Colton's Convenient Bride

Humble indeed. She cared about doing good in this world. She was driven like him. Smart, too. Decker experienced a jolt of excitement along with his increasing awareness of her, her sexy shape, her hair, her eyes, everything. He definitely wanted to see her again.

“I found a small pack of gray wolves,” she said. “They haven’t existed in the Colorado Rockies since the nineteen forties. Sightings are increasing, which means they are likely crossing the state line from Wyoming.”

“Fascinating.” He didn’t mean her sighting. He meant her.

* * *

Kendall hadn’t expected to enjoy this dinner as much as she did, and not just the food and the presentation of the courses. Decker surprised her. He was so honest, about his father and his work and himself. Gone were any traces of Mr. Popular in high school. He’d grown into a real man and truly fit the tall, dark and handsome cliché to the T. Decker dressed impeccably but not in an overstated way and she sensed his genuine humility and respect for others. That’s where he differed from Russ.

She stood from the table. Having finished the rest of the courses of filet mignon, cheese on a wooden board and a remarkably colorful and tasty dessert, she could literally roll out of the sunroom.

Just outside the room, Decker stopped and faced her. “I’m not ready for this to end. How about I show you my favorite part of this house?”

She could put off meeting her parents, who would surely expect a synopsis on how the dinner went. Besides, she was more than a little curious to see what Decker liked most about his parents’ gorgeous and ostentatious home.

“I would love that,” she said, arrested by his answering grin and how it made his dark eyes smolder.

He led her upstairs and down a hallway. At the end, there was a doorway. To her right she saw a narrow stairway.

“That’s for the staff. It leads to the prep kitchen and their quarters.”

Decker opened the door at the end of the hall. It was narrower than the others along the way.

He flipped on the light and Kendall found herself looking up another stairway.

The wooden stairs creaked as she stepped up. The space didn’t appear to be cared for regularly. The scratched and light-stained wood needed a polish to stand up to the rest of the grandeur of the house.

At the top, Decker entered what appeared to be an attic, or a space that hadn’t been finished. Boxes on one side and furniture on the other gave evidence to that end. There were toys on the floor there, along with an open antique trunk that must be worth a fortune. But everything was dusty.

She glanced at Decker, who seemed to be waiting for her reaction.

She had one. “This is your favorite room?” she asked incredulously.

“It’s the one with the most character.”

He definitely had a point there. The rest of the manor, except the sunroom where they had dinner, was rather cold. Now she was sure he had chosen that room for this very reason.

She felt her heart flutter with greater interest in the man she had only known from afar.

Wandering farther into the six-hundred or so square foot room, she loved the two dormer windows facing the back of the house and the open ceiling. The space had a rustic and unfinished charm.

“The room was too small according to my mother,” Decker said. “It turned into a storage area and the servants took it over. Their kids would come up here and play.”

“Every kid should have an attic to play in.” Kendall smiled. “As long as it’s not haunted.”

He chuckled. “The house isn’t old enough for that, although I’m sure there are plenty of distant Colton relatives who might have cause to haunt us.”

Kendall could not believe how much she enjoyed talking to him. He was so witty and had a lurking sense of humor. As she continued to softly smile, his demeanor changed. He watched her like a man who hadn’t just had a several-course meal. He watched her hungrily.

“Why do you like this room so much more than the rest of the house?” she asked again.

His gaze scanned the dusty, disheveled room before finding hers again. “It’s honest.”

“Honest?” She didn’t quite understand.

“I wouldn’t trade my success or my money for anything, nor would I live in any other kind of house than the one I own, but this—with all its imperfections—is a reminder that humility is important.”

She could relate. She respected the wilderness a little bit like that. She liked nice things, just as he did, but being outdoors and in nature, sharing the land with wild animals, was a much different environment. “Not everything has to be perfect and cost a lot.”

“I am going to ask the staff to clean the place up, though.” He grinned and once again she found herself rapt with fascination over the transformation and the light in his eyes.

