Her Forbidden Bridegroom

She reached for the check then got up and walked unsteadily to the kitchen. Once she got there, she stopped in the doorway while she waited for her legs to strengthen.

Mitch Ellery was a dark giant in her pristine kitchen. As in the living room, his larger-than-life presence dwarfed everything around him. He’d already loaded the washcloth with ice cubes, but he now had her refrigerator open and was peering inside.

Since she hadn’t yet gone grocery shopping as she normally did on Friday nights, the refrigerator was humiliatingly bare. He glanced her way, his face a thundercloud of disapproval.

“No wonder you aren’t eating. You’ve got little more than condiments and a half quart of milk that went out-of-date two days ago.”

Lorna crossed the room and plucked the cloth-wrapped ice cubes out of his huge hand to toss them into the sink before she gingerly tucked the check back in his pocket. When she boldly reached between him and the refrigerator to catch the top of the door and crowd him out of the way so she could close it, he caught her hand.

Her wide gaze flew up to his. She gave her hand a testing tug, but he held it fast.

Mitch was so big, so virile, and so powerfully male. The small space in front of the refrigerator was smothering suddenly. The cool air from inside the open door had no impact on the heat between their bodies or the arrows of attraction that peppered her skin and made her feel hot and edgy inside.

His voice was gruff and low and it stroked her someplace deep. “It’s a wrongheaded idea, but we’ll go to a restaurant.”

“No, we won’t.”

His dark brows lowered in irritation. “You need to eat. We’ll get that swelling down, then go.”

Lorna yanked at her hand and he released her. “I wouldn’t cross the street with you.” Her chin went up the smallest bit. “And I believe I’ll call your bluff about that blood test, Mr. Ellery. Since you’re obviously a take-over artist, you can make the appointment and I’ll be there.”

His eyes suddenly glittered with temper and she felt herself sway.

“And I’ll call your bluff, Miz Farrell. You’ll have that blood test. But right now, I’ll call your other bluff.”

With that, he leaned close. She managed a half step back before he swept her up in his arms as if she was no bigger than a small child. The quick movement made her head spin, and she reflexively gripped his wide shoulders. He seemed to sense he’d made her dizzy, so he didn’t move right away to carry her out of the kitchen.

He was growling again. “What am I gonna do with you?” His minty breath sent warm puffs of air against her face.

“You can put me down and leave,” she got out.

He studied her face, his irritation deepening. “Stubbornness and persistence can get you into all kinds of trouble. As you’ll find out if you don’t agree to back off with Kendra.”

Anger roared through her. “Ditto, Mr. Ellery. Put me down.”

“Fat chance.” He turned with her and stalked back into the living room to deposit her on an overstuffed chair.

The phone jangled on the table next to her. Lorna was mildly surprised that he didn’t snatch it up. She reached over and picked up the receiver as he towered in front of her.

Melanie’s worried voice came over the line. “Are you all right? I haven’t seen him leave.”

Lorna glanced up at the rock-faced man who watched her, his dark brows lowered in a surly frown.

She realized then that Mitch Ellery wasn’t a handsome man. His features were too rugged and rough. But he had a charisma that made him as magnetic and appealing as men whose features were smoother and more conventionally handsome. Perhaps more so.

Amazed that she’d been distracted by those thoughts, she glanced away from him. “I’m all right and yes, he’s still here,” she told her friend, then looked up at her unwanted guest as an idea sparked. “But he refuses to leave. If you’ll come over with your pepper spray, he might change his mind.”

Mitch’s expression went thunderous again. Lorna watched as his stern mouth moved to shape a succinct profanity.

Melanie’s, “Oh my gosh!” was as fervent as if she’d actually heard the silent word across the phone line. “I’ll be right over.”

“We’ll give him five minutes, then come over.”

“And you’ll explain why you gave him five more minutes when I get over there, right?”

“Right.”

Mel hung up and Lorna reached over to put the receiver in its cradle.

“You need to leave now, Mr. Ellery,” she said as she leaned back in the chair and looked up at him. “My friend lives across the hall, she doesn’t own a can of pepper spray, but she’s fiercely loyal and very protective.” She couldn’t help a weary smile. “You could very well find yourself on the drive home reeking of either cooking spray, furniture polish or the soap scum remover she might substitute.”

“Can she make you a sandwich? Get your blood sugar up?”

The questions were another surprise and hinted that he felt at least a particle of genuine care. And that touched her. Lorna felt her resentment toward him mellow.

“I’m sure she can do better than a simple sandwich. She’s a fabulous cook. Which reminds me. She might bring over a wire whisk or a potato masher. Have you ever seen what a wire whisk or a potato masher can do to the average tyrant? They’ve done all sorts of studies, and the photographs are pretty gruesome.”

His formidable expression eased, and she sensed something in his stern personality give way. The faint curve of his harsh mouth was probably as close to a real smile as she’d ever see from him. But if he was truly amused, he didn’t remark on it.

“She’ll look after you tonight?”

The caring that implied was suddenly painful for her and her faint smile dropped away. “Why on earth would you care?” The words were out before she’d thought them through.

Suddenly he bent down and braced his big fists on the chair arms. His face was very close now and the thrill that whirled over her was shockingly sexual.

“If not for this thing with Kendra, I might have found you…interesting.”

It was a blunt admission that shocked her to her toes. She fumbled for a way to answer that.

“And what will you find when the blood test proves that Kendra is my sister?”

Now he was angry again because his expression seemed to turn to stone in front of her. “It won’t.”

“It will, Mr. Ellery. And when it does, it won’t change a single thing, because Doris will never acknowledge it.” Saying that out loud sent a flood of old hurt surging up and she felt her eyes sting. She struggled to defy it, her gaze never wavering from the harsh lights in his as she declared, “In fact, unless I miss my guess, Doris will never submit to a blood test herself.”

“She will because it’ll put an end to you.”

She’d made him angry again and saying that was his retaliation. The smile she gave then was not a true smile, it was more of a grimace that eased some of the painful pressure in her heart.

“She sent you here with a check to put an end to me. That’s the only end she wants.”

He straightened, his dark eyes cutting into hers as if he was measuring her in some way.

“Get something to eat. I’ll be in touch.”

Lorna didn’t respond to that and he reached over to pick up his Stetson from the coffee table. He put it on and tugged down on the brim. It was a cowboy version of goodbye that was almost polite.

“You’ll hear from me about the test,” he said, his low voice now almost a warning.