taken her to a service station. They’d ended up having dinner together, and then spent hours talking during the next few days.
Linc had learned that Lori had recently come out of a broken engagement—to a man who’d gone to prison for theft. Not surprisingly, it had left her disillusioned. Linc knew the feeling well. She was an old-fashioned kind of woman who expected a man to behave honorably. He was an old-fashioned kind of guy who demanded honor from himself and others. On impulse, before they could talk themselves out of it, they decided to get married.
It was crazy. It was wonderful. Linc had never in his life felt this happy and carefree.
“Why are you smiling?” Lori asked, rising up on one elbow to study his face.
Just looking at his wife made his chest tighten. “I never in a million years thought I’d sleep in a canopy bed under pink sheets and be okay with it.” He paused. “More than okay.”
Now it was Lori’s turn to smile. “I told you it wouldn’t be so bad, didn’t I?”
“Not that I remember. What I recall is the promise you made when you lured me to your bed.”
“Lured you?” She raised her eyebrows. “As I recall, you hauled me into your arms, slammed my bedroom door and carried me across the room caveman-style.”
“Caveman? Please.”
“He-man, then.”
He-man, he could live with. “After that, I didn’t even notice the canopy, which was what you intended all along.”
“Do you mind it now?” she asked.
Linc shrugged. He’d lived with his brothers for so many years, he didn’t pay attention to all the froufrou stuff women had. Mary Jo probably had it, too, but she was his baby sister, so that was different.
Everything about Lori had his attention from the moment she’d stepped out of her car that first evening. And when she’d emerged from the bedroom in that black silk piece-of-nothing on their wedding night … The memory still excited him.
“I’ll make coffee,” she volunteered again when he didn’t respond.
“Not so soon,” he said, kissing her until they were both breathless. He watched as her eyes widened and she realized what he wanted. “Linc! I have to get ready for work!”
“You won’t be late,” he promised as he urged her onto her back and brought his mouth to hers.
Ah, yes, marriage had a lot to recommend it, and Linc was going to enjoy every minute.
A half hour later, having forgone coffee, Lori was rushing to get dressed when Linc stepped out of the shower. Her makeup—not that he felt she needed it—was done. She wore a business skirt and was pulling on a soft blue sweater. “What are you doing today?” she asked as she adjusted the neckline.
“I’m signing the closing papers on the garage.”
She looked surprised. “The deal went through already?”
Linc stood in the doorway to the tiny bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. “It sat empty for two years and the owner really wanted to sell.” Linc planned to open a branch of the family business, Wyse Men Auto and Body Shop—formerly Three Wyse Men—in Cedar Cove. His brothers were competent enough to handle everything in Seattle. By starting a second shop, he was giving them an opportunity to succeed on their own. Besides, one of the three needed to be close at hand to keep an eye on Mary Jo, although he had to admit that was more of an excuse than a reason. Linc liked living in Cedar Cove.
Okay, to be honest, he liked living with Lori.
“I only work until three this afternoon,” Lori said, moving about the room. She slipped her arms into a black jacket that didn’t match the skirt but looked good with it, then pinned a cameo to the lapel. Even Linc, most comfortable in a T-shirt and jeans, recognized that Lori had a real sense of style. He supposed it was why she worked in a high-end dress shop in Silverdale. She dabbled in designing, too, and knew how to sew.
“I’ll get groceries on the way home.” She brushed her hair, slung her purse over her shoulder and was about to leave.
Linc grabbed her hand. “Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?”
A smile made her eyes sparkle mischievously. “No, kissing leads to other things and I’m already late.”
“One kiss,” he begged. “Please?”
“Linc,” she groaned, but then complied.
Her kiss left him weak in the knees. He had to clear his throat before he could speak again. “I’ll be back from the title company around four.”
“Great. I’ll pick up a bottle of wine so we can celebrate.”
“Good idea.”
“See you later,” she said, and kissed him again, letting her mouth linger over his. She was well aware of what she was doing to him, and he nearly staggered backward when she abruptly broke away.
“You’re an evil woman, Lori Wyse,” he called after her.
Linc headed out fifteen minutes after Lori. He had several stops to make, plus he needed to drive into Seattle and meet with his brothers about the business there.
By the time he returned to Cedar Cove, he had to sign the papers for the garage. That all took longer than he’d expected and it was almost five when he’d finished.
Linc collected the keys to the garage and went home, hoping to pick up Lori and take her down to see the garage. He had a notebook filled with ideas on how to build the business. He wanted to tell her about them, and above all, he wanted to share this moment with her. They’d take the wine over to the property and toast there.
When Linc arrived home, he saw a black Town Car parked in the very spot where he normally left his truck. Even before he reached their apartment, he heard raised voices.
“Don’t say that, Daddy!” Lori cried. She sounded close to tears.
Oh, boy. Lori hadn’t told her family yet that they were married. Linc didn’t understand why she’d delayed, but the decision was hers. When he’d asked her about it, Linc could see how uncomfortable the subject made her, so he’d dropped it.
Now her father was upset, and frankly, Linc didn’t blame him. He’d do his best to set things straight.
Squaring his shoulders, Linc opened the door and walked into the living room. Lori stood next to the fireplace, her father—a balding, heavyset man—no more than a foot away. One of his hands was raised, as if he’d been wagging his finger at her. The other was clenched at his side. At Linc’s entrance, they both turned to stare at him.
“Hello,” Linc said, hoping he sounded calm and composed. “You must be Lori’s father. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bellamy.” He thrust out his hand, which the older man ignored.
Instead, Leonard Bellamy turned back to his daughter. “Is that the man?”
“Daddy,
