Title: Marriage by Contract Chapter 3Author: AshleyE-mail: Nuriko56@hotmail.com
Standard Disclaimer Apply
Darien had heard it said that in moments of danger, time seemed tostandstill.
	That had never been his experience. He liked danger: it was one of the
things that had made him so successful in business. When things gotdicey,
when other men blinked, Darien only felt his heartbeat quicken. Andthen time
would seem to speed up. Events, words, gestures would clip by at a lightening-
quick rate, so that afterward he's have to sit down and sort them allout.
	Now, as he confronted the demure, sweet-tempered, old-fashioned girlhis
grandfather had hand-selected as his bride, Darien knew for the firsttime
what people meant when they spoke out about a moment frozen in time.
	He could feel each beat of his heart, hear each breath as he drew it.He
could see Ilene, standing just beyond the girl, her blood-red lipsmoving so
slowly that the words were undecipherable.
	But the most incredible part of the experience was watching the tangle
of emotions pass across Serena's face. Recognition first, and then disbelief.
Then shock. And finally, horror.
	Whatever she had expected to find in this house tonight, he had to be
her worst nightmare come true.
	But she couldn't be any more stunned then he was. Serena Franklin,
sitting by the fireside with an embroidery hoop in her lap? Chatting politely
with the other ladies of the sewing circle before returning home tocook her
husband's dinner?
	Darien almost laughed. It was easier to imagine Jack the Ripper hiredto
carve roasts at a dinner party.
	But it was easy to see why James had been fooled. The girl was a
chameleon. She could take on whatever coloration she needed. AtMontano's,
she'd been the portrait of sexy sophistication: blond hair loose and flowing,
eyes ringed with kohl, long legs flashing seductively beneath theankle-
length, velvet cape.
	Tonight she looked at chaste as a nun ready to take her vows. Hersilky
hair was bundled back into a loose knot, her face was scrubbed free ofmake-
up, and her delectable and long legs were hidden beneath a gray wooldress
that hung to midcalf.	And yet, if anything, she was more beautiful than before.
Darien's eyes narrowed. Her beauty didn't change reality. She was awomen who
had learned she could get whatever she wanted by trading on her looks.It was
no accident that she should turn up for a visit with an old man,pretending to
be Miss Innocence.
	The whole pathetic scene was obvious. Serena Franklin had created
herself to suit his grandfather's taste. James was not just an old man,he was
an old-fashioned one nearing the end of his life, he had lots of moneyand
only one heir.
	Ilene and her daughter had seen a golden opportunity and moved on it.
	A surge of anger roiled Darien's blood. It was not only a ridiculous
scam, it was a cruel one to try and pull on a frail old man. Neitherwoman had
thought, if they'd thought at all, that the old man's grandson couldstopthem.
And Serena, he thought grimly, had not thought about him at all.
	He started forward, his eyes fixed on hers, relishing the look ofdread
that would soon replace the horror in her face…	"Darien!"
	Ilene squeal of delight shattered the silence. She hurtled past Serena
and threw herself at him, rising off her toes as she wrapped her armsaround
his neck.	"Oh, Darien, how wonderful! I hoped you might be here tonight! How
lovely to see you again after so many years."
	Darien clasped Ilene's forearms and set her on her feet.
	"Hello, Ilene." he smiled tightly as he took in the flushed, artfully
made-up face, the hennaed curls, the lush body verging on ripeness. "Ithas
been a long time, hadn't it? But I can see you haven't changed at all."
	Ilene giggled. "It's sweet of you to say so." her hand went to herhair;
she patted it into place as she looked at James. "Hello, Grandfather Kincaid.
You're looking well."	"I'm still breathing, if that's what you mean."
	Ilene giggled again. "Such a charming sense of humor," she said gaily.
She swung around and held her hand out to her daughter. "Come and giveyour
grandpa a kiss, darling."
	Darien watched with grim pleasure as the girl took a minute to pull
herself together. The she squared her shoulders and stepped into acenter of
the room.	Did she think she could bluff it out?
