The Fiancée Fiasco Read Online Free Page A

she'd never seen on his face before: a smile. It wasn't much of a smile, granted, just a slight pulling back of the lips and a pair of shy crescents around the corners of his mouth, but it was a definite, bona fide smile.
    "That's a mighty interestin' deal." His smile actually grew a little. "I'd say if you can get rid of Sylvia—forever—I'd happily sign anything you put in front of me." He cocked his head. "But I'm afraid they're calling the flight."
    He rose from his chair and held out his hand to her. "Why don't you give me a call tomorrow afternoon? I'll be in the office."
    Still seated, Roseanne looked up from his offered hand. "I'd much rather take care of this tonight."
    A shadow of annoyance crossed his face. "I've got to get on the plane."
    "That's okay." Rising, Roseanne pulled her own boarding pass out of her purse. "We can discuss it on board."
    His annoyance transformed immediately to alarm. "You—what?"
    Roseanne waved the piece of paper in the air. "I've got a boarding pass. So we can continue our discussion on the plane to Houston."
    "But—you can't come to Houston!"
    Roseanne wrinkled her forehead in mock consternation. "Why not?"
    "Because—" Carruthers stopped and looked guiltily around. His voice had inadvertently raised. "Look." He took hold of her by the elbow and firmly guided her away from the line of people waiting to board the plane. "I'm probably not going to like your idea anyway. It would be ridiculous for you to waste your time—a whole plane flight and back. Plus, well, it just wouldn't look right, would it?"
    Roseanne took hold of his hand and attempted to remove it from her elbow. It was a useless effort. His grip was like steel. "I don't know what you mean about not looking right. And how do you know I'd be wasting my time?"
    "Because." His jaw set. "I know Sylvia and you can't come up with an idea that will outwit that woman."
    Was that what he thought? Roseanne raised an eyebrow. Carruthers' faith in his wife's abilities eased the only compunction she felt about the venture. To be honest, she wasn't actually on Carruthers' side in this battle. In every moral and emotional respect, she sided with the ex-wife. But if Sylvia were so clever, she could take care of herself.
    Meanwhile, Carruthers' strong fingers dug into Roseanne's thin arm. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, more to make him let go than because it hurt.
    Her ploy worked like a charm.
    "Damn!" He let her go abruptly, looking suitably sheepish.
    Roseanne rubbed her elbow for maximum guilt effect. "Hell, Carruthers, I'll turn right around in Houston and hop a flight back to Seattle if you insist. Anyway, I paid for my ticket. You can't stop me from getting on the plane."
    He gave her a deeply concerned look. "True. I can't stop you from gettin' on the plane. But you promise you'll fly straight back to Seattle?"
    "Yes." Roseanne paused, hesitant to surrender too far. "If you don't like my proposal."
    He closed his eyes, apparently coming to terms with the inevitable. "All right, we'd better get on before the plane leaves without us. But you're flying straight back to Seattle, hear?"
    "I hear you." And she was definitely not flying straight back to Seattle. Having caught a taste of her prey, this hunting cat was not giving up so easily.
    "Assigned seats right next to each other?" On the plane, Carruthers gave her a withering glance as he stowed Roseanne's heavy carry-on bag in the overhead compartment.
    Roseanne, already comfortably established in the window seat, studied her blood-red fingernails. "Just good luck, I suppose."
    With a scowl, Carruthers folded his tall frame into the aisle seat. "You certainly know how to get your own way, don't you, Miz Archer?"
    Roseanne's tone turned sharp. "I've been working at it ever since I was eleven years old."
    "Really?" He gave her an inquisitive look. "What happened when you were eleven years old?"
    "Nothing." Roseanne hastily threw a blanket over the old emotions. "Suffice it to say I learned