A British Bride by Agreement Page 8

  She turned her body completely toward her window. “Oh, no.”

  “If you didn’t like something—”

  “I see Debbie. Stop the car.” She stiffened.

  A flash of frustration shot through him like a hockey puck. All he’d wanted to do was shower her with gifts and this is the thanks he got? “Don’t you think you’re overreacting—Debbie? Where?”

  She reached up and banged on the glass separating the driver from them. “Please stop.”

  Jonathan swung around and looked through the back window.

  As soon as the car halted, she jumped out and started running in the opposite direction. She glanced over her shoulder and shouted, “I just saw Debbie and her girls, coming out of a hospital entrance—something’s wrong.”

  He took off after her. By the time he caught up to her, Emma had her arms around Debbie.

  “What’s wrong?” His breathing sounded heavy.

  Debbie wiped away tears. “Oh, it’s so good to see you,” she sobbed as she stood in front of a sign with a red cross on the front. “I didn’t know what to do.”

  Chloe clung to her mom and the twins fussed in their double stroller. Emma leaned in and patted them both on their heads. “Where’s Ben?”

  “He’s been airlifted to another hospital in Berlin. He’s had some kind of seizure. The hotel called an ambulance and they took him to this emergency center. The doctors there said he had to go to a specialty hospital, but I don’t know how to get there, and how much it will cost. And here they seem very strict about children visiting.” She dissolved in a flood of tears.

  Emma reached for her purse. She only had 100 Euros. “Take this and I will get you more.”

  Jonathan stepped in. “I think it would be better if we flew with you to Berlin, get a good translator, and find you some help with your children.”

  “And an English nanny.” Emma smiled at the children. “There is nothing as efficient as an English nanny.”

  Jonathan nodded. “Whatever you need, Debbie, we’re here to help.” He got on his cell phone to make the arrangements while Emma and Debbie got the kids and the stroller loaded into the car. The driver took them to Debbie’s hotel room to pack their things and then to the Steller jet where two English nannies met them. From Munich, they flew to Kranenhaus Centre in Berlin.

  After conferring with the doctors, Jonathan arranged for Debbie to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the hospital, and organized a cell phone and a translator to be with her as long as she needed them. He and Emma took the girls back to Munich, where they met up with two wel-vetted English nannies. By the time they got to their resort, it was well after midnight.

  The nannies and the twins stayed in an adjoining room with added cribs, so Jonathan laid Chloe on the couch, and Emma covered her up.

  Emma flopped on her bed and rested her head on the pillows. “I’m so exhausted.”

  But Jonathan paced the room, adrenaline still flowing through his veins. “That was great. I mean helping someone, not just handing them money, but really doing something to assist them.”

  She glanced over the pillows at him. “You were brilliant. You arranged everything, were sweet to the girls, checked the references on the nannies yourself. You thought of everything—and for people, until yesterday, you didn’t even know. I’m so proud of you.”

  He came and sat next to her. Something changed inside of him because of today. His focus had shifted from chasing business to understanding the power in helping others. Maybe this charity directorship was a good thing. He wanted to accomplish things for needy people beyond giving money. He wanted God to forgive for what happened to his brother. “We had an impact on someone in need. I want to do more of that—to be used by God.”

  “You won’t get in any trouble for the cost?”

  He cupped the side of her face. “I think we make a great pair.”

  His fingers caressed the side of her cheek and she pressed her eyes shut and leaned into his hand. “I think so, too.”

  They slid into each other’s arms and he held her, relishing the soft warmth of her frame. She belonged in his arms. For a few minutes, they sat in companionable silence as they clung to one another and stared out at the darkened outline of the mountain range through the French doors next to the bed.

  He looked at the floor and then looked up at her. “I’m not sleeping there.”

  A startled look swept over her. “Oh.”

  Had she read his actions wrong? “I didn’t mean we would—”

  “I knew that. I just thought you were—”

  “What?”

