouth to protest but he held up a hand to cut her off. “I'm not denying his was a valiant mission, but he left you behind to fend for yourself. You never had the chance to be two halves of a whole before you were his widow and alone again.”

She couldn't argue with facts.

“I saw you primping in the hall the day Gavin first visited. That's the first time I've seen you flushed and excited in years. Then Gavin here couldn't take his eyes off you, and I knew I had to act before yer blasted stubbornness kept you from finding the match standing right in front of you.”

“But, Pops—”

“But nothing. Gavin is the first man you've shown interest in since you moved in. I wasn't letting him get away.”

Her cheeks burned. “You could have given us a chance to work things out ourselves.”

“Wasn't wasting time I can't guarantee I have. None of us knows how many days we have left, and happiness won't wait. You have to seize it while you can.”

By marrying her off, he'd lessened his worries, she realized.

She turned back to Gavin, and her pulse did a little skip as it did every time she saw him. She loved him, and from what he'd said and from what he'd shown her in the short time they'd known each other, he did care about her. As he'd said, no one could fake that passion or that tenderness. Maybe he didn't love her yet. Maybe he did. But did she want to throw it all away because of the rocky start to their relationship?

No.

She licked her dry lips and took a breath for courage. “Are you sure you want to be married to me?”

Gavin held her gaze. “I wouldn't undo anything that has happened from the moment I met you, and I will do my best to make sure you never regret becoming my wife.”

Then she would do her best to make her marriage work for her sake, but mostly for Pops's sake. “Let's get Pops home. I believe we have a honeymoon waiting.”

“You know I can't leave.”

“You won't have to leave Aspen for me to make you feel like you're flying.”

The sensual promise in his eyes and voice made her tremble. For better or worse, Gavin was her future.

 

Pregnant.

Sabrina stared at the test stick.

The word in the tiny window explained so much: the slight nausea she'd experienced the past three days, the extra sensitivity in her breasts, and the way certain smells suddenly repelled her when they hadn't before.

She'd been blaming the changes on adjusting to married life. As much as she'd loved sharing Gavin's lodge with him for the past eleven days and nights and spending their mornings and evenings together, juggling her roles as wife, innkeeper and Pops's caretaker was a tough balancing act. Gavin had arranged for Meg, the inn's housekeeper, to stay with Pops at night, but Sabrina still worried about her grandfather.

She stared at the bathroom mirror and pressed her hand to her stomach. A baby. Excitement and fear battled for supremacy inside her. Part of her yearned to have Gavin's child. Another part worried that it was too soon to add a baby into the mix.

How would Gavin react to the news? Would he take it stoically and decide to make the best of the situation the way Russell had, or would he be upset? It was hard to know. They'd been so busy between finishing the chores at the inn and the beginning of construction on the new lodge on the property near the mine that they were still learning about each other, and they could barely have a conversation without ending up naked. A baby would change that.

It was early. Her period was only a few days late. So much could go wrong in the first trimester, as she'd learned the hard way. Maybe she should wait to tell him.

The doorbell rang, startling her. She glanced at her watch. “Oh, darn.”

Her ride was here. She'd met Avery Lancaster last week when at the coffee the Jarrod women had organized to welcome Sabrina into the family, and Sabrina had clicked with Guy's fiancée instantly. When Avery had offered to give Sabrina a ride to Erica's bridal shower in downtown Aspen,
Sabrina had been touched by the way the Jarrod women had included her and she'd accepted. She hadn't known then that she'd need the quiet drive to get her thoughts together.

Sabrina huffed out a breath and hastily gathered the test strip and packaging and stuffed them back into the bag. She wasn't ready to face the world with her new knowledge. But what choice did she have? She crammed the pregnancy test into the garbage can, slashed on a swipe of lipstick and bolted for the front door, grabbing the shower gift from the hall table on the way. She'd have to worry about Gavin and her pregnancy later. And then she'd decide when and how to share her news.

She yanked open the door to Avery's smiling face. “Hi. Sorry I didn't hear you drive up.”

“No problem.” Avery's eyes narrowed. “Are you okay? You're very pale.”

“I probably forgot to put on blush. Oops. I'll daub a little lipstick on my cheeks in the car. What did you buy for Erica?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

“Guy and I are going to provide a week's worth of gourmet dinners and matching wines for when Erica and Christian get back from their honeymoon.”