“And I did have more of a motive to bring you here,” he continued. “Away from prying eyes, I can put to test something that’s got me curious.”

Hearing and seeing his playfulness, she went along with him. “Oh yeah? What is that?”

He put his hand on her lower back and pulled her gently toward him, until she was flush against him. “I only know of one way to see if we’re compatible.”

With her hands on his chest and staring up at his face, she did nothing as he lowered his head and kissed her.

Tingles spread from the point of contact. He kept the touch soft and light but the warmth quickly heated into something more passionate. He pressed slightly harder and moved his mouth as though he meant to take the kiss deeper. Instead, he withdrew, letting out a long breath with his eyes smoldering hotter than before.

Kendall let go her own breath, unexpectedly starved for air. He removed his hand and she stepped back.

“Well, that answers my question,” he quipped.

Flustered, she said, “W-we should get back. Our parents are probably waiting for us.” Decker walked with her through the mansion toward the formal living room, where a servant informed them coffee would be served. Kendall would venture to guess this was when Russ would want to talk about an arranged marriage.

Sure enough, the four parents chatted there, already sipping coffee.

“Ah, here they are.” Russ stood from a sofa that faced an identical one where Kendall’s parents sat.

She took a chair next to her mother and Decker sat on the one beside her. A beaming Russ sat back down.

“How did it go?” her mother asked.

Feeling like a teenager after a first kiss again, Kendall replied, “Wonderful.” She turned to Mara and Russ. “Please give your chef my compliments.”

“He is an outstanding executive chef,” Russ said. “He vets our chefs for The Lodge and The Chateau.”

“Very nice,” Kendall murmured.

“Well?” Russ turned to his son. “When shall we plan the wedding?”

Decker looked at Kendall. “That’s up to Kendall.”

She felt the blood drain from her head with shock. He already wanted to plan a wedding? She did like Decker, but she felt cornered and uncertain. Would she really jump into something like this just because her father had asked her to? Then again, she had not come to this dinner to satisfy her father; well, maybe a little, but being here had been her own choice. She had not agreed to a marriage, not yet. Although the idea definitely tantalized her, and only because she would be marrying Decker, a man who had always fascinated her.

“I’d like to sleep on it,” she said.

“No point in rushing anything,” her mother concurred.

“They hit it off,” her father said. “I can tell.”

How could he tell?

“Just set a date,” Russ insisted.

“You can call it off if you change your minds,” Bernard added.

Russ sent him a sharp glance. “They won’t call it off.”

“Dad,” Kendall protested.

“Just set a date,” Russ insisted. “That’s all we ask.”

“No harm in setting a date,” Marion said.

Kendall had to gape at her mother. She had reservations before tonight. What had happened to change her attitude? Mara smiled at that. “I see no harm in setting a date, either. There’s a lot of planning that will need to be done. If you both back out at the last minute, then we cancel everything.”

Her logic was something of a marvel. They’d plan an expensive wedding and if Kendall or Decker cancelled, oh well? They had a lot of money to burn but to Kendall that was an enormous waste.

How long would she be stuck here if she didn’t agree to something?

“It’s traditionally the bride’s family who pays for the wedding,” she said. “I’m not comfortable with making plans when I’m not certain this is going to work.”

Russ waved his hands in front of him. “Don’t worry about money. I’ll pay for everything.”

Mara eyed him in disagreement.

“The worst that will happen is we lose some deposits,” Russ said.

“I’ll select and pay for my own dress.” Kendall couldn’t believe she’d just said that. She felt sucked into a surreal situation where everything was happening way too fast.

Russ waved his hands again as if all of this amounted to nothing consequential. “We can talk details later. Just pick a date.”

Just pick a date.

“March thirty-first,” Decker said.

She gaped at him. That was the end of the month, little more than three weeks away. “Are you—”

“Fabulous,” Russ exclaimed.

“Wonderful,” her father said.

“This should be interesting,” Marion murmured.

And Mara just chuckled softly but wryly.

