The Reluctant Groom Read online

  “Sure.” She followed the duo to Emily’s bedroom and placed the bag on top of the dresser. The stark white walls and plain blue comforter on the bed said bachelor, not little girl. She’d have to remedy that soon. Maybe she could get him to bring Emily’s bedding here. It would make her feel more at home, and maybe she’d sleep easier, too.

  Ray placed his niece into her bed and drew the sheet up to her chin. He flipped on a nightlight then pulled the door almost closed behind them. In the hall he touched a finger to his lips and motioned for her to follow.

  Curious, she did.

  He walked several feet to the end of the hall where it split into a T. He went left down a short hall, opened a door, and motioned for her to follow him inside.

  She hesitated at the doorway. “Why are we in here?”

  “I wanted to show you the bedroom you’ll have after we’re married—that is, if you still think it’s a good idea to move in.”

  “I do, but I didn’t realize you agreed.”

  He waved a hand motioning for her to enter. “You’re welcome to redecorate.”

  “Thank you.” She stepped into the medium-sized bedroom. These walls were white as well. “A little color on the walls might be nice. Nothing too crazy.” A queen-sized bed with a white down comforter occupied the center of the main wall. Another door led to a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. She looked through the room and noted the door to the bedroom on the other end of the bathroom was closed. A white-washed chest of drawers sat opposite the bed, and a wing-backed chair occupied the corner of the room with a standing lamp beside it. “It’s cozy. So you don’t mind if I paint?”

  “Not at all. I’m no decorator. The previous owners did everything in white. I spend most of my time at The Ring or the community center, so painting hasn’t been a priority.”

  Her gaze shot to his face. “You go to the community center? I’ve never seen you there.”

  A resigned look crossed his face. He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside him. “Come sit.”

  She didn’t move.

  “I don’t bite, Katie. Surely, you know that by now.” Hurt shone in his eyes.

  She didn’t mean to wound him, but trust was tough. Especially when she’d spent much of her life trying to avoid potentially dangerous situations. But if she couldn’t trust Ray, then there was no one she could trust. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” She settled beside him.

  “Thank you. I need to tell you something that only a handful of people know. But you must promise that what I’m about to say won’t leave this room.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, not sure she wanted to hear but anxious to know his secret.

  “When I took over running The Ring, I set up a foundation that directly funnels all profits above and beyond operating expenses including wages into the community center. The Ring makes it possible. Without that support the center would close.”

  She reminded herself to breathe. “I did not expect that.” He was her benefactor in more ways than one.

  “Good. I hope you understand this is confidential. No one can know, not even Brandi.”

  “I promise.” She wrapped her arms around his bicep and hugged it. “You’re a good man, Ray O’Brien, and I’m glad I’m marrying you.” She released his arm and stood. Without looking back she traipsed from the room and fled the house to the privacy of her apartment. Could Ray really be as good as he seemed? A niggling doubt tickled the back of her mind.

  Late Monday morning, Katie loaded the roller with lavender paint and slid it up and down a wall in Emily’s room. “What do you think, Emily? Is it pretty?”

  She replied, but the thumb in her mouth made it difficult to understand.

  “I can’t understand you when your mouth is full.” She’d decided not to make an issue of the thumb sucking but refused to let her get away with it while talking.

  The child’s brow furrowed. She plucked her thumb from her mouth. “I like it.” She hugged her doll with both arms. “Mommy’s favorite color is purple.”

  Katie swallowed the sudden lump in her throat and plastered on a smile. “Your mommy had good taste. How do you like having the stuff from your bedroom here?”

  She squeezed her doll tighter. “Good.”

  Katie turned back to the wall and continued to roll on the color. If she kept moving, she might finish before Emily lost interest and got antsy. Ray had moved all of Emily’s belongings from her parents’ house to here. When she’d asked, he didn’t even hesitate and seemed chagrined to have not thought of it himself.

  “Katie?”

  “Yes?”

  “I want my mommy.”