  “Sweet to give up your bed to the nannies.”

  A sense of well-being infused him. This day with Emma beside him made him feel ten feet tall. “I’m sad that our trip is almost over.”

  Emma leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Me, too.”

  Make that twenty feet.

  Until she crawled into bed with him.

  “Goodnight,” she said as she turned out the light.

  The moonlight coming through the French doors filled the room. He could make out the pink tank top she wore. He swallowed. This intense attraction to her was growing every day. Emma was a sweet, wonderful, smart, caring woman. So opposite the women he used to date. And she was as beautiful dressed up with make up as she was without and in sweats. He ran his fingers through his hair. How long could he keep from touching her completely? It would be so easy just to let it happen and then maybe a child would be on the way. He kicked back the covers, the room suddenly warm. He wished he could take off his sweatshirt.

  “Are you hot?” He asked her.

  “No, I mean yes.” She looked wide awake.

  “I can’t sleep.” He stared at the ceiling.

  “Me neither.”

  He leaned up on one elbow. “Tell me about your favorite moment on this trip.”

  “That’s easy, the walk up the alps. We were alone.”

  He reached up and smoothed back her hair. “Mine was being able to help your friends.”

  She slipped down onto one elbow and faced him. “You did such a wonderful job. You just took charge and then everything was in order and everyone was taken care of. I really admire that about you.”

  He smirked. “So not my good looks?”

  She punched him good naturedly. “You cad.”

  “A guy can hope.”

  Is that a family trademark on your sweatshirt?”

  He pulled on his grey sweatshirt. “Where?”

  She pointed. “That spider looking thing.”

  He pulled further. “I don’t see it.”

  Suddenly, she screamed, lunged forward and hit his shoulder, sending both of them onto the floor.

  He quickly snatched her up and threw her on the bed. “Stay there.”

  She clenched her hands to her chest. “I am so afraid of spiders!”

  He flipped on the lights and grabbed his shoe and killed it. “It’s dead.”

  “Are you sure?” Emma, now trembling, peered over the side.

  He turned off the lights and settled back into bed. “Are you going to lie down?”

  She nodded and slowly slid down right next to him. “How do we know there aren’t more?”

  “There aren’t many poisonous spiders in Germany.” He slipped his arm around her. Her body was still shaking. “Calm down. He’s gone.”

  She pressed her face into his chest. “I don’t know when I developed this fear of spiders, but it throws me into a panic. I’m sorry I’m being such a pudding head.”

  He kissed the top of her head and snugged her closer. “I happen to love pudding heads.”

  He felt her stiffen. He had just used the word love. Awkward.

  She looked up at him and a grin spread across her lips like syrup on pancakes. Pancakes he’d like to take a bite of. He leaned in and kissed her. The warmth from her lips and her frame pressed against him sent his heart hammering.

  She pulled back. “What a
re you most afraid of?”

  Tracing the soft curve of her shoulder, his pressed his lips. “Disfigured people. Sick people. I guess because my childhood was so blessed. We were insulated from people who weren’t like us.”

  “But isn’t that who you’re going to work with in the charity?”

  He let out a long sigh. “Yes.” Moving in closer, he softly kissed the spot he’d been tracing.

  She slipped her arms around him pressing herself closer.

  A moan escaped his lips. By now he was on fire. What had been a containable flare of attraction had now exploded into a raging burn. It would be so easy to let nature take over. Nine months from now, welcome a child, the fourth generation of Stellers. Please his father. Assume his place in the company. It was all he wanted wrapped up in a beautiful blonde package who was right now kissing him.

  He gently eased her back, placing her arms on either side of her head, kissing her face, her neck, her shoulder. “I want to be a husband to you.”

  Her face searched his in the dark, her breathing rapid, when she screamed out loud. “Something touched my leg!” She jumped out of the bed and flipped on the nightstand lamp. “There,” she pointed a shaky finger. “Under the covers. Is some dreadful creature.”

