The Wedding Favor Read online

  Marti picked it up and handed it to her. “Right, I almost forgot. A messenger dropped this off while you were in your meeting. Since you hadn’t mentioned you were waiting for a delivery, I decided not to interrupt your meeting.”

  “Good call.” Ava examined the box in her hands. It looked big enough to hold a coffee mug. She had no idea what it could be, perhaps a thank you gift from a grateful client. Her curiosity was aroused but she forced her attention back to work matters. “There’s a check in that folder that needs to be deposited if you don’t mind swinging by the bank after your lunch.”

  Marti nodded. “Sure. Speaking of food, there’s a Danish in the break room if you’re hungry.”

  Ava shook her head. “Breakfast was quite enough for me.” Not that she’d eaten much of the spread Mateo had laid out. Now she was so wrapped up in knots she couldn’t think of eating. “Thanks anyway.”

  Once in her office she dropped the mystery box on her desk and sank into her chair. Trying to concentrate was next to impossible because her mind kept going back to Mateo. By showing back up in her life after all these years, it was as if he’d pulled her back in time. She raked her fingers through her hair. Okay, in all fairness he hadn’t actually had to pull very hard. She’d had an idea it was him when Jessie called with the offer and said a mystery man wanted to meet with her. She’d agreed to meet him for dinner and then again for breakfast.

  But now he wanted her to agree to play the role of his fiancée? The idea was ludicrous. Even if his intentions were honorable, and they certainly were, Mateo’s plan was crazy. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that Sr. Ortega was facing his last days, she would question his grandson’s sanity. But she understood where Mateo was coming from. In fact, she wished she understood it a little less. But she knew all too well the desperation that Mateo must have felt to please his beloved grandfather before it was too late. But why her?

  Ava eyed the box on her desk. It was from Mateo. Somehow she knew it, just as she’d known that he was the one making an offer on her mother’s house. Not able to ignore her curiosity any longer, she reached for a pair of scissors and slit open the box. White tissue paper gave away to a black velvet jeweler’s box. Ava tipped the outer box upside down and shook it but no note fluttered out. She held the black jeweler’s box in her hand, knowing that opening it was not a good idea. It would be one step further into Mateo Ortega’s world.

  She opened the box and then gasped. Nestled against the black velvet was an antique cushion cut amethyst ring, the center stone surrounded by tiny seed pearls. Ava immediately recognized that this had once been Mateo’s grandmother’s ring.

  “Hey, Boss,” Marti opened the office door and stuck her head in. “I’m off for lunch and wondered if…oh, what’s that?”

  Ava snapped the jewelry box closed but it was too late. The curious expression on Marti’s face meant that her assistant had already gotten an eyeful. And that she had questions.

  “Okay, this is clearly not work related but I’m curious.” Marti came in and sat on the edge of Ava’s desk. “Spill.”

  “I don’t know where to start,” Ava said. Heaven knew that was the truth.

  “May I?”

  After only a moment’s hesitation, Ava took the ring out of the jeweler’s box and held it out to Marti. “Of course.”

  Marti examined the ring. “Oh, Ava, this is gorgeous.” She held the ring up and looked carefully at the inside of the band. “There’s an inscription. Looks like it’s in Spanish too.”

  Ava closed her eyes for a moment. She felt like such a fraud. This was Mrs. Ortega’s ring, not hers. Her earlier sense of understanding and compassion for the predicament Mateo found himself in started to wane. “Can you read it?”

  Marti walked over to the window and held the ring up so she could study the inscription. “It’s engraved in scrolled letters which makes me think this has to be an antique or family heirloom.”

  “What does it say?” Ava prompted her. Her guess would be Joaquin and Beatriz, or perhaps their initials, but Marti’s next words proved her wrong.

  “Para siempre.” She didn’t bother to ask if Ava needed the words translated, she knew her boss didn’t speak Spanish. “For always.” Marti touched her heart and sighed. “Isn’t that romantic?”

