Bride by Mistake Read online

  Liza’s radiant smile dazzled Zach. To his horror, his attraction to the woman seemed to double each time he looked at her!

  “So our bases are covered?” he asked cautiously.

  “Definitely covered.”

  As Zach walked her to his car, he longed for the old Liza. The one who protected herself from sunburn and mosquitoes; the one who carried adhesive strips for every emergency; the one he could escort to a play, laugh and talk with, and never feel so much as a twinge of attraction.

  But this new, more dazzling Liza was another matter. Just looking at her made him feel like a lovesick teenager. Zach sighed. He’d better get a grip or he’d be kissing Liza before intermission. Of course, kissing her was taboo. Off-limits. Totally unacceptable.

  Hopefully he could remember that.

  “I read in the paper that they’re presenting The Comedy of Errors,” Meg said dreamily as she hopped into Zach’s Lexus. “That’s my very favorite Shakespeare play.”

  His gray eyes questioned hers. “You said last year’s play was your favorite.”

  Uh-oh. Liza’s past was returning to haunt Meg.

  “Actually, I have several. Who can choose just one?”

  “You’re hedging, Liza. What did you like best about last year’s play?”

  How could she possibly know? Meg wondered. She’d spent last summer in Meadow Springs, Illinois, teaching ballet! “Um, the costuming,” she finally affirmed.

  “They wore contemporary clothes, Liza. What did you like best about the play itself?”

  As Zach gazed at Meg, asking for details about an evening he’d spent with her twin sister, she struggled to tamp down a wave of panic coupled with attraction. Since she had no clue as to which play Zach and Liza had seen, how could she respond? She glanced out the window, hoping for a distraction. Snarled traffic, a fender bender, anything. All she saw was a mangy dog chasing a very fast cat.

  “You first,” Meg prompted. If Zach described enough of the story, maybe she would recognize the play.

  “I liked Kate’s transformation. She and Petruchio finally worked through the problems in their relationship and lived happily ever after.”

  Ah, The Taming of the Shrew. Meg expelled her breath as recognition flashed.

  “But it’s definitely a fantasy,” Zach affirmed. “Two very different people can’t resolve their problems. No matter how hard they try.”

  “Why not? Kate was wild and out of control. But she loved Petruchio enough to change her ways. And to become the kind of woman he wanted her to be.”

  “Or pretended to become that kind of woman. That happened to me in real life. My ex-wife, Denise, was the best actress of them all.”

  Meg heard the pain that echoed in his words. “I’m sorry Denise wasn’t what she seemed, Zach. Did the two of you try to work things out?” Had Zach and Liza discussed his divorce from Denise in detail? If so, this question would be out of line.

  “As I’ve said before, Denise didn’t understand compromise. The only person she cared about was herself. At first it was presents, presents, presents. And when we divorced, she finagled that big settlement. But you know all that.”

  “Denise didn’t love you,” Meg said, trying a different approach. “If she did, she wouldn’t have taken advantage of you.”

  A frown creased Zach’s tanned forehead and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Bingo. But it took forever for me to figure that out.”

  Zach had been hurt badly, that was clear. And in Meg’s opinion, Denise was a fool. Meg glanced at the strong, handsome, and honorable man sitting beside her and realized he still carried a lot of grief. “Many women would love you for who you are, Zach. Not for what you can give them,” she said softly.

  He scowled. “I’ll never find out. Marrying again isn’t on my agenda.”

  They drove a while in silence. Then Zach asked, “What about you, Liza? Our thirtieth birthdays are creeping up fast.”

  “Hey, don’t remind me.”

  “Do you ever think about marriage? And children?”

  “Of course I do. I want that more than anything in the world.”

  Zach’s eyebrows shot sky-high. “Now, that’s a surprise. In all the time we’ve spent together, you’ve never mentioned marriage. Not once.”

  Uh-oh. Another un-Liza-like response. But Meg couldn’t help herself. So much of what she told Zach was untrue, but she couldn’t lie about her deepest feelings.

  “So who’s the hero in your romance?” he asked.

