The Perfect Match. Debbie Macomber
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frowned, clearly confused. “He asked me to stop by. There were some business matters he wanted to discuss. Did he say when he’d be home?”
“No, but I’m sure if he asked you over, it’ll be soon. Would you care to wait for him?”
“Please.”
She took his raincoat, then led him into the library where she’d been reading. A fire was burning, and its warmth hugged the room. The three-story house, situated in Seattle’s Mt. Baker district, was a typical turn-of-the-century home with high ceilings and spacious rooms. The third floor had once housed several servants. Charles was their only live-in help now, and his quarters had always been an apartment over the carriage house. He worked exclusively for Gramps, driving the limousine. Mrs. McCormick arrived early in the mornings and was responsible for housekeeping and meal preparation.
“Can I get you something to drink?” she asked, once he was comfortably seated.
“Coffee, if you have it.”
“I made a fresh pot about twenty minutes ago.”
Janine brought him a cup from the kitchen, then sat across from Zach, wondering what, if anything, she should say about Gramps and his idea of an arranged marriage.
She doubted that Gramps had broached the subject yet. Otherwise he wouldn’t be sitting there so calmly sipping coffee. He’d be outraged and infuriated, and studying him now, she concluded that he wasn’t even slightly ruffled. It was on the tip of her tongue to warn him about what was coming, but she decided against it. Better that he learn the same way she had.
Lacing her fingers together, she smiled, feeling awkward and a little gauche. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You, too. I’ll admit I’m a bit disappointed, though.”
“You are?”
“On the drive over, I was trying to guess what you’d be wearing this time. A dress made from bread sacks? A blouse constructed out of men’s socks?”
She muttered under her breath, annoyed by his teasing. He had the uncanny ability to make her feel fifteen all over again. So much for any possibility that they’d ever be compatible. And Gramps seemed to think he knew them both so well.
“I’ll admit that an Irish cable-knit sweater and jeans are a pleasant surprise,” he said.
A flicker of admiration sparked in his dark eyes, something that had been missing the first time they met.
In that instant, Janine knew.
She went stock-still, almost dizzy with the realization. Not only had Gramps approached Zach, but they’d apparently reached some sort of agreement. Otherwise Zach would never have been this friendly, this openly appreciative. Nor would he arrive unannounced when Gramps had specifically stated that he’d be gone for the evening.
They were obviously plotting against her. Well, she had no intention of putting up with it. None. If Zach and Gramps thought they could lure her into marriage, they had a real shock coming.
Squaring her shoulders, she slid to the edge of her chair. “So you gave in to the pressure,” she said, shooting him a scalding look. Unable to stay seated, she jumped to her feet and started pacing, rubbing her palms together as she cornered her thoughts. “Gramps got to you, didn’t he?”
“I beg your pardon?” Zach stared up at her, his eyes curious.
“And you agreed?” She threw up her hands and groaned, “I don’t believe it, I simply don’t believe it. I thought better of you than this.”
“What don’t you believe?”
“Of all the men I’ve met over the years, I would’ve sworn you were the type who’d refuse to be bought. I’m disappointed in you, Zach.”
He remained calm and unperturbed, which infuriated her more than anything he could have said or done.
“I haven’t got the slightest idea what you’re talking about,” was all he said.
“Oh, sure, play the innocent,” she snapped. She was so incensed that she continued to pace. Standing still was impossible.
In response, Zach merely glanced at his watch and drank his coffee. “Does your grandfather know you suffer from these bouts of hysteria?”
“Funny, Zach, very funny.”
He exhaled an exaggerated sigh. “All right, I’ll take the bait. What makes you think I’ve been bought? And what exactly am I getting in exchange?”
“Technically you’re not getting anything, and I want that understood this very minute, because I refuse to be sold.” Arms akimbo, she turned to glare down at him with the full force of her disdain. “What did he offer you? The entire company? Lots of money?”
Zach shrugged. “He’s offered me nothing.”
“Nothing,” she repeated slowly, feeling unreasonably insulted. “He was just going to give me away.” That was enough to deflate the billowing sails of her pride. Stunned, she sat down again. “I thought the bride’s family was supposed to supply some kind of dowry. Gramps didn’t even offer you money?”
“Dowry?” Zach repeated the word as if he’d never heard it before.
“Gramps’s family received a cow and ten chickens from my grandmother’s family,” she said, as if that explained everything. “But apparently I’m not even worth a single hen.”
Zach set his coffee aside and sat straight in his chair. “I think we’d better begin this conversation again. I’m afraid I lost you back there when you said something about cracking under pressure. Perhaps you should enlighten me about what I’m supposed to have done.”
Janine just glared at him.
“Humor me.”
“All right, if you insist. It’s obvious that Gramps talked to you about the marriage.”
“Marriage,” he echoed in a shocked voice. His face went blank. “To whom?”
“Me, of course.”
Zach flung himself out of the chair, bolting to his feet. “To you?”
“Don’t look so horrified! My ego’s taken about all it can for one evening. I’m not exactly the Wicked Witch of the West, you know. Some men would be more than happy to marry me.” Not Brian, and certainly not Peter, but she felt it was important that Zach think she was sought after.
“Marriage between us is…would be impossible. It’s completely out of the question. I don’t ever plan to marry—I have no use for a wife or family.”
“Tell that to Gramps.”
“I have every intention of doing so.” His face tightened and Janine guessed her grandfather was due for an earful when he got home. “What makes that crazy old man think he can order people’s lives like this?” he asked angrily.
“His own marriage was arranged for him. Trust me, Zach, I argued until I was exhausted, but Gramps hasn’t given up his old-country beliefs and he thinks the two of us—now this is really ridiculous—are perfect for each other.”
“If you weren’t serious, I’d find this highly amusing.”
Janine noticed that he seemed rather pale. “I appear to have jumped to the wrong conclusion earlier. I apologize for that but, well, I thought…I assumed Gramps had spoken to you already and you’d agreed.”
“Was that when you started mumbling about a cow and a few chickens?”
She nodded and her long bangs fell over her eyes. Absently she pushed them aside. “For a moment there, I thought Gramps was offering me to you gratis. I know it’s silly, but I felt insulted by that.”
For the first time