  She turned, faced her soon-to-be niece, and set the roller in the paint tray. “I’m sorry about your mommy. I know you miss her a lot. I miss mine, also.”

  “Your mommy died, too?”

  She shook her head and sat, placing the roller in the tray. “No. Mine left me when I was a young girl. I guess she didn’t want to be my mom anymore.” Otherwise, she would have taken her away from her awful dad when she took off.

  Emily crawled over to her then plopped into her lap. She snuggled close. Katie wrapped her arms around the little girl. “Your mommy loved you so much. She never would have left you on purpose.”

  “I know.” Emily shifted and patted Katie’s cheeks. “My mommy loved you, too. Do you have a daddy?”

  Her stomach knotted. “I do. But he did something very bad, and he’s in prison.”

  Her eyes widened. “When I’m bad, I have to go to my room.”

  Katie grinned at Emily’s refreshing innocence. “When we do something wrong, we get punished.”

  She nodded with wide eyes. “Can I go watch TV?”

  Katie looked around the room and spotted coloring books on a shelf. “How about you color while I paint?”

  “Okay.” The TV request as good as forgotten, Emily hopped up and got to work coloring.

  Katie painted as quickly as she could without making a mess. With one wall completed, she stood back to see her work.

  “Looks nice.”

  Katie screamed and nearly tossed the roller in the air. “Ray! What are you doing here?”

  He chuckled.

  “Uncle Ray!” Emily ran toward him and launched herself into his arms. “We’re coloring.”

  “I see that.” He winked at Katie.

  Her face heated. Is this what it would be like to be a family? Warmth filled her from head to toe. “I thought you were working.”

  “I was, but I forgot something.”

  “What?”

  “My lunch.” He held up the bag she’d placed in the fridge earlier when he’d walked out without it.

  “You could’ve eaten out, like usual.”

  “But then I would have missed this. Plus, I thought I’d give the two of you a ride to the community center.”

  “Oh. Thanks. What time is it?”

  “Twelve thirty. We have plenty of time.” He looked at her like she had two noses. “You umm…” He flicked his nose. “Have a little paint on your face.”

  “I’ve been so careful.” She peered into the mirror above Emily’s dresser and sighed. She must have touched her face with her hand. A smear down the side of her nose stood out against her pale skin. It had better come off easily. The last thing she wanted was lavender colored splotches on her face. “Maybe I should save painting until after the wedding.”

  “You’re going to be my aunt, too.” Emily patted her cheek from her perch in Ray’s arms. “Aunt Hailey told me.”

  “That’s right, sweetie. I can’t wait. I’ve always wanted to be an aunt.” She grinned at the little girl who’d captured her heart the first time they’d met.

  Ray cleared his throat and set Emily on the floor. “If you want to finish painting after the wedding, it’s fine with me.” He looked at the wall she’d finished and nodded. “It looks nice. In fact, I wonder if that wall is the only one that needs color. It’s the wall her bed’s on, and it looks like a
feature wall as is.”

  Katie stepped over to see it from his vantage point. “You’re right. What do you think, Emily? Should all the walls be lavender or should we stick with one?”

  Her face grew serious. “Will you paint that wall pink?” She pointed to the wall with her dresser. “And that one yellow.” She pointed to the one with her shelves and toys. “And that one…” She frowned. Then her face lit. “Orange!”

  Ray chuckled. “You want a rainbow room, huh?”

  “Don’t give her any ideas,” Katie said through the side of her mouth.

  Emily jumped up and down. “A rainbow! A rainbow!” She squealed. “Like Noah and the ark. We learned about Noah in Sunday school.”

  Katie couldn’t help grinning. She didn’t want to buy all the colors of the rainbow and paint one, but she couldn’t say no to this precious little girl after what she’d been through. “How about a small one over your bed?” She liked Ray’s idea of leaving the rest of the walls white, but doubted that would appease Emily.

  “Maybe,” Emily hedged. “I’m going to ballet class, Uncle Ray.”

