Heaven only knew what the real world had in store.
Boarding the jet for their flight to Las Vegas, her teeth were all but chattering. Sean kept his arm tightly around her and hugged her to his side.
"There's nothing to worry about. My family's going to love you."
She nodded, as if she believed him, but she didn't. Those brothers he always talked about sounded just like him. Big. Strong. Smart. They'd see right through her, know in an instant she didn't measure up to their wives who were undoubtedly women from good, solid backgrounds—backgrounds that were nothing like hers.
And his sisters... She could almost see them. Bright. Beautiful. Proper. One single, two married to men who were so powerful it made her head spin. Fallon's husband was head of an international conglomerate. Megan's was a sheikh.
A sheikh! she thought, and bit back hysterical laughter.
And then there was Sean's mother. Mary Elizabeth O'Connell-Coyle. The matriarch of the clan. Sean adored her—that was obvious. What son wouldn't adore a woman who sounded like a cross between a queen and a saint?
You couldn't leave his stepfather out of the equation. His name, Sean told her, was Daniel. He'd been a cop. Cops always made her nervous, ever since her days on the streets. They saw right through a person. It would take Dan Coyle five seconds to know what she really was, just a dirty-faced street kid who was about to pull the biggest scam of her life on some very nice people who deserved better.
She told herself it wasn't a complete scam. She wasn't Sean's wife but they were in love. They'd only be stretching the truth a little.
Who was she kidding? They'd be stretching it a lot.
The money. She had to concentrate on the money, though thinking about it was agony. She had to take it. With it, she could save her sister's life—but Sean didn't know that. She hadn't told him about Alain's threats, not just to Missy but to her. That he'd intended to use her as a prize.
She couldn't risk telling Sean. He despised Alain already. She was afraid of what he might do if he knew the true extent of Alain's villainy. Not that she gave a damn about Alain. It was Sean she was worried about.
If he went after Alain because of her, if he hurt him, got in trouble, she'd never forgive herself.
The plane was airborne. Savannah shut her eyes and told herself she had no choice. She had to do this. Had to take .the money. The money. The money...
Oh God!
How could she accept money from her lover? How could she lie to his family? She couldn't, that was all. End of story. She'd find another way.
"Sean," she whispered frantically, as their plane leveled off, "I can't do this!"
Sean took her hand. "Sure you can."
"Lying to all those people...? I don't know why we ever thought it would work."
He didn't answer, not for what seemed a long time. Then he nodded. "You're right," he said calmly. "It wouldn't."
She stared at him. "Then, what are we doing? Why are we going to this party?''
"We're going because it's my mother's birthday."
"But you just said—"
"And because I made her a promise."
"O'Connell, are you crazy? Two seconds ago, you and I agreed that—''
"That lying to my family would be a mistake." Sean undid his seat belt. Slowly and deliberately, he undid hers and drew her to him. In the hushed darkness of the first-class cabin, they might as well have been alone. "So we're not going to lie." He took a deep, deep breath. "You're wearing my ring." He reached into his pocket and took out the matching wedding band. "I want you to wear this, too."
Savannah looked at the band glittering in his palm. It was beautiful but it was as meaningless as the diamond winking on her left hand. Seeing it made her want to weep.
"I won't put it on. This is wrong, Sean. Don't you feel guilty? This is your family! You love them. How could I— how could we—''
"I do love them." He put his hand under her chin and tilted her face to his. "But I love you in a way I never imagined I could love anyone." Another deep breath. Hell, it was a good thing he was sitting. He'd spent the whole day thinking about this. He knew what he wanted. Nothing would change that. Then, how come his knees were knocking together? "Savannah McRae, will you be my wife?"
She stared at him in shock. "What?"
"Marry me as soon as we get to Vegas. I don't want to wait. We've waited too long as it is." His hands tightened on her shoulders. "I adore you, Savannah. Twant to spend my life with you. I'll make you happy, I swear it/Are you worried about what this will do to your sister? Don't, sweetheart. We'll bring her to live with us. Or move her where she can get the best treatment." His voice grew rough. "Damn it, Just-Savannah, say something!"
Savannah's eyes filled with tears, but they were the kind he'd prayed he'd see.
"Yes," she said, "oh, yes, yes—"
He didn't let her say anything more. His mouth was already on hers.
The wedding ceremony didn't take very long, but it was perfect.
Sean bought her a dozen pink roses, held her hand tightly in his while they took their vows.
"I love you with all my heart," he said once they were man and wife, and Savannah smiled into his eyes and kissed him.
His family had already gathered by the time they arrived at the Desert Song Hotel. The party wasn't until the next night, but they wanted some time alone together.
They were just what Savannah had expected they'd be.
They were nothing like she'd expected they'd be.
But they definitely were stunned when Sean drew her forward and introduced her as his wife. Nobody moved, nobody said a word. Then Mary Elizabeth laughed and kissed her on both cheeks.
"My son made me a promise," she said, and shot a sly look at Sean. "And he's a man who keeps his promises. Welcome, Savannah. It's lovely meeting a new O'Connell."
They all surrounded her then. His sisters, who weren't proper or stuffy at all. His sisters-in-law, who were as down to earth as they could be. His brothers-in-law, who could have been two nice men from anywhere instead of the bil-lionaires they were. Dan, his stepfather, hugged her and said it was remarkable how he kept gaining new daughters.
Only his brothers seemed a little reserved.
They were polite and welcomed her to the fold. But all that evening, all the next day, she caught them checking her out with quick glances. Looking at each other in a way that was disconcerting.
"Is this for real?
" she heard the one named Keir mutter to the one named Cullen.
Was what for real? What did they know?
Savannah told herself it didn't matter. She had Sean. He loved her. She loved him. What could possibly hurt her now?
The answer came in a phone call an hour before the big party. The family, all but Mary Elizabeth, was gathered in th,e living room.
"We told her she has to make an entrance," Megan said. "Actually, we arranged for a big surprise."
Fallon nodded. ' 'One of the guests is a singer Ma adores. The second she steps into the room, he's going to launch into Happy Birth—"
"Savannah?" Bree was coming toward them with the phone in her hand. "Sorry to interrupt, guys, but there's a call for Savannah."
"For me? Are you sure? Nobody knows I'm here."
Bree smiled and handed her the phone. "Somebody does."
Savannah put the phone to her ear. "Hello, cherie," Alain said softly.
She felt the blood drain from her head. She looked around her, half-afraid he might be in the room. Sean caught her eye. Something? he mouthed. She forced a smile and shook her head. "Just a last minute—a last minute gift I ordered for>your mother," she said, and went out on the terrace. She slid the door shut and took a deep breath. "What do you want, Alain?"
"Only what you were supposed to do a month ago, cherie. The public humiliation of Sean O'Connell."
She closed her eyes. "That's not going to happen."
"Ah, but it will, Savannah. And I'm indebted to you for setting things up so nicely." He chuckled. "A big family gathering, lots of important guests arriving from all parts of the globe..."
"How do you know all this?"
"I know everything, cherie, including the fact that you will do as you're told."
' 'No." Savannah clutched the terrace railing with her free hand. "Whatever you want, I won't do it. Do you understand, Alain? Everything has changed."
"Not everything," he said with a soft laugh she knew she'd never forget. There was a brief silence and then she heard a sound that almost drove her to her knees.