Chapter 3

The next morning Kendall drove the short distance to her parents’ house. Her mother had asked her to accompany her for breakfast. While not the mansion of Russ and Mara’s scale, it was still an impressive piece of architecture. Her parents didn’t like to feel like they could get lost in their own home, or have so much space that most of it was never used. They liked a homier environment, which this six-bedroom abode offered. White and with lots of grouped, tall and arch-topped windows and a varied roofline, it had a sprawling, modern look.

Kendall entered the foyer, a half-circle room with a grand staircase on one side and a small sitting area with a fireplace on the other. Upstairs were two master suites, Kendall’s bedroom that her mother had kept for her, a guest room and a study. The landing at the top of the stairs had another sitting area with views of the mountains through high windows above the open foyer.

She walked through the informal living room—the formal living room was off the dining room next to the kitchen. There were also two guest suites on this level along with another study.

Kendall could see her mother in the kitchen talking cheerily with the cook. They only employed a cook and a housekeeper, not a full servant staff like Russ and Mara. A round table in a turret area could seat six.

Kendall passed an arched double entry to an entertainment room with a wet bar and casual seating. Although she couldn’t see them from here, a wall of windows could be opened to allow access to the pool. Her parents had divided it to better control humidity.

“There she is.” Her mother came to her and gave her a hug. “I asked Carol to make your favorite.”

Kendal’s favorite breakfast was a veggie omelet, strawberries and rye toast with a good amount of butter.

“You’re awfully chipper this morning.” Kendall took a seat next to Marion, enjoying the view of the glassed-in pool and the mountainside beyond. The ground was still covered in snow. Still early March, there would be no real thawing for several weeks.

“I want to hear all about your dinner. You weren’t very talkative last night. I thought if I gave you some time to process you’d be more of a fountain.”

She had always been very close to her mother and wasn’t at all surprised that she’d known Kendall needed time to absorb, especially big moments like the one last night.

“It was lovely.”

“You already said that last night.”

“Decker is...not what I expected. He’s a gentleman and ambitious but not obsessed with wealth.” To Kendall, money was a necessity and a lot of it definitely made life easier, but it had a purpose and that wasn’t to exploit excesses. Decker had struck her as having the same view. “It was refreshing. He’s grown up since high school. He doesn’t keep in touch with any of the people he hung around with back then.”

Her mother smiled fondly. “You’ve both grown up. I could tell you really liked him last night, and the way he looked at you.” She lifted her eyes up in wonder. “He’s very attracted to you.”

“I’m attracted to him, too, but it’s only the first day.”

“Are you going to go through with the wedding?” her mother asked.

“I don’t know.”

“He doesn’t want to lose this opportunity. He wants you, Kendall.”

“He doesn’t even know me,” she protested. “I need more than physical attraction.”

“He knows you enough and you know him enough. He’s got a solid reputation. The physical attraction is important. The rest will come in time.”

Kendall sat back and angled her head, perplexed. “Yesterday you were worried about me marrying Decker.”

“That was before I saw the two of you together. I still want you to be sure this is what you want, but I feel better about this arrangement now.”

Because she knew Kendall had a crush on Decker in high school and she had witnessed what Kendall had felt with Decker during the dinner. Undeniable chemistry.

“I will be sure,” Kendall finally said. At least, she hoped she would be. Given the flutter of attraction she felt for Decker, even now when he wasn’t in sight, she just might be able to take the chance on him.

“I can’t wait to go dress shopping,” her mother said, full of excitement.

“Mother...!”

“We don’t have much time. I thought we could start this afternoon.”

“I have to work,” Kendall protested.

“Your father told me you could take as much time off as you need this month.”

Holy bejesus. What had happened to her mother? She had been bitten by a wedding bug for sure.

“I know you, my dear. When you like something you recognize it right away, and I can tell you really like Decker Colton.”