	"Good evening, Mr. Kincaid," she said. Her voice was softer thanDarien
remembered it, but then, it would have to be, to suit the role she was
playing. "Thank you for inviting us this evening."
	"Nonsense, darling." Ilene's smile was as bright as neon. "There's no
need to be so formal with your grandfather."
	Darien saw something flash in the girl's eyes. "He isn't mygrandfather,Mother."
	"Why, Serena. Don't be so silly. Of course he is."	"Mother…"
	Serena's voice was low but seemed to be a thread of warning in it.
Darien's eyes narrowed. The game was getting interesting.
	"Leave the girl alone, Ilene. She can address me however she likes."
James smiled and held out his hand. "Come here, girl, and let me seeyou."
	Darien's mouth thinned. Was that the plan? To contrast Ilene's avarice
with the girl's modesty?
	He almost smiled. It was clever, but it didn't fool him.
	Serena looked at James's outstretched hand. She wanted to lookanywhere
but at the man she now knew was Darien Kincaid.
	Damn, she thought, it's not possible!
	Ilene had not shut up from the instant they'd gotten into the Kincaid
limousine. She'd rattled on and on about hoe much James Kincaid hadliked
Serena. She’d talked about how he’d never had a daughter or agranddaughter.
And, oh, she’d said, she just knew how impressed he’d been with Serenawhen
he’d had them to dinner the previous week; he’d never taken his eyes ofher.
	Serena hadn’t replied and eventually Ilene had changed the subject.
Perhaps Darien would be there tonight, she’d said, and sighedgirlishly. Did
Serena remember him? He’d been at the old man’s house the night Kenjihad
brought them there for dinner.
	Serena had said she didn’t and let it go at that. What was the pointin
adding that all she could remember of that night was wishing the floor beneath
the dining room table would open and swallow her whole? It had been horrible,
hearing the contempt in the old man’s voice each time he spoke toIlene; it
had been even more horrible, watching her mother crawl.
	And then there’d been Kenji’s younger brother who’d come in late, left
early, and never so much as looked as her in between.
	Darien, his name was, and Ilene had babbled on and on about him allthe
way here tonight, about his good looks and his money and his bachelor
eligibility.	"Serena!"
	She looked up. Ilene was staring at her, her eyes shooting sparks, her
smile fixed and feral.	"Grandfather Kincaid is waiting," she said sharply.
	Serena followed and started forward. Darien was standing in her way;she
had expected him to move but he just stood there like a rock, his eyescold
and flat as blue glass, so that she had to brush past him, her shoulderand
hip feathering against his.
	"It’s…it’s nice to see you again, Mr. Kincaid," she said, and gaveJames
her hand.	"Such cold hands, girl." James chuckled. "What is it they say, Darien?
Cold hands warm, warm heart?"	"Something like that," Darien said.
	Serena looked up. She saw the faint smile on his handsome mouth, the
chill in his eyes, and she stiffened. It was time for someone to makethe
first move, and it might as well be she.
	"Good evening, Mr. Kincaid," she said. Her voice was steady, thoughher
heart was thumping. "What an unpleasant surprise."
	It was like throwing a bucket of water on a red hot stove. There wasan
instant’s silence, and then, with a hiss like a supercharged steam,Ilene
toward Serena, eyes wide.	"What did you say?"
	It was Darien who answered, his voice icy. "She said that we’ve net
before. Isn’t that right, Miss Franklin?"
	"We certainly have. We met this afternoon, at Montano’s."
	Ilene gave a nervous laugh. "I don’t understand. Serena, you naughty
girl, you never said---"
	"I didn’t know. We weren’t formally introduced." Serena’s smile was
rimmed with frost. "I had no idea this---gentleman---was DarienKincaid."
	Ilene looked from Darien to Serena. "You mean, you sold something to
Darien today, at Montano’s?"
	Darien gave a harsh, cold bark of laugher. Serena shot him a furious
look, ten turned toward Ilene.	"No, Mother. I didn’t sell Mr. Kincaid anything."
	James cleared his throat. "Darien? I’m afraid I’m lost here, too. Howdo
you and Serena know each other?"