  It was. Ava sank down into her chair. For always. To be loved and cherished forever, wasn’t that every woman’s dream? With a sudden ferocity that surprised her, she realized it was her dream too.

  Marti sat in the chair opposite Ava. She handed the ring back to Ava. “Don’t even try to tell me this came from QVC because I’m not buying it. Who sent this to you? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”

  “Trust me, this is all very recent.” Ava held the ring in her palm and then couldn’t resist trying it on. She slipped it on the third finger of her left hand. “Oh, no, it’s a perfect fit.” She bit her lip in dismay. It would be so much easier to return the ring if she could tell Mateo that it didn’t fit, it would be so much less awkward. Not that there was anything easy about any of this.

  Marti drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair. “Okay, I’m not getting any more information today, am I?”

  Ava shrugged apologetically. “I promise you’ll be the first person I tell everything to as soon as I’m ready.” As soon as the shock wore off and just as soon as she set Mateo Ortega straight on the fact that his plan wasn’t going to work. She couldn’t do this.

  **

  Mateo arrived at the engagement party when it was in full swing. The number of cars lining the street and the sounds of laughter floating through the spring air told him that everyone invited had likely turned out to celebrate his and Ava’s engagement. Everyone except his fiancée.

  He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel while his mind raced. He felt an absolute fraud going into the midst of his family and telling them that he’d lied to them about being engaged. More easily than he wanted to, he could imagine their shock when he told them that not only weren’t he and Ava getting married, but they weren’t even dating. He wouldn’t blame them when the shock turned to anger and disappointment. In their eyes, he’d look a fool, but that he could take. It was seeing the hurt and disappointment on his grandfather’s face that he couldn’t stand to see.

  He lowered his window and a light breeze filled the car. He laid his head back against the truck’s headrest, closed his eyes, as if doing so would present him a solution to his predicament. What were his options? To go in with an excuse for Ava’s absence and pretend that everything was fine? He could spend the evening with his family, accepting their sincere compliments and best wishes, all the while knowing that his lies were making a mockery out of their kindness. Never had he felt such frustration and anger with himself, but then again, he’d never done anything this stupid before.

  A light tap on his windshield startled him. He opened his eyes and saw that it was Ava. His heart began to race. She stood in the semi-darkness, the street lights casting a halo effect around her. But she wasn’t a vision, she was really there. One quick glance at her appearance gave him hope. The way she was dressed made it clear that she was dressed for an evening out. A party he hoped. Her eyes were grave though, which felt like a kick in the gut. He hated being responsible for the look of apprehension he saw there. He opened the door and stepped out. “Ava,” he said, keeping his voice low. “You came.” He leaned in slowly and gently kissed her cheek. She smelled of summer roses. “You look beautiful.”

  “Hello, Mateo.”

  He watched as she lifted a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder and fingered it. The gesture was a long ago habit. He remembered her doing the same thing when she studied geometry with his sister. She had always used her left hand while she wrote with her right. He immediately noticed that her left hand was bare. She wasn’t wearing his ring. Not a good sign. “I wasn’t sure if I’d see you tonight,” he said.

  “I had to come,” she replied. Her eyes seemed to search his for s
ome sign that he understood her reluctance. He certainly did, but he felt at an absolute and total loss as to how to explain to her that he knew he’d put her squarely between a rock and a hard place.

  “I’m happy to see you, Ava. But I would have understood if you didn’t show up here tonight.”

  She glanced around. “Can we talk somewhere privately before someone finds us?”

  So she was there to turn him down. He deserved no less. “We could sit on your mom’s front steps.”

  Ava nodded. “That works.”

  Mateo reached out for her hand and felt both pleased and relieved when, after only a moment’s hesitation, Ava slipped her hand into his and allowed him to lead her through the maze of parked cars. Once they reached the front porch, he waited while she settled herself on the top step.

  “Can you at least have a seat and not loom over me?” she asked. There was just a hint of lightness in her tone that gave him hope. He sat on the next step down and leaned back against the porch railing.

  “That’s better,” she said. “Thank you.”

  They sat in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the party next door carried over by a gentle breeze.

