A Day Late and a Bride Short Read online

  “I don’t blush,” he informed her. “Like I said no one usually sees my office, but since you’re a neighbor, I thought it might be better to meet in here.”

  “I’m glad you recognize we’re neighbors, Donovan, though to be honest, we’ve never had a real conversation before today. There was that one day right after I bought the place, but you ran out, despite the fact it was still pouring. You must have had an important meeting. But that initial meeting must have been enough for you to recognize our neighborliness. But people say I’m easy to know, so that must be it, because they don’t say you’re easy to know. No, they say you’re—”

  She clapped a hand over her mouth, obviously embarrassed.

  “I know what people say about me, and that’s fine with me.” At least it had always felt fine until this minute as he watched Sarah hem and haw over it.

  Time to get things back on track. “Listen, this favor isn’t about my office.”

  Her embarrassment forgotten, she grinned. “The reception area then? Oh, that’s almost as good. I mean, this is such an old stately office, and yet the front desk looks like it came from a garage sale, or even worse, from a cardboard box—you know the kind with instructions and even the tools included? That desk doesn’t fit with the ambiance of the building at all, and since it’s the first thing clients see when they come in, you want it to make a statement. Something old, that will say to them, we’re established, and solid. Something—”

  He interrupted. “Sarah.”

  She stopped midsentence and took a breath. “Sorry, sometimes I get carried away. So, why don’t you tell me what you want me to decorate?”

  “My arm.” Donovan watched as Sarah tried to digest his cryptic statement. He should have been clearer, but he was nervous.

  Oh, he doubted she’d notice, and he certainly would never admit it to anyone, not even to Sarah, but there it was. After all, it wasn’t every day he asked a woman to be his fiancée, even if it was just for a night. He actually thought his palms were sweating, so he placed them on his slacks and covertly wiped them off.

  “Pardon?” Sarah finally said.

  He folded his now drier hands in front of him on his desk and leaned forward. “Okay, I’m going to lay it on the line, but first I need you to promise that what I say won’t go any further than this office, even if you decide not to help me.”

  She actually crossed her heart. “I promise.”

  If Donovan was the type, he’d think the gesture was endearing. But he wasn’t, so he simply said, “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled a tentative smile, and sat back and simply waited for him to start.

  He tried to think of the most logical way to present his case. He just needed to treat it as if he was in court making his summation to the jury.

  “I want to be a partner in this firm. I deserve to be. I bring in more accounts, more money than any of the other associates. And in another firm, there’d be no problem. I’d be partner by now.”

  “How is this firm different than other firms?” she asked.

  “Leland Wagner, that’s how. He’s living in the last century and doesn’t believe a man can be complete and happy unless he has a family. Balance. That’s what he calls it.”

  “And you don’t want a family?”

  “I don’t have time for a family. My job comes first, which is why I’m the biggest money-machine the firm has.”

  “If work comes first, then why would you choose to work in a firm that promotes family?”

  “I—” Donovan stopped short. She’d stumped him with the question.

  He’d never really been sure why he’d chosen to work at Wagner, McDuffy and Chambers. He’d had other offers, better offers in terms of prestige. Yet, something about this firm felt right.

  “Listen,” he said, “that doesn’t matter. What matters is Leland thinks I need balance.”

  “I still don’t see where I come in,” Sarah said.

  “We—Leland and I—were having a meeting, talking about partnership, and he was agreeing I had everything I needed to be a partner... everything but a wife. And that’s where you come in.”

  “I know I must appear dense, but I still don’t see where you’re going with this,” Sarah said.

  “Sarah, I know we don’t know each other very well. Actually we don’t know each other at all, but that doesn’t really matter. Leland insists I need a wife to become partner, and I want this position, so I want you to be my—”

  Her face lost its color and she asked in a shaky voice, “You want me to be your wife?”

  “Not wife,” he assured her. Donovan was happy with his life as it was and didn’t plan to marry for a long time, if ever. Right now he just wanted to concentrate on furthering his career, and in order to do that he need a... “Fiancée.”

  “Fiancée?” she repeated, making the word more of a question than a statement

  “Fiancée. And just for one night Leland and his wife are having a huge blowout anniversary party next week and I told him I’d bring my fiancée. The only problem is, I don’t have a fiancée.”

  “So you lied.”

  Donovan didn’t like the way she made it sound. “I embellished.”

  “Lied,” she insisted. “I’m not your fiancée, but you want me to pose as one. That’s a lie.”

  “You are my fiancée if you say you are. I mean, we could be engaged, for just one night. Then I’m not lying. We’ll simply dissolve our engagement afterward.”

  “What did you do? Look at your appointment book and say to yourself, the next single woman who walks in the door I’ll ask to be my fiancée?”

  Sarah looked annoyed. More than annoyed, she looked insulted.

  And the way she put it the proposal sounded insulting. Donovan said, “I—”

  “Why would you think I’d agree to this? I came here for legal counsel, that’s all.”

  “But this would help you,” he insisted.

  “How could my playing your fiancée for a night help me?” she asked. There was a furrow on her brow, as her face got all tight with annoyance.