	Darien smiled thinly. "I went into Monatno’s today. Miss Franklinworks
there. Isn’t that right, Miss Franklin?"
	"I worked there until this afternoon," Serena said defiantly. "I wasfired."
	"How unfortunate." Darien smiled and leaned back against the edge ofhis
grandfather’s desk. "Why not tell us about it?"
	Serena felt color rush into her cheeks. Damn Darien Kincaid! Hadn’t he
embarrassed her enough today?
	"Miss Franklin?" His voice was silky. "We’re all waiting to hear the
details. I’m sure it’s a fascinating story."
	He smiled, folded his arms over his chest and rocked back just alittle
on his heels. That was just how he’d looked at Montano’s, that smug, superior
smile curling across his too handsome face, that arms-folded,back-on-his-
heels stance that said he was far too good for the rest of the worldand
especially for mere peons like her.
	Serena drew a deep, deep breath. "It’s not fascinating," she said,"it’s
depressing. To think that a …a male chauvinist pig like you could---"	"Serena!"
	"It’s the truth, Mother," Serena said furiously, "and I’m not going to
pretty things up just so we don’t offend the Kincaids!"
	"The truth is never offensive," James said mildly. "Why don’t you tell
us what happened, girl?"
	Serena swung toward him. "I’ll tell you what happened," she saidthrough
her teeth. "I was doing my job and your grandson here decided to makean ass
of himself, that’s what happened!" She flung back her head, crossed herarms
over her breasts, and glared at Darien. "And when I refused to let him insult
me, I was fired."
	Darien smiled thinly. "It’s amazing, how a few details left out of the
story can change it so completely."
	"The only detail I’ve left out is my full opinion of you," Serena
retorted, "but I’ll keep that much to myself." Her eyes glittered. "I wouldn’t
want to shock your grandfather."	"How generous of you," Darien said.
	"Listen you…you---"
	"Careful sweetheart. Watch your language, or you’ll blow the Miss
Innocent image completely." He smiled with malice. "Actually, I thinkyou
already have. It’s probably too late to salvage anything now."
	"Serena?" Ilene, her knuckles white as she clenched the back of achair,
stared at her daughter. "What on earth is he talking about?"
	Serena gave Darien one last glare, then swung toward her mother.
	"He’s talking lies," she snapped. "I told you, I was at work---"
	"She was coming down the steps in an ankle-length, velvet cape,"Darien
said coldly, "looking like every man's dream, and I said---"
	"A velvet cape?" Ilene blinked. "You, in a velvet cape?"
	Serena flushed. "Montano's does an end-of-week fashion show Fridays.One
of the girls took sick and the store manager dragged me out from theperfume
counter--"	"Dragged her," Darien said sarcastically, "tossed her over her
shoulder,stripped off her clothes, stuffed her into six inches of black silk
coveredthe concoction with six yards of velvet." He shook his head sadly.
"Really,Serena, you ought to report the woman to the Department of Labor."
	--"dragged me from behind the counter," Serena said through her teeth,
"shoved me into the models' dressing room, and the next thing I knew Iwas
going down the steps from the mezzanine, modeling this crimson velvetcape."
	"Crimson," Ilene whispered. "It must have looked lovely with yourcoloring."
	"And then this…this man said something awful and I heard it. Everybody
heard it! So I went over to tell him he ought to get his brain washedout with
soap and…and one thing led to another, and---"
	"She said…" Darien said pleasantly, turning to James, "that I was a
goat. A jackass. A baboon. And a caveman--or was it a Neanderthal?" He
shrugged his shoulders. "I really can't remember."
	"I said he had no manners, and I was right," Serena snapped. "And
then…then the crowd got into it. People laughed, and…and---"
	"And I tried to apologize," Darien said with an innocent smile.
	Serena slammed her hand on her hips. "He tried to kiss me," she said,
her lips curling.	"It was a joke."	"Some joke!"
	"Yes, well, apparently Miss Franklin doesn't have a sense of humor,
Grandfather." Darien lifted his hand to his jaw and gently touched thefaint
purple smudge. "Because that was when she slugged me."