“Good idea. I hope Guy is cooking the meals himself.” She followed Avery to the car and climbed in.

As she buckled her seat belt she realized she didn't even know where she and Gavin would be living when their baby arrived sometime in—she did the math in her head—late July. Gavin's required year at Jarrod Ridge would be ending.

Would he be willing to move into the B and B? If not, maybe they could buy a place in downtown Aspen. Or would he be on the road for his job? She couldn't leave Pops or the Snowberry Inn to follow Gavin around the globe. Would this be like her marriage to Russell where she'd basically been alone most of the time? Would she be
raising her child primarily as a solo parent? Would this pregnancy go full term?

There were so many unanswered questions. She now wished she'd pressed Gavin for details. But the sex—which was still amazing—kept getting in the way. In fact, she had wondered if Gavin didn't use sex to avoid serious conversations sometimes.

“Are you sure you're okay? You're very quiet today,” Avery asked.

Sabrina grimaced. “Sorry. I was wondering where Gavin's next job would be once he finished his year in Aspen.”

Avery glanced her way. “I heard him tell Guy he was working on some preliminary studies for a bridge in New Zealand.”

Surprise stole her breath. Not even the same continent. “I didn't know he'd already accepted a job.”

“He might not have. You'd better ask him before you get excited about living in such a cool place.”

Only she wouldn't be living there, but Sabrina kept that to herself. Luckily, they'd arrived at the bistro and getting inside ended the conversation.

The other women had already arrived. Bride-to-be Erica glowed with happiness. Sabrina delivered her gift, kissed Erica's cheek and then scanned the others gathered in the private dining room. She recognized Melissa, Gavin's sister, and Samantha, who had married Gavin's oldest brother Blake just days before Gavin and Sabrina had met. The rest of the dozen or so women were new faces. She pasted on a smile and tried to work up the appropriate amount of enthusiasm.

A waitress passed with an order of buffalo wings. The sour smell reached Sabrina. Her stomach roiled. Surprised, she mashed her lips together. Normally, she loved the tangy hot wings, but apparently not now. Her mouth filled with saliva and a cold sweat beaded her brow and upper lip.

Avery touched her arm. “Let me introduce you to everyone.”

Sabrina held up a finger. “Excuse me.”

She spotted a sign marked restroom and darted toward it. She slammed through the door and into the cool tiled room. Before she reached the stall the nausea faded. Bracing her arm against the wall, she took several deep breaths. Wow. She'd never been sick like that with her first pregnancy. She turned on the sink, dampened a paper towel and blotted her face, noting that the amethyst cashmere sweater dress she'd chosen for today accentuated her pallor and the circles beneath her eyes.
Lovely. Not.

The door opened behind her and Avery entered. “I hate to keep asking, but are you sure you're okay, because you don't look like you feel well.”

“I—” Sabrina didn't know what to say. She hadn't told Gavin her news, and it didn't seem right to share it with anyone else until she had. “Don't worry. I'm not contagious.”

“Ohmigod. You're pregnant,” Avery exclaimed wide-eyed.

Sabrina didn't want to lie, and yet how else could she explain her odd behavior. “I'm pretty sure I am. But please don't tell anyone. Gavin doesn't know yet. I did the test right before you arrived.”

“That would explain the shell-shocked look on your face when you opened the door. It's none of my business, but are you happy about this?”

Warmth seeped though Sabrina chasing away her chill. She laid a hand over her tummy. “Yes. I'd love to have Gavin's baby. But I'm not sure how he's going to take the news. It's so soon and we didn't plan this. We haven't even discussed having children.”

Yet another conversation they should have had before rushing into marriage. Luckily, Avery didn't point that out.
Sabrina brushed a stray curl from her face. “I'm thinking about waiting a bit before I tell him…you know, feeling him out about the situation and figuring out how best to approach him.”

“Sabrina, if you're already pregnant it's too late to test the waters on his thoughts about children. Besides, if what happened out there happens again you won't be able to hide your news anyway.”

“No. I guess not. But…”

“Let me tell you something I've figured out. Gavin—like all the Jarrod men—is tough on the outside because he had to be with his father, but all the guys also have warm hearts. It shows in the way they care about each other and kept in touch even when they were scattered about the globe and in the way they dropped everything and rushed here for each other when Donald's will required it. Trust me on this. I should know since I'm engaged to Gavin's big brother.” Avery gave a sympathetic smile.