Blackhawk's Sweet Revenge

Her breathing quickened; he could see her mind racing. “But your business,” she argued, “you work in Dallas.”

“As soon as you’re settled here, I’ll spend most of my time there. I’m sure you won’t object to that.” He traced the delicate line of her jaw. “But don’t worry, I’ll be back to check up on you, just so you don’t get too lonely. So what’s your answer?”

What was her answer?

Dare she let him see that he’d just offered her more than she could have ever dreamed? Marriage, her grandparents’ house. Children. Dear God. Her chest tightened with the thought.

She’d never truly considered marriage or children while her mother was alive. Caring for her had been full-time, and Julianna had known that if she’d left, her father would have sent her mother to a home. Some place where no one would care about her or love her.

But during that time when she’d been looking after her mother, she’d never loved any of the men she’d occasionally gone out with.

Not like she’d loved Lucas.

What a laugh that would be for him, to know that she loved him. She’d only been nine when she’d watched him stand up to her father, watched him bravely keep his head high, even as he was taken off to the County Home for Boys. She’d always respected his honesty, admired his courage. He’d never given a damn what anyone thought, except maybe Nick Santos and Ian Shawnessy, his best friends. His only friends. Which was still two more than she’d ever had. She’d watched them together from afar, always envied their friendship.

She’d been a coward her entire life, had always been afraid to stand up for herself. Would she be afraid now, afraid to say yes, when that was what she really wanted?

But making her happy was certainly not part of Lucas’s revenge. She couldn’t let him know how much she wanted this, how much she wanted to be his wife, the mother of his children, even without love. To have her house and children, that would be happiness enough for her.

She breathed deeply, held his dark gaze. “Will you put it in writing, that the house will be mine after we marry?”

“As long as you accept my conditions, the house will be in both our names.” He touched her cheek, though gently this time. “And there’ll be no divorce, Julianna. Don’t even think about it. Till death do us part.”

Outside, the storm continued to rage. And here, inside, with Lucas, her heart pounding, her knees shaking, Julianna drew strength from a place deep within her that she’d never even known existed.

“All right, Lucas,” she said, her voice steady and clear. “I’ll marry you.”

Three days later, at four in the afternoon, Lucas stood shoulder to shoulder with Julianna in the Wolf River courthouse. Nick Santos, who’d arrived on his motorcycle only an hour earlier in a ground-trembling display of shiny chrome and black leather, stood to Lucas’s right. Judge Martin Winters, the white-haired, bushy-browed justice of the peace, frowned darkly through the entire ceremony, his hostility aimed directly at Lucas.

Lucas kept his gaze firmly on the judge, repeating back to him the vows of marriage. What the hell did the old man think? Lucas wondered irritably. That Julianna would be starved or beaten? He hadn’t put a gun to her head. She was here of her own free will, had willingly agreed to all the medical tests and signed the marriage license.

He glanced at her now, watched as her trembling lips echoed the words that would bind her to him forever. Her hand was like ice when he slipped a ring on her finger. When she stumbled over “love and honor,” Judge Winters scowled, then sighed and proclaimed them man and wife with an enthusiasm that equaled a jailer slamming the cell door on a prisoner.

Her face was as white as her simple suit, her hair swept up and pinned primly in a French roll. Small diamond studs sparkled at her earlobes. He’d expected her to wear black, but then, he’d never really believed she would show up at all.

Julianna Hadley was now Julianna Blackhawk.

He turned to kiss her, ignoring the sniffle from Mrs. Talbot, the matronly court secretary who’d been Julianna’s witness. He vaguely remembered the woman, recalled her hair had been brown twenty years ago, not gray. She’d been kind to him the night he’d been arrested at Hadley’s mansion and led handcuffed into the jail. Lucas was certain the woman remembered him, as well, and wondered if her sniffle was one of joy for the newlyweds or misery.

He pressed his lips to Julianna’s, was surprised that she didn’t turn away from him. Her eyes fluttered closed, then opened slowly when he moved away.

“Out of the way, Blackhawk.” Nick shouldered Lucas aside. “It’s time for the best man—and I do mean that in every way—to kiss the bride.”

Julianna uttered a small shriek as Nick swept her off her feet, twirled her, then plastered his mouth to hers. Lucas sighed, shaking his head as he stepped in to save his new bride. He’d known that he’d have to tolerate a certain amount of nonsense when he’d called Nick and asked him to stand up for him. Ian should have been here, too, but, as was often the case, it had been impossible to track him down.

