A Make-Believe Match
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Renee Ryan
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Chapter One
Denver, Colorado, 1894
Molly Taylor Scott knew most people considered her a delightfully charming, sometimes frivolous young woman who loved being engaged almost as much as she loved the Lord. Molly would agree with this summation of her character, mostly. However, she would argue one key point.
She was never frivolous.
Especially when it came to matters of the heart. Thus, as she stood outside Denverâs most exclusive millinery shop, surrounded by several would-be suitors, she treated the situation with utmost gravity.
Twirling her parasol, she gave the men her undivided attention. A rather difficult task, when one of the four seemed determined to monopolize the conversation. Molly stopped listening to the conversation as somethingâsomeoneâexited the Arapahoe County Courthouse one block north.
Senses poised, she turned her head ever so slightly and caught sight of Garrett Mitchell moving at a clipped pace in her direction. He looked incredibly handsome today, every bit the successful attorney heâd become in the past few years.
Eyes cast forward, he made swift progress down the lane, never once looking at Molly or acknowledging her presence. Still, her breathing quickened and her heart stuttered.
Stupid, stupid heart. An undertow of anger rolled through her. Interesting thing, anger; it signified she still cared.
She really shouldnât still care.
Not about Garrett Mitchell. Or those sculpted features framed inside dark blond hair, or that brilliant mind lurking behind the oh-so-handsome face, or that cowboy swagger that had stayed with him long after leaving his familyâs ranch.
Why, why, why did he still affect her so? Heâd walked away from her seven years ago. And I let him.
Molly sighed. Better that, than give in to fresh despair.
A masculine clearing of a throat drew her gaze back to the man on her right. âMiss Scott, you must agree to attend the opera with me this evening.â He took her hand and beamed down at her. âI wonât take no for an answer.â
A chorus of objections and counter invitations rose up from the other three in their group. Repeating his request a second timeâor was it a third?âMr. Giles Thomas gripped Mollyâs hand tighter and commanded her stare with an earnest one of his own.
He was not classically handsome, and he was certainly no Garrett Mitchell, but he had a pleasant enough appeal with his brown hair, brown eyes and rather ordinary brown suit.
âIâm afraid, Mr. Thomas, I must decline your lovely offer.â She smiled brightly, even as she carefully extricated her hand from his bearlike grip. âMrs. Singletary has already requested my company in her box this evening.â
At times such as these Molly was ever grateful for her position as a personal secretary and companion to the most prominent widow in Denver. As if speaking her employerâs name could summon the woman herself, Mrs. Singletary exited the millinery shop, her arms overflowing with her purchases.
Welcoming the interruption, and feeling guilty for waiting outside while her employer shopped, Molly set her parasol against the building and hastened forward. âLet me help you.â
She retrieved the boxes, juggling the heaviest with her left hand and shifting around several more with her right. Sensing an opportunity to play the gentlemanâa shade too late by Mollyâs estimationâMr. Thomas and the others began snatching boxes away from her.
She stumbled under their enthusiastic efforts, careening backward. A pair of strong hands captured her shoulders and steadied her. Once she had her balance, the hands dropped away.
Head spinning, heart pounding wildly against her ribs, she barely managed to push the name of her rescuer past her trembling lips. âGarrett.â
A slow, affectionate smile spread across his face. Just as quickly, it disappeared. âMolly,â he said in a bland tone.
âI...that is...â She swallowed, words backing up in the throat until she thought she might choke on them. âThank you.â
âWatch your step. The footing is uneven here.â
âYes, Iââ
He tipped his hat, muttered a hasty farewell and was gone.
Breathing hard, Molly blinked after his retreating back. It was always the same whenever their paths crossed. A brief moment of understanding, followed by an awkward exchange of stilted words and then...nothing but a bone-deep sense of loss that left her heart aching.
No. Oh, no. No more wallowing. No more wishing for what might have been. Molly was finished with Garrett Mitchell and unrequited love. She was also finished with the four men still arguing over her.
Unnaturally quiet throughout her tĂȘte-Ă -tĂȘte with Garrett, as well as now, Mrs. Singletary eyed Molly with a speculative, almost calculating gaze. At last, as if finally finished weighing the situation, she held up a hand. âGentleman, thatâs quite enough.â
All four went very still, very silent.
âThis boorish behavior is not helping your cause with the young lady.â
Hastily worded apologies rang in the air.
âNot to me, you scoundrels.â Mrs. Singletary shook her head in annoyance. âMiss Scott is the one you have offended.â
And thus began another round of excuses stacked upon blame.
Only half listening, Molly nodded and smiled and generally wished to be anywhere but here. In silent understanding, Mrs. Singletary winked at her then resumed her glowering.
