Beauty And The Groom

Chapter One

Lee Stratton tapped the steering wheel impatiently as he inched his gray sedan forward in the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Gulf Coast Highway. Through the dusty windshield he could see the Victorian turrets on his father’s home not a quarter mile up the road, but at this rate he wouldn’t get there in under twenty minutes.

Not that it mattered what time he arrived. No one knew he was coming. No one would care. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t told his father he was coming home. In fact, he wasn’t entirely sure why he’d decided to return in the first place.

Lee let up on the brake, moving the car forward another few feet.

Staying in Houston after Doreen dumped him two days before their wedding seemed awkward. Too many explanations. Too damned many sympathetic friends. Too many snickering acquaintances eager to say they knew it would never work out.

His car rolled forward three more feet and he silently cursed the traffic. The casinos were probably to blame for this mess. Riverboat gambling had turned the once sleepy coastal town into the Vegas of the Gulf, robbing the shore of its heart.

You don’t have a heart. The only passion you have is for your work, not me. I can’t live that way, Lee. I want someone who’s able to love me completely and I’m not sure you’re capable of any real feelings at all.

Doreen’s parting words still reverberated inside his head.

But it wasn’t losing her that still gnawed at him, it was the fact that she’d been right. He didn’t care. The woman he’d chosen for his wife had rejected him and he felt nothing.

He’d been like this for as long as he could remember. He could walk away from anyone without a regret or a qualm. Why? What was wrong with him?

He glanced again at the imposing rooftop of his childhood home. He had a month off; a canceled honeymoon and nowhere to go. For some inexplicable reason he’d wanted to come back here to Sand Castle.

Finally reaching the turn lane on Beach Boulevard, Lee stomped on the accelerator and roared into Sand Castle’s driveway. His eyes eagerly scanned the familiar Victorian home, the house built by his great-grandfather.

Something about the old place was different. It wasn’t the slightly shabby white elephant he remembered from five years ago. The one-hundred-and-thirty-year-old house had been completely restored from the top of the slate-tile roof down to the foundation landscaping.

He hardly recognized the old girl. He swallowed a lump of bitter sadness, then realized that he had just proved Doreen wrong. He wasn’t a complete emotional wasteland.

He could dredge up a twinge of sadness, at least for a house.

Pulling his car around to the back, he parked it near the old carriage house. Even it had been restored, its muted tones echoing those of the main house. He climbed out of the car and removed his sunglasses, a growing uneasiness forming inside him. As he started up the brick walkway he wondered what other surprises awaited him.

He didn’t have to wonder long. The moment he stepped into the kitchen three unfamiliar faces turned sharply to look at him in surprise. Standing at the sink was an elderly woman who looked like a refugee from the pages of a storybook. Sweet-faced, slightly plump, and wrapped in a flowered apron, she was the image of the perfect grandmother.

Huddled over the kitchen table were two young girls about eleven years old staring at him with wide-eyed curiosity.

He stared back, searching his memory. As far as he could recall he’d never seen these people before. His uneasiness escalated to apprehension. Where was Walt?

Excuse me, young man, but do you usually walk into other people’s homes without knocking? the grandma demanded in a deep, husky voice that was at odds with her storybook image.

Her proprietary tone did little to calm Lee’s growing concern. Other people’s homes? Who are you? he asked, a little more sharply than he’d intended.

Not that it’s any of your business, but I live here, she said, planting one fist on her hip and glaring back at him.

Lee didn’t like her answer nor the surge of alarm and concern for his father it brought with it. But as an attorney he knew better than to jump to conclusions without hard evidence to back it up.

The two little girls were still staring at him with unabashed interest. He wondered briefly if he had dirt on his face or perhaps an arrow coming out of the top of his head. It unnerved him to be stared at like an unusually interesting specimen.

He focused on the dark-haired girl, who appeared awestruck. I suppose you live here, too? he asked.

The girl ducked her head shyly. The other girl, a carrot-topped, gangly child with a mass of freckles and a mouthful of braces answered for her friend. She lives at her own house over on Twenty-fourth Street. I live over there, in the tower, she said, shoving her glasses upward on the bridge of her nose and wiggling a finger in her ear.

