His father-in-law might believe him capable of many things—most of them Brad had already chosen to volubly share with Xander during their telephone conversation on Sunday evening—but being a procurer of women hadn’t so far numbered amongst them!
‘Casey…?’ Xander prompted, and he looked down at her, raising an eyebrow in enquiry, knowing that the next move was up to her—that he couldn’t go any further with this conversation without knowing what her intentions were.
She gave him a startled look, her eyes widening as she understood exactly what he was asking of her.
But she had no choice, Xander acknowledged grimly. Whatever method of introduction he were to use, the mood Brad was in he was sure to misunderstand it. Casey had to be the one who decided what happened next.
She gave him a frown, before glancing across at Brad. Her back straightened as that glance seemed to bring her to some sort of decision.
Xander found himself holding his breath as he waited to see what that decision was going to be.
Her chin rose challengingly. ‘I’m afraid you’ve completely misunderstood the situation, Mr Henderson,’ she told him with quiet dignity. ‘Xander did invite you here this evening so that the two of us could meet, yes. But he intended to introduce me to you as his fiancée, and Lauren’s future stepmother, rather than anything else you might have assumed!’ There was a slight edge to her voice as she finished this pronouncement.
Xander wasn’t sure if he wanted to kiss her more at that moment than he had when she had arrived earlier, looking so stunningly, desirably beautiful!
Her announcement had certainly had the desired effect on Brad. He looked momentarily nonplussed, but he recovered quickly, his blue eyes narrowing speculatively as he shot Xander a derisive glance. ‘What is this, Xander? A set-up? You’re going to keep a so-called fiancée hanging around for a couple of months in the hope of distracting me from a custody suit?’
Xander’s hand tightened on Casey’s arm as he sensed her bristling indignation. ‘Let me introduce the two of you properly,’ he drawled. ‘Casey—Brad Henderson. Brad, this is Casey Bridges.’
‘I don’t give a damn—Bridges, did you say?’ The older man’s attention sharpened noticeably. ‘Are you telling me that she’s Sam Bridges’ widow?’
‘One and the same, Brad,’ Xander confirmed softly, now able to feel Casey’s slight trembling as the older man turned to give her a closer examination.
‘You’re marrying Sam Bridges’ widow?’ Brad practically shouted incredulously.
‘Am I marrying the woman whose husband your daughter seduced from his marriage? The woman who was left alone and penniless after that bastard walked out on her and her son because he found himself a woman who had more money than sense? Yes, I’m marrying Casey, Brad.’ He nodded abruptly, his gaze challenging the other man now, knowing that Brad had disliked Sam Bridges almost as much as Xander had.
Brad’s face was florid with anger as he glared at the two of them.
‘Damn it to hell, Xander! Sam Bridges’ widow?’ he repeated, shaking his head in utter disbelief.
‘That’s correct.’ Casey was the one to answer huskily. ‘I’m sure Xander—and Lauren, of course—would be pleased if you’d care to attend the wedding next month?’
Brad’s response to that was completely predictable. ‘You haven’t heard the last of this, Xander,’ he warned fiercely.
But the threat was bluster, pure bluster, and they all knew it…
CHAPTER SIX
‘WHEW,’ Casey breathed weakly as she collapsed down into one of the sumptuous armchairs. Brad Henderson had stormed out of the room—and the house—only seconds ago. ‘What a truly obnoxious man!’
‘Here.’ Xander sounded amused as he handed her one of the two glasses of brandy he had just poured. ‘He really isn’t such a bad guy normally,’ he excused with a grimace.
Casey looked up at him, brows raised. ‘I’ll take your word for it!’ she said, before taking a reviving sip of the brandy.
It was obviously an expensive brand—unlike the cooking sherry two evenings ago!—and it slid smoothly down her throat to warm her inside and take away some of the shock of the last ten minutes.
‘And can I take your announcement to Brad as yours?’ Xander asked as he stood beside her chair looking down at her.
Her announcement that she was his fiancée.
That the wedding was going to be next month.