  “They’re probably wondering where we are,” Ava said.

  “I’m wondering where we are,” Mateo answered. He was careful to keep his voice low and gentle. Something about Ava McKenna made him want to protect her, shield her from anything uncomfortable. This, he realized, was terribly ironic considering that he’d been the one to put her in the uncomfortable position she was in now. He watched her as she stared out into the moonlit yard. She was gathering her thoughts and he owed her the courtesy of waiting.

  After a long moment, Ava turned to face him. “I can’t do it.”

  A deep and profound sense of disappointment washed over Mateo. “I understand.”

  Ava shook her head. “I don’t think you do.” She reached over and touched his arm. “What I meant to say is that I can’t turn my back on your family. Not after all the kindness you all showed my mother and me when she was sick.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, as if looking for the courage to go back in time to a place filled with painful memories. “I was young but not too young to understand that we had a delicious home cooked meal on the table every night because someone in your family cooked it and brought it to us. I remember your grandpa and some of your uncles driving mom to her chemo appointments like she was a member of your family.” She flashed him a quick smile. “I even remember you and your cousins doing yard work early on Saturday mornings when I know you’d rather have been sleeping in.”

  A warm feeling of gratitude spread through Mateo but he stayed quiet. He sensed Ava wasn’t finished saying what she needed to. He reached out and lightly, gently, placed his hand over hers.

  She looked up at him. There was just enough moonlight so that he could see the unshed tears that welled in her eyes. “The Ortega family stood by us during a painful and sad time. I left so quickly after my mom died that I couldn’t properly thank anyone. I couldn’t pay you back then, but I can now.”

  “I appreciate what you’re saying Ava but I never meant to make you feel guilty.”

  “No, you didn’t. I didn’t mean to imply that. Honestly, Mateo, I can’t see how this can possibly end well but if you think we can pull it off, I’ll go along with your plan. On one condition.”

  “Name it,” he said. “Whatever it is, I’ll agree.”

  Ava grinned. “I think you’d better hear what I have to say before you agree.”

  Mateo shook his head. “No need. If you can place this much trust me in me, I can do the same. No questions asked.”

  Ava nodded. “Okay, here goes. I’ll go along with your plan if we make one slight modification. We can start by becoming engaged but I want you to make me your wife. Legally, that is.”

  Mateo stared at her, unsure he hadn’t just imagined that last sentence. “Marry you? For real?”

  “Yes, for real,” she replied. “It’s a legal marriage or nothing, Mateo.”

  Chapter Six

  Mateo’s reaction was exactly what Ava expected it would be. She waited quietly while he sat in stunned silence. He looked as broadsided as she’d felt this morning when he’d asked her to pose as his fiancée.

  “Ava,” he finally said, “that’s the last thing I thought you’d say.”

  She pulled back and shifted so that she was sitting a little further away but was better able to look into his eyes. “You just said that you’d trust me and agree, no questions asked.” Ava wasn’t being fair and she knew it. She really should explain to Mateo what the rest of her plan was but he needed to see what it felt like to be completely caught off guard. It leveled the playing field.

  He nodded. “Yes,” he said slowly. “I did say that.”

  “Did you mean it?”

  He stared at her for a long moment and then nodded again. “I did.” He shifted his gaze to stare out into the night.

  Ava studied his profile. Mateo Ortega was a handsome man, his features chiseled and defined, but there wasn’t an ounce of hardness in them. Any woman who would spend her lifetime with him would be a fortunate woman indeed. But it wouldn’t be her.

  “Let me explain,” she said. When Mateo turned back to look at her she plunged ahead. “I can’t face your grandfather knowing that we’re being dishonest. And yes, I know that your intentions are the best, and so are mine. But I can’t do it and I don’t know that you can either, Mateo.”

  He nodded. “Go on.”

  “So,” Ava continued, “I propose we actually get married. Completely and legally married so that neither one of us has to feel uncomfortable in front of your grandfather. This way we wouldn’t be play acting or pretending.”

  “And after the wedding?” he asked.