The expression of disapproval did nothing to hamper the womanâs remarkable features. She had been a renowned beauty in her day. Her hair was still a rich, golden brown. Her face remained smooth of any sign that two decades had come and gone since Mr. Singletary had won her hand in marriage.
The argument continued, reaching ridiculous proportions, until Mr. Thomas pushed forward. âSince you have denied me your company this evening, you must allow me to escort you home now.â
More disputes arose.
Again, Mrs. Singletary took control. âNone of you will be escorting the lady home, for the simple reason we are not heading that way just yet.â
Since the widow was one of the most powerful women in town, not many folks were brave enough to chance her displeasure. Mollyâs current admirers proved no exception.
âNow, my dear, be so kind as to retrieve my packages from these young men and say goodbye.â
There was a moment of jostling, followed by a bit of tugging and pushing but, finally, Molly was once more in possession of Mrs. Singletaryâs purchases.
After another flat-eyed scan of the group, the older woman dismissed the lot of them. Grumbling under their breaths, they scattered in four different directions, eventually absorbed by the noise and bustle of the busy Denver streets.
âWhere to next?â Molly asked, breathing a sigh of relief. âThe dress shop, perhaps?â
âNot today. I have a mind to study my hats before deciding if I need a new gown or two to match.â
She considered the boxes in her hands. âDid you find anything worth wearing immediately?â
âHardly, but I trust you will put them right soon enough.â
âIâd like nothing better.â Molly found great pleasure in turning an otherwise predictable hat into a new creation, with an added touch of flare all her own.
Staring off in the distance, Mrs. Singletary made a small movement of her head. âI wonder why Mr. Mitchell left so quickly after his gallant rescue.â
Molly masked the falter in her step. Garrett had been especially chivalrous this afternoon. But that was Garrett simply being Garrett. He would have done the same for any woman. She was nothing special to him, not anymore. The surge of sorrow was so strong it threatened to consume her. And...and...
And Mrs. Singletary had just asked her a question. Releasing a tempered breath, Molly lifted a shoulder. âHe was clearly in a hurry.â
She sounded so calm, so in control. It was quite an act, when her heart was as bleak as a cold, rainy day.
âYou are friends with his sisters, are you not?â
âI am.â
âHmm, very strange he didnât stick around and, I must say, quite inconvenient.â Mrs. Singletary planted her fists on her hips, her gaze turning shrewd. âI have a business proposition of some urgency I had wanted to discuss with him.â
Molly cast her employer a quick, baffled look. Garrett worked at Bennett, Bennett and Brand, yes, but Mrs. Singletaryâs personal attorney was Reese Bennett, Jr. Therefore, it seemed rather odd that the older woman would approach Garrett in lieu of her own lawyer.
âWhy wait any longer?â The widow spun around and set out toward the law firm. âI shall speak with him now.â
Molly trotted after Mrs. Singletary. Fingers curled into fists, she affected a placid tone. âBut...â Think, Molly, think. âYou donât have an appointment.â
âI donât need one.â
True. Mrs. Singletary was the law firmâs wealthiest and most influential client. Appointment or not, none of the attorneys would turn her away. âAre you certain this business you have with Mr. Mitchell canât wait until later?â
âQuite certain.â She quickened her pace.
Molly did the same, her stomach tied in knots, her arms growing tired under the weight of the packages she carried.
Dodging the bulk of the traffic with practiced ease, Mrs. Singletary hastened along the narrow sidewalk. A block shy of the firm, she leveled her gaze on Molly and made a most unusual request. âI would like you present when I speak with Mr. Mitchell.â
âMe? I donât understand.â Mrs. Singletary had never asked her to attend her business meetings before.
âItâs very simple, my dear. I want to see how Mr. Mitchell behaves in your company. And you in his.â
Oh, this was bad. So very, very bad. âMrs. Singletary, you arenât playing matchmaker, are you?â
âMatchmaker, me?â
The cryptic response made Molly all the more skeptical of her employerâs motives. âWhy do you wish to see how Garrett and I interact with one another?â
âItâs important my personal companion gets along with my business associates.â
Since when? âThatâs never mattered before.â
âAn oversight on my part.â
So Mrs. Singletary was playing matchmaker. What a disastrous turn of events! Molly must dissuade her employer from this course of action, but how? If she protested too much she would only encourage the woman. âItâs useless,â she muttered.
âNow, my dear, one never knows. A few false starts are no indication that we wonât find our one true love eventually.â She patted her hand. âThe Lord has brought you into my care. I shall see you happily settled no matter how long it takes.â
Molly chose not to argue. Mrs. Singletary would discover soon enough that Garrett was not the man for her. Their time had come and gone, never to be regained. Tragic, really.