Lee frowned, feeling more and more like he’d walked into an episode of The Twilight Zone. He had a bad feeling about this whole situation. Walt would never take in boarders.

He made another swift survey of the people in the room. These people looked innocent enough. A cheery-faced grandma and two gawky adolescent girls, both of whom were still gazing at him with wide-eyed amazement.

Can someone tell me what is going on? he practically shouted, hoping to break the spell.

Young man, Grandma said, pointing a finger at Lee. I don’t know who you are or why you’ve barged into my kitchen but—

Your kitchen? Lee ran his fingers through his air as a strange dread filled him. Where’s Walt?

He’s in New Orleans on business.

Lee turned in the direction of this new voice.

For one insane instant he thought an angel had descended from heaven and landed in the kitchen. Sunlight from the west window bathed the womanly form standing on the threshold. The fan circling overhead gently stirred her reddish gold hair. Dust motes danced around her like excited fireflies drawn by her magic.

A sensual curiosity coursed through him, warming his blood and making his heart beat faster. He squinted and turned his head slightly to get a better look. As the woman stepped forward he could see it was no heavenly body that stood in his father’s kitchen but a flesh and blood woman. A very soft and appealing woman. She was pretty. Not beautiful, but pretty like a fresh spring bouquet is pretty or a field of daffodils is pretty. A naturally lovely woman.

Her proud forehead and heart-shaped face were framed in shoulder-length red hair. The heavy strands of burnished copper softness curved under at the ends as if caressing her neck.

Where he’d expected green eyes, hers were a shocking clear blue, the color of a high summer sky.

She gave the illusion of height though he doubted her slender frame and gently curved legs stood her more than five foot four or so.

Dressed in faded jeans and a loose-fitting chambray shirt, the tails of which were tied at her narrow waist, she had an air of softness and a sensuality that was impossible to ignore.

Lee managed to withstand the sensual assault by reminding himself of the situation at hand. All right, so Walt is out of town. He took a step toward the woman. That doesn’t explain what y’all are doing here.

The redhead took a step toward him, crossing her arms over her chest and frowning like a disapproving parent. We live here. In fact, we’ve all lived here for a very long time.

Her defiant, challenging manner brought him a step closer. No one told me.

She took a step closer to him. Perhaps if you came home now and then these little changes wouldn’t be such a shock to you.

Lee studied the woman more closely. Did he know her? Had they met somewhere? Something about her teased his memory, but when he tried to chase it down, he found he was strangely reluctant to pursue it.

No. He would remember a woman as soft and sensuous as this one. Who are you?

The woman’s eyes widened before she lifted her chin in a manner that said, Hit me with your best shot.

My name is Meredith. Meredith Cole.

There was a tension in the air, an expectancy, as if she was waiting for his reaction. She stared at him with anticipation in her soft eyes. He shrugged and shook his head slightly. Is that supposed to mean something to me?

With a suddenness he could barely grasp, the color drained from her face. Her shock-filled blue eyes were in stark contrast to her deathly pale cheeks. Stunned, Lee searched for an explanation only to see a flush of scarlet stain her neck and rise into her face with the same speed it had left.

Not only was her color back but the softness had been replaced with steel. Her eyes were now gray and those soft lips stretched into a hard, thin line. The word mercurial sprang into his mind. She had changed moods like the flick of a switch.

His patience evaporated. All right. I don’t know what’s going on here but I want some answers right now. Walt would never turn Sand Castle into a boarding house. That’s not his style.

Meredith cocked her head at a challenging angle. And what would you know about Walt’s style?

The anger in her blue eyes stunned him. It was directed at him personally. But why? They’d never met. He was sure of that. He wasn’t likely to forget someone like her. But she seemed to know a great deal about him. Like the fact that he’d not been home in a while.

Lee didn’t like being on the witness stand. He was more comfortable when he was asking the questions. He also resented being thrust into a confrontation without all the facts.

