The Temporary Mrs. King Read Free Page B

“he’s getting older now and worrying about leaving me alone. I’ve told him that I’ll be fine, but he comes from a generation that believed in taking care of women. I’m his only family and he wants to protect me.” She gave him a long look. “You come from a big family and you’re very close to your brothers. That’s another reason why I’m coming to you with this plan. You understand family loyalties.”
    â€œI do,” he admitted with a nod. “In fact, that’s the one part of this whole thing that I totally get. I understand your grandfather’s motivations. What I can’t figure out is why you’re willing to play along with his plans.”
    She smoothed her palms over the skirt of her cream-colored tank dress and tugged at the hem, but couldn’t get it to reach the tops of her knees. “Because I love him. I don’t want him to be worried…”
    â€œâ€¦ And ?”
    He was right, there was more. Quite a bit more.
    â€œAnd, once I’m married, as I said, I’ll come into my trust fund.”
    â€œAh,” he said, with a small smile. “And by marrying me, you don’t have to worry about your new hubby making off with your money.”
    â€œExactly.” She returned that smile and felt a bit of hernerves slide away. He was surprisingly easy to talk to once you got past the weirdness of the conversation.
    â€œAnd again, how long would this marriage last?”
    â€œI think two months should do it,” she said, warming to her subject now that they were talking specifics. She had been working on this plan for weeks now and in her mind, at least, it all worked out perfectly. And so far so good. Sean King was still sitting opposite her. He hadn’t said yes, yet . But, he hadn’t walked out and he hadn’t said no—precisely. “It’s long enough that my grandfather would be convinced we at least tried to make it work.”
    â€œAnd once our marriage ‘fails,’ you think he’d stop trying to marry you off?”
    â€œI think so,” she said, chewing at her bottom lip as she considered it. “I hope so,” she corrected after a minute or two. “But basically I’m tired of fending off men trying to buy my grandfather’s goodwill. Besides, this is my only chance to get my trust fund my way. Well, mostly my way. I’ll still be married, like Grandfather wants, but it will be a husband I choose and the kind of marriage I want.”
    He shifted in his chair and the breeze ruffled his black hair, lifting it off his forehead. He was still listening, so Melinda hurried on.
    â€œLike I said earlier, if you agree, we’ll get married and stay married for two months. I’ll get my trust fund. You’ll get your land. And then we’ll both get a divorce.”
    The waiter showed up just then, so whatever Sean might have said would have to wait. Impatient now, sensing that just maybe he was beginning to come around, it seemed to take forever for them to order their meal. Finally, though, it was done, and they were alone again.
    â€œSo?” she asked. “What do you think?”
    That was easily enough answered. Sean was still fairly sure she needed medication.
    And yet…He draped one arm over the back of his chair and studied her.
    Warm night, cold wine and a beautiful woman sitting across the table from him. In Sean’s world, that sounded just about perfect. His gaze swept up and down Melinda Stanford, from the thick black waves of her hair to the blue-green stones glittering at her ears to the dip in the neckline of her dress, to the shine of her manicured nails. She was gorgeous. No doubt. But she was also complicated. And maybe crazy.
    Still. Didn’t mean he couldn’t consider her proposal. In fact, he’d spent the last few hours doing just that.
    Her grandfather, Walter Stanford, had shut down every deal the Kings had