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  Bride by Chance copyright 2013 by Marilyn Shank

  Published by Marilyn Shank

  Cover design and Interior layout by www.formatting4U.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author at [email protected]. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  For more information on the author and her works, please see www.MarilynShank.com

  This book is also available in print from online retailers.

  DEDICATION

  Many thanks to my writer buddies

  who make this journey fun:

  The Avaloners

  The Mid-America Romance Authors

  The Heartland Romance Authors

  PROLOGUE

  Meg O’Malley sank onto the couch in her sister’s upscale Kansas City condo and buried her face in her hands. The stress of her job as owner of Dance Unlimited, a ballet school for girls, had put her on overload. So she’d flown from Meadow Springs, Illinois, to spend a week with Liza, her identical twin. But instead of the relaxing vacation Meg so desperately needed, Liza wasn’t even in town! At the last minute, she’d run off to attend a convention in Chicago. And worst of all, she’d tricked Meg into playing pretend fiancée to Zach Addison while she was away!

  Zach had been Meg’s heartthrob their senior year in high school. At that time, he hadn’t known she was alive. But Meg still compared every man she met to Zach. And most of them came up lacking.

  Thanks to Liza’s little scheme, Meg had just spent two days with the man. She now knew, without question, that agreeing to this charade had been a mistake. A really big mistake.

  She sprang to her feet, grabbed the cell phone off the end table, and dialed Liza’s number. The twins had traded places in high school but for much less complicated reasons. But this time, her sister had gone too far!

  Liza answered on the second ring. “The situation with Zach is out of control,” Meg said not bothering to say hello. “I can’t pretend anymore.”

  “Whoa, girl, don’t even say that. You’ve got to stick it out for the week.”

  “That’s impossible. Either you come home and take over or I’m telling Zach the truth.”

  “Don’t panic, Meg. Let me think for a minute.”

  Meg paced the living room as she waited. Liza’s mind worked like a high-powered computer which served her well as an attorney with Burns, Logan, and Grant. She would soon become the youngest partner that firm ever had. But Liza couldn’t think her way out of this dilemma. Ending the nonsense was the only solution.

  “Oh, now I get it!” Liza suddenly declared. “You’re falling for Zach! Just like you did in high school!”

  Meg sighed. “That’s absurd.”

  “No, it isn’t. I hear the adoration in your voice.”

  “That’s not adoration. Just a bad connection.”

  Liza chuckled. “You’re falling fast and hard, aren’t you, sweetie? And that frightens you.”

  “You’re brain-dead from too many seminars,” Meg retorted. “Now, I’ll say it once more before I hang up. I’m ending this charade.”

  “Okay, sis, okay. Let me see about coming home early. But you’ve got to give me twenty-four hours to work things out.” If nothing else, being a trial lawyer had taught Liza how to stall.

  Meg sighed again. “Make it a fast twenty-four hours. This vacation has turned into an exercise in torture.”

  “Is it exquisite torture?” Liza teased.

  “Stop it, sis. I’m warning you.”

  “Bye bye, sweetie. I’ll call you soon.”

  As they ended the call, Meg’s blood pressure shot sky high. How dare Liza insinuate that she still had feelings for her high school crush? After all, just last week Meg and Martin Landsburg had talked seriously about becoming engaged. They both wanted a home, a family, and the American Dream, and the clock was ticking.

  Liza had better call back soon. It was time for Meg to escape this pretend romance and return to her real life. And to her solid, steady boyfriend.

  Martin Landsburg was the man for her. End of story.

  CHAPTER 1

  “I might as well be in prison, Lancelot,” Liza O’Malley said to the apricot-and-white Shih Tzu resting in her lap. “I’ve been hiding out in this cottage for three whole days, and if I don’t get out soon, I’ll lose my mind.”