  You are. Fortunately, the words didn’t slip out. Meg had daydreamed about Mr. Right since age sixteen. And during her teenage years, Zach had starred in her fantasy.

  Of course, she’d grown up, and Martin had become her hero. Her sensible, reliable, head-on-straight hero.

  “Is it that architect you’ve been dating?” Zach probed.

  “I’ll never tell. A woman needs some secrets.”

  Fortunately, just then they arrived at the park, and the conversation ended. Zach grabbed a blanket from the backseat, and they threaded through the crowd. “There’s a good spot,” he said.

  Many people had already gathered. Some sat in lawn chairs and others on blankets. Families, young lovers, and older couples laughed and talked while waiting for the play to begin. Zach spread his blanket next to a family of four.

  “When is it going to start, Mommy?” a little girl asked.

  “After it gets a little darker,” her mother replied.

  “Daddy, can I have a soda?” asked the boy.

  “Sure, buddy. What kind would you like?”

  Meg felt a stab of longing as she listened to their conversation. Love and gentleness echoed in their words. This was the kind of life she wanted. A husband and children. But for years the men she dated hadn’t seemed like heroes. Many didn’t want to commit to long-term relationships.

  Then she had met Martin. They had dated for two years now and had recently discussed making their relationship permanent. Meg hoped that soon she’d start a family of her own.

  The evening was perfect. The darkening sky with its dusting of stars created the ideal setting for the play. And the flowering bushes around them scented the air. As Meg settled next to Zach on the blanket, his musky scent surrounded her as well. Her heart skittered at his nearness—an inappropriate response. She hoped the play would start soon and pull her attention away from Zach.

  A jester stepped onto the stage and bowed deeply at the waist. “Good evening, dear lords and ladies. With pleasure I welcome you to the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. Watch carefully as our tale unfolds. You’ll soon discover that life isn’t what it seems.”

  Sitting so close to Zach in this romantic setting caused Meg’s pulse to race. She hadn’t felt such an emotional jolt since high school. To be honest, Martin didn’t stir this kind of excitement in her. Meg pushed that disturbing thought aside and focused her attention on the actors now appearing on the stage.

  The play began, and Zach’s deep laughter rang out as one actor after another misrepresented himself. The story, focusing on two sets of twins and mistaken relationships, hit too close to home. Nothing was what it seemed. And like the actors, Meg was pretending too. Eloise thought she was Zach’s girlfriend. And Zach thought she was Liza!

  “I’ll get us some popcorn,” Zach said when intermission came.

  Meg watched him go, and she shivered, even though the night air was balmy. Good sense had told her not to pretend to adore her teenage heartthrob. But Liza had used her persuasive skills successfully, and Meg had abandoned good sense. In a weak moment she had agreed to take part in Liza’s little scheme.

  The second act began, and the plot thickened. Meg’s hand brushed Zach’s as they shared the popcorn. Each time they touched she felt a zing of pleasure that defied description.

  What about Martin? her conscience probed. Since the moment Meg saw Zach, she’d hardly thought about Martin. He seemed part of a different world. Thinking of him now stirred different
feelings inside her: mainly guilt and confusion.

  The play ended, and as the actors took their bows, Meg realized her life was a comedy of errors as well. She couldn’t play this dangerous game any longer. Not to rescue Liza. Not even to brighten Eloise’s last days. She’d call Liza tonight and put a stop to this nonsense.

  They drove home and Zach walked her to the door. “I enjoyed the play,” Meg fibbed. Most of it had felt like Chinese torture.

  “So did I. Looks like the Shakespeare festival is becoming a tradition for us. I thought the acting was great.”

  “Me too,” Meg affirmed. She’d always enjoyed good theater. What she didn’t enjoy was becoming an actress herself. It will end soon, she promised herself. It had to.

  She wished Zach would go, but he leaned against the porch rail and didn’t seem in a hurry. Finally he said, “I wonder if you’d help me finish the party planning.”

  “Isn’t everything arranged? You’ve reserved the country club, right?”

  “Right. But I’m not thrilled with the new chef, so I only reserved the dining room. I want to hire a caterer, but I’d best get moving.”