  Ava motioned toward the house. “We move in here.”

  “And after my abuelo is gone?”

  “We wait for a short while and then quietly file for a divorce.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “On what grounds?”

  Ava met his gaze head on. “That our marriage was never consummated.”

  Mateo didn’t immediately respond. Ava sat quietly and waited. As she watched Mateo she realized that despite how familiar he was to her, there was so much about him that she didn’t know. So many things that she wanted to know.

  She looked up when Mateo stood. She took the hand he offered and stood beside him.

  “Ava, I-” but his next words were drowned out by a male voice.

  Startled, both of them turned to see a man come through the break in the hedge. Ava felt Mateo’s left arm slip around her shoulders and she felt instantly grateful. Apparently it was time to face the Ortegas.

  “Ah, there you are,” the man said. “We saw your truck, Mateo, and wondered where you’d gone to.” He smiled at Ava. “You two can’t miss your own engagement party.”

  Ava watched as Mateo reached out to shake the man’s hand. She had a vague feeling she remembered him but his name eluded her. She smiled gratefully at Mateo when he smoothly reintroduced her to his cousin Juan, although hearing Mateo refer to her as his fiancée was going to take some getting used to.

  “Welcome to the family, Ava,” Juan said, reaching over to lightly kiss her cheek.

  His smile was wide, his words sincere to her ears, and Ava felt suddenly overwhelmed knowing that in a few short moments she was going to have to face the entire Ortega family. She knew from experience they’d be effusive in their felicitations.

  “Thank you, Juan. It’s lovely to see you again after so many years.” She smiled shyly. “I look forward to hearing what you’ve been up to.”

  He grinned. “I’m an old married suit now. I’ve got a wife, four little boys and a job crunching numbers downtown but it’s all good. What about you?”

  Ava opened her mouth to answer but Mateo cut her off. “Why don’t we head next door and let Ava say hello to everyone there before we start with the twenty ques
tions.” His teasing voice softened his words.

  As she followed Juan over to the Ortega’s property Ava was grateful for the feel of Mateo’s steadying hand on the small of her back. His touch reassured her that she wasn’t alone, that he was there with her. But she knew he’d stand by her side throughout the party and in the days ahead. As they wound their way through the groups of Mateo’s family and friends, Ava couldn’t help but wonder what Mateo’s answer to her ultimatum would have been if they hadn’t been interrupted. Doubtless they’d have a moment alone together later to discuss their plans but now it was time to see Mr. Ortega again after many years. Ava took a deep steadying breath, surprised at how nervous she felt about seeing Mateo’s grandfather all these years later.

  She stood silently behind Mateo as he reached down to kiss his grandfather’s cheek. As soon as he straightened, Mateo held out his hand to her and Ava gratefully took it. She stepped forward and took her first look at Mr. Ortega in well over a decade.

  Mateo’s grandfather was in a wheelchair, his back straight and his eyes sparkling, but he’d lost a great deal of weight since the last time she’d seen him. His hair then had been salt and pepper but now it was all silver. While these things were a natural part of aging, she knew the unhealthy pallor of his skin and the dark circles under his sunken eyes wasn’t. Cancer hadn’t spared Joaquin Ortega its cruelty. Tears pricked the back of Ava’s eyes.

  He reached out a frail hand. “Ah, Ava, how lovely to see you.”

  Ava didn’t hesitate. She reached out and took his hands between hers. “Hello, Mr. O. I am so very, very happy to see you.”

  “Mr. O? No one has called me that for years.” A smile stretched across his features. “It’s nice to hear it again, Ava.” He looked up at his grandson. “I can see why this young lady has stolen your heart, Mateo.”

  Ava looked up at Mateo as well, in part to see his reaction to the painfully untrue words and partially to not have to continue to meet the older man’s eyes. So far the guilt she thought she might feel at pretending to be Mateo’s fiancée had been theoretical but now she realized it would be a hundred times more difficult than she’d imagined. Judging by the look on Mateo’s face, she guessed he was quickly coming to the same realization.