  Jonathan jerked back the covers and searched all around. “There’s nothing.”

  Her hand on her throat, she looked under the bed. “But I felt something.”

  The bedroom door opened, and a sleepy girl wandered in. “Why were you screaming?”

  Emma rushed forward. “Oh, Chloe, I—I thought I saw a spider, so Mr. Steller looked, but there was nothing there.”

  Chloe rubbed her eyes. “I don’t like spiders.”

  Emma glanced back at Jonathan and then led the little girl back to the other room. “I think they are horrid little creatures.”

  Jonathan took a moment to double check again there were no spiders. He let out a deep breath. He was already so out of control with emotions for Emma, consummating their marriage would be too distracting for him. Later, when they’d gotten home and he’d delved back into his work world.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  When Emma came back in, Jonathan was already under the covers and turned away from her. She flipped off the lights and crawled in. Because of her fears, she had ruined the moment with Jonathan. Was he mad? “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” His voice sounded a bit cross.

  A long pause hung in the air. She swallowed back the tears welling in her throat. She so wanted him to love her. To have a successful marriage. Even his children. She silently wiped her tears with her tank top.

  In her second year with DJ, she’d had a miscarriage at home. She had just found out she was pregnant and wanted to wait until Father’s Day to tell him. But instead, a week later she’d lost the baby. She cleaned things up on her own, never sharing the shattering event with anyone other than her doctor. There was a little part of her that feared she could never have children. Another failure.

  “Nothing, good night.” But a few seconds later, she couldn’t help the images of spiders in her mind and scooted over to lightly press her frame against his. “I’m still a little scared.”

  Jonathan didn’t say another word, but he didn’t move away either…

  ***

  The day after Jonathan and Emma had returned from Germany, Jonathan strolled into his new office at the Steller Charity. There was a lift in his step and an energy he’d not had in a while. Was marriage to Emma the reason? A smile crept onto his lips as warmth spread across his chest. The decision to marry her had turned out far better than he’d ever imagined.

  They ended up sleeping together for two nights before Debbie came and got the kids. Their relationship was still chaste. He wanted Emma to feel comfortable with him, this new life, this agreement before they started trying for children. Sweat beaded his forehead at the memory of it. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.

  Knowing she was right next to him all night.

  Smiling and sighing in her sleep.

  He and Emma had been relieved to get a call last night from Debbie that she and Ben and the girls were heading home, and Ben had a clean bill of health. His episode turned out to be nothing more than a bad case of sunstroke.

  But that encounter had changed Jonathan. He was ready to help the injured and the needy. This new position at the charity had to be God’s way of allowing him to do some good for a change.

  As soon as he set his briefcase down, Geraldine, his secretary, handed him some messages. “These came in last week. Ted in communications said those suggestions you gave have boosted the charity’s publicity exposure by thirty-five percent. And Angie in marketing wanted to thank you for the ideas on the new ad campaign. She says you’ve saved the charity hundreds of dollars.”

  Heat welling in his chest, Jonathan flipped open his briefcase and pulled out a few files. After years of being bogged down by bureaucracy and paperwork, the Steller charity, at his direction, would begin performing once again to Steller standards. After a time of doing good deeds, then he would pass the position off to someone else, and he would return to Product Development and the eventual helm of the family business.

  “Those were Nick’s ideas. Anything else?”

  Nick poked his head in. “The owner of the Cardinals baseball team loved the scheme I gave him for auctioning off box seats to fund their charity. He called back to see if I could join him and the players for dinner so they can thank me, but I can’t go. Do you and Emma want to go instead?”

  Jonathan’s breathing caught in his throat. A chance to meet all the players? He’d been an avid Cardinals fan since he was a boy. “Yes, let them know,” he kept this voice steady, “that any night this week or next will work for me and Emma.”

  Nick tapped on his phone. “Sure. And one other thing, in a few minutes, you have a meeting—”

  “Jonathan.” His dad strolled in.

