The Twenty-Four-Hour Bride Read online

  He nodded, finding his voice at last, although the words were low and rusty, rife with tension. “It was a false alarm. Dad spilled some chemicals and that caused the lab to automatically seal.”

  “I’m glad. Not about the chemical spill,” she hastened to add. “Just that they’re all right.”

  “I knew what you meant.” He waited for her next question. When she hesitated, he prompted, “What else did you want to know?”

  “Earlier, when I found out the truth about Peter, you mentioned there was something more you had to tell me. One final secret. I’d like to know what that is.”

  He steeled himself to answer, well aware that if he hadn’t lost her before, he would now. “You’re not going to like it.”

  “I already suspected as much.”

  He didn’t bother with tact but gave her the brutal, unvarnished truth. “I knew what Peter planned to do.”

  She stared at him in disbelief, the color seeping from her face. “You knew—”

  “I knew, and I did absolutely nothing to stop him.”

  “Why?”

  His mouth twisted. “Can’t you guess?”

  “You wanted full control of SSI?”

  “Not even close.”

  “You wanted Peter out of your life?”

  That struck him as funny, and he laughed, a harsh, grating sound that was short on humor and long on bitterness. “No, sweetheart. I wanted him out of yours.”

  He’d caught her by surprise. She gnawed at her lip, studying him with such a look of bewilderment that it tore at what passed for his heart. “I don’t understand.”

  “Yes, you do. He was a rotten husband, Dani. He didn’t love you. He didn’t give you the care and attention you deserved. I wanted him to leave you. I made it easy for him.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  He couldn’t respond. Heaven help him, he wanted to. But he’d worked so hard, struggled for years to achieve control over his emotions. How could he explain feelings he’d spent five years denying, even to himself? The words didn’t exist.

  “Nick? Answer me. Why would you do that?”

  He stared at her calmly. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I had no business interfering.”

  She hesitated for a brief moment, and he knew she’d hoped for more. But his feelings remained locked away, buried far from reach. Finally, she inclined her head. “Thank you for being honest.”

  “You’re leaving.” Say no! Tell me you’ll stay!

  She nodded, and he caught the glint of tears. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m leaving.”

  “Because of a few words?” He took a step in her direction, then stopped. “Do you need to hear them that badly?”

  “I’m afraid I do.”

  It was her turn to walk away. She pivoted and headed for the door. It slammed shut in her face, the lock snicking home.

  “Dammit, Gem!” Nick roared in frustration. “Not again. Open the door!”

  “NEGATIVE. UNAUTHORIZED DEPARTURE REFUSED.”

  “I’m authorizing her departure. Now unlock the door and let her go.”

  “UNABLE TO COMPLY.”

  “Why not?”

  “MRS. COLTER WILL LEAVE.”

  The logic was indisputable, and his fury drained away. “Gem, you’ve been programmed to obey my orders. I’m ordering you to open the door.”

  “MRS. COLTER WILL LEAVE. WORDS ARE NECESSARY FOR MRS. COLTER AND FEMALE OFFSPRING UNIT TO STAY. GIVE REQUIRED WORDS.”

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You want me to tell Dani I love her or you won’t open the door?”

  “ACCESSING. MRS. COLTER?”

  Dani lifted her head, torn between laughter and tears. “Yes, Gem?”

  “ARE WORDS ‘I LOVE YOU’ REQUIRED TO PREVENT DEPARTURE?”

  The tears won, slipping down her cheeks. “Yes, Gem. They are. I need to know that he loves us. That he cares for us. That he’ll never leave us.”

  “ACCESSING.”

  The bank of monitors behind Nick’s desk sprang to life. Images filled the screen. Images of her with Abigail, images that spanned their two months of marriage. And then more images—images that spanned the five years of their partnership.

  “What is this?” she asked, thoroughly confused.

  The monitor went blank and then a single picture burst across the width of the screen. She recognized it as an incident that had taken place five years ago, not long after she’d gone to work at SSI. Peter had walked out of the room, leaving her alone with Nick. She’d been so intimidated by him, so awed by his intelligence and success, that she hadn’t quite known what to do. In the video, Dani glanced at the notes she’d scribbled. She remembered focusing all her concentration on that silly pad because she’d been too nervous to speak. The camera switched to Nick.

  He sat watching her. And the look on his face nearly destroyed her. It was filled with such hopeless longing that she began to weep.

  “Delete image!” Nick bit the words out. “Now!”

  “DELETING.”

  But in its place, another video clip appeared. Dear heavens. It was from the time she and Nick had been trapped in the closet while working together on the Kilburn contract. She was cradled in his arms, sound asleep. He held her, her head pillowed against his shoulder. And as she slept, he talked quietly, softly, a mere whisper of words. “I don’t deserve you after some of the stunts I’ve pulled. But I swear on all I hold dear, I’ll do whatever I can to protect you. I should let you go, let you get on with your life. But I can’t. I need you, sweetheart. I always have and I guess I always will.”

