Her Secret Weapon by Beverly Barton

Author:Beverly Barton [Barton, Beverly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2000-11-17T20:00:00+00:00

Callie really couldn’t bear it. She simply couldn’t! Enduring her fittings at Marilyn’s had been difficult enough without anything being added to the embarrassment of putting on a show for the city’s most notorious gossip-monger. And having other diners at Bracewells staring at them and whispering behind their backs had been dreadful.

But nothing could compare to the surprise party given by the staff of Lonigan’s Imports and Exports.

The moment Burke and Callie stepped out of the lift onto the twentieth floor, the well-wishers surrounded them. Juliette Davenport led the pack of smiling faces. Champagne corks popped. Classical music droned loudly from the corner where a string quartet played. Three waiters in white coats served canapés of lobster, foie gras and caviar.

“Smile, my darling.” Burke clutched her arm tightly and dragged her to his side. “These people think you’re a happy bride-to-be.”

Callie wanted to scream and run as fast as she could. Her dreams about Burke Lonigan had turned into a nightmare. One from which she couldn’t escape. She was trapped.

God, give me strength, she prayed silently. I have to do this. For Seamus’s sake. I have to go through with this marriage. But as soon as Burke releases me from our arrangement, I’ll take Seamus and leave the country. I’ll go to America. I can never allow a man like Burke to become a permanent part of Seamus’s life.

Juliette grabbed Callie’s hand. “I just knew there was something going on between the two of you. You could have given a girl a clue, you know, instead of denying that you fancied Mr. Lonigan.” Juliette lifted Callie’s left hand, and her eyes bugged at the sight of the ring. “Give us a look at that. Good God!”

“Why did you two keep your romance a secret?” Herbert Garvey, Lonigan’s accountant, asked.

“It—” Callie cleared her throat. “It all happened so suddenly.”

“I swept her off her feet.” Burke proceeded to demonstrate by scooping Callie into his arms.

Loud guffaws and tinkling giggles spread through the crowd. Several of the women sighed and swooned just a bit.

Smiling ever so sweetly, Callie spoke under her breath. “Put me down. Now!”

Burke eased her onto her feet but kept a tight hold about her waist. “Don’t try to escape, my darling. People wouldn’t understand why you would want to run away from the man you love.”

“When’s the big day?” Juliette asked.

“Saturday,” Burke replied.

“Not this Saturday,” several voices protested.

“I’m not taking any chances that Callie will change her mind,” Burke said. “If she hears too many stories about my sordid life, she may think she’s made a bad deal and—”

“Nonsense,” Juliette said and all the ladies nodded. “You know the old saying, a man wants to be a woman’s first love and a woman wants to be a man’s last love.”

“Am I your first true love?” Burke asked teasingly, but Callie noted the tension in his voice and the threatening look in those crystal blue eyes.

“Yes, you are,” she said softly.

“Hey, old man, after that sort of confession, you’d best tell the lady what she wants to hear,” Herbert Garvey advised.

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