She did like Decker. Kendall withdrew from how much. She had felt that and more for her last long-term boyfriend when she had caught him with another woman. He’d broken her heart. She never wanted to feel that way again. Maybe that had more to do with her reason for accepting an arranged marriage—or the possibility of one—than curiosity. Because the truth was, she felt oddly safe entering into this kind of relationship. She’d be the one in control and Decker would never be able to hurt her.

But, on the other hand, what her mother suggested made her wonder if she might be too reckless marrying like this.

“He is different than I remember,” she conceded, yet still feeling as though she was trying to convince herself that meant he’d be worth the risk. But, honestly, did it really matter if he was different? So he’d grown up. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t end up hurting her.

“How so?”

“Not... showy, or...”

“Immature?” her mother provided.

Kendall wouldn’t talk about the popular crowd that had surrounded him in high school and made him seem so untouchable. Unobtainable.

“Yes, but he’s so focused on his business. It’s the only reason he agreed to this arranged marriage.” She didn’t want to be second to a man’s profession. Then again, she placed high standards on her own career. She was passionate about saving animals and preserving nature.

“Well, you’ve been consumed with your work, too, Kendall. Ever since that man you were with toward the end of college, you’ve been driven that way.”

Sometimes she wished her mother didn’t know her so well.

“Seems to me you both have your reasons why a marriage like this would work,” her mother continued.

She wasn’t helping Kendall’s internal conflict. She’d basically just given her a green light to follow her heart and her heart wanted the excitement of marrying a man like Decker, to see where it would lead.

“Come on,” her mother said, “Let’s go shopping.”

* * *

Decker wanted Kendall. He sat at his desk in his large modern office with a seating area before a gas fireplace and a conference table, staring at his computer but thinking of nothing but her.

For once he wanted something for himself and not for his father. Yes, this had been his father’s idea, but last night’s dinner had changed everything. Kendall was perfect for him. She’d fit his lifestyle better than any other woman he’d met. He’d never been more certain this early on in the relationship game. That served as a reminder that maybe he should tread more carefully. He couldn’t afford anything getting in the way of taking over the company.

Kendall didn’t appreciate her father using her as leverage. She was smart and didn’t have to settle for less than she deserved. Maybe an arranged marriage wouldn’t be enough for her. He’d have to work hard convincing her this would be a good union, even if they didn’t love each other.

As far as Decker was concerned, love was overrated and marriage was more of a financial investment than anything. He didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day and he didn’t think wedding anniversaries were anything special. So a couple stayed together for x number of years. Who cared? In this modern, fast-paced world, lasting marriages were becoming rarer and rarer. He’d rather celebrate windfalls or career advancements.

Maybe Kendall wouldn’t agree. That’s why he’d romance her the traditional way to get her to the altar. Like any business deal, he would go after her aggressively.

“Distracted?”

Decker looked up to see his father enter his office. He never knocked. Seeing his shrewd grin, Decker realized his father meant thoughts of Kendall had distracted him. Russ was clearly pleased with the way things were going, the melding of the Coltons and the Hadleys into one powerful unity.

“A little.”

“What’s your next move?” his father asked, going to one of the seats before the desk and sitting. He propped his ankle on his knee.

“Maybe flowers or dinner out.”

“That’s mediocre. Kendall is accustomed to riches. You should fly her to Paris for dinner or something equally grandiose.”

“I don’t think Kendall is that materialistic.” She was into nature, not what money could buy.

“How often does a man take her to Paris for dinner?”

Not often he was sure, but that wasn’t the way to win her heart. “I’m old enough to manage on my own, Dad.”

Russ’s smile broadened. “We can’t lose this deal. With Hadley money added to ours, we can expand to a level we’ve never reached before.”

That did appeal to Decker, but his dad didn’t understand. “I’m the one who had dinner with her last night. Let me handle the courtship.”

His dad’s smile faded and he nodded. “You’ve got a good head for business, Decker. I’ll trust you to do a good job with this marriage.”

A good job. That sounded cold even to Decker. “Kendall won’t go through with this marriage unless she feels it’s a smart move on her part.” He had to plant that warning in his father’s head, prepare him for the possibility that Kendall wouldn’t marry him after all.