  For the first time in a long time, Donovan wasn’t quite sure what to say to make this better. In the courtroom he was never at a loss. He prepared his case, knew it inside out and was so prepared that nothing could throw him off his rhythm. But he hadn’t had enough time to prepare for this. Actually all the time in the world couldn’t have prepared him for this.

  Mentally he tried to put some tactical offense together.

  “You said you were in financial straits,’’ he started.

  “I won’t be after this deadbeat pays me. Things will go back to being merely tight. But I knew things would be tight when I bought the store. I was willing to scrimp for a few years in order to own something... something that’s all mine. By Design has so much potential. All I need is to get it off the ground. If you can get Ratgaz to pay, I’ll be okay.’’

  “And I will. But you shouldn’t be so dependent on one job. Plus, sometimes the courts move slowly. And even if we reach a settlement, it could be a while. What if in the meantime you had other jobs? Jobs that would pay the bills while you waited?”

  “Pretending to be your fiancée would get me other jobs?” Sarah asked.

  “Leland Wagner is a very well respected man within the community. Anyone who’s anyone in Erie will be at this party. And I’ll promise to introduce you around.”

  “Really, Mr. Donovan—”

  “When did I become Mr. Donovan?” He was surprised by how much he didn’t like the cold distance in her tone.

  “The minute you asked me to play a role in your absurd charade.” She rose and started to the door. “Thank you for seeing me.”

  “Sarah, what about your case?” Donovan asked.

  “I’ll handle it myself. I’ll handle everything,” she said as she walked out of his office.

  Chapter Two

  “I’LL HANDLE IT. You’ll have the money soon,” Sarah promised yet anot
her creditor and hung up the phone.

  This one was threatening to turn off her electricity if she didn’t make a payment pronto.

  She’d spent the night thinking about Donovan’s odd offer. Fiancée for a night?

  Who would it hurt? People got engaged and then, for one reason or another, broke things off. It happened all the time. That’s all they’d do. They’d be engaged, but they’d know that there was a specific length to their engagement. They’d go into it knowing there would never be a marriage.

  And if she got a few jobs out of it? Well that would be all the better. She wouldn’t be hurting anyone because she was good, very good at what she did. Anyone who signed on with her got their money’s worth and then some. Just a few high profile jobs, and word of mouth would take care of her money worries.

  Plus, Donovan would get the Rat to pay what he owed. This short-term engagement would mean the end of Sarah’s money worries.

  And Donovan? He’d get his partnership.

  He was right—holding the partnership hostage until he married wasn’t the way business should be done. Advances, jobs, partnerships should be awarded based on merit not on any sort of status, marriage or otherwise.

  So actually, if she did this she’d be balancing the scales of justice. Donovan’s boss had put an unfair condition on his advancement and she’d just be getting rid of that unfair obstacle.

  Sarah Jane Madison, defender of workers’ rights.

  Even as she thought the words, and as much as she’d like to believe she was that altruistic, the truth was, she needed Donovan’s help, and she needed any jobs he could steer her way.

  She wasn’t going to lie to herself about her motives, but she would be more comfortable knowing they weren’t hurting anyone and wouldn’t be lying. They just wouldn’t disclose the full nature of their relationship.

  She thought about calling Donovan, but decided against it She needed to do this in person. She left the shop, locked the door and walked next door to Wagner, McDuffy and Chambers.

  "You’re back,” Amelia said by way of a greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

  “I need to see Donovan.”

  “Do you have another appointment?” Amelia asked, even as she started thumbing through her appointment calendar.

  "No,” Sarah admitted. "But he’ll see me, unless he’s with a client.”

  "He doesn’t have any clients coming in this afternoon, but Donovan is generally a stickler about things like appointments. He’s working on some huge contract and he hates to be interrupted.” Amelia looked worried.

  “He’ll see me,” Sarah assured her. “And he won’t be mad. I promise.”

  Looking doubtful, Amelia punched three buttons on her phone. "Mr. Donovan, Sarah Madison from next door is here to see you again. She doesn’t have an appointment but it sounds... Okay, I will.” Amelia hung up the phone and silently studied Sarah. "Just what’s going on between the two of you?”

  “What do you mean?” Sarah asked.

  "I mean, not only did Donovan say send you right up, but he almost sounded pleased. The Iceman doesn’t show emotion, especially not pleasure. So what did you do to him last night?”

  "Who said it was last night and not some other night?” Sarah refused to lie to Amelia, but a little misdirection might be in order.

  Sarah chatted with Amelia but they weren’t bosom buddies—though Sarah hoped their friendship continued. However, Amelia might think it was funny if she found out that Donovan and Sarah were engaged. But if she thought that they’d been dating on the sly?

  “What do you mean by that?” Amelia asked, her eyes narrowing, almost as if she could kick in an X-ray vision and see whatever secrets Sarah was keeping from her.

  “Nothing. I shouldn’t have said that. As you said, Donovan can be a stickler about some things. He’s a private man.” Sarah started up the stairs.