	There was complete silence in the room. Then, like a distant wail of
siren, Ilene sobbed out Serena's name.
	"Serena," she said. "Oh, Serena, you didn't!"
	Darien kept his eyes on his Grandfather.
	"Did you hear what I said? Your sweet-tempered, old-fashioned, demure,
well-mannered gem of deportment hit me with a right hook to the jawthat would
have put George Foreman to shame."
	Something was impossible to read flickered in James's eyes.
	"Interesting," he said calmly.	Darien nodded. "I thought you might think so."
	"Serena," Ilene said in a hushed whisper, "how could you?"
	Lord, Serena thought, how different the story sounded coming out of
Darien Kincaid's mouth.
	"It wasn't like that! If you'd heard him--if you'd seen him…" Serena
looked wildly at the three people facing her. Ilene was staring at herin
horror; James was looking at her with no expression at all. Darien,damn him,
was smirking. "I just wish I'd hit him harder!"
	Ilene rushed toward Serena and flung an arm around her shoulders.
	"It's the stress she'd been under, my poor baby! She's spent her life
among people of certain class, and now--"
	"Don't make excuses for me," Serena said angrily.
	"And now, through a quirk of fate, she'd been forced to associate with
riffraff! Oh, what terrible times these are, that my Serena should havehad to
take a job of salesclerk to put on the table!"
	Serena stared at her mother. That was nonsense! She'd been working asa
salesclerk for three years, supporting herself in the tiny apartmentshe
shared with another girl. It had been the only job she could get; the boarding
school Ilene had insisted on sending her to had specialized inpreparing its
graduates for a silly, boring world that no longer existed.
	"No," Serena said, "that isn't---"
	"She should never have to take such a menial position," Ilene said,her
voice quavering. "It's just that our financial situation is sodesperate. Oh,
if only darling Kenji hadn't left us so unexpectedly. We all know howhe was,
always leaving things till the last minute." Despite her soulfulexpression,
she couldn't keep a sudden hard glitter from her eyes. "For instance,he told
me a dozen times how he planned to change the deed to our house so itwas in
my name and not his, but he never got around to it."
	Darien shot a triumphant look at James. There it was, the reason for
Ilene's sudden appearance. She wanted the house; Serena was to haveprovided
the distraction that would secure it for her. He brought his handstogether in
slow, exaggerated applause.
	"Brava, Ilene. What a performance! Worthy of the Broadway theater atitsbest."
	That was precisely what Serena had been thinking, but hearing Darien
saying it was quite different. Her eyes flashed him a warning as shebroke
away from Ilene's encircling arm.
	"And you should have been taught some manners when you were little!Stop
insulting people, dammit!"
	"Enough," James said, his voice sharp with authority. "All of you,calm
down and we can talk like reasonable people."
	Ilene snapped open her purse, drew out a handkerchief, and dabbed it
gently at her eyes.
	"I should hope so," she said in a tremulous whisper. "Darien, that wascruel."
	"Nonsense." James's tone was brusque. "It was the plain truth. Kenji's
action were quite deliberate. He meant to cut you off without a cent,and hedid."
	"We had a teeny misunderstanding, that's all. He'd changed his will
again if he'd only had the chance. Kenji adored me. He'd never havewanted me
penniless. And he's certainly not have wanted me to give up the home weso
happily shared together."
	"Perhaps," James said, ignoring Darien's snort of disgust, "andperhaps
not. The only thing I know for certain is that my grandson died beforehe
could make provision for Serena."	"For me?" Serena said, startled.
	Ilene dug a sharp elbow into Serena's ribs. "I'm not surprise to hear
it. Whatever problems Kenji and I might have had," she said, blithely changing
tactics, "Kenji loved Serena as if she'd been his own child."
	Serena saw Darien looking at Ilene as if he expected her nose to start
growing like Pinocchio's. It was hard to blame him. Her stepfather had seemed
to be a decent man but she'd hardly known him. She'd spent her summersin
camp, once Ilene had Kenji's money to pay for it, and only come homefor
Christmas and Easter.
