Must-Have Husband

humiliating Connie to tears…then finally by single-handedly destroying the Oliver family’s crowning glory?
    He had to get out of this predicament, but how? He’d already promised Connie he’d see this weekend through. And when she’d left him in tears, he’d become more determined than ever to help her. Not for any cash involved, but because it was the right thing to do. Connie was beautiful and intelligent and kind. He hadn’t meant to insult her at all by hinting she’d someday wear that dress, because in his heart he absolutely knew she would. She was a terrific woman who would make a wonderful wife, for just the right man.
    Mac understood he faced an uphill battle in convincing her family that man could still be him. Particularly after he broke the news about the dress. Shoot, they might aim to behead him just as surely as he’d whacked that hapless mannequin. Mac buttoned up his shirt, hoping for a peaceful outcome, at least one that didn’t involve a lot of weeping and wailing. While Mac didn’t take himself for much of a chicken, if they beat him hard enough, he might yelp.
    Connie rapped lightly on his door and called from outside. “See you downstairs at breakfast!”
    Mac swallowed hard, thinking that even if it was scrambled eggs, he was going to have trouble choking it down past the lies and deception welling inside him. How he wished it were Sunday and he was on his way out of here! Mac laid his hand on the doorknob, then pulled himself up short. Once he was out of here, there’d be no more Connie. Since she was part of this whole sham, once their deal was done, she’d be gone from his life too. But he was okay with that, wasn’t he? He barely knew the girl, after all, and she scarcely knew him. She was about to learn a lot more about him very quickly, though. Like what an enormous klutz he was, Mac thought with a gulp.

    Mac took his seat at the elegant breakfast table beside Connie. She couldn’t help but think he looked extra handsome this morning, all freshened up from his shower. Connie was a bit embarrassed by the display she’d made last night but had plans to discuss it with Mac later. Upon reflection, she’d seen he hadn’t meant to be hurtful in suggesting she’d someday wear the wedding dress. He was just stating this as a matter of course, in keeping with the family tradition. Given her age of thirty-two, it wasn’t like eventually finding a husband was totally out of the question. Just because she’d let the first three grooms get away, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be others in the offing. She’d made herself feel better in convincing herself of that. That extra helping of Rocky Road had just left her feeling bloated. She was still suffering from a food hangover this morning.
    Wendell Senior wheeled into the room, and good-mornings were said all around.
    “I want to thank you all for a wonderful party last night,” Grandpa Oliver said, as their food was served. “It was quite” —h e shot Mac a glance and Mac’s neck reddened — “memorable, to say the least.”
    “We all had a great time,” Elizabeth said pleasantly.
    Wendell Junior smiled at Mac. “We’d like to thank our new guest for joining us, especially.”
    “Thank you all for including me.”
    “Well, go on,” Elizabeth urged from the head of the table, “You two don’t be shy. You can hold hands.”
    Connie felt her face on fire. “Oh no, Mother, we don’t believe in—”
    “PDA,” Mac filled in.
    “What’s that?” Grandpa Wendell wondered.
    “Public displays of affection,” Ollie explained.
    “Oh gosh, Connie,” Linda taunted, taking Beau’s hand and squeezing it in hers. “For heaven’s sake, we do it all the time. Nobody cares,” she said with a shrug.
    All eyes turned to Connie and Mac as Connie nervously pursed her lips and waited.
    “Uh, yeah,” Mac said, laying his hand on top of hers on the table before patting it lightly.
    “Not like that!” Elizabeth said with a jovial laugh. “For goodness sakes, one would think you’ve never held hands before.” Elizabeth sprang from her chair and came around to where Mac and Connie sat. “There,” she said, forcing their hands together. “Isn’t that better?”
    Mac gave her a tight grin. “Much.”

    Between the coffee and the flapjacks and the soft-boiled eggs that were being passed around, there wasn’t much time for Mac to work in true confessions. He noticed Connie wasn’t very hungry this morning,