Goody Two Shoes (Invertary Book 2) (2 page)

Caroline looked at both men in turn. Mitch shrugged, like this was out of his hands. Josh thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his worn jeans and rocked back and forth on the spot. He flashed his megawatt smile.

“So what do you say, Caroline Patterson. Do you want to marry me?”

Caroline swayed before sitting back down with a dull thud.

Josh shot a worried glance at Mitch. His friend had one of those “I told you so” looks on his face. So maybe he’d rushed things a little? When he’d opened the door and saw her standing there looking like Grace Kelly in a Hitchcock film, it was as though he’d been punched in the gut. He knew she was the one—with a certainty that had shocked him. She was perfect. All buttoned up and proper in her grey polyester suit, without even a dab of makeup on her smooth, creamy skin. She was screaming out for someone to come along and ruffle her a little. And he itched to be the one. He’d made up his mind on the spot. He’d found his wife. Unfortunately, from the bewildered look on Caroline’s face, it seemed she didn’t agree.

“You want to marry me?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

She tucked a strand of her perfect blond bob behind her ear.

“Yes.” Josh sat on the edge of the sofa opposite her.

She looked at Mitch, then back at Josh. “Is this a joke?”

“I’m dead serious.”

She turned to Mitch, who sighed heavily. “He’s telling the truth. He’s serious.”

Caroline swung back to Josh. “Why on earth would you want to marry me?”

Okay, so not the response he was looking for, but he could work with it.

“You’re exactly what I’m looking for.” He gave her his best charming smile. The one that usually made women swoon.

“You’ve been looking for an ordinary Scottish woman who works in a community centre?”

She reached for the mug of tea she’d obviously hated, and took a large gulp. Her nose screwed up.

“It’s like this.” Josh worked at keeping his tone soothing. “I don’t believe in romance. I believe in commitment. I want an arranged marriage, like they do in India. So, Mitch here has been checking out potential wives for me. Up until now he’s completely bombed out, but I think he’s spot on with you. You’re perfect. I think you should marry me.”

Her jaw fell open. “You think I should marry you?”

Josh looked at Mitch. “Why does everyone insist on repeating what I say?”

“It’s a mystery.” Mitch’s tone was droll.

“You don’t know anything about me.” Caroline’s cheeks had turned the prettiest shade of pink. It made up for the boxy suit and sensible shoes his mother would love.

“I know you care about family. I know you quit college to help your sister when she got pregnant as a teenager.” He smiled reassuringly. “I know you lost your parents when you were a kid, and your grandfather raised you. I know you live alone and aren’t in a relationship. I know the whole town considers you to be the woman in charge around here.”

The colour leeched out of her face. “You’ve been spying on me?”

Josh realised his mistake. “Not spying, just checking you out.”

Caroline frowned at the two of them. “That is very…” She looked around the room. “Creepy,” she said at last.

Josh rubbed his neck. This wasn’t going how he’d planned it to go. Now she not only looked like she was going to run, but call the cops while she did it. He tried a different tack.

“Lots of people get married for practical purposes. It isn’t always about falling in love. It’s really quite simple. Think of it as a business arrangement, only with sex.”

Mitch groaned and slapped a hand over his eyes.

“You mean like a prostitute?” Caroline’s green eyes went wide.

“No!” Josh threw up his hands. “That came out wrong. It’s a marriage.”

“Between two people who don’t know each other.”

“But who will grow to care for each other.” He infused his words with the absolute conviction he felt.

Caroline sat silently for a minute. At least she seemed slightly less stunned. She turned to Mitch.

“You picked me?” She pointed at Josh. “For him?”

“He needs a nice girl.” Mitch shrugged. “Someone down to earth who can balance out the nuttiness.”

Caroline shook her head. “I’m sorry.” She spread her elegant hands. “I don’t understand this at all. Don’t people like you usually marry models, or film stars? Isn’t there someone more appropriate who fits your bill?”

“Uh-uh. Not going to happen. I’ve been down that road. I don’t want a famous wife.”

“No,” Mitch said. “There’s only room in his life for one ego.”

“You’re not helping,” Josh told his friend.

Mitch grinned and settled into one of the cream-coloured armchairs.

“This is ridiculous.” Caroline’s voice had a slightly hysterical edge to it. “Why would I marry you?”

Josh spread his hands wide. He thought it was self-evident. Apparently not.

“Because you’ll have a great life with me. We’ll travel the world, meet interesting people, have loads of fun and you’ll get to live in a castle.” He leaned towards her and lowered his tone. “And trust me, I
will
make you feel good. Very, very good.”

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. They stared into each other’s eyes for a minute before she blinked and looked away.

“It wouldn’t be a hardship. I’m easy to be around. Ask anyone.”

She looked at Mitch.

“It’s true. You get to live in a castle, and if you can deal with whatever mad idea he has going next, then he’s easy to live with.”

Caroline’s brow wrinkled in confusion. It was cute.

“Is this like a job position? You’d pay me to live with you and have your children? Are we talking something Michael Jackson would have done?”

Josh almost laughed, but she was deadly serious.

“We’re talking about a marriage. An equal partnership. Everything I have will be yours, and vice versa. We’ll make decisions together and get to know each other as we grow old. It’s simple. It’s how marriage used to be. People have been doing this for centuries. It isn’t a big deal. Don’t overthink it. It’ll be great. Instead, focus on all the fun we’ll have down the years.”

“But I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you. Other than you sing Sinatra songs and middle-aged women throw underwear at you.”

“I don’t just sing Sinatra,” Josh informed her. “And there’s nothing I can do about the underwear. Believe me, I’ve tried. Who knows what goes through a woman’s head that makes her think I want her used nylon underpants.”

Caroline blinked several times.