  His gut tightened. “Dad.”

  “Uncle Hans,” Nick adjusted his tie.

  His father nodded his head at Nick to leave and folded his arms. “So, how was Erste Tag?”

  “Beautiful.”

  “And Emma?”

  Jonathan couldn’t help but grin. “Beautiful, too.”

  His father almost smiled. “Well, let’s hope you can keep your mind on your work.”

  Jonathan stilled. This marriage was meant to advance him back to the main company, not show any weaknesses. “I can assure you—”

  “While you were gone, an issue came up with that orphanage in Belize. Something about potential fraud. I’d like a report on my desk by five.”

  A ripple of anxiety shot through Jonathan. The Belize Children’s Center was the first large charity donation he’d approved as the new director just before he’d left for the honeymoon. And it was a hoax? Tension tightened his neck. “No problem.”

  His father paced out of Jonathan’s office.

  Jonathan followed him out the door. “I can assure you there is just some misunderstanding. I’m sure it’s all legitimate. I checked all the references myself—” Jonathan was standing in the accounting cubicle area and all eyes were on him. He set a reassuring smile on his lips. “Good morning, everyone.”

  He strode back to his office. Fraud? They had sent the orphanage tens of thousands of dollars. Before he could even sip his black coffee, his secretary had made for him, the phone buzzed. “Mrs. Peterson for you.”

  “Who?”

  An older woman’s voice squawked from the phone speaker. “The annual Steller Benefit Concert needs to be organized by the end of the month. You know a bird in hand is better than three elsewhere.”

  Mrs. Peterson, a friend of his mother’s had helped with the concert for the last twenty years. And she took it very seriously.

  “Are you still there?” Her voice squawked again.

  Jonathan shifted his gaze back toward the phone. “Excuse me, I—I was thinking very hard about what you said. Yes, the
concert. I will have my people look into several locations and get back to you.”

  There was a grumble on the end of the phone and a click. Another ring interrupted him. “Yes?”

  Geraldine cleared her throat. “Your finance committee meeting has been waiting for you in the conference room to discuss the Belize orphanage situation.”

  His shoulders slumped. Maybe turning this charity around was going to take a little longer than he thought.

  ***

  Emma sighed and stretched as she sat by herself in the sun-drenched breakfast nook that overlooked a small pond. Her chin rested in her hand as she enjoyed the view of two swans idly swimming side by side. Just like she and Jonathan.

  The glow from the honeymoon still warmed her insides like a bowl of hot custard on a cold day. She still couldn’t believe all that had happened on their trip and how each day unwrapped new discoveries about her husband. Did he feel the same way about her?

  She glance around the room full of boxes and wondered where to begin. How did one act as a society wife? The idea of decorating this gigantic home overwhelmed her, although Jonathan had said something about a family decorator that would help. How she wished she and Jonathan could have had one more day together, then she could have asked him a lot of questions. What did he expect of her? How did he want her to spend her days? She lingered on the memory of the two nights they slept side by side. Jonathan was, of course, the perfect gentleman, but she found herself resisting, several times the urge to smother kisses on the back of his neck.

  She sipped the last of her morning tea as a maid named Adele cleared the dishes. When the woman removed the saucer, Emma took it as a sign she was expected to be done. “Thank you for breakfast.”

  The woman gave her a quizzical stare. “Your mother call.” Her accent sounded Spanish.

  Emma’s tea sloshed in her cup. “My mother?”

  “I give her you cell phone number.” The woman nodded and left the room.

  Scrunching up her eyes, Emma held her balled fist to her head. The blissful bubble of her honeymoon burst as a rush of cold memories flooded back. If she never heard from her mother again, it would be fine. That woman had dragged her and her brother from one end of England to the other for years, all to make a few pounds. Several hundred thousand pounds, none of which she or her brother ever saw. Obsessed with wealth and status, Lilith Waterhouse never showed emotion, never once flagged in her determination to get the one thing she wanted in life—money.