BEVERLY BARTON - Whitelaw's Wedding

“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.”

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 what happens. Right?” She looked to Hunter for affirmation.

“That’s right. I plan to take some vacation time and stay in Dearborn so Manda and I can become reacquainted.”

“Are you sure that’s wise, my dear?” Mrs. Munroe asked. “After all… Does he know?”

“Yes, he knows,” Perry said.

Mrs. Munroe nodded her head. “Very well. Then I see no harm in their dating.” She grasped Manda’s hand. “It’ll do you good to have a social life again, even if…” She looked right at Hunter. “I’m an old-fashioned woman, Mr. Whitelaw. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m a snob, and they’d be right. I’m going to be honest with you—under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t approve of your escorting Manda around, but if you can bring her back to life and make her happy, then you have my blessings.”

“Thank you. I’m sure your approval means a great deal to Manda,” Hunter said, implying that her approval didn’t mean a damn to him. “And I promise that I intend to do everything I can to put a smile on her face.”

Manda’s gaze connected momentarily with Hunter’s and she caught the teasing gleam in his eyes. She just hoped that Grams hadn’t comprehended the sexual connotation of his comment. Before she realized his intentions, Perry whisked Grams away from her and out the door.

Perry called out as he glanced over his shoulder. “You two hurry along. You don’t want to miss the birthday cake.”

Manda started to follow, but Hunter grabbed her arm, detaining her. “Wait up a minute.”

She turned to face him. “What?”

“We should go back into the party together and make sure everyone sees us being…infatuated with each other.”

“Before we begin this charade, I need to know if you’re—”

“I’m sure,” Hunter said. “No one should live the way you’re living. Afraid to care about anyone. Scared to even date a man because you think dating him might put him at risk. Whoever’s out there, determined to keep you alone and miserable, needs to be exposed and dealt with so you can have a life of your choosing, not his.”

“I’m not sure we’re doing the right thing.” Manda took a deep breath. “Two men are already dead because of me. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”

Hunter gently grasped her chin, cradling it between his thumb and forefinger. “Nothing will happen to me. Or to you. I’m going to protect you and keep us both safe.”

She nodded. More than anything she wanted to believe Hunter Whitelaw. He was so confident, so self-assured. She almost believed that he really could protect himself and her from an unknown enemy.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He draped her arm over his and led her out of the den, but paused momentarily in the hallway. “Go along with whatever I say and whatever I do. And just remember that everything between us is an act, a performance staged to make your secret admirer jealous enough to expose himself.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“That’s all anyone can ask of you.”

He led her back to the party. They arrived just in time to sing happy birthday along with the sixty other guests. She made no protest when he kept his arm around her waist, and whenever he nuzzled the side of her face or kissed her temple, she smiled and pretended that she loved Hunter’s ardent attention. While cake was served and Gwen opened her stack of presents, Hunter escorted Manda past her three suitors—Grady, Boyd and Chris— leaving the men without any doubts about his claim on Manda. He had walked in and snatched her right out from under their noses. And it was apparent by the stunned, hurt and even angry expressions on their faces that they couldn’t understand what had happened. Why had the reclusive, reluctant Manda suddenly thrown caution to the wind and succumbed to this big, dark stranger?