“That’s enough, lover boy.” Lucas tapped Nick on the shoulder. Nick mumbled something, but kept his mouth firmly secured to Julianna’s. Judge Winters’s frown deepened, and the court secretary’s eyes opened wide.

Strangely disturbed by his friend’s antics, Lucas took hold of Nick’s collar and yanked. Julianna stumbled backward, her hand pressed to her mouth.

“Get your own woman, Santos,” Lucas said tightly, surprised at the sharp tone in his voice.

Nick beamed. “Just being brotherly, Lucas. We’re family now.”

Lucas started to tell Nick exactly what he’d do to him if he was any more brotherly when the door to the judge’s chambers burst open.

Face red, eyes crazed, Mason Hadley exploded into the room.

Julianna couldn’t move. One moment she’d been caught in an amorous, though playful, embrace by Nick Santos, the next moment her father was flying at her.

“So this is what you’ve been sneaking around for these past three days,” he yelled. “So you could marry this no-good half-breed. You ungrateful bitch.”

She froze, watched him come at her, hand raised, expression furious. The hard slap stung, sent her reeling backward. She thought she might have cried out, but wasn’t certain. And then everything happened so fast. She heard a roar, a wild, savage growl, and suddenly Lucas had her father pinned against the office wall. Nick moved beside her, steadied her with his arm while he murmured something gentle. She felt Nick’s tension, his anger, but it was Lucas she couldn’t take her eyes off. Lucas, whose expression of fury terrified her.

“Lucas, please,” she managed, though her voice shook. “Please, let him go.”

She thought that he hadn’t heard her, or her plea meant nothing to him, but after a moment he loosened his hold and let her father slump back against the wall.

“You touch my wife again and I’ll kill you,” Lucas said with dead calm.

Mason looked at the judge, who stood by, his face solemn. “Did you hear that, Martin? He threatened me. I want this man arrested.”

Mrs. Talbot, who’d run out the side door when Mason had come storming into the judge’s chambers, hurried back in with a deputy at her side. The judge nodded to the officer. “Karl, escort this man out, please.”

Julianna gasped when the deputy moved toward Lucas.

“Not him,” Judge Winters said with disgust. “Mr. Hadley.”

Mason’s jaw dropped open. “How dare you! You’d still be shuffling papers in that flea-bitten law firm you started in, if it weren’t for me and my influence. I’ll have you impeached, Martin.”

“If he gives you any trouble, Karl,” the judge said, leveling his angry gaze on Mason, “lock him up.”

Mason shook off the deputy’s hand, then straightened his jacket and glared first at Julianna, then Lucas. “We’re not finished, Blackhawk.”

“As a matter of fact, we’re not,” Lucas said tightly. “You’re still living in my house. If you’re not out by the morning, I’ll enforce my court order and have you thrown out.”

A vein bulged at Mason’s temple, then he turned and stormed out of the room with the deputy right behind. There was a long, tense moment before anyone spoke.

“Well.” Mrs. Talbot pushed her glasses up on her nose.

“Yes, well,” Judge Winters repeated.

Julianna sagged against Nick.

Lucas moved in front of her, his gaze sweeping across her face. His hands tightened into fists. “Are you all right?”

She wanted to crumble, to fall into his arms and weep. She did none of those things. Instead, she straightened, squared her shoulders and met his cold stare. “I’m fine.”

He nodded stiffly, but said nothing. Tension coiled in the room.

“Well, okay, then,” Nick said at last and slipped an arm around Julianna and Lucas. “Let’s say we go celebrate.”

The best restaurant in Wolf River was Adagio’s in the Four Winds Hotel. Reservations were booked weeks in advance, but the maître d‘ greeted Lucas warmly, then showed them to a table already set for three without so much as a question. Champagne chilled in a silver bucket and crystal flutes shimmered in candlelight. Pale pink roses dressed the center of the table.

So lovely, Julianna thought.

Looking at everything—the champagne, the flowers, the candles—it almost felt like a real celebration. Obviously Lucas had told the maître d‘ it was a wedding dinner, she assumed for appearances, but she had no idea what Lucas had told Nick Santos. The truth? Would he be that cruel? she wondered. Would they have a good laugh over the whole business, throw back a few drinks and gloat in their male superiority?

