Ready-Made Bride

from the living room.

“Kane, Andrew needs to be in a stable environment, preferably with the guidance of two parents, not one who acts on frivolous desires,” Mrs. Henderson said sternly. “It just isn’t appropriate that you have a woman living with you-”

“Megan is not living with us,” Kane replied, his voice tight with frustration.

“Regardless, it doesn’t help matters that I’ve caught the two of you in a… well, a compromising position that is hardly conducive to Andrew’s mental health.” The woman sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, Kane, but I feel I have no other choice but to put in a recommendation that the Lindens receive temporary custody of Andrew until we can evaluate the situation further.”

“I’ll fight it,” he said, his tone vibrating with anger.

Megan heard the sound of shuffling papers. “The report I’ll be writing up and submitting today won’t look good on your behalf.”

“But I’m certain it’ll look good on the Lindens’ behalf,” Kane added bitterly.

Megan clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sob of despair working its way out of her throat. Tears burned her eyes, and the room began to spin.

Oh, Lord, what had she done?

Closing her eyes and bracing herself against the wall, she frantically searched her mind for something, anything, to remedy the awful predicament she’d gotten Kane into. She’d never forgive herself if she was the cause of tearing father and son apart, not to mention the resulting scandal that might hurt Andrew.

Then, like a godsend, an answer to their problem floated into her mind. Her solution was outrageous, but necessary to save Kane’s reputation and keep Andrew where he belonged-with his father.

Not giving herself time to rethink her plan, she quickly picked up the tray of refreshments and strolled into the living room. Tension swirled between the adults. Kane looked at her, and the devastation and misery lining his pale face gave her the courage she needed to execute her plan.

Focusing all her hospitality on Mrs. Henderson, she placed the tray on the coffee table and sat next to Kane, so close that her thigh pressed against his. She didn’t miss how he subtly shifted away so they weren’t touching. “Has Kane had a chance to tell you our exciting news?”

The woman frowned and peered at her over her glasses. “What news is that?”

“Megan,” Kane interrupted, his voice low with warning. “I don’t think Mrs. Henderson cares about that news.”

He didn’t want her help. Well, he didn’t have a choice. “Oh, quit being so modest,” she said sweetly as she poured lemonade into their glasses with a surprisingly steady hand. “You know everyone is going to find out sooner or later.”

“What are you talking about?” Mrs. Henderson persisted.

She gave Kane a quick look that implored his trust before glancing at the social worker. “Well, Kane and I have been corresponding for a year and half, and he’d just asked me to marry him before you walked in on us. I’ve accepted his proposal.”

The woman’s brows rose so high they practically blended with her hairline. Skepticism shone in her eyes.

Ignoring her quivering insides, Megan smiled at Kane, who sat motionless beside her. The calm before the storm, she thought The only clue belying his shock was his hands, fisted on his thighs, and the muscle ticking in his cheek.

“Isn’t that right, honey?” Megan asked, knowing Mrs. Henderson would want him to confirm her claim.

His mouth thinned into a tight facsimile of a smile. Megan held her breath, waiting for Kane to either expose her lie or seal their future.

What seemed like an eternity passed. Then, as if finally realizing he had no other possible alternative if he didn’t want to lose his son, the word wheezed out of him. “Yes.”

Recovering, Mrs. Henderson softened her dour expression. Her face mellowed in approval. “Well, I honestly don’t know what to say!”

Megan looped her arm through Kane’s stiff one, knowing there’d be hell to pay once Mrs. Henderson left. It didn’t matter, because she’d saved Kane and Andrew a ton of heartache.

Looking at her husband-to-be, she smiled adoringly. “How about congratulations?”

CHAPTER SIX

IMPOTENT fury raged through Kane. He expected steam to blow from his ears. He itched to plant his fist in something solid, to relieve some of the outrage simmering in him.

After making sure Mrs. Henderson had pulled her car out of the drive, he slammed the front door and charged into the living room. Megan stood at the window overlooking the front yard, arms crossed over her chest.

His temper came to a head and a violent trembling reverberated through his body. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

She winced at his sharp tone and glanced at him. Her brilliant blue eyes were filled with a wealth of emotion, none of which resembled regret “It was the only thing I could think of that would keep you and Andrew from being separated.”

“Dammit, woman, I never asked you here, and I sure as hell don’t need you meddling in my life!” He moved across the room toward her, his strides long and quick. Considering his furious. tone and ominous expression, he was more than a little surprised she didn’t scurry in the opposite direction. Instead, she stood her ground, that chin of hers lifting mutinously.

Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he released a harsh breath that eased some of the tension banding his chest. He knew she’d meant well, but… “For God’s sake, Megan. Marriage? What in the world were you thinking?”

“She’s not filing the complaint,” she replied defensively.

“No, but that woman thinks we’re getting married,” he said, stabbing a finger in the direction Mrs. Henderson had followed less than five minutes ago. “In a matter of hours so will the rest of the town. Then what are we going to do? Did you ever stop to think about the consequences of your brilliant plan?”

“Yes.”

“Really?” he drawled, unable to help the dry, biting sarcasm in his voice. “And how do you propose we get out of this little predicament you’ve gotten us into without making both of us look like the liars we are?”

She drew a deep breath. “I know this is going to sound crazy, but maybe we should consider it.” The words tumbled out in a rush of expelled air.

His stomach knotted with apprehension. “It?”

“Marriage,” she clarified.

His heart slammed against his rib cage. The thought of sharing the kind of intimacy intrinsic to marriage made him break out in a cold sweat. “Not only is that a crazy idea, it’s totally insane.”

She slowly approached him. “I don’t think so.”

Her gaze never wavered from his, mesmerizing him. He couldn’t recall ever knowing a woman so unselfish, so caring or generous. A woman more concerned about his and Andrew’s welfare than her own. Her selfless sacrifice touched him deeply. He was a fool for pushing her away, for refusing something so sweet and tempting and infinitely precious, but he’d be a bigger fool if he allowed her to permanently insinuate herself in their lives. Megan would want to know all his secrets, would do her best to discover his biggest flaw. And when she did, he’d have to deal with her shock and her censure. He never wanted to see the softness in her blue eyes harden with resentment.

“Aw, Megan,” he said, “I know what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate the offer, but marriage isn’t the answer.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked softly.

Her persistence both amused and irritated him. “Because I’m not husband material, and I don’t want or need a wife.” But Andrew did need a mother, and that thought buzzed around his conscience like