  The cottage in question, located on Shady Bend Drive in Meadow Springs, Illinois, belonged to Meg O’Malley, Liza’s identical twin. Meg was dangerously close to marrying Martin Landsburg, a man she didn’t love. But after much finagling on Liza’s part, Meg was spending the week at Liza’s Kansas City condo. And if the plan worked, Meg would reconnect, permanently, with Zach Addison, her high school heartthrob and the love of her life.

  Lancelot shot her a questioning gaze. “I can’t let Meg settle for a platonic marriage,” Liza explained. “When she was in love with Zach, she’d get this dreamy expression on her face and her eyes literally danced. But when Meg talks about Martin, there’s not a hint of passion in her voice or the slightest bit of excitement. Those are danger signs in my book.”

  Lancelot wagged his tail. Apparently he thought so, too.

  Liza sighed. “I realize it’s my own fault that I’m trapped here. But Martin was ready to propose so I had to pretend I was attending a conference while giving Meg a chance to reconnect with Zach. I can’t just sit back and watch my sister marry the wrong man.”

  Liza knew very little about Martin Landsburg except that he built log cabins for a living. What was he, a modern-day Daniel Boone, for Pete’s sake?

  “To be fair, Martin may be a decent guy,” Liza continued. “But Meg doesn’t love him. Not the way she once loved Zach.”

  Lancelot cocked his head and studied her with concern. Then he leaned forward and licked her hand. Twice.

  She smiled. “Thanks for understanding.”

  Liza couldn’t believe she was talking to a dog. She wasn’t even a dog person. But the only person she’d spoken to since her arrival was Frieda Vogel, Meg’s elderly neighbor. As an attorney for Burns, Logan and Grant in Kansas City, Liza’s days were busy ones. She spent most of her time meeting with clients or defending them in court. And she needed people contact to survive.

  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Lancelot, and I’ve decided to ‘become Meg’ while I’m here. Then I can go out in public and not sit here dying of boredom.”

  She placed the pup gingerly on the floor. “I’m going to raid Meg’s closet, turn myself into my twin, and get out of this place. No offense, sweetie.”

  Liza headed for the bedroom, and the pup trotted loyally behind.

  While she’d only been here a few days, Meg’s decorating style was already making Liza crazy. Her sister had filled the cottage with overstuffed furniture in a variety of floral prints. And the grass-green carpeting and throw pillows were so bright they hurt Liza’s eyes. How she missed her tasteful Kansas City condo with its subdued colors and contemporary furnishings.

  When she slid open the closet door, she blinked twice. Meg, a ballet teacher and artist, loved splashy patterns and vivid colors. Liza’s dark-and-tailored wardrobe would never fit into her sister’s world.

  As she searched through the clothing, she pulled out the tamest outfit available: a pair of white slacks and a shimmery lavender blouse. Then she us
ed the curling iron on her shoulder-length auburn hair, which she normally wore straight, and added a pair of oversized earrings. Hmm, not bad, she thought as she glanced at her image in the mirror. She’d successfully transformed herself into her twin sister.

  “Lancelot, where are you?”

  Liza froze in her tracks as the deep-pitched male voice resonated through the cottage. How could a man have gotten in the house when she’d locked the door securely behind her? Was the guy a thief? And if so, how did he know Meg’s dog’s name?

  Lancelot, tail wagging furiously, raced off to welcome the intruder. And moments later, Liza came face to face with a six-foot-and-then-some, broad-shouldered and ruggedly handsome man. He had chocolate brown hair, hazel eyes, a killer smile, and dimples. She doubted a serious criminal would have dimples!

  When he saw her, he looked as surprised as she felt. “Well, hello, Meg. I can’t believe you’re home!”

  Liza’s heart lurched as he came closer. Panic and helplessness made talking, even moving, impossible.

  “It’s really great to see you, honey. I sure missed you while I was out of town.”