She’d been surprised when Nick had shown up for the ceremony. But then, she and Lucas had barely communicated over the past three days. She’d been busy packing what few things she’d wanted to take with her, and had come into town only once to apply for the marriage license and tests. Lucas had left a message for her with the clerk, telling her what time to be at the courthouse. That had been the extent of their premarital relationship. She hadn’t told anyone about their marriage, and most certainly not her father.

She had no idea how he’d found out. Most likely someone in the courthouse had seen her come in today with Lucas and called. Everyone in town knew her and her father. Just as they all knew that Lucas Blackhawk was back and that he had ruined Mason Hadley.

She felt the eyes on her and Lucas as they settled into the corner booth. Everyone was watching, waiting to report even the tiniest detail of the town’s newest, and most scandalous, couple.

The maître d‘ poured three glasses of champagne, and Nick raised his glass in a hearty salute. “To the newlyweds,” he said loud enough to turn the heads that weren’t already watching. “May your days be filled with love, your nights with passion.”

She nearly choked. Cheeks hot, she looked at Lucas. He was watching her, a hungry look in his eyes, a half smile on his lips. When he raised his glass to her, she knew he was taunting her.

Her wedding night. Dear God.

She downed the glass in nearly one gulp.

When Nick refilled her glass, Lucas frowned and leaned in close. “Easy, darling. You wouldn’t want to get a headache, now, would you?”

His hot breath fanned over her ear, and she shivered at the thrill that ran through her. She wouldn’t think about later. She couldn’t. She’d never make it through this dinner if she did.

“And now, by proxy, a toast from Killian Shawnessy.” Nick cleared his throat. “May you never forget what-is worth remembering, or remember what-is best forgotten.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, but sipped from his glass. “You’ve heard from Ian?”

“Unreachable,” Nick replied, and at the look exchanged between the two men, Julianna had the feeling that “unreachable” meant more than it implied.

In high school, Lucas Blackhawk, Nick Santos and Ian Shawnessy were the bad-boy threesome. Other girls whispered and giggled about just how “good” they were at being “bad.” Not that Julianna had ever been included in those conversations. Her shyness and her father’s money had always set her apart. She’d never fit in anywhere, with anyone. Nor had she tried. She’d chosen a cool facade, a casual dismissal of her peers, to protect herself from the cruel snubs and sly looks. The Ice Princess, she’d been called, as often to her face as behind her back. And every time, it hurt as deeply, as painfully, as the time before.

And speaking of bad memories from high school, Julianna thought miserably, here came two right now. MaryAnn Johnson and Stephanie Roberts. They’d both been married and divorced. Stephanie twice.

Hips swaying, smiles dazzling, they brazenly sidled up to the table. “Why, hello, Julianna, long time no see.” They never even bothered to look at her. “And if it isn’t Lucas Blackhawk and Nick Santos. What a sight for sore eyes. Heard you’re driving a Ferrari, Lucas, and you, Nick, a famous motorcycle racer. What in the world brings you boys back to Wolf River?”

Stephanie and MaryAnn were all but licking their shiny red lips.

Nick smiled brightly. “Toasting the newlyweds.”

Both women’s mouths fell open. This time they did look at Julianna, their eyes wide.

“You and Lucas?” MaryAnn sputtered.

Julianna’s heart stopped. How perfectly this would fit into Lucas’s plan. Public rejection and humiliation. She held her breath, waited...

He slipped an arm around her, pulled her close and nuzzled her cheek. “Thought I’d never get her to say yes. Wonders never cease, do they, sweetheart?”

She stared at him, too stunned to speak.

“Show them that little rock on your finger, Julianna.” Nick leaned back m his seat, obviously enjoying the entertainment.

Stephanie and MaryAnn zeroed in on Julianna’s hand, their gazes like zoom lenses. Only proper upbringing and their need to display indifference, kept them from drooling.

With no other choice, Julianna held out her hand. She’d been too nervous during the ceremony to really look at the ring he’d slipped on her finger. The diamond was huge, she realized, and the cluster of smaller diamonds surrounding it were exquisite.

Appearances again, she realized, and as beautiful as the ring was, it only reminded her of the lie she’d committed herself to. The ring meant nothing more to Lucas than she did. They were both assets to him, long-term investments. That’s what he’d told her.

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