  “Absolutely,” Meg affirmed. She’d planned dinners for the Community Arts Association and other civic events and knew they took time.

  “I could use your help in choosing the entrée. Could we get together tomorrow evening and discuss it?”

  Not again, Meg thought. She wanted to be out of Zach’s life by tomorrow evening. Permanently out of his life. But until she straightened things out with Liza, she had to keep pretending.

  “I suppose so. Do you want to come here?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you about seven. If that’s okay.”

  Meg forced a smile. “It’s fine. And thanks again for a lovely evening.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Zach took a step toward her as if he was considering a good-night kiss. Meg dug in her purse for Liza’s key, hoping to curtail anything bordering on romance. When she glanced up, Zach had turned to go. “I appreciate the help, Liza. I owe you big-time.” With that, he headed down the steps.

  Meg unlocked the condo door, rushed inside, and flopped onto the couch. If she’d had any clue how complicated this would become, she’d have said no to Liza’s scheme. She must end the drama before serious harm was done.

  After all, life wasn’t a farce, like the play they’d just seen. Deception broke people’s hearts. And in this case, the broken heart would belong to her.

  Later that night Meg dialed her twin’s cell phone. “The situation with Zach is out of control,” she said when Liza answered. “I can’t pretend anymore.”

  “Whoa, girl, don’t even say that. You’ve got to stick it out for the week.”

  “That’s impossible. Either you come home and take over or I’m telling Zach the truth.”

  “Don’t panic, Meg. Let me think for a minute.”

  The line got quiet. No doubt Liza was analyzing their predicament in her computerlike mind. Finally she said, “Oh, now I get it. You’re falling for Zach! Just like you did in high school!”

  Meg bristled. “That’s absurd.”

  “No, it isn’t. I hear the adoration in your voice.”

  “That’s not adoration. Just a bad connection.”

  Liza chuckled. “You’re falling fast and hard, aren’t you, sweetie? And that frightens you.”

  Even though Liza might be right, Meg would never admit it. “You’re brain-dead from too many seminars,” she said. “Now, I’ll say it once more before I hang up. I’m ending this charade.”

  “Okay, sis, okay. Let me see about coming home early. But you’ve got to give me twenty-four hours to work things out.”

  Meg sighed. “Make it a fast twenty-four hours. This vacation has turned into an exercise in torture.”

  “Is it exquisite torture?” Liza teased.

  “Stop it, sis. I’m warning you.”

  “Bye-bye, sweetie. I’ll call you soon.”

  Meg sighed. So much for resigning as Zach’s stand-in sweetheart. But since Liza was her only means of escape, she’d have to endure the playacting a little longer. When Liza returned, Meg would hop the next plane home and end the masquerade.

  While she’d never tell Liza this, being with Zach Addison did feel like exquisite torture. And while Meg wasn’t falling in love with him, the possibility loomed overhead. Like a giant dirigible.

  Just think about Martin, Meg told herself. Martin was her stable, reliable, good-looking, if not handsome, steady boyfriend. They were on the brink of taking their relationship to the next level. And Meg couldn’t—wouldn’t—put that in jeopardy because Zach Addison made her heart flutter. She wasn’t seventeen anymore. She’d grown up and now knew what she wanted from life.

  And she wanted Martin. Martin and the happy future they would create.

  Meg and Zach sat cross-legged on the living room floor of the condo perusing brochures. “I didn’t realize planning a birthday dinner was so complicated,” Zach said.

  “You want to make this meal special, don’t you?” Meg asked.

  “I do.”

  “Well, that takes planning.”

  Poor man, Meg thought as Zach buried his nose in yet another brochure. “If there’s one thing I know how to do properly it’s plan a party,” Meg affirmed.

  Zach’s gaze lifted to hers with a questioning glance. “Oh, really? Who are you inviting to these shindigs? Certainly not me.”

  Meg pretended to get a tickle in her throat. “Excuse me a second. I need a drink of water.”

  Meg hurried to Liza’s kitchen, grabbed a glass, and filled it from the tap. Liza never threw parties. If Meg couldn’t remember that she was Liza for the week, she’d never adapt. It was like suddenly becoming Russian. Or Japanese. Totally foreign territory.

