Game For Love(39)

He somehow managed to get the words "I did" out with a straight face.

"It's just he's so famous and I really wanted him all to myself, at least for a little while."

Surprised to find himself wishing they'd actually had some time together out of the public eye, he agreed. "The press can be pretty hard to deal with."

"But Anna, how could you get married and not tell your own family?"

Anna's face fell at her mother's soft question and he wanted to jump in and save her so badly he had to grit his teeth together to keep his mouth shut. They'd made a deal. He was going to let her lead at dinner...then she was going to follow his lead in bed tonight.

His dick jumped to life in his pants. Crap, that was the wrong thought for a family gathering.

"I'm really sorry, Mom." She looked around at everyone, her lower lip starting to quiver.

He pulled her closer. "You're right. You all should have been there. It's just--I didn't want to take away from Jeannie's special day." And then she looked up at him. "And I finally had a chance to do something special with Cole. I had to take it."

He couldn't look away from her, couldn't stop himself from leaning over to kiss her sweet, trembling lips.

"This just might be the most romantic thing that's ever happened." Jill was the first one to hold out her hand. "I'm Jill. It's so nice to meet you. This is my husband, Brian."

Cole shook hands with Jane and Alan, Joanne and Chris. Anna's father moved out from behind his kids. "I'm not going to pretend that we don't wish we'd known about you before now.

But anyone who makes my Anna happy is welcome in my book."

There wasn't understanding in her father's eyes, but neither was there condemnation. And when his gaze shifted to Anna, love shone out strong and pure.

What a shame there hadn't been time to ask her father for her hand. But that didn't make sense. Cole hadn't even known her yesterday, wouldn't have ever sought her out if not for his grandmother's wish.

"Thank you, Mr. Davis." He shook her father's hand, a strong handshake from the kind of man Cole would have loved to have had around when he was a kid.

"Call me John."

Anna's mother turned and walked into the kitchen and Anna stiffened against him.

"Go," he said in a low voice that only she could hear.

But when her hand slipped out of his, he found he already missed her. Not just the soft press of her curves, but the sweet pleasure of holding her hand in his, of knowing that he could fall back into pass coverage if she needed his support.

But he didn't have long to dwell on the thought, not with seven people he was now temporarily related to all peppering him with questions and compliments.



* * *

"Are you mad at me?" Anna asked her mother. "Should I be?"

Anna's mother, Jackie, had always been there for her daughters with a hug and smile and chocolate. And, sometimes, when they needed it most, tough love.

Anna wished there was something for her to do in the kitchen, for some place to put her hands and eyes so that she wouldn't completely give herself away.

"I know my marriage is really unexpected, Mom."

"Do you love him, Anna?"

She met her mother's gaze on a swift intake of breath. It was the one question she'd hoped no one would ask, the one thing she'd hoped they wouldn't pick up on from her explanation.

"He's a wonderful man."

A man who would do anything for his grandmother--including finding a nice stranger and marrying her--couldn't possibly be bad. Even the fact that he'd lied to her no longer seemed all that bad. Not when she herself was doling out the lies by the bucketful.

"That wasn't what I asked." Her mother nailed her with a sharp glance. "Do you love him?"

Anna didn't know how to lie, not to one of the people who loved her more than anything else in the world.

But just as she was about to say, "I don't know," she realized it wasn't true.

Oh my God, she was falling in love with him.

She was only vaguely aware of her own gasp, of her mother's arms coming around her.

"Oh, Anna. You always were different."

Anna's chest clenched. "And you've always felt sorry for me." At her mother's shocked look, Anna forced herself to step away. "The rest of your kids were all tall and blonde, they were all so popular, had so many dates, and won so many awards. I've never fit in, no matter how hard I tried."

"Anna, honey, I can't believe you think that."

But twenty-nine years was an awfully long time to hold it all in, and now that the dam had cracked, she couldn't keep it all from gushing out. "I picked out a new J name for myself when I was in first grade. Jennifer. But I never had the guts to tell you I wanted to change Anna so that I could be like the rest of you. Plus, I knew it wouldn't be enough. I'd still be me."