  “Wait a minute,” Amelia called after her. “You can’t just leave me hanging.”

  “Like I said, Donovan’s a private man and I respect that. I hope you do as well. I’d prefer you didn’t mention these little appointments to anyone.”

  “You sly dog.” Admiration tinged Amelia’s voice. “You’re dating him. How long?”

  “Amelia, I really can’t talk about it,” Sarah said.

  “I won’t tell a soul,” Amelia promised.

  “Thanks. But after all, what could you tell them? I have a business appointment. That’s all. And I better get going. Donovan hates to be kept waiting.”

  She started up the stairs again. “Don’t worry, I know the way up.” Sarah left before Amelia could ask her anything else.

  Sarah walked up the stairs slowly, trying to steady her racing heart. After all, it was only for one night.

  Only for one night.

  Only for one night.

  She chanted the phrase as she climbed each step. Like Cinderella, she’d have her one ball, and then return to her real life.

  She was outside Donovan’s door and knocking all too soon.

  “Come in.”

  She opened the door and was again struck again by the clutter. She purposely ignored it and concentrated on the task at hand.

  “Sarah?” Donovan said, rising. “I didn’t expect to see you back here. After yesterday, I figured you’d never want to talk to me again. I realize that it’s a crazy idea.”

  “Sit down, Donovan.”

  He did, and she took the same chair she’d sat in the day before. Yesterday she’d sat here totally disconcerted by Donovan’s suggestion. And today she was ready to go along with it.

  What a difference twenty-four hours could make.

  “Sarah, I—”

  She cut him off, afraid if she didn’t get it out now, she never would. “Just say the words.”

  “Pardon?” His brow furrowed, as if he was trying to understand something.

  What was there to understand? Sarah had thought the sentence was clear enough, but obviously not for a man. So she laid it on the line. “Ask me to marry you.”

  Before he could speak, she stopped him. “No, better yet, invite me to a romantic dinner tonight, and pop the question. Then I’m not lying to your friends, or to anyone. We might as well get that straight right here and now. I won’t lie, and I will be your fiancée for the party. But when they ask me about how you proposed, I won’t lie. I’d rather not say you asked me in your messy office, so think of something romantic and ask me tonight at dinner.”

  “A romantic proposal?” Donovan asked slowly, as if she’d totally shocked him.

  Sarah didn’t feel any pity. After all, asking for a romantic proposal wasn’t nearly as shocking as asking for a temporary fiancée.

  “I wouldn’t know where to start,” he said.

  “Well, figure it out.” She stood. She needed to get out of here. “You can pick me up at the store at six.”

  She started for the door, anxious to make her escape.

  Donovan stopped her by asking, “What changed your mind?”

  Sarah turned around and faced him again. “You’re right, I need your help and this charade won’t hurt anyone. Plus, we really won’t be lying. This will just be the shortest engagement in history.”

  “I still don’t understand why I have to be romantic. Who will know?” he asked.

  “I will. And I’ll be able to tell anyone who asks how romantic you were. Let’s face it, your iceman image could use a little warming up. This will help. I mean, being in control in the courtroom is one thing, but being so in control the rest of the time is not a positive image to put forth.”

  “I like being the Iceman.”

  “You would,” she said with a snort. “But I don’t want to be engaged to a Sno-Kone, so I want a romantic proposal. Like I said, you can pick me up at six.”

  Before he could protest, she walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. She leaned against it and let out a huge breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

  She’d d
one it. She’d—

  The door pulled open and Sarah, still leaning against, fell inward with the loss of support.

  Donovan caught her in his arms. And for a moment it almost felt like an embrace more than a simple catch. He might be called Iceman, but Donovan’s arms felt warm and inviting.

  Warm and inviting? What was she thinking?

  “Thanks,” she said, and hurriedly moved away from him. “Did you want something else?”

  “Your ring size,” he said.

  Sarah unconsciously touched her ring finger. “Ring size?”

  “You’ll need an engagement ring. I mean if you’re worried about everyone knowing that I’m not the icy man they think, I’ll need to impress them with a nice ring. I’ll just make sure the jeweler will let me return it.”

  “Well, as long as you can return it, it’s probably a good idea. Seven and a half should do it, I think.”

  “Seven and a half,” he repeated. “Fine. I’ll see you at six.”

  He went back in his office and shut the door. As if on autopilot, Sarah walked down the stairs.

  She’d done it. She reached the foyer in a daze. Even when Amelia said her name she just gave a faint wave and left, walked out of the building, down the stairs and toward her office.

  She’d done it, she thought again as she let herself into her office and sank into one of the plush chairs that she’d dreamed would be filled with clients.

  She’d done it. Sarah put her head down in her hands and groaned.

  She’d done it.

  The problem was, she wasn’t sure just what she’d done.

  ~~~

  Donovan felt like a schoolboy as he patted his pocket for the umpteenth time. He needed to reassure himself the ring was still there.

  It was.

  He gave himself a mental shake. There was no reason he should be nervous. It wasn’t as if this were a real marriage proposal.