  Her knees buckled and Nick caught her, held her and Abigail tight within his arms. “Turn it off, Gem. Turn it off!”

  “UNABLE TO COMPLY. WORDS NOT SPOKEN.”

  A final image blossomed to life. It must have been taped only moments before her return. Nick stood in the middle of his office, his head bowed, his hands locked into fists. On his face was a look of absolute agony.

  Understanding struck with stunning force. “You can’t say it, can you?” she whispered. “It isn’t that you don’t feel, you just can’t express those feelings.”

  “Dani, I—”

  Prime the pump. She had to find a way to prime the pump.

  Nick had told her how to do it She remembered precisely what he’d said. To prime a pump you had to back feed water down the line to force out the air. Once the air bubble worked free, the water would start flowing. Which meant, if the words wouldn’t come of their own volition, she’d need to start back feeding. She eased from his grasp and put Abbey on the couch, surrounding the baby with a bulwark of cushions. Then she returned to her husband and knelt at his side.

  “Nick.” She caught his face between her palms, forcing him to look at her.

  “Please don’t, Dani. No more.”

  “Listen to me, my dearest husband. All these months, I’ve been waiting—waiting for you to say the words, for you to admit that you love me. And I suddenly realized, I’ve never said the words to you.” Her hands slid through his blond-streaked hair, sinking into the crisp waves. “I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul. I have for a very long time.”

  The first crack appeared in his mask. His eyes blazed with fierce demand. “Don’t leave, Dani. I’m not Peter. I swear I’m not.”

  “I know.” She feathered her mouth across his, feeling his instant response. Hope soared. “I’ve been struggling to figure out why Peter left me destitute. He might have been a selfish man, but he wasn’t cruel. I think... I think he did it because he suspected it would force your hand. You wouldn’t have left me to struggle on my own. And Peter knew that.”

  Nick closed his eyes, the muscles in his face drawn taut. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her hands, feel as he gathered himself, like a runner faced with an impossible hurdle.

  Finally he spoke. The words welled up, bursting through a lifetime of barriers. “I fell in love the first moment we met. It was wrong, and I knew it
. But you were everything I ever dreamed a woman should be. I hated Peter for finding you before I had. And I hated how careless he was with your love.” He opened his eyes. For the first time since she’d known him his gaze reflected peace, like a man who’d finally found salvation.

  Her chin quivered. “Oh, Nick.”

  “You asked about Abigail’s name. I owe you the truth about that.” He cupped her face, his breath caressing her face, her lips, flooding her senses. “When I discovered you were pregnant, I couldn’t believe it. I wanted a baby, a family. But I never expected to have one.”

  “Why?”

  “Because...” He gathered her close, his mouth brushing hers as though he could gather strength from their kiss. “Because I never expected to marry.”

  “Why?” she asked again.

  “Because the only woman I’d ever wanted was already taken.” The words were so low, a mere whisper ripped from such a dark, secret place, she almost didn’t hear. “Without you, marriage wasn’t possible. Nor were children. When I found out you carried my baby, when you had my daughter...” He swallowed, shaking his head.

  “You named her ‘my father rejoices,”’ Dani finished for him, tears spiking her lashes.

  “I started celebrating the moment you opened the door and I saw your condition. Yeah, I rejoiced. You better believe I rejoiced. That baby offered me the chance for a birth, too. For a life I never dared dream was possible.”

  The tears slipped free. “Oh, Nick.”

  “Don’t cry. Don’t you get it? The two of you gave me a future. You gave me hope and love, something I’d never had before. Something I’d never expected to have.” His gaze swept her face, offering an eternity of love and commitment. “I’ve waited so long for you. I’ve had so many empty yesterdays.”

  “Not anymore. We have today. And it’s full. And we’ll have tomorrow. And that will be even richer. I promise.”

  “I love you, sweetheart. I always have and I always will.”

  He claimed her with his mouth, claimed her as his mate, claimed her for all eternity. The shadows were gone from his heart and from his soul. He’d never again need to control his emotions, to hide behind cold, arctic barriers. Not any longer. He’d found salvation within the sweet embrace of his wife.

  A satisfied beep echoed through the speakers.

  “REQUESTED WORDS ACCESSED. FEMALE OFFSPRING UNIT NOT LEAVING. SECURITY ALERT CANCELED.”

  EPILOGUE

  “IT’S A TRADITION, Gem. On the day of a person’s birth everyone sings ‘Happy Birthday.’”

  “THIS IS THE BIRTH DAY OF MR. COLTER?”

  Dani grinned as she lit the candles. “Affirmative.”

  “EXPLAIN SIGNIFICANCE OF CREATING FIRE HAZARD WITH BAKERY PRODUCT.”

