April Fool Bride by Joan Reeves Page A

from
the draped neckline to her waist. Then it flared into a long skirt
that made her waist look tiny. His memory told him that her waist
really was slender, but her hips were curving and luscious. Just
like her breasts. Nope. Wrong thing to be thinking when there were
other people around. Especially when one of those people was his
mother.
    "You really are beautiful, Maddie.
Exquisite."
    Graciella clapped her hands in delight. "Now
that's the way to talk to your bride." She glanced around the room.
"I know you need to say hello to the other guests so mind your
manners and circulate."
    Jake watched as his mother turned to
Constance who, to his surprise, had remained silent all this time.
The two wandered away.
    Jake had to admit old Connie surprised him.
Her voice was respectful when she spoke to his mother. What
surprised him the most was the searching glance she gave Maddie.
There was such an expression of longing in her gaze as she watched
her stepdaughter.
    There were more than a dozen people in the
room, most of them associated with Quinn Energy in some capacity.
Maddie greeted and smiled her way through the small crowd,
introducing Jake to each person. She wasn't surprised to see the
head of the legal department and his wife, Constance's personal
attorney and his wife, and the judge that Constance had bought off
when Maddie had been arrested for DUI. She knew it was no
coincidence that the legal heavyweights were on the guest list
tonight. She snuggled closer to Jake, intent on selling her "happy
marriage."
    Jake was perfect in his role, chatting
amiably, gazing at her occasionally with loving eyes, and touching
her so much that she began to burn.
    When the musicians changed to a slow sexy
song, Jake said, "Excuse us please. I have a sudden desire to dance
with my bride."
    He led her to the open space where a
white-haired couple danced. He took her in his arms and began slow
dancing.
    "Aren't we moving too slow?" Maddie asked.
"The music tempo is much faster."
    "I think we're moving just right. This keeps
us from those who would eavesdrop, so tell me what's going on with
your stepmother."
    Just for a moment, Maddie luxuriated in being
in his arms. Then she said, "I honestly don't know. It all started
this past year. Constance just started getting weird. Remember how
she used to be completely disinterested in me?"
    Jake nodded. "Yeah. So?"
    "She'd never shown any interest in me before
except to criticize. Sit up straight, Madeline. Be more
circumspect, Madeline. Don't read those trashy romance novels.
Don't go out looking less than perfect. On and on and on. The list
of do's and don'ts constituted our daily conversation. Well, she
quit criticizing me even though there were times I could tell she
nearly had to bite her tongue to restrain herself. She became
interested in me and my life. Too interested. After your mom quit,
she just had temporary staff. No live-ins. Then one day last year,
I overheard her talking to your mom which surprised me. The next
day she hired Inez as full-time housekeeper with instructions to
cook dinner each night. Constance started dining at home and
insisted I dine with her every night. It was as if she tried to
turn into the Brady Bunch mom or something."
    "I have to admit that is weird." Jake looked
thoughtful. "There's only one reason I can think of that might
explain this change in her. She's being nicer in hope of
maintaining control of you and your money. Maybe she figured if she
were nicer, you'd be happier at home and not marry. Had you been
dating?"
    "No. Not in the last two years."
    He didn't know why but the news pleased him.
"Really? Two years?"
    At her nod, he said, "Maybe she thinks that
if you and she have a better relationship, you'll be amenable to
letting her control your inheritance even if you do marry. Do you
get voting rights on the stock you'll inherit?"
    "Yes. But my dad left Constance very well
off. She draws a huge salary and bonuses as CEO. Why would she need
more money