  She shook her head, wondering how to dance around the current crisis. Fortunately, an idea dawned, and Meg went to rejoin Zach, who was up to his ears in catering information. She plopped down beside him.

  “To answer your question, Mr. District Attorney, I plan the staff parties for our law firm. I’m quite good at it, if I say so myself.” Hmm. Had her nose started to grow yet?

  Zach shrugged. “That’s unusual. I leave all party planning in my secretary’s capable hands. You mean Burns, Logan, and Grant actually pays your huge salary so you can coordinate social gatherings? Seems a waste of your high-powered brain.”

  Meg sighed. If her own brain had more amperage, maybe she would stop making comments that got her into trouble. Trouble with a capital T.

  Zach looked bewildered again. It was an expression that had become a permanent fixture the moment Meg had turned into Liza.

  “I only plan the important affairs,” she countered. “The firm’s Christmas party, retirement dinners, and anything the public attends. Our corporate image is very important. And we take it seriously.” There. Hopefully that would end this interrogation. At least for the moment.

  While Zach didn’t look convinced, Meg felt relieved when he picked up another brochure. “I bow to the party-planning expert. I certainly need your help with Gram’s special event.”

  Whew! Off the hot seat. At least momentarily, Meg thought, expelling a deep breath.

  “What kind of food does Eloise enjoy?” she asked, more than happy to shift the focus.

  “Gram’s heritage is French. Her maiden name was Chapelle.”

  “Aha.” Meg dug through the brochures she’d picked up at the Chamber of Commerce and thumbed through them until she found the right one. “There’s a new catering company in town that specializes in international cooking. It’s called World Wide Cuisine. And look, Zach. They’ve even printed their menu.”

  Meg’s cell phone rang, and her stomach clenched when she noticed Martin’s number on the caller ID. She’d ignored a couple of his calls, since speaking to her boyfriend in the presence of her “fiancé” could prove challenging. But if she didn’t answer this time, Martin would worry. And possibly send a SWAT team
to check on her.

  “I need to take this, Zach. Why don’t you check out the menu and we’ll choose something when I get back?”

  “Is it your law firm calling? Do they want you to plan a baby shower?” Zach’s gray eyes caught Meg’s and their teasing gleam made her want to giggle. Even when the man gave her trouble—which was often—she could hardly resist his charm.

  “You’re not funny,” Meg retorted as she hurried to Liza’s master bath. After closing the door, she flipped on the overhead fan so Zach couldn’t pick up snippets of conversation.

  “Hello? Is that you, Martin?”

  “Hey there, sweet stuff. You must be having fun,” he said pleasantly. “I called several times but it went to voice mail.”

  “Sorry. I’ve just been relaxing and enjoying this vacation,” Meg lied. All she did these days was lie!

  “That’s good. I know you were frustrated with teaching and needed a break. Glad you’re getting one.”

  “Me too,” she affirmed. “How are you, Martin? How’s the convention going?”

  “So far, so good. I present my paper tonight. Hope it’s impressive enough for all the bigwigs attending.”

  “You’ll do awesome. You’re a great public speaker.”

  Martin laughed in his easy, relaxed manner. “And you’re my best supporter, honey. Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  Meg smiled. Her sweet, humble Martin. So talented yet not full of himself like so many men she knew.

  “How’s the weather in Los Angeles?”

  “Warm and sunny. But I miss Meadow Springs and can’t wait to go home.”

  “I hear you,” Meg said, wishing passionately that she were going home. Going home to Martin and to her small-town life, and, best of all, leaving her pretend fiancé behind.

  “If I don’t call you a lot, don’t worry. I’ll be busy with meetings and contacts.”

  “I won’t worry. Just enjoy yourself.”

  “Thanks, Meg. Miss you.”

  “Me too. But we’ll both be home soon.” And the sooner the better, Meg thought.

  “Enjoy your time with Liza. Tell her I said hello.”

  “Um, I will,” Meg said. She could tell Liza hello from Martin the next time they talked on the phone. Then this wouldn’t qualify as a fib.