A Family Circle 1 - A Very Convenient Marriage by Dallas Schulze Page B
Authors: Dallas Schulze
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the wheel as visions of murder and mayhem danced before his eyes. With an effort, he kept his voice level.
"I appreciate the offer, but—"
"Really, it's a simple matter of good business," Nikki interrupted. "I should have provided my own ring, but since I didn't think of it and you did, that doesn't mean I shouldn't pay my fair share."
"If you don't shut up about the damned ring, I'm going to pull off and dump you in the emergency lane and let you walk the rest of the way.''
His tone was so calm that it took Nikki a moment to realize what he'd said. Shock was followed almost immediately by indignation and anger.
"That caveman attitude may impress some women, Mr. Walker, but I'm not accustomed to being spoken to like that."
"Too bad. It might have improved your disposition."
"There's nothing wrong with my disposition. You're the one with the personality traits of a—a Neanderthal. I can't believe I let Max convince me that this idea would work. I'd rather live on the street than spend the next year married to you."
"It's not my idea of a really fun time, either, honey."
"Don't call me honey."
"Would you prefer Mrs. Walker?"
"What I'd prefer is for you to take a long walk off a short pier," she snapped. She sat back in her seat and threw him a furious look. "And I will pay for the ring!"
Sam's only response was to glance in the rearview mirror as he flipped on the turn signal. Nikki sat in stunned silence as the truck coasted to a stop in the emergency lane.
"You can't stop here. This is for emergencies." It was a weak protest at best.
Sam unbuckled his seat belt and half turned in the seat so that he faced her. "Are you going to shut up about the ring?"
Wide-eyed, she stared at him, trying to read his expression in the dimly lit cab. She couldn't believe he was acting like this. Just because she wanted to pay for her own ring— a perfectly reasonable thing to do. "You wouldn't dare leave me here."
By way of an answer, he leaned toward her. Nikki gasped as she felt his arm brush against her. She pressed her spine so tight to the seat that she practically melted into the upholstery. But Sam simply grabbed hold of the latch and pushed open the door.
The freeway noise immediately rushed in on them, but Nikki was barely aware of it. Her eyes were locked with Sam's in silent battle. There was no softening in his expression. She looked away and unlatched her seat belt. Picking up her purse, she started to slide out of the truck, intending to call his bluff.
She paused. It was awfully dark out there. A tractor trailor roared by, and the truck rocked in its wake. She considered the three-inch heels on her pumps, not exactly the proper footwear for a stroll along the freeway. Of course, he wouldn't really let her walk.
Would he?
Sam waited, wondering what the hell he was going to do if she actually got out. Obviously, he couldn't let her walk to the nearest emergency phone. She wasn't exactly dressed for strolling along the freeway, and it would be just his luck some maniac would get hold of her and then he'd have her murder on his conscience. Besides, if anyone was going to have the pleasure of strangling her, it was going to be him.
He shouldn't have threatened to dump her on the freeway. And her offer to pay for the ring shouldn't have made him so angry. It wasn't even an unreasonable suggestion. It was just something about the way she'd said it, as if she thought he couldn't afford to buy a wedding ring. And the fact that it had taken damn near all of his savings to buy the rings didn't make him feel any more cordial toward her. There was just something about her that got under his skin and touched off his temper in a way he couldn't remember anyone else ever doing.
He waited to see what she was going to do.
Nikki waited for him to tell her he was just kidding. That he had no intention of making her walk. But he didn't say anything. She weighed her pride against her safety. It was a tough choice. Another
"I appreciate the offer, but—"
"Really, it's a simple matter of good business," Nikki interrupted. "I should have provided my own ring, but since I didn't think of it and you did, that doesn't mean I shouldn't pay my fair share."
"If you don't shut up about the damned ring, I'm going to pull off and dump you in the emergency lane and let you walk the rest of the way.''
His tone was so calm that it took Nikki a moment to realize what he'd said. Shock was followed almost immediately by indignation and anger.
"That caveman attitude may impress some women, Mr. Walker, but I'm not accustomed to being spoken to like that."
"Too bad. It might have improved your disposition."
"There's nothing wrong with my disposition. You're the one with the personality traits of a—a Neanderthal. I can't believe I let Max convince me that this idea would work. I'd rather live on the street than spend the next year married to you."
"It's not my idea of a really fun time, either, honey."
"Don't call me honey."
"Would you prefer Mrs. Walker?"
"What I'd prefer is for you to take a long walk off a short pier," she snapped. She sat back in her seat and threw him a furious look. "And I will pay for the ring!"
Sam's only response was to glance in the rearview mirror as he flipped on the turn signal. Nikki sat in stunned silence as the truck coasted to a stop in the emergency lane.
"You can't stop here. This is for emergencies." It was a weak protest at best.
Sam unbuckled his seat belt and half turned in the seat so that he faced her. "Are you going to shut up about the ring?"
Wide-eyed, she stared at him, trying to read his expression in the dimly lit cab. She couldn't believe he was acting like this. Just because she wanted to pay for her own ring— a perfectly reasonable thing to do. "You wouldn't dare leave me here."
By way of an answer, he leaned toward her. Nikki gasped as she felt his arm brush against her. She pressed her spine so tight to the seat that she practically melted into the upholstery. But Sam simply grabbed hold of the latch and pushed open the door.
The freeway noise immediately rushed in on them, but Nikki was barely aware of it. Her eyes were locked with Sam's in silent battle. There was no softening in his expression. She looked away and unlatched her seat belt. Picking up her purse, she started to slide out of the truck, intending to call his bluff.
She paused. It was awfully dark out there. A tractor trailor roared by, and the truck rocked in its wake. She considered the three-inch heels on her pumps, not exactly the proper footwear for a stroll along the freeway. Of course, he wouldn't really let her walk.
Would he?
Sam waited, wondering what the hell he was going to do if she actually got out. Obviously, he couldn't let her walk to the nearest emergency phone. She wasn't exactly dressed for strolling along the freeway, and it would be just his luck some maniac would get hold of her and then he'd have her murder on his conscience. Besides, if anyone was going to have the pleasure of strangling her, it was going to be him.
He shouldn't have threatened to dump her on the freeway. And her offer to pay for the ring shouldn't have made him so angry. It wasn't even an unreasonable suggestion. It was just something about the way she'd said it, as if she thought he couldn't afford to buy a wedding ring. And the fact that it had taken damn near all of his savings to buy the rings didn't make him feel any more cordial toward her. There was just something about her that got under his skin and touched off his temper in a way he couldn't remember anyone else ever doing.
He waited to see what she was going to do.
Nikki waited for him to tell her he was just kidding. That he had no intention of making her walk. But he didn't say anything. She weighed her pride against her safety. It was a tough choice. Another
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