  “Are you now?” He sent a knowing look toward Katie.

  She caught her breath. His twinkling eyes crinkled ever so slightly. Seeing him happy was nice. His gaze connected with hers and held a moment before he shifted his attention to his niece.

  “How about we all have lunch together downstairs.” He hoisted Emily into his arms without waiting for a reply and left the room.

  Katie poured the remaining paint from the tray back into the can, pounded the lid on, then headed downstairs. She’d put plastic wrap around the roller and place it in the fridge—it would be moist and ready to go the next time she painted.

  “What’s for lunch?” Ray asked as he sliced up an apple.

  She flicked on the water and scrubbed at her hands and arms. “Peanut butter and jelly for Emily. I’ll do peanut butter and apple slices.” She motioned toward the sack he’d placed on the counter. “I made you a nice lunch.”

  “I know. And I plan to enjoy it.” He slid a plate of sliced apples to the middle of the counter. “Help yourselves.”

  Katie handed a slice to Emily.

  Ray pulled bread from the cupboard and began making Emily’s sandwich.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know. But you’re busy enough, and I enjoy company while I’m eating. This way we can all eat together.”

  “You’re the boss.” She filled three cups with water. Her phone rang. “Hello?” Her stomach knotted as she listened to the familiar voice on the other end.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  Chapter Eight

  Ray tried to eavesdrop on Katie’s conversation, but his niece hummed a song rising in volume with each note. He finally gave up and hummed along with Emily. Katie’s comment about him being the boss bothered him. He didn’t want her to think of him like that. They were partners, but he wouldn’t correct her in front of Emily. Somehow, he had to romance his soon-to-be wife with his niece in tow.

  He placed the top onto the sandwich and sliced it at an angle into fourths then placed it on a plate.

  Katie pocketed her phone.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Sure.” She stood erect. Her gaze darted toward the door.

  He brought the plate to the table and sat beside Emily who’d already seated herself. “Aren’t you going to sit, Katie?”

  “Of course.” She grinned, but the smile didn’t reach her fear-filled eyes. She scooped peanut butter onto an apple wedge then plopped it into her mouth.

  He chuckled. How could that tiny mouth fit all of that? “I’m impressed.”

  She shrugged then washed it down with a gulp of water. “It’s a gift.”

  “I want to try.” Emily brought a quarter of her BP&J to her mouth and opened wide and pushed. She pulled it away. “It won’t fit.”

  Ray and Katie laughed together. Something stirred in Ray at the sound of their combined laughter. As unconventional as their arrangement was, he knew in his heart, marrying Katie was right. He bit into the cold-cut sandwich Katie had prepared earlier for him—he could definitely get used to this. But he was concerned about Katie. Even though she’d joined him in laughter, she looked ready to bolt. What had that phone call been about?

  A quick glance at the oven clock reminded him why he never came home for lunch—not enough time. “I hate to eat and run, but I need to get back. How fast can the two of you be ready to leave?”

  Katie frowned. She looked down at herself and shook her head. “I think Emily and I will stay here until I need to leave for work.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. I don’t want to make you late.” Katie motioned toward his lunch. “You didn’t finish.”

  “I’ll eat on the way.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks.” His eyes met her surprised ones, and a sudden thought struck him. “I should’ve asked sooner, but my sister is meeting me at the club to discuss wedding plans. Would you like to come along?” He willed her to say yes. Maybe he’d be able to find out about her conversation on the way to the athletic club. “I can spare a few minutes for you to get cleaned up. I’ll give Hailey a call and put her off a little. If you’re taking the bus you’d need to leave soon anyway.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “I suppose you’re right. Will you watch Emily while I get cleaned up?”

  “Of course, but hurry.”

  She darted out the door.

  Emily looked at him with doe eyes. “I love Katie, Uncle Ray.”

  He picked her up and carried her to the sink. “Let’s get you washed up.”