“She wants to know more about you,” Mitch said helpfully. “Not the underpants.”

“Sure.” Josh nodded. “What do you want to know? Ask away.”

She seemed blank. Her gaze darted about the room as she searched for something to say. Josh took pity on her.

“Fine,” he said when no questions were forthcoming. “I come from a decent family. My dad is Scottish, my mom is American. They met in Atlantic City when my dad was on shore leave from the merchant navy. They were married fast and settled in Atlantic City, where they ran a miniature golf course together. I had a normal childhood. Wasn’t brilliant in school and wasn’t dumb either; mainly I just wanted to sing. I started doing gigs when I was thirteen, then as soon as I was legal I worked the clubs. I got my first big break playing Caesars. Apart from that, I don’t have any brothers or sisters, and this idiot”—he pointed at Mitch—“has been my best friend since I was six. What else is there to know?”

She took a deep breath. “Any history of mental illness?”

“You mean me?” Josh pointed at himself. He couldn’t hold in a laugh, the question was so ludicrous.

“Don’t worry,” Mitch said. “I know where you’re going with this. Unfortunately, he’s sane. We have the paperwork to prove it.”

She turned back to Josh, who was trying his hardest to appear serious and sane.

“Are you dying and desperate to reproduce before you go?”

“What? No!”

Caroline’s green eyes stared at him, while she pursed her luscious pink lips. His eyes wandered over her delicate cheekbones down to the beauty spot on the curve of her chin. That spot was begging to be kissed.

“You’re homosexual, aren’t you?”

Mitch spat coffee all over the carpet.

“No,” Josh told her. “I’m not gay. Not even remotely.”

Mitch was struggling to hold in his laughter, which wasn’t helping.

“Don’t you need to be somewhere else?” Josh asked him.

“No way.” Mitch grinned with delight. “I’m not missing this.

“Look,” Josh said. “I’m offering you everything I have. You won’t regret this—trust me, I’ll make sure you’re happy.”

“You don’t know that. You can’t promise something like that.”

“Yes. I can and I will. You’ll be so damn happy you won’t know what to do with yourself.”

Her cute little brows frowned with confusion, and Josh wondered when the last time was that he saw a woman frown. Every other woman he knew had been paralysed with Botox. There was silence in the room. Caroline looked around, giving every item her full consideration. Only the pulse throbbing at the curve of her jaw gave away the fact that this was anything but a normal conversation.

Caroline’s blood was pumping so fast that it made her feel dizzy.

“Is this real?” she said.

Josh laughed. He had a good laugh. It was deep and full of joy. From the sparkle in his eyes and his easy, laid-back attitude, she bet he was a man who laughed a lot. She almost envied his ease, and wondered what it would be like to be so relaxed about life.

“I’m afraid so,” he told her.

He leaned forward to put his elbows on his knees. He clasped his hands as he stared her in the eye. Her heart thudded loudly under the spotlight attention. She licked her lips.

“What do you say, Caroline Patterson,” he drawled. “Want to marry me?”

Caroline swallowed hard as a cool sweat broke out on the small of her back.

Mitch lobbed a small blue cushion at Josh. “How about you give the girl some time to think about it?”

Josh tossed the cushion back. “Why don’t we let her decide what she wants to do?”

The two men stared at her. Josh all shoulders, blue-black hair and luminous blue eyes. And Mitch with his wavy golden hair, hazel eyes and tall, lean frame. You didn’t see many men like these in Invertary. There was more testosterone in the room than in all of Scotland.

She studied Josh, hoping for some clue as to whether this was some sort of joke. But all she saw was complete conviction and determination. His full lips softened into a mischievous smile.

“I promise.” His voice was a low vibration that worked its way across her skin. “You won’t regret it.”

Caroline knew, from scanning the tabloid magazines in the library, that there were women queueing up for a chance to marry Josh. Women who fancied themselves already in love with him. Or women who wanted his money and fame. Caroline wanted neither, and she definitely wasn’t in love with him. In all her thirty-one years she’d never been in love. And, as far as she was aware, no one had been in love with her. She’d been waiting to be swept off her feet. She was still waiting. She clasped her hands tightly as they began to shake. What if this was her only chance at a family? She glanced at Josh. His children would be beautiful. No,
their
children would be beautiful. Her heart stuttered and her mouth dried. Children. She’d given up all hope of ever having any.

Avoiding Josh’s eyes, Caroline worked at steadying her breathing. Her gaze roamed around the grand room, and she automatically detailed every missing feature and hidden piece of history. His words rang in her ears—they would be partners, what was his would be hers, she’d get to live in the castle. Her palms began to sweat. She eyed the cracked single-pane windows that he’d no doubt replace with aluminium double glazing. She shuddered. What if this was her only chance to save the castle?

She shook her head to clear it. It didn’t help. What she was thinking—what she was considering—was wrong. So very wrong. She looked at Josh’s smiling face, and then at the TV where the fireplace should be. That beautiful old fireplace. Knowing it was hidden tipped her over the edge. She felt her decision rush at her like a high-speed train. There was no avoiding it. She’d decided subconsciously. The deed was done.

“I have some conditions.” Her voice was a croak. She cleared her throat.

Her heart was beating so loudly she could hardly hear anything else. Part of her brain was screaming for her to shut up. The other part was cheering her on. Josh shot Mitch an excited look. He beamed at her while his friend slumped down into his chair in resignation.

“Shoot.” Josh spread his hands wide.

“If I agree, I want to be in charge of the castle restoration. I don’t want any complaints. I want to be able to restore the place without interference. What I say goes.”

“Done. The castle is yours.”

Adrenalin shot through her.
The castle was hers.
She took a deep but shaky breath. She’d just sold herself—and the price was a castle. The room blurred in front of her as her heart pounded hard enough to be painful.