“Draft up a contract so we have her written agreement to marry by the end of the month.”

Decker barely smothered a scoff. One dinner with Kendall and he knew she’d never sign a contract to tie the knot.

“Our lawyers can write it so she’ll feel comfortable but we’ll have assurance that she’ll marry you. If she wants to end it afterward, then we’ll get something out of it.”

Decker began to feel ill over how Russ reduced something personal to a bottom line. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Russ nodded. “Very good.” He placed his hands on his knees. “Any progress on boosting reservations since that woman’s murder?”

Decker had been working tirelessly on a strategy to improve revenue, to replace the losses that homicide had caused. He worried he wouldn’t be able to turn things around before the film festival this summer. “I’ve got meetings scheduled to come up with a mitigation plan.”

“Good. Let me know how it goes.”

“As always.”

“Even though Bianca Rouge was one of the most expensive call girls you can buy in Vegas, her untimely demise still tarnishes our reputation,” his dad said. “She stayed at The Lodge. Some people aren’t comfortable staying here because of that, a murder victim.”

A European millionaire had brought the Rouge woman to The Lodge. While he had suffered his own shame in being caught with a prostitute, he had not been the killer. A man named Nolan Sharpe had written a suicide note confessing to the crime.

“I’ve got a weekly call with Deputy Sheriff Daria Bloom to get status on her investigation,” Decker replied.

“That’s all good, but I need to see results. If you’re going to be CEO, you should be able to handle a PR disaster like this in a timely manner.”

Decker felt his ire rise. His father frequently threw veiled threats like that at him.

“Have I ever failed you?” he asked.

“I can think of a few occasions.”

Decker met his father’s hard eyes dead-on. “No one else can run this lodge better than I can and you know it.”

“All I’m saying is I need more convincing before I promote you to CEO.”

No, his father just enjoyed his position of power. Decker had to bite his tongue before he told Russ his ego was the only thing that needed convincing.

“I often wonder how much more successful we’d have been had Wyatt done what he was supposed to and joined our business,” his father added, further grating Decker’s nerves.

“I doubt he’d have made any impact, given he had no desire to be part of this,” Decker said, knowing that would irritate his father. “Unlike me.”

Russ’s face grew stern with displeasure. “I know you respect him for going off to do what he wanted, but a rodeo star is hardly up to this family’s standards.”

Decker suspected that could be debatable. “He runs the Crooked C Ranch. That’s up to your standards.” Decker watched his father catch that he’d said your standards.

After a while, Russ’s annoyance eased and a new, slightly shrewd grin inched up more on the left side. “That’s what I like about you, son. You never back down. That’s what makes the difference between a good CEO and a great one. You have to have the balls to run a business like this.” Russ stood.

Decker didn’t know what to say. His father had actually complimented him.

* * *

Kendall indulged her mother and went with her to Roaring Springs’s most elite bridal shop, a boutique that offered both top designer labels and custom-made gowns. She had wavering feelings about this outing. Inner excitement clashed with anxiety over whether she should even be looking at wedding dresses when she was not at all sure she would go through with this absurdly concocted idea of an arranged marriage.

Her leather boots tapped on the wood floor as she passed white-trimmed, inlayed arches in the walls on each side, beautiful wedding dresses hanging next to each other. Manikins in the front windows and placed throughout the shop showcased more. Even if Kendall were certain she’d walk down the aisle to meet Decker at the altar, she’d have a difficult time choosing. But one dress across the shop snagged her attention before she could even scan the rest.

Her mother stopped at a dress hanging in one of the left inlayed arches. It had a lace bodice and off-the-shoulder sleeves; its skirt was sheer over silk and the train not overly long. Meanwhile, Kendall went to check out the dress on a manikin that had caught her eye the moment she’d entered. She often found things that way; something struck her fancy and nothing else matched her taste. Shopping went fast when that happened. She began to let her earlier anxiety go and the excitement take over. What girl didn’t like wedding dresses?