  Liza’s breath locked in her throat as reality hit hard. While she’d never met Meg’s intended, she’d heard enough about him to know that the fellow towering in the doorway was Martin Landsburg, himself. She stifled a groan. Meg had said Martin was attending a convention so Liza hadn’t expected to run into him during her stay.

  As he came closer, Liza’s pulse pounded so loudly she wondered if he could hear it. To her horror, he slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. His musky aftershave filled her senses, and the room started to spin. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.

  Stop the man! her conscience screamed. Tell him you’re not Meg. But how could she? If she told Martin the truth, she’d spoil everything for her sister.

  Things went from bad to worse when Martin lowered his head to kiss her. While Liza wanted to push him away, she couldn’t. So she braced herself and hoped the kiss would be a quick one.

  But the moment Martin’s lips touched hers, Liza’s heart kicked into high gear, and her ability to concentrate disappeared. He kissed her slowly, thoroughly, and wonderfully. Her pulse skittered, her toes curled, and to Liza’s dismay, the world shifted on its axis.

  Panic welled inside her. What should she do? What could she do? Well, she’d just “become Meg,” and Meg’s reaction would be to kiss Martin back. So with trepidation, Liza slipped her arms around this stranger’s neck and did so.

  Mmm and double mmm. She’d say this much for Daniel Boone: he sure could kiss!

  When he finally pulled back, Liza studied him with a sense of awe. “Wow!” No other words came to mind.

  His chuckle was deep and sexy “Looks like you missed me too, babe. But why are you home? You’re supposed to vacationing in Kansas City with your sister.”

  Think fast, she told herself. Fortunately, as a trial lawyer she was trained to think on her feet. “One of the partners in Liza’s law firm got sick and couldn’t attend a convention. So they asked her to go in his place.”

  His dark eyes widened. “And she agreed? After the two of you have planned this vacation together since last Christmas?” His voice was heavy with disapproval.

  “Of course, she agreed,” Liza snapped. “You don’t say no when a partner makes a request.”

  He scowled. “Not if you’re Liza O’Malley, you don’t.”

  Liza clenched her fists, and a hot flush crept up her neck. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “Only that your sister is obsessed with her career. She’s on the fast track -– a straight shot to partner.”

  Liza planted her hands on her hips. “Yes, she is, and it takes both dedication and sacrifice. Surely you can understand that.”

  “Now don’t get all huffy, Meg. You’re always telling me Liza’s so focused on her career that she has no time to form a meaningful relationship.”

  Ouch. Meg had said those exact words to Liza again and again. But ever since her fiancé had betrayed her, Liza couldn’t make herself start dating again. When Travis Randall cheated on her, she’d locked her heart and thrown away the key.

  “I trust my sister to make good decisions,” she said, struggling to say a coherent sentence and regain her composure. But Martin Landsburg’s kiss, and his criticism of her lifestyle, had left her shaken.

  “I just dropped by to take Lancelot for a walk. I know Mrs. Vogel looked after him while you were gone, but I’ve sure missed the little guy.” He reached down and scratched the pup behind the ears much to Lancelot’s delight.

  Liza sniffed. “Lancelot doesn’t need a walk. He spent most of the morning in the backyard.”

  Martin raked a hand through his hair. “But you keep saying that’s not enough exercise for him. And that he needs to take more walks in the neighborhood.”

  “He’s perfectly fine, thank you,” she declared, not wanting to deal with any more of this man’s disapproval. Not about her lifestyle or her dog-sitting skills.

  He shrugged. “Hey, you’re the boss. Are you hungry, honey? Want to grab some lunch?”

  While Liza still felt furious with the man, if she went to lunch with him she could escape her imprisonment. And since she’d always wondered why Meg loved this tiny town so much, having lunch with Martin would let her check out Meadow Springs, Illinois. She bit back her anger and said, “Lunch would be nice.”

  “How about Felicia’s?” He studied her, and his appealing hazel eyes with tiny flecks of gold caused her to lose concentration again. And those dark brows framed his eyes to perfection.

