‘Guess we’d better,’ she agreed, echoing his sigh.
He smiled. ‘No argument from you this morning?’
She cocked her head considering, giving him a look that telegraphed he was flirting with danger as she replied, ‘Not until you do something I don’t like.’
He laughed and set her down on her feet, hugging her close for a few more moments of sweet togetherness. ‘I promise not to be a bad boy in front of your family. Okay?’
‘I live in hope that you can keep that promise,’ she said with dry irony, knowing that any challenge was meat and drink to Jake.
‘Watch me,’ he threw back at her, not the least bit intimidated by the prospect of being measured as an appropriate husband.
Maybe their relationship would thrive if she could just keep throwing out challenges, Merlina thought, as she was scooped along with him to get tidy.
But there was still the burning issue of parenthood.
How would he respond to Mario and Gina’s new baby?
She really would have to watch Jake.
Actions were much more telling than words.
CHAPTER TWELVE
JAKE had time for some private reflection as he waited for Merlina to emerge from the ladies’ room at the airport. She’d insisted on their changing clothes before boarding their flight to Griffith and he had already swapped his suit for jeans and a green sports shirt—suitable for any barbecue—and was wondering what kind of outfit she would choose for the family party.
He’d learnt a great deal about the real Merlina in the past twenty-four hours, one revelation after another. She’d caught his interest and intrigued him from their very first meeting, but knowing her far more intimately now, being with her, was exhilarating on every level. His proposal of marriage had been impulsive but he didn’t regret it. In fact, it gave him immense satisfaction to see his ring on Merlina’s finger.
It was weird in a way, since he hadn’t given marriage a thought until last night. He’d always figured it was not worth the trouble; all the fuss of a showcase wedding, a few years of finding out and suffering through incompatibilities, then paying for the mistake in the divorce court.
But he’d stepped up to the plate for Merlina without a second’s hesitation. What’s more, he felt really good about it. The trick now was to make her feel good about it. She didn’t yet. She’d kept glancing at the ruby and diamond ring all through lunch as though she couldn’t really believe it was there, and she was uptight about this meeting with her family, despite the assurances he’d given her about being on his best behaviour.
He had more or less trapped her into this situation and she probably had a lot of doubts about marrying a man she viewed as a playboy. It was true enough that he made a game of life—best way to deal with it, in his opinion—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stick at something if he wanted to. If he had good reason to.
The good reason came sailing out of the ladies’ room dressed in figure-hugging white slacks and a red silky top with an open white collar—sporty and sexy. The tense look on her face eased into a smile of relief as she took in his changed appearance. Jake felt no relief at all. Just the sight of her aroused him again and he didn’t know how he was going to contain this rampant desire until tomorrow. Hopefully her family would provide many distractions.
‘Am I more acceptable now?’ he asked quizzically.
Her smile took on a slight wince. ‘You did look very city in your suit.’
‘So we’re into images again, are we?’ he teased.
Amazingly she blushed and he caught a glimpse of anxious vulnerability in her eyes as she tried to explain. ‘We are stepping into their world, Jake. I know you don’t fit…won’t fit…’
‘Hey!’ He stepped forward and drew her into his embrace. ‘I’m happy to go with the flow wherever it takes me, Merlina. And I’m perfectly comfortable in this gear, as you very well know. It’s what I wear to work.’
‘Yes. Yes, it is.’ The reminder relaxed her.
Trying to lighten her mood further, he said, ‘You know what your problem is? You didn’t plan this yourself so you don’t have every detail under your control. But sometimes, my bride-to-be, you have to wing it.’
She laughed somewhat nervously. ‘Believe me, I’m winging it, Jake.’
‘Then come fly with me,’ he tossed back at her, smiling to win her compliance and confidence as he retained one arm around her waist and turned her to walk with him to the departure lounge.
Jake had no concern whatsoever over fitting. It was simply a matter of adapting to the circumstances and blending with the environment. He’d been doing it most of his life, having learnt the sink or swim principle at a very early age. His parents’ divorce had messed him around for a while but it had forged a strong sense of independence from how they carried on. In fact, the game of survival of the fittest had always appealed to his competitive nature and he was not about to lose today.
Merlina fell into step with him, biting back the fear that flying with Jake Devila might end in crashing and burning. They rolled their repacked overnight bags along with them to stow in the lockers above their seats on the plane. No waiting for baggage at the other end of the flight. She’d telephoned her mother to give the time of their arrival and had been told that two of her brothers, Danny who was thirty-four, and Joe, thirty-three, would meet them and bring them home.
She knew both of them would have regarded Jake as a city slicker in his classy suit. First impressions were important. Though Jake was right about images. Of course he could seem to fit in. And no doubt he would work at fitting in. He was very skilled at handling people. But what would he be thinking and feeling behind the easy charm he would apply?
She knew he wanted her.
And meant to have her as long as the wanting lasted.
Apart from lust and the will to win, Jake’s feelings were a mystery to her and she needed to know them before they got married. As much as she yearned to be with Jake, she couldn’t really wing marriage. It was too important. A contract for life. Involving children.
She had to watch him.
Had to see.
Not be blinded by her own feelings for him—the need to hold on which was growing stronger by the minute.
Jake used the flight time to pump Merlina for all the names and relationships of the family members who would be attending the party, sorting them out in his mind, making associations and placing them in his memory bank. It was like preparing for a business meeting. The numbers were bigger for this meeting, but by mentally reciting the connections over and over, he felt he had them pegged well enough to facilitate introductions and subsequent conversations.