She suddenly felt exhausted, and oh so lonely. Even though others had claimed to love her since Garrett, none had been any more sincere than he. Molly had given two of them a chance, going so far as agreeing to marry them.
Her greatest shameâthe dark, awful secret she shared only with the Lordâwas that she hadnât been the one to call off her engagements. Her fiancĂ©s had walked away from her, just as Garrett had. Nearly eight months since her last broken engagement and she couldnât help but wonder if she was destined to be alone. When all she wanted was a family of her own.
This melancholy wasnât like her. Sheâd always been a child of joy, of hope, her favorite Bible verse also her life motto. He fill thy mouth with laughing, thy lips with rejoicing.
Where was her joy now? Her laughter?
She fought off a wave of panic, and readjusted the packages in her hands. She could not give up hope, because without hope all was lost.
* * *
Secluded in his office, Garrett felt his mood take on a hard edge. He couldnât get Molly Taylor Scott out of his head.
The document beneath his hand blurred, the words a haze of black swimming atop white. He drummed his fingers on the parchment in a rapid two-finger rhythm. The sight of Molly this afternoon had been like a swift, cold wind through Garretâs soul, alerting all his senses, making him agonizingly aware that theyâd once been very much in love.
The bold color of her crimson gown had been a stunning complement to her raven hair, soft, creamy skin and blue, blue eyes. For that brief moment when heâd gripped her shoulders, the years had melted away and Garrett had felt the strong pull of her all over again. Heâd been transfixed.
The four men surrounding her had been equally transfixed.
Hostility surged through his veins at the memory.
Rearranging the Phipps contract on his desk, he proceeded to review the legal language. A detail man by nature, he searched for loopholes others had missed, areas that might present problems in the future. Even a misplaced comma could change the meaning of a sentence and cost his client a fortune.
He was deep into the work when a knock came at the door. Concentration blown, he looked up. âEnter.â
His law clerk, Julian Summers, a thin young man with ordinary features and an eager smile, stuck his head in the room. âMrs. Beatrix Singletary has requested a moment of your time.â
âShe wishes to see me?â Not Reese? âAre you certain?â
âShe requested you. And sheâs not aloneâher companion is with her.â Adamâs apple bobbing, Summers sighed. âSheâs really quite beautiful. Miss Scott, I mean. Charming, too.â
The man sounded awestruck. He looked awestruck, with his fidgeting hands and dazed expression. Right. Another poor, unsuspecting sap had succumbed to Mollyâs undeniable charm.
âSend in Mrs. Singletary. Andââ Garrettâs jaw tightened ââher companion.â
âVery good.â Summers hurried out, leaving the door ajar.
By the time Garrett crossed the room, he found the women already standing at the threshold. While Molly transferred an assortment of packages into his law clerkâs care, Garrett schooled his features into a blank expression. His well-honed composure evaporated the moment Molly turned and looked at him.
His heart slammed against his ribs, his breath hitched in his lungs. Now whoâs the sap?
He cleared his throat. âLadies, please, come in.â
Eyebrows raised, Mrs. Singletary brushed past him and began a slow perusal of his office. Molly followed a step behind. Her floral scent hit him like a rough blow to the heart.
When he finally ventured to look into her face again, and she didnât quite meet his gaze, he felt a sense of validation. Though she hid her reaction behind a benign smile, Molly was nervous in his company. At least he wasnât alone in his struggle to remain indifferent.
Affecting a bland expression of his own, he edged around her and concentrated on the task of directing Mrs. Singletary to a chair facing his desk.
While he waited for her to settle, he watched Molly wander to the lone window in his office and look out. Her shoulders were unnaturally stiff. Garrett suspected he was the cause of her tension and that wrecked him. He wanted to go to her, to tease a laugh out of her like he had when they were children.
He no longer had that right.
Adopting a relaxed demeanor for this odd meeting, he sat on the edge of his desk in front of Mrs. Singletary. âTo what do I owe this unexpected honor?â
The widow set her reticule carefully on her lap and got straight to the point. âI have a mind to expand my business holdings into new areas and I want you to assist me.â
He blinked at the unprecedented request. Heâd met the widow only a few times, the most recent when sheâd been about to invest in a lumber operation and Reese had asked Garrett to review the final contract with her.
âI see I have shocked you.â She looked rather pleased at the prospect, proving her reputation as an unconventional woman with a penchant toward the outrageous.