He met her fiery gaze with his best courtroom glare but had trouble maintaining his defensive stance against the sight of this stunning woman vibrating with anger. There was lightning in her eyes, under her skin. Her anger was more of a challenge than a deterrent. The contrast of her soft appearance and the fire in her eyes was a temptation Lee found hard to resist.

Look, Ms. Cole, I’m not interested in your personal opinions. I just want an explanation for your presence here.

He took another step toward her but found his way blocked by Grandma, who was making the time-out sign with her hands.

Why don’t we all just drop back ten and punt. Let’s call a huddle and sort out the plays. Now, I’m Florence Merritt and this is Meredith, but of course she told you that. This dear child is Meredith’s daughter Julianna. She placed a hand upon carrottop’s shoulder. And this is her little friend, Robin. Now, what might your name be?

Lee opened his mouth to speak but the woman named Meredith beat him to it.

His name is Leland Stratton. He’s Walt’s son.

Lee stared at the redhead more closely still, puzzled as to how she knew his name but more stunned by the accusation in her eyes. What was she accusing him of? He was the one with the mounting pile of questions.

Walt’s son, Grandma said in surprise. Well, I knew you existed but I didn’t expect to ever meet you. You sure keep yourself scarce, fella.

Lee let Grandma’s chatter swirl around him, his gaze fixed upon Meredith Cole and the icy daggers being hurled in his direction from her blue eyes.

Abruptly, Meredith turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him facing a sweet-faced grandma and two frankly curious adolescent girls. So when had he lost control here?

Meredith strode quickly and angrily through the main section of Sand Castle, out the front door, across the wide breezeway and into the tower she and Julie called home.

She went immediately to her desk. Pulling open the top drawer, she started rummaging through the contents.

Her hand trembled as she lifted out the red folder marked Important Papers. She forced a deep breath into her lungs, furious with her lack of self-control.

She’d practiced this moment in her mind a million times over the past thirteen years. She’d visualized how she would act and what she would say when she saw Lee Stratton again. She’d even rehearsed how Lee would probably respond. So why had she forgotten it all when she finally stood face-to-face with her past?

She should have expected this. Lee had to come home eventually. Even though he’d never called and hadn’t been home in nearly five years. But she’d blindly convinced herself it would never happen.

She shivered. Her knees wobbled and threatened to fold on her. She’d lost control because she’d never been good at confrontations. They defeated her every time. She should have told him exactly who she was, but her courage had been buried under humiliation.

Stepping into the kitchen and finding Lee Stratton there had been a tremendous shock. All of her senses had gone momentarily numb.

He’d shown up out of the blue demanding explanations he had no right to. Well, she’d prove to him that she had a right to be here. He wasn’t going to run her out of her home. She’d also show him that what happened between them all those years ago was wiped from her memory. To her it was as if it had never occurred.

Summoning all her courage and determination, Meredith stomped back outside, over to the main house and into the kitchen. She was fully aware that she was skirting the real issue here, ignoring the huge knot of tension that was growing in the center of her chest. There would be time to deal with her own feelings later. First things first.

Marching into the kitchen, Meredith shoved a copy of her lease under Lee’s nose. I’m sure you’ll find everything in order. It’s all legal and binding.

Lee held her gaze but she refused to show any sign of weakness. She had to see this through, despite her rapidly beating heart, her shaky knees and the blood rushing willy-nilly into her head.

He took an inordinate amount of time looking over the document. Meredith strove for a confident, unflappable attitude but after the silence had stretched on and on, she exhaled audibly in irritation.

He glanced at her, holding her in place with the power of his icy green eyes. His eyes had always been his most intriguing feature. It was as if they held some hypnotic power, some mystical force that could lock onto her and read her innermost thoughts like a palmist would read the lines in a hand.

She stared defiantly back at him, daring him to say a word, determined to withstand the penetrating gaze of those still-too-sexy eyes. He arched one eyebrow slightly then looked back at the lease.

The arrogance reflected in his stare and the tilt of his head drove Meredith’s thoughts back into the past and the inevitable comparison between the boy he had been and the man he’d become.

