Marriage by Mistake

check?
    Felicia swallowed as she opened the glass door at the base of Government Center and held it for Andrea. If Troy had done that... Well, why ?
    Felicia realized she was standing there, holding the heavy glass door, while Andrea was already in the lobby, waiting for her. She'd completely lost track of what was going on while pondering why Troy might have engineered that check.
    Shaking her head at herself, Felicia walked through the door, rejoining Andrea. Troy might have had nothing at all do with Joe's check. It was definitely safest for her sanity to assume he was uninvolved.
    But as she and Andrea waited for the elevator, Felicia worried her lip and couldn't help wondering...if Troy had arranged that check. And why .

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

    Dean had finally decided to declare himself. At least, that's what Kelly thought this special weekend away betokened. She hoped.
    They were at a gorgeous, turn-of-the-century resort in the Berkshires. Their room was pseudo-rough-hewn, with furniture made of unfinished logs and a thick plank floor. Plush rugs covered the rustic floor, and velvet drapes were held back from the multi-paned windows with thick, braided cords.
    It was terribly charming and very, very romantic.
    Dean had sprung her with the invitation right after telling her he'd arranged for Robby to spend the weekend at a nearby outdoor camp. They could drive Robby up Friday afternoon, go on to the resort, and then pick Robby up for the drive home on Sunday afternoon. It was all so very well planned. So very Dean.
    "Do you like the room?" Dean had finished with the porter and was walking toward Kelly.
    "It's lovely." Kelly turned around with a smile she felt right down to her toes. This was exactly the kind of place Dean would choose to propose to a woman.
    Dean's answering smile was crooked, delightfully nervous. "It is rather remote, but there's sailing, hiking, tennis—"
    Kelly laughed.
    Dean laughed, too. "Who am I kidding?" He took Kelly in his arms and gave her a slow, warm kiss. "I brought you here to get you alone, really alone."
    Kelly's heart did a mad dance as she looked up at him. "As if I'm not deeply enough in your clutches as it is."
    A strange look crossed Dean's face. "Not quite." He let her go and turned. "Did that—? Oh, yes, good. He's bringing the flowers."
    "Excuse me?"
    The porter had returned. He pushed a cart overflowing with vases of white roses. "Where did you want these, sir?"
    "Ah, that's up to the lady." Dean gestured toward Kelly, whose mouth had fallen open. Flowers, dozens of them. Her gaze shot to Dean. He was smiling, but she could see him swallow. He wanted to please her.
    Kelly raised her lowered jaw and smiled back. "Thank you, Dean. They're beautiful."
    A tiny lowering of his shoulders indicated his relief. Kelly took his arm and gave him a kiss. Oh, the man was going all out. And that was okay with her. It was just fine.
    That evening, Dean arranged a candlelit dinner on the patio overlooking the lake. Together, they watched the moon glinting off the water. There were soft smiles. They held hands. Kelly tried not to breathe too fast but adrenaline was pouring through her. She kept expecting the big moment.
    It didn't happen. No, it seemed Dean wasn't through with the build-up. They finished dinner, enjoyed rich coffee, then Dean led her up to their room. Candles glowed everywhere. They gleamed off the soft skin of the roses and shed a flickering light over the bed.
    "Oh, Dean," Kelly breathed.
    He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm glad you like it."
    They undressed slowly that night, taking their time, prolonging the pleasure. When Dean finally entered her it felt fluid, as if they were two bodies of water wrapping around and then blending into each other.
    The next day they took a long walk, holding hands and sharing warm smiles. They rented a sailboat, enjoying two blissful hours of sun and lazy togetherness. For exercise, they played a match of tennis. Afterward, panting and laughing, they went up to their room.
    "Wear something nice," Dean warned Kelly as she was about to walk into the full-size shower.
    Kelly mutely nodded. Tonight , she thought. He's going to do it tonight . Her heart started racing.
    The weather was chillier than the night before so they ate indoors. It was another candlelit table on a balcony overlooking their outdoor patio of the night before. This time they had a private table with a private waiter who appeared