She avoided Xander’s searching gaze. ‘I’m sure that normally Brad Henderson is a reasonable man.’ She wasn’t sure of any such thing, considering his behaviour just now, and the selfish way his daughter had turned out, but she was willing to take Xander’s word for it if he claimed otherwise. ‘But he certainly isn’t fit at this moment in time to have the care and control of an already emotionally traumatised six-year-old girl!’
‘You didn’t answer my question, Casey…’ Xander prompted dryly.
No, she hadn’t, had she? Because she felt a little shy with him now that the two of them were once again alone—was very aware that before Brad Henderson had interrupted them she had been on the point of raising her face for Xander’s kiss.
The man she had just announced she was engaged to marry!
Xander gave a low chuckle. ‘I thought he was going to blow a complete gasket when you invited him to attend the wedding next month!’
Casey winced at this reminder that she had done exactly that. And, considering that tomorrow was the start of the next month, the wedding was destined to take place some time in the next four weeks!
‘I did, didn’t I?’ She chewed on her bottom lip as she looked up at Xander. ‘Pure bravado on my part, I’m afraid. I don’t think I would be too thrilled if he changed his mind and decided to attend after all!’
Xander smiled as he looked down at her, finding this woman more and more intriguing by the minute.
The two earlier occasions they had met, she had been ruffled at having to collect Josh from the house his father had shared with Chloe, let alone seeing Xander there, too.
Two evenings ago she had been tired and looking less than her best after a hard day working at two jobs.
But tonight—tonight she looked a beautiful and sophisticated woman. Someone he had been proud to present to Brad as his future wife.
If, indeed, that was what she was going to be…
His mouth tightened. ‘Casey?’ he pressed again.
She couldn’t prevaricate any more, Casey knew. It was cruel. She had to give him answer. After all, she’d had no qualms about telling Brad Henderson what her decision was to be!
She sat up straighter in the chair. ‘After careful consideration, I—I’ve decided to accept your proposal—your business proposition,’ she amended firmly, determined that Xander should realise that as far as she was concerned this was only to be a business arrangement.
Not that Casey imagined he thought of it as anything else—if Chloe Fraser’s exotic beauty was anything to go by, she was hardly his type, now, was she?
Which brought her to one of the things that definitely had to be sorted out before any marriage between them took place…
‘That’s good, Casey.’ Xander murmured his satisfaction before she could voice her other concern.
Was it good? she wondered, still filled with doubts about her decision, but knowing—as, no doubt, did Xander!—that it was the only one she could have made.
She couldn’t quite meet his triumphant gaze. ‘Obviously we still have to work out the—details of the arrangement—’
‘Dinner is served, Mr Fraser.’ The tall, imposing butler stood in the doorway, looking completely unconcerned by the fact that there were now only two people left to eat the meal that had been intended for three. Although Casey didn’t doubt that Hilton, and the rest of the household servants, were all well aware of the way Brad Henderson had stormed out of the house minutes ago. If not the reason for it!
‘Shall we…?’ Xander held out his arm to take her through to the dining room.
She didn’t really need to stay to dinner now that Brad Henderson had left so suddenly, Casey realised. Although it would probably look even more odd to the staff if she were to leave without eating too!
‘Of course,’ she answered, and she stood up to place her empty brandy glass down on a side table, her hand trembling slightly as she moved to place her hand in the crook of the arm he held out to her.
‘Bring some champagne through, would you, Hilton?’ Xander instructed the butler.
Champagne?
To toast their engagement, Casey realised.
Or, rather, she corrected herself firmly, to seal their bargain.
The decision made, the commitment voiced, Casey could feel her panic starting to rise again at exactly what she had done.
She didn’t doubt that Josh would blossom in the ease and comfort to be found in the Fraser household, nor that her young son would be thrilled at finding Lauren was to be his stepsister, and he would benefit from a change of school, too.
Her anxiety was more because she still wasn’t sure quite what her role was going to be!
Xander’s wife, obviously.
No doubt his hostess, too, if he entertained.