	"Kenji wanted his little girl to have the best," Ilene sighed, dabbing
at her eyes with the hankie. It would pain him terribly if he knew shewas
living in poverty."	"Mother, I'm not--"
	"Hush, Serena." Ilene's smile was sweet but her eyes snapped with
warning. "Let Grandfather Kincaid finish what he was about to say."
	James cleared his throat. "It seems that one of my grandson's last
expressed desires was to see Serena properly cared for."
	Ilene beamed happily. "How nice."
	"In fact, Darien and I were discussing that very topic when youarrived."
	"What topic?" Serena said. "You mean you were talking about me?"
	James nodded. "Yes. We were formulating a plan for your future,weren't
we, Darien?"	Darien, who had almost forgotten James's shocking last request,"
remembered it now and frowned.
	"A nonsensical plan," he said, "don't you agree, Grandfather?"
	James smiled. "Are you sure of that, my boy?"
	"I damn well am! And you should be, too, now that you've been treatedto
this display of sweetness and charm!"
	Serena put her hand son her hips and glared from one man to another.
	"What's going on here? You can't discuss me as if I weren't even intheroom!"
	Darien ignored her. "I would prefer we continue this discussion in
private, Grandfather."	James nodded. "I concur."
	"That's it!" Serena's chin tilted up at a proud angle. "I've hadenough."
	"Serena," Ilene whispered harshly, "don't be a fool!"
	"Goodnight, Mr. Kincaid. I'd thank you for your hospitality but Idon't
really think there was any to thank for. Mother, I'll wait for yououtside."
	Without a glance in Darien's direction, Serena strode past Ilene,never
pausing until she reached the privacy of the musty foyer. There, shefell back
against the wall and took a deep, sobbing breath.
	What a horrible scene! The old man, watching her with those unblinking
eyes; Ilene, spewing those phony tears and even phonier stories offamilial
bliss. And Darien Kincaid, commenting on her as if she were acommodity. The
louse. The arrogant, insensitive bastard--
	She cried out in shock as a pair of hard, merciless hands fell on hershoulders.
	"Just where in the hell do you think you're going?" Darien snarled ashe
turned her toward him.
	"Anyplace where I don't have to see a Kincaid face," Serena said
furiously. "Let go of me!"
	"That was one hell of a performance you just gave, sweetheart."Darien's
face was harsh, his eyes chill. "You're almost as good an actress asyourmama."
	"I--said--let--go!"
	"The righteous indignation," he growled, his hands tightening as she
struggled to twist free. "The outraged innocence--"
	"Let go, dammit! You've no right to--"
	"I've every right. You can't really think I'm going to let you andyour
mother pull this swindle on a sick old man!"
	"I don't want anything form your grandfather. Not one miserablething!"
	"Of course, you don't," Darien said with chill sarcasm. "That's whyyou
dressed like Miss Prim, why you spoon-fed him all that crap about whata well-
educated, well-bred little girl you are."	"I didn't tell him anything."
	"No. You let Ilene do it, while you just sat there looking as ifbutter
wouldn't melt in your mouth."
	"Listen, Mr. Kincaid, I don't like you any more than you like me, soif
you'd just take your damned hands off me, I'll see to it we never haveto lay
eyes on each other again."
	"It sounds good, baby, but we both know that your little brain is
already at work, trying to figure how much you and Mama can squeeze outof
Grandpa now that he told you poor, dumb Kenji wanted to see you takencareof."
	"My brain is busy, all right. It's telling me that aiming for your jaw
was a big mistake. I should have gone for more sensitive part of youranatomy."
	Darien hauled her closer, his face dark with fury.
	"You so much as try to hit me again, lady, and I'll…I'll--"
	"You'll what?" Serena demanded, tossing her head in defiance. "Hit me
back? I wouldn't put it past a louse like you!"
	Darien glared down to her angry face. Dammit, but she'd read himright!
He'd never had the urge to strike a woman in his life but right now the
thought of shaking Serena until her teeth rattled was almostoverwhelming.