  “Do you love Katie?” She squirted soap onto her hands, rubbed them together, then rinsed them.

  “I like her a lot. I’m glad you love her. I think she loves you, too.”

  Emily giggled. “She said so.”

  “Good.” He wouldn’t lie about his feelings for Katie to appease his niece and was thankful she hadn’t pushed the issue any more. “How about you go grab the bag Katie packed for you, and we’ll wait in the car for her?”

  “Okay.” She darted from the room.

  He shot off a quick text to Hailey, letting her know he would be late.

  “Ready!” Emily wore a pink princess backpack.

  “Let’s go then.” He led the way and locked up after them.

  Katie rushed down the stairs from the apartment as they were walking to the car.

  “That was fast.” How could she possibly have gotten ready so quickly? He looked her over from head to toe. Her freshly scrubbed face looked virtually makeup free with no sign of the purple paint from earlier. Her jeans and red T-shirt took him aback. “Where’s your jacket?” He’d grown accustomed to the ever-present part of her wardrobe.

  “It’s a nice day. I don’t need it.”

  “True.” Seattle had been experiencing an unusually dry spring.

  Emily hummed a random tune from the backseat. He tried a couple of times to start a conversation with Katie but couldn’t think of anything that didn’t require more than a yes or no answer. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into his parking spot in the alley behind the athletic club. “Let’s go upstairs and hear what Hailey’s planning for our wedding.”

  She shook her head. An uneasy look crossed her face. “I’ve changed my mind. I trust your judgment. It’d be best if Emily and I head over to the community center.”

  “Are you sure?” Disappointment filled him. Why wouldn’t she want to hear what his sister was planning? After all, the wedding was Katie’s, too. Weren’t the women supposed to care a lot about the cake and stuff? Or maybe this was about that phone call. He’d never found the right words to bring it up on the drive over. Now he’d have to try this evening.

  Katie helped Emily from the car. “I’m sure.” She lowered her voice. “I have things to do before the kids get there. Besides I think it’d be best to keep Emily away from your sister as much as possible. I know we don’
t always have a choice, but Hailey and Renee look so much alike, I’m afraid it might make things more difficult for her.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  She stopped moving and looked at him for only a moment before shifting her gaze. “Maybe, but are you willing to risk that I’m right and you’re wrong?”

  What if being with Hailey was healing for his niece? Regardless, either way, it wouldn’t hurt to send Emily with Katie. “Fine. I’ll be by this evening to pick you up.” He pulled the backdoor to the club open. “After you.”

  “Thanks.” She rushed inside. Emily held tight to her hand. “Say good-bye to your uncle, Emily.”

  The child dropped her hold on Katie and quickly hugged his leg. “Can we come see you later?”

  “Anytime, squirt. But remember Katie has to work, so only when she says it’s okay.”

  Emily nodded. “Bye-bye.”

  He watched as Katie and his niece breezed past the reception desk and out the front entrance. Somehow, he didn’t buy Katie’s reasoning for leaving so fast. Could she be the one uncomfortable with his little sister? But why? It didn’t make any sense. He headed up to his office and discovered Hailey sitting at a cluttered card table. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

  “It’s fine. I was almost here when I got your text.”

  Yikes! “You’ve been waiting awhile. I’m extra sorry.”

  She shrugged. “No problem. I’m about finished.” She focused on something in front of her, so rather than bother her, he sat behind his desk and got to work checking e-mails.

  Thirty minutes later, Ray looked up from the computer screen in his office. “Are we going to make it in time?”

  “Yes, but I don’t understand why you couldn’t wait a month,” Hailey said. “Pulling off a wedding this fast is next to impossible.”

  He sighed. “But we did it, and now Katie’s best friend will be there. If we’d waited even a week longer, Brandi would be gone.”

  Hailey smiled. “You’re sweet to consider your bride like that. I hope the man I marry will be like you.”

  “I hope you don’t try to do what I’m doing. I’m not sure this family can handle more than one rushed wedding.”