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He was surprised when her answer was a slight grimace. Somehow the idea of turning twenty-one didn’t seem to excite her. In fact, he would almost describe the emotion that flashed across her face as fear.
“I’ll be twenty-one in a month and a half,” she said, the laughter gone from her eyes.
He frowned. “You don’t seem happy about it.”
She bit her lip then sighed. “I’m not,” she said finally. “Before I reach twenty-one I’ll have to marry a man I hardly even know.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Come again?” Reed stared at her, shock ripping through him like lightning. “What did you say?”
“I have to get married,” she said, her face the picture of despair, “before I hit twenty-one. It’s in my father’s will.”
“What the hell are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense.” He reached up to rake his fingers through his hair. “Not in this day and age.”
“Not to you, it doesn’t. But to my father...” Her mouth twisted sadly and then she gave a sigh. “Before he died my father told me that he’d arranged for me to marry a kind, responsible man, a good friend who he said would manage the money he’d left and take good care of me.”
“An arranged marriage?” Reed could not believe what he was hearing.
Golden nodded, a pained expression on her face. “My father was very old fashion. You’d think this was the Victorian age, the way he carried on. I loved my father but he was a bit...eccentric.” She paused, her gaze unfocused like she was remembering her father. Then she blinked. “Father didn’t think women could manage money.” She smiled wryly. “His experience with mother was not very reassuring.” She drew in her breath then let it out on a sigh. “Anyway, the long and short of it is that I’m to marry Lord Mountbatten before I hit my twenty-first birthday. If not, the money in my trust fund goes to my mother and there’s no way I can let that happen.”
“Because?”
Her eyebrows flew up and she looked at him like he’d asked the stupidest question in the world. “Because then it would all go to Manchester. I can’t allow that. He controls every cent my mother has now. Can you imagine what he would do with another nine million pounds?”
“Nine mil...” Reed stared at Golden. The girl had nine million pounds at her disposal but you’d never tell, not the way she carried herself so humble and reserved. His mind homed in on her dilemma and he frowned. “So you’re going to marry this man so you can inherit the money.”
She drew in her breath and when she let it out her shoulders sagged. “Yes.”
“You’re going to sacrifice yourself to this man,” he said, watching her face intently, “for the money.”
“Yes,” she said sadly, “but not for the money. For my mother.”
“For your mother?”
“Yes. Don’t you see? The only way I can save my mother from that beast is if I keep the money out of his hands. That way, once I convince her to leave him I can provide for her, give her the comfort she’s used to.” She grimaced. “Assuming I’ll be able to convince her of that. She’s so in awe of him.”
“But for you to have to marry this man just so you can get your money?” He snorted in disgust. “What kind of a father traps his daughter in a situation like that?” He was about to say more but the stricken look on Golden’s face made him can it. Obviously, she loved her father regardless of his idiotic stipulations. It was not his place to criticize. Still, there had to be some way to get around this.
“Can you get me a copy of the will?” he asked. “I’d like my lawyer to have a look, if you don’t mind. There must be some loophole that would allow you to get your money without having to marry this man.”
“I...don’t have a copy,” she said. “I never saw the will. All I know is what my father told me.” Absentmindedly she twisted the napkin in her hands. “I could ask my mother. She has it locked away in the safety deposit box. Although...she’d want to know why I want a copy of it.”
“Tell her you want to review it before your twenty-first birthday to make sure you’re clear on all the conditions. I’m sure she’ll buy that.”
“Okay,” she said, her voice still doubtful. “I’ll try.” And then she gave him a tremulous smile.
The meal over, Reed drove Golden back to the office then walked her to her car. She surprised him when she laid a hand on his arm.
“Thank you,” she said, “for offering to help. It means a lot to me.”
“You’re very welcome.” He looked down at her as she leaned against her car but where he was expecting relief, on her face was a sadness he could not understand. Was she still worried about her fate? “Why so sad?” he asked gently. “I’m sure my lawyer will figure things out.”
“I know,” she said as she slid her hands from his arm and rested it on the window. “It’s not that. I was thinking about Claire, my friend.” She gave a soft sigh. “I feel so bad. I was the one who made her sick.”
“How so?”
“She had a stroke but it was because she was upset. It was my fault, meddling in her business. I was trying to reconcile her with the daughter she hadn’t seen in six years.” She shook her head. “It ended up upsetting her so much that she had the stroke.”
“That’s what she told you?”
“No. In fact, the doctors said it had nothing to do with that but I don’t believe them.” The corners of her mouth turned down. “It was my fault.”
She looked so forlorn that Reed wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her. He wanted her to know that everything would be all right.
At that moment he knew he was probably being the biggest fool on earth but that was a risk he was prepared to take as long as he could steal one more kiss. Ignoring the alarm bells going off in his head Reed leaned forward and rested his hands on the top of the car door on either side of Golden’s head, effectively trapping her in place.
She lifted her face to him. She knew exactly what he was about to do and she was not going to stop him. He could see it in the longing in her eyes, the soft parting of her lips. She wanted the comfort of his lips on hers and he would not deny her.
Sliding his hands from the car he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close then he dropped his head to capture her willing mouth. This time he did not tempt and tease. He wanted her, needed her so bad that this time he would not hold back.
He pressed his lips against hers and as she melted against him, her hands sliding around to circle his waist, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her moist depth.
As their tongues touched she moaned and her arms around him tightened. She leaned into him, pressing her body against his, seeming desperate to lose herself in his embrace, to forget all her troubles in the passion of his kiss.
He did his best not to disappoint. Tilting forward he pressed her back against the car, never breaking the kiss, one hand sliding up to cradle her head while the other gently stroked her hip.
When he finally pulled his lips from hers she hid her face against his shoulder, her breath escaping in shallow pants as her body trembled against his.
She was a passionate one, this girl, so endearing in her eager innocence.
Reed almost groaned as he held her close. More than anything, he wanted to make sure never to hurt her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I’m sorry, Claire. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“For what? What nonsense are you blabbing about now, child?” Claire popped a grape into her mouth and when she bit down a tiny spray shot from between her lips. She laughed and dabbed at her mouth with a tissue. “These dentures. Make sure you take good care of your teeth. These things will embarrass you every time.”
“Claire, I’m serious.” Golden was almost pouting. Claire could be so difficult when she wanted to be. Her friend knew exactly what she was talking about but, for some reason, she’d decided to play dumb. As she sat across from Claire in the ground-floor canteen she pushed her salad plate away and folded her arms. “You know exactly what I mean. I won’t be a busybody anymore. I promise.” Then her face fell. “I didn’t mean for you to get sick. Honest.”
“Golden,” Claire said, her face suddenly serious, “I’m going to say this one more time and this time I want you to listen. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in years. And what you did last week, getting Marjorie to come visit, could not have happened at a better time.”
If Claire had slapped her on the cheek Golden could not have been more surprised. “You’re not angry about that?”
“No, I’m not. On the contrary, I’m proud of you. You knew I was being an old fool and you took steps to correct that.”