  “It’s a birthday cake and candles, Gem. Another tradition. I’m putting a candle on the cake for each of Nick’s birthdays, plus one extra to grow on. Right now I’m lighting them. Next we’ll sing, then Nick will make a wish and blow out the candles. That’s how it’s done.”

  “WISH IS NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISH FLAMES?”

  “Absolutely. The order is crucial.”

  “ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR BIRTH OF FEMALE OFFSPRING UNIT WILL OCCUR IN THIRTY-TWO-POINT-FOUR DAYS. WILL BIRTHDAY TRADITION BE OBSERVED AGAIN?”

  “Sure will. Of course, Abbey will need help blowing out her candies. She’s still a little too young to do it by herself. But she’ll learn.”

  After lighting the final candle, Dani whisked the cake off the counter and carried it into the dining room. Instantly, her relatives burst into song. She watched a slow grin appear on Nick’s face and realized with a pang how much he’d come to appreciate the endless bounty of her family’s affections. It still hurt to think about the dearth of love and attention he’d suffered during his childhood. And though he’d come to terms with his parents’ inability to provide for his needs, she knew how he longed to experience the sort of unconditional affection she’d enjoyed. Fortunately, her relatives were all too happy to step into the breach and embrace a new family member.

  A stack of presents filled the table in front of him, but she knew what meant the most was that his in-laws had taken the time and trouble to choose something specially for him.

  Nick caught her by the waist and tipped her into his lap. Ignoring the laughter and catcalls, Dani wrapped her arms around his neck. “Happy birthday,” she murmured, giving him a lingering kiss.

  Determined not to miss out, Abbey climbed aboard with a loud, “Up!” and gave her parents enthusiastic chocolate kisses from a frosting-coated mouth. To Dani’s delight, Nick didn’t pull back or attempt to avoid his daughter’s embrace. Instead, he gave her a loving hug and tucked her close.

  “Thank you for arranging all this, by the way,” he said in an undertone.

  “I’d have been in serious trouble with Ruth if I hadn’t.”

  “Why?”

  She offered a gentle smile. “You’re family now. If I hadn’t included them tonight, I’d have been stealing a memory.”

  He didn’t reply for a moment, and she suspected he still had trouble coming to terms with his importance in the family structure. But he was learning. Slowly but surely, he’d opened up, rarely retreating into ice mode. She sensed the need in him far outweighed the wariness—the fear that this would all end tomorrow.

  “They didn’t have to bring gifts,” he said gruffly.

  “Sure they did. It’s tradition.” She dropped her head to his shoulder and ruffled Abbey’s auburn curls. “Tell me what you wished for.”

  “Isn’t it supposed to be a secret?”

  “Not from your wife. Now, what was it?”

  “I wished....” He leaned closer, his mouth touching the curve of her ear and stirring the fine hair at her temple. “I wished for another picture for your grandmother’s locket.”

  It only took a moment for comprehension to set in. “A brother or sister for Abbey?”

  “Is it too soon? Our work load has eased off. Thanks to Raven Sierra, our domestic sales are through the ceiling.”

  “We can move those decimal points over?” she teased, recalling Hugh’s comment at dinner that long-ago night. “You’re not just a measly old millionaire anymore?”

  “Not for much longer.”

  “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we discuss this further after the party?”

  Nick’s eyes darkened to indigo. “Promise?”

  “Absolutely. After all, it’s a birthday wish. And in case you didn’t know, those always come true.”

  “WISH IS NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISH FLAMES,” Gem announced.

  River Sierra nodded solemnly, studying the birthday cake her housekeeper had placed on the table. “That’s what I thought. It won’t work if I don’t wish first. Right?”

  “AFFIRMATIVE.”

  She eyed her father’s present—another Jack Rabbitt storybook filled with the most beautiful pictures she’d ever seen. He’d even bought one of the paintings from the book and hung it on her bedroom wall. River loved the painting, loved it with all the passion her five-year-old body could summon. It was of a fairy riding a butterfly, a fairy with long black hair, just like hers. In the book, the fairy could grant wishes, and River had a very special wish.

  “HAS WISH BEEN MADE?” Gem inquired.

  “Not yet.”

  “DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD IMMINENT.”

  “What?”

  “HURRY.”

  “Oh. Okay. I’m hurrying.” River squeezed her eyes shut and then whispered, “I want a mommy for my very own. And I want her to be just like the fairy in my painting.” With that, she opened her eyes and blew out the candles.

  It was done. She’d made her wish. Now she just had to wait for it to come true. Because Gem had told her... Birthday wishes always came true.

  Find out what happens to Raven, River and Gem

  in The Miracle Wife, coming in the fall!

  But, first in June...Look for Day Leclaire’
s

  The Boss, the Baby and the Bride,

  part of Harlequin Romance’s Guardian Angel

  promotion.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-6283-6

  THE TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR BRIDE

  First North American Publication 1998.

  Copyright © 1998 by Day Totton Smith.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.