  He repeated the question. “How about Felicia’s?”

  Since she had no idea what Felicia’s meant, Liza stared blankly at the man, hoping he’d elaborate. She often did that with witnesses on the stand. Just wait and they’ll supply more information.

  When none came, she shrugged in confusion.

  “Honey, if you don’t want to eat at Felicia’s Café say so. We’ll go someplace else.”

  Aha, a restaurant. Liza smiled. “Felicia’s is fine.”

  Martin shook his head. He continued to study her, and a slight smile played around his mouth, revealing those dimples. Her heart thudded as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “You’re a hard woman to figure out, Ms. O’Malley. Sometimes I’m surprised that the two of us get along as well as we do.”

  “I agree. It’s very surprising.”

  But what surprised Liza most were the shock waves that still reverberated inside her body after Meg’s boyfriend’s kiss. And to her chagrin, refused to go away.

  “You look especially pretty today.”

  “I do?”

  “Absolutely. Downright irresistible.”

  And before she could object, Martin pulled her into his arms again. And for the second time in just minutes, his musky scent flooded her senses. Oh, no. He was going to kiss her again! She wanted to grab the man by the shoulders, give him a determined shake, and yell, “Stop it, stop it, stop it! I’m not Meg!”

  But she couldn’t. That would ruin Meg’s chances for a love-based marriage and a happy life. So with a blend of terror and excitement, Liza kissed Martin again. And to her horror, felt a flood of passion the likes of which she hadn’t experienced since Travis. When the kiss ended, her knees nearly buckled, and she shivered from the trauma.

  “You look pale. Are you feeling okay?” He smoothed a runaway curl from her eyes.

  For the first time in history, Liza K. O’Malley, Attorney at Law, had nothing to say. This man’s kiss had erased all the data stored in her brain.

  She took a deep breath and finally said, “Um, I forgot.”

  “Forgot what?”

  “I forgot what a great kisser you are.”

  There. That was the first honest thing she’d said to the man.

  He laughed and the sound of his sexy voice moved through her
with the force of a salmon swimming upstream. “Do you want to meet me at Felicia’s, or shall we ride together?”

  She could handle a multiple choice question. “Let’s ride together.” Since she had no clue where Felicia’s was located, together was the obvious choice.

  “Whose car?” he asked.

  “Yours.”

  As Liza grabbed her purse, she fervently hoped the drive to the restaurant would calm her swirling emotions. And blot out the memory of Martin Landsburg’s award-winning kisses.

  Permanently.

  Moments later, he opened the passenger door of his black Cadillac Escalade and Liza slid inside. She couldn’t fault this guy’s taste in automobiles. And he was a gentleman, besides. The last man to open a car door for her was Travis Randall. Like Martin, Travis had been a gentleman and his kisses had made her heart race. She’d adored Travis and when he proposed, she was ready to commit for a lifetime.

  But Travis played by a different set of rules—rules Liza could never accept. Her cheeks burned as she remembered his betrayal and the heartache she still carried.

  Focus, she told herself. Having lunch with her twin’s almost-fiancé was challenge enough.

  “You must have been disappointed when Liza left for that convention. I know how much you needed that vacation, honey,” he said. And by his caring tone, she knew he meant it.

  Liza lifted her chin. “I’ll survive. Besides, we can always reschedule.”

  “Isn’t your high-strung sister pretty hard to work with?”

  She pursed her lips and frowned. “What do you mean high-strung?”

  “You’re always saying Liza can’t sit still for more than five minutes. And that she’s always in overdrive.”

  Liza thought seriously about punching the insulting man in the nose. So she was career obsessed, a social recluse, and high-strung? Of all the nerve! She took several cleansing breaths as she struggled to curb her fury. If she gave him a bloody nose, he’d know for sure she wasn’t Meg. Meg always kept her composure.

  “This isn’t your problem, Martin,” she said crisply. “My sister and I will work it out.”