âWhy not make this request of your own attorney?â
âReese will continue overseeing my legal matters, but I have decided that you, Mr. Mitchell, will assist me with the expansion of my fortune.â
By the satisfied expression on her face, she knew sheâd piqued his interest. This was just the sort of opportunity perfectly suited to his skills. âAgain, why me?â
âI should think that obvious. You were invaluable during my purchase of the lumberyard.â
âI merely did my job.â
âNo, Mr. Mitchell, you went far beyond the minimum. You have a remarkable mind for business, much like my Reginald.â At the mention of her late husband, she gave a wistful sigh. âI find myself growing bored of late. I want to take more risks.â
She had his attention. Although Garrett usually steered his clients into conservative investments when they solicited his advice, heâd taken considerable chances with his own finances, to very lucrative ends.
But to guide the firmâs wealthiest client down a similar path was another matter entirely. âHave you discussed this with Mr. Bennett directly?â
âI have.â She smoothed a steady, elegant hand over her skirt. âOnce I explained the particulars of my plan, he thought my seeking your assistance a splendid idea.â
Reese had said nothing to Garrett, not yet anyway. If he agreed to this, how much contact would he have with Molly? He glanced at her now and found her staring at him.
A muscle knotted in his chest.
Shifting his position, he addressed Mrs. Singletary and her very tempting offer. âWhat you are suggesting comes with certain dangers. You could lose a large amount of money.â
âI could also make a great deal more.â
A valid point. But why would a woman as wealthy as Beatrix Singletary need more money? When was enough, enough?
She answered his unspoken query with a relaxed smile. âWith the additional resources I will be able to expand my charitable giving. A few of my pet projects are in great need.â
Now she really had his attention. Garrett believed in doing good and being generous. To whom much is given, much is expected.
âDo we have a deal, Mr. Mitchell?â
He cleared his throat. âI need to discuss this with Mr. Bennett first.â
âIf you feel you must.â
âI must.â On this point, he would not relent. âAssuming all is in order, when would you like to begin?â
âImmediately.â Her eyes sparkled with a shrewd light. âI will expect you to be available to me on a regular basis.â
âI have other clients who require my time and attention...â
She brushed this aside with a flick of her wrist. âIâm confident you will find a way to satisfy their needs and mine.â
He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. âI intend for our partnership to be a success, Mr. Mitchell. As such, we must first get to know one another better. Agreed?â
He nodded. What she was suggesting would require a high level of trust between them, and that could only come with time.
âYou know my companion.â She indicated Molly with a hitch of her chin.
He glanced at Molly out of the corner of his eye. Sheâd retired to a seat by the window. She appeared serene, calm. Garrett knew better. He could feel the storm of emotion brewing beneath the surface. âMiss Scott and I are acquainted, yes.â
Molly stiffened at his dry tone, but said nothing.
âWell, then.â Mrs. Singletary rose and Garrett did the same. She moved through the room, idly touching random books on the shelving to her left, the stack of ledgers on her right. âSince you and Molly are...acquainted, I trust you have no objection to attending the opera with us this evening.â
Molly made a soft sound of protest in her throat, barely audible but Garrett had caught it. And so, it appeared, had her employer. âYou have a concern, my dear?â
âNo, Mrs. Singletary. In fact...â She blessed Garrett with a sweet, sweet smile, all politeness and easygoing manner. âI look forward to Mr. Mitchellâs company this evening.â
They both knew that wasnât true. But he adopted her same casual attitude and said, âIf Mr. Bennett has no objections, it will be my pleasure to attend the opera with you both.â
Mollyâs smile faltered. Garrettâs expanded.
âThen itâs settled,â the widow drawled, staring at him with that same shrewd expression as before. âI expect you to arrive at my home seven oâclock this evening.â
Finished issuing her command, she headed toward the door, but not before Garrett caught sight of her satisfied expression.
His eyes narrowed. Mrs. Singletary clearly had some secret scheme she was keeping to herself. Patient, wily in his own right, Garrett would discover what she was up to, eventually.
For now, he joined her in the middle of the room. âIs there anything else I can do for you this afternoon?â
âThat will be all.â Head high, she swept into the hallway.
Garrett followed at a more sedate pace. Working with the widow might be just the break he needed to prove he was more than that âother Mitchell boyâ or Fannyâs older brother. Ever since his sisterâs engagement to his boss, Garrett had worked twice as hard to prove heâd been hired for his legal mind alone.
Apparently, heâd done just that, as evidenced by Mrs. Singletaryâs stunning offer.
Back in their younger days, Molly had understood Garrettâs desire to make his own way in the world. Sheâd actually been the one to encourage him to pursue a career in the law. He remembered that now, and found himself softening toward her as he strolled back into his office.
When he drew alongside her and she climbed gracefully to her feet, he took her hand without hesitation. âUntil tonight,â he murmured.
âUntil tonight,â she repeated, then tugged on her hand.
Garrett held on tight. He wasnât ready to let her go.
Heâd never been truly ready to let her go.
