From Here to There Read Free Page A

side but never together, where money was offered as a substitute for love. She'd strangle on the coldness and limitations. She had been wrong to let it all go so far, but it was better to own up to her mistake now.
     Phillip swiveled in the seat. He scowled at her. "You will go through with the reception and pretend you are madly in love with me," he ordered. "We'll talk afterward."
     "I'm not sure I can do that."
     His smile became ugly, his eyes blue glacial ice. "You can and you will. If you want me to cooperate with your desire to end this marriage, you will do what I say. I will not be made a fool of this way. You can go wherever you damned well like after this day is over, but you'll be at my side through that farcical reception, dance the first dance in my arms, and let everyone throw rice, birdseed or whatever the hell it is they throw these days as we drive away to wedded bliss."
     Helene's mouth gaped open. She shut it again as she considered his demand. He had a right to ask this much of her. No matter what, they would both look like fools anyway when she immediately filed for divorce or in this case an annulment. It would make it worse if they didn't attend their own reception, if anyone suspected there that all was not well between the newly married Drummonds, the dream couple. Finally she nodded. "All right. I've been pretending all my life. I suppose I can manage for a few more hours. I owe you that much."
     "You can say that again," he muttered as he straightened his suit. "Your mascara is running. Fix it," he said in a coldly authoritarian voice, his smile a glaring contradiction to the anger in his eyes.
     She took tissues and fixed her face as best she could, then glared back at him.
     "Loving," he reminded her through set lips. "You understand."
     "I'm not a fool, Phillip!"
     "You couldn't prove it by today," he retorted.
     
     The chauffeur opened the door for them, a sly smile on his face as Phillip stepped out, then reached back to offer Helene his hand. She took it and tilted up her chin. Ahead were her friends and family who had assembled on the lawn in front of the club. She had a reception line to get through. At this point it was beginning to seem like a gauntlet.
     As she heard the click of several cameras, she plastered a smile on her face and looked up into Phillip's eyes. There was a coldness and anger there which she supposed she deserved, but if that was his idea of how to deceive everyone, he was going to need a few lessons in duplicity.
     Before the thought was fully formed, Phillip had reached down, his strong arms pulled her against his hard, muscular frame, and his lips descended on hers. The kiss was unlike any he'd given her in the courtship. It was angry and hard, but there was a passion in it she'd never experienced. He slanted his mouth across hers and before she realized what he was doing, he pushed her lips apart with his tongue and invaded her mouth. She had a moment of surprise, a moment of shocked awareness at the physical reality of Phillip Drummond, then she put her own arms up, tangled them in his hair, and pressed herself against his body. It wasn't until he released her that she had time to wonder if she'd been acting.
     "Now, now, there will be plenty of time for that later," her mother as she swept Helene and Phillip away to the receiving line.
     The compliments flowed, the effusive greetings, the countless hands to be shaken and cheeks to be kissed as people passed them on their way into the great hall of the club. Flowers were everywhere, the music resumed and everyone seemed filled with joy at the wedding, everyone except Phillip and Helene. She felt the tension in his muscles as he stood at her side, pressing against her now and again, a smile on his lips that she knew was for everyone else's benefit.
     Rafe came up, grabbed her for a quick hug, then took Phillip's hand. "You better be good to my little cousin," he sternly ordered, slapping Phillip on