	His gaze swept over her. Struggling against him had made all thegolden
hair come loose from its phony, godawful bun; it feel around her facelike
gold silk. Her eyes, even without makeup, were the bluest of ocean. Hercheek
were streaked with pink, a shade darker than her parted lips.
	Darien's belly knotted. He couldn't recall ever being this angry--or
this intrigued--by a woman in his life. The confusion made his headspin and
tied his muscled in knots; it made the breath rasp his lungs. There wasonly
one thing he could do and he did it, pulling her, hard, against hisbody.
	"No," she gasped, but it was too late.
	His mouth was already on hers in a kiss that was as wild as it was
dominating. He felt her stiffen instinctively, felt her lips tightenagainst
his, and just as instinctively, his mouth softened against her and hishand
slid into her hair.
	Her body seemed to jerk in his arms and she made a whisper of sound.
	"No," she said against his mouth, and he seized the moment and slipped
his tongue between her lips.
	He felt the heat of her mouth, the honeyed taste of it. Her scent--not
L'Air du Temps or Opium now, but something primal and female--rose tohis
nostrils. She made the sound again and he recognized it for what itwas, the
need of a woman who wants a man, and as she rose toward him, as herarms
closed around his neck and she returned his kiss, his confusion was
transformed into a surge of desire.	Dammit it to hell.
	He thrust her from him and she fell back against the wall, herbreathing
as swift and erratic as his. Her dark lashed flew open, revealing those
incredible blue eyes. She stared at him, her expression dazed, and ittook all
Darien's strength not to pull her into his arms again.
	Her hand rose slowly to her lips. She wiped the back of it across her
mouth and swallowed convulsively.
	"You're a horrible human being, Darien Kincaid," she whispered.
	Darien's face was like stone. "Remember that. Maybe it'll keep you and
your mother far, far away from me and from my grandfather."
	He turned and walk down the hall to the library. Ilene came hurryingout
just as he reached the door; she started to say something but hebrushed past
her without acknowledging her presence.
	James, still sitting by the fire, looked up. "Interesting evening," he
said mildly.
	A smile twisted across Darien's lips. "That's one way to describe it."
	"Well? What did you think?"	"What I think is good riddance to bad rubbish."
	"Don't mouth platitudes, boy. What do you think of the girl?"
	Darien laughed as he took the bottle of cognac and poured himself adouble.
	"A proper wife, you said."	"I still say it."
	"We must have spent the last hour with two different SerenaFranklins."
	"If you're referring to the fact that she's also got some spirit--"
	"She's ill-tempered, argumentative, and sharp-tongued," Darien said,and
tossed off half the cognac."
	"A woman who'd roll over and play dead wouldn't keep your interest and
you know it."	"She's also Ilene's daughter."	"Very astute," James said wryly.
	"Come on, Grandfather, you know what I mean! Those women came to New
York to try to get some money out of you."
	"Ilene did. I don't think the girl is part of it. And your brother
thought well of her."
	"Yeah." Darien gave a harsh laugh. "And my brother sure as hell was a
terrific judge of character."
	James let out a deep sigh. "I think it's time we said goodnight,Darien.
I'm feeling rather weary."
	Darien's eyes flew to his grandfather's face. Exhaustion was written
across the stern old features.	"Of course, sir. I'll help you to your room."
	"Brimley can help me to my room," James said testily. "Let the dragon
earn her living."
	Darien smiled. "I'll send her in." He paused and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry tonight didn't go as you'd hoped," he said softly. It was alie,
but a harmless one.
	"That's all right. Nothing important is ever simple, my boy. I'velived
long enough to know that that is one life's few truisms."
Moments later Darien slid behind the wheel of his Porsche. He shook hishead
as he thought of how close Serena Franklin and her mother had come to catching
the brass ring.	But Serena's temper had done her in.
	Not that he'd really have married her. He'd walk through fire for his
grandfather. But marry Serena Franklin?
	Darien shuddered as he put the car in gear. Not in this lifetime, he
thought. He stepped on the gas and the Porsche roared down the drivewayand
into the night.