Whitelaw's Wedding. BEVERLY BARTON

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      “I think there’s something you’re overlooking,” Hunter said.

      Settling her gaze on Hunter, she all but snarled at him. “And just what would that be?”

      “The fact that no matter what you choose to do, men aren’t going to stop coming on to you.” His lips twitched with an almost smile. “A woman who looks the way you do is always going to have men chasing after her. This nutcase who’s so determined to see that you never marry could eventually start eliminating any man who shows an interest in you.”

      “Oh, good Lord. Do you actually think that…” She shook her head as if trying to erase his words from her mind. “Oh, all right. Let me hear the rest of your plan.” She pointed her finger first at Hunter and then at Perry. “But if I don’t agree, then the whole thing is off. Is that understood?”

      A response from Manda, but not exactly an agreement. Perry nodded. Hunter grunted. After what Perry had told him, all the details of Manda’s life and the death of her second fiancé, Hunter realized that Manda could never live a normal life until the person behind the threats was exposed and ultimately, stopped.

      “I called Hunter not only because he’s an old friend and someone you knew in the past, someone you actually had a teenage crush on, but because of his background.” Perry reached out and clasped Manda’s hands in his. “For a number of years, Hunter was a member of the Delta Force, a special operations military unit. And now he’s an agent for the top security and investigation agency in the country. He’s qualified to not only protect you, but to take care of himself under fire.”

      “All right, I agree Hunter is highly qualified,” Manda said. “But that doesn’t tell me exactly what you intend for him to do. Are we supposed to date and see what happens?”

      “You’ll date,” Perry said. “Y’all will have a whirlwind courtship. Hunter’s going to sweep you off your feet. You two are going to fall madly in love and within a few weeks, we’ll be putting together the quickest planned and executed wedding in history.”

      “Wedding?” Manda’s face paled.

      “Hmm—mm.” Perry placed Manda’s hand in Hunter’s. “You two are going to get married.”

      “Married!” Manda screamed. “You can’t seriously intend for me to marry him.” She focused her gaze on Hunter. “You’re going to use yourself as bait to catch this guy. I won’t allow you to risk your life for me. Don’t you realize that— Oh, I get it. You’re so damn sure of yourself that you think once we announce our engagement, my secret admirer will make his move and you’ll not only be able protect me and yourself, but you’ll catch him, too.” She pulled away from Hunter and paced around the room. “By all means, let’s follow through with this idiotic plan. Let’s put both of our lives in danger. Let’s show everyone in Dearborn that we’re fools in love, and to hell with the consequences.”

      Hunter grabbed her, cupping her chin as he stared into her eyes. “No one outside this room is to know that we’re only pretending. As far as anyone else is concerned—your grandmother, Gwen, Mrs. Austin—this thing between us is real. We’re going to convince everyone that we can’t keep our hands off each other.”

      “I’m not sure I’m that good an actress.”

      “Just pretend you feel about me now the way you did when you were sixteen and performed your little striptease for me out by the pool.”

      Manda’s face flushed as she huffed loudly, “And what are you going to pretend?”

      “I’m a man, baby doll. With a woman who looks like you, I won’t have to pretend.”

      Chapter 3

      B arbara Finch Munroe didn’t bother to knock before she entered her grandson’s study; she swept into the room like the queen she was. Mrs. Munroe had held the title of Dearborn society’s grand dame for the past twenty-five years, and despite the fact she had to be close to eighty, Hunter would lay odds she’d be around to keep her crown for another twenty-five years. There was spirit in her step and determination in her eyes—eyes the exact same shade of blue as Manda’s. She glanced from person to person, her gaze lingering on Hunter. A barely discernable change in her facial expression warned him that she remembered who he was.

      “What are y’all doing hiding away in here when it’s time to bring out Gwen’s birthday cake? I was ready to give the caterers the nod when I noticed that you—” she glared at Perry “—were nowhere to be seen. It just so happened that Bobbie Rue saw you and Manda come into the study with a…gentleman.”

      “Grams, you remember Hunter Whitelaw, don’t you?” Perry said, a quirky grin on his face.

      Always the cordial lady, Mrs. Munroe offered Hunter a pleasant smile and nod. “Mr. Whitelaw, we haven’t seen you in a number of years. Are you in town visiting family?”

      “No, ma’am, I’m afraid I don’t have any family left in Dearborn. I drove down from Atlanta for Gwen’s birthday party, and I’m certainly glad that I accepted Perry’s invitation.” Hunter looked point-blank at Manda and grinned like a lovesick fool.

      Manda’s cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry you had to come looking for us.” Manda walked over and laced her arm through her grandmother’s. “Hunter and Perry and I were just talking over old times. And Hunter and I were laughing about that silly teenage crush I had on him when I was sixteen. Remember, Grams? I told you and Daddy the most awful fib about Hunter.”

      Mrs. Munroe focused her gaze directly on Hunter. She pursed her lips in a disapproving manner.

      “Believe me, Mrs. Munroe, if she comes to you with that same story tomorrow, it will be true,” Hunter said, his voice light, his tone humorous.

      Manda gasped. “Hunter! Don’t tease Grams.” She tightened her hold on her grandmother and tried to maneuver the old woman toward the open door. “We’d better get back to the party, hadn’t we?” She stared at Perry as she inclined her head toward the door. “Come on. We don’t want to hold up the big production. I’m sure Gwen’s getting anxious about the presentation of her cake.”

      Mrs. Munroe held her ground and pinned Hunter with her disapproving glare. “Young man, was that your rather vulgar way of saying that you’re interested in my granddaughter?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Hunter said. “And I apologize, if my comment offended you. I’m afraid you’re going to have to get used to seeing me with Manda. I’ve asked her out for tomorrow night and she’s accepted.”

      Mrs. Munroe turned her attention to her granddaughter. “Manda, is this true? Do you intend to—”

      “Grams, don’t you think it’s wonderful that these two have finally connected?” Perry rushed across the room and took his grandmother’s hand. “I think it was practically love at first sight for both of them tonight.”

      “Hardly.” Mrs. Munroe huffed in a delicate, ladylike way. “Manda and Hunter have known each other for years.”

      “That was just a figure of speech,” Manda said. “What Perry was trying to say is that after seeing each other again tonight, Hunter and I find that we’re attracted to each other and…and we’re going to go with what we’re feeling and see СКАЧАТЬ