Lee Stratton had fulfilled and surpassed all the promise of his youth. His lean hardness, the hint of muscle and strength that lay beneath his well-tailored clothes exceeded her expectations. He was as virile, as earthy, as sensual as she’d always envisioned him. Everything about him was elegantly, strikingly male.

The clean facial lines now held a depth of character that had been missing before. His emerald eyes were bracketed by tiny lines at each corner. His mouth was likewise etched at each corner, signs that perhaps the intervening years hadn’t been all that kind to him. Nevertheless, Lee Stratton was a very attractive man.

But in her opinion, his attractive features were marred by the arrogant tilt to his shoulders, the cynical turn to his lip and the jaded cast to his eyes. There was a cold, detached quality to him now, as if he cared about nothing and no one.

Apparently he’d changed little from the spoiled, thoughtless boy who had broken her heart so completely that no man since had been able to lay claim to it.

Well, Lee said, straightening and handing back the paper. Everything appears perfectly legal.

Meredith took the paper, careful not to brush his hand in the exchange. She wanted to keep as far away as possible. She knew his tricks too well. She remembered the false sincerity he could conjure up, the pretty words and the sympathetic timbre of his voice. She’d never fall for his charm a second time.

I told you from the beginning we had a right to be here.

Lee sighed irritably and looked down his nose at her. "I said, everything appears legal. But I find it hard to believe that Walt would rent the tower to anyone."

Meredith refused to look away from his probing gaze. Then you don’t know your father very well. I’m sure Walt will be able to answer all your questions when he gets home tomorrow.

Forgive me for being cautious but it’s disturbing to come home and find a family of strangers living in the house.

Meredith bit her tongue to keep from screaming at him. I’m not a stranger. Don’t you recognize me? How could he have forgotten? He was responsible for the most devastating event of her life. He’d deliberately broken her heart and he didn’t even remember!

Anger and humiliation warred inside her. You haven’t been home in five years. Why would you care who lived here? she snapped. Why didn’t he just go away? But she could see by the glint in his eye that Lee was primed for battle. He wasn’t going to back down. His jaw flexed and he pointed a finger at her.

May I point out, Ms. Cole, that my life is none of your business—

Florence whistled shrilly and stepped in front of Lee, holding out her hands like a referee in a boxing ring. Round one. To your corners. She smiled up at Lee. Mr. Stratton, why don’t you get your luggage and bring it in and I’ll run upstairs and freshen your room for you.

Florence pointed past Lee to Julie and Robin. Girls, you run along now and find something else to gawk at.

Meredith clenched her teeth and gave Lee one last glare, grateful for Florence’s well-timed interference. I have work to do. She walked past Lee and out the back door, heading for the tower.

Her hands were still trembling from her encounter with Lee as she returned to her office and rammed the file back into its place.

Shoving the drawer shut, she allowed her emotions to spill over at last. How could he have forgotten her! How could he have forgotten that summer, what he had done, what his friends had urged him to do?

Meredith ran her fingers along her scalp. No. It wasn’t Lee she should be angry with, it was herself. A teenage prank from tenth grade shouldn’t still have the power to call up all the old pains and make her feel rejected and unlovable.

But it did. The hurt had never left her. It was still as fresh as the night it happened. Why couldn’t she get over it? Why hadn’t she grown immune to the memory, desensitized to the pain?

Meredith took a deep breath and tried to gather her tangled emotions. Maybe Lee’s coming here was a good thing. It was time for her to confront the past and put the betrayal behind her. Perhaps his presence would give her a better perspective on the whole issue. Over the years she’d probably distorted the whole thing anyway. She was remembering it as more painful than it actually was.

A wave of humiliation washed through her. She couldn’t fool herself. Having Lee around, seeing him every day, would be like sandpaper constantly rubbing against her overly sensitive heart.

Meredith cursed softly and shoved her hair back behind her ears. Why did he have to show up now? When everything in her life was finally perfect? When she’d finally found a place where she belonged?

She had a wonderful daughter, a good job, and a family of people who loved her and cared for her and for whom she cared deeply. They might not be related by blood but they were bound by love, and as far as she was concerned, love, not blood, was what made a family.