Five
Prologue
Eleanor Silks Rose sat in the church pew wishing more than anything that it was she standing at the altar becoming Dillon Stone’s new wife. It wasn’t fair that Joan Butler, Centennial High’s sweetheart, with her dark beauty and serene personality, had gotten the most perfect guy in the whole world to walk her down the aisle.
Squirming in pinching panty hose that she rarely put on for any reason, Eleanor watched the ceremony from a seat as far in the back of the small church as she could get and still see down the center aisle to where the couple stood taking their vows. She was oblivious to the soothing music, the serenity of lighted candles and the near tranquillity of the expectant hush as the priest said the words that would join Joan for life to the man Eleanor had secretly loved from the first moment she’d laid eyes on her foster brother Jake’s newest friend.
She’d been fourteen then, and still she would give anything to be in Joan’s white patent leather shoes, only Eleanor’s choice of elegant footwear ran more to new Nikes than anything shiny or with a heel. To be fair, it wasn’t the other woman’s fault Dillon had never noticed her, a ragtag tomboy, who would much rather go hiking or follow the boys fishing than do girl things like primp in front of a mirror, clean house, or cook. She would rather eat dirt than do more than pop something frozen into the microwave.
Of course, Joan did all those housewifely things. Tugging on a piece of hair that insisted on curling around her neck, instead of staying in the French braid she’d tried for the first time, Eleanor dropped her gaze as the ceremony ended so she wouldn’t see Dillon enthusiastically kissing his new bride.
At the start of the bold music that announced another couple had tied the knot, she looked up to see the happy couple start down the aisle toward her, sparkling in the congratulations of their wedding guests.
Her foster parents were always telling her she had her whole life ahead of her. But, to Eleanor, it sure didn’t feel like it.
She refused to cry.
Her heart was not broken.
Another woman had gotten the only man in the world worth considering spending the rest of her life with. King Arthur of Camelot and the Man of Steel all rolled into one, Dillon would always be the only man for her.
Chapter One
“Jake Edward Solomon. You are not my father.”
“No, El, but a big brother is the next best thing. Now, are you going to do me this little favor or not?” Jake’s voice fairly crackled with humor.
Pushing the phone between her ear and hunched shoulder, Eleanor settled behind her desk and swiveled her chair to gaze unseeing out her office window at the intercity park below.
Jake knew he was going to get his way. Just once, Eleanor wished she could resist her foster brother and one of his crazy schemes. She hated being emotionally blackmailed, especially by the one and only person who came the closest to being any kind of family to her.
“I’m not saying I’ll do it, but tell me again what you want me to do?” Eleanor was resigned to helping him out, just like she always did. But, this time, she was determined he was going to have to work hard for his victory.
“The Marshals service is putting on this benefit dinner, and for the price of the ticket we’re going to do a dating-game theater show, with a mock marriage at the end—”
“You’ve got to be kidding, right?” Eleanor knew her voice was on the rise, but at the moment she didn’t care as she caught a glimpse of where her foster brother was heading.
“No, I’m not, El. We’ve got it all arranged for Saturday night, and now one of the girls has backed out.”
Eleanor ignored the begging tone Jake tried to trap her with. She’d been exposed to it more times than she cared to remember. In fact, anytime Jake wanted his way.
“I hope you’re not suggesting that I should replace this…person in your charade. You know I don’t like to do dates…blind, for charity or otherwise,” Eleanor reminded Jake flatly, hoping to make him back off.
Wishful thinking.
“Come on, El. I told you I’m in a bind here. I need you. This is very important to a lot of people…and to me.”
Eleanor hated it when Jake used his soft, nobody-loves-you-more-than-I-do voice from their teenage years. Emotional blackmail. That’s what it was. And, even though it pushed her buttons, she still caved every time.
“Okay, Jake. I’ll do this for you. I don’t care about all those other people. They don’t mean a thing to me.”
“Of course they don’t. Thanks, El. You’re a champ and a—”
“Yeah, right,” Eleanor broke in, not quite ready to concede the brat his victory.
“Listen,” Jake said, “meet me at the Harbor Room tomorrow night and we can go over the details. I’m meeting a friend at five, but we should be done by six. Love you, baby sister.”
And then all that was left of Jake and his current mad scheme was the dial tone in Eleanor’s ear.
Dillon Stone studied his friend suspiciously in the dim lighting of happy hour at the Harbor Room. Jake couldn’t possibly know about his plans to find a wife.
It had been one month since his sister’s wedding and his decision to go wife-hunting. And watching Ryan trying to settle into their new home near the university had only strengthened his determination.
Dillon remembered what it had been like after his own mother had died when he was a young teenager—how he’d felt so lost and alone. He’d missed her horribly. He didn’t want Ryan to grow up feeling that same loss.
Tangled up in his memories, Dillon wiped away the moisture on the outside of his beer glass with his thumb. He wasn’t looking for love for himself. He’d been lucky. He’d had love once. That wasn’t something that happened twice in a man’s lifetime. The best he could hope for was someone he could respect and live comfortably with. It was doable. Many married for far less.
Dillon thought about the two lists stashed away in his office at home. On one, he’d listed all of the qualities he required in a wife. On the other, all of the single women he thought
