Marriage at Any Price

by Lauren Canan

  Ally was too emotionally exhausted to argue. But this was her home. Good or bad, it was where she needed to be. The house would need repairs, the cowboys deserved an explanation and she wouldn’t leave until all was seen to. But for tonight, a hotel sounded like heaven.

  “Let’s go.” She smiled up at Seth, and together they walked to his truck. His three security personnel would stay at the house in case Wayne had any associates.

  When they arrived at the hotel, Seth went inside to secure a room then returned to help Ally out of the truck. The room was just like the first one they had shared before they were married. Once they were settled, Ally headed for the shower, and to her surprise, Seth followed her in.

  “Hand me the shampoo,” he said, standing behind her. He took the small bottle and began to wash her hair, massaging her scalp, then moving his hands down over her shoulders. Ally bent her head as Seth worked the tight muscles in her neck and shoulders. At some point he poured soap in his hands and began to lather her arms and back then reached around to her breasts. She leaned against him as he massaged lower, between her legs. Shivers shot through her body. She turned around and took the soap from him.

  Pouring some in her hand, she began to lather his broad chest and arms. She turned him around and went to work on his back, loving the feel of his muscles as her hands slid over his hot skin. He turned toward her and guided her hands lower, to his erection. He was rock-hard. She rubbed the soap over his silken shaft, loving the feel of him.

  Seth pulled her to him under the spray of the shower and rinsed the soap from her hair and body. Ally stepped out, grabbing a towel while Seth finished washing himself off. Then he took her towel and helped her dry off.

  Before she could say anything, his mouth came down over hers. He tasted of spice and pure raw male. His hands cupped her face, and the kiss grew from compassionate to intensely compelling. He shifted his body so his bare chest was against her breasts, his erection pushing against her belly. His arms came around her waist. He slid his hands up her rib cage and massaged her breasts before finally giving due attention to the tips with his hot mouth. She couldn’t suppress a moan as her nipples hardened under his attention. She ran her arms up over his broad shoulders and raked her fingers through his thick, damp hair.

  She tipped back her head, allowing him to push her mouth farther open, giving him full access. They were now in their own private world. She met the intensity of his kiss with passion of her own, her nipples tightening with desire as she arched toward him. Flashes of pure heat coursed through her lower abdomen as she pulled him close.

  Seth scooped her into his arms and walked to the bed. With one tug he threw back the covers and placed her gently on the bed, following her down.

  “I’m so angry with you,” he whispered as his long, muscled leg covered hers. He kissed her neck, taking nips along the way to her breasts. “You did a very stupid thing.” He placed his mouth over one breast and gently began to suck. With his hand he cupped her other breast and began to massage her.

  “No, I didn’t,” she responded between kisses. “Removing you from a situation that had nothing to do with you and could have gotten you killed was not a stupid thing to do.”

  Seth moved so his body was fully on top of her, his erection finding the core of her desire.

  “Trying to take on a violent felon single-handed was.” His lips again took hers. “You’re a wild lady, Ally Masters,” he said against her lips. His voice was so deep and sexy.

  She didn’t want to talk any more. She wanted Seth. Every glorious inch of him. She wanted to love him and rejoice in the knowledge that he was here with her. Maybe not for much longer, but she wouldn’t think about that now.

  Then he pushed inside her and the world outside the sphere of magic that surrounded them ceased to exist.

  * * *

  The next morning, once they’d made their statements to the police, it was time to return to Ally’s ranch and figure out what their next step would be. As they drove up to the house, they saw three of the ranch hands out front waiting for them to arrive. While Ally went inside to assess the damage from last night, Seth approached the group of men to see if there were any updates on the hand who’d been shot.

  “It was just a flesh wound,” Tom said. “He was lucky. We found the gun Wayne used in the shooting and turned it over to the police.”

  “That’s great news. I’d wager Wayne Burris is going back to prison for a long time. But I can’t apologize enough that you had to become involved with this.”

  “Heck, no problem here. Had we known what was coming down, we might have been able to help. We’re glad you and Mrs. Ally are okay.”

  “Thanks again, guys.” Seth offered his hand to each one. “I’d better get to the house.”

  He found Ally in the kitchen, muttering over the broken back door. Then she started straightening the chairs Wayne had kicked over. Seth followed her into the den, where he helped her set up the chairs there.

  He was still amazed that this tiny woman had taken on someone like Wayne Burris and gotten the better of him.

  “The cowboys found the gun out by the barn. I assume you threw it out there?”

  “I didn’t want him to find it and use it on anyone else. I had the chance to grab it when he was knocked out, so I took it.” She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Seth, all of this was my fault. I am so sorry I got you involved.”

  “It isn’t your fault, Ally. How can you possibly say that?”

  “Because it’s true. I made the wrong decision to ever let Wayne into my life. Granted, I never intended to get you involved, but nonetheless, I did.” She walked back to the kitchen. “This is going to require a new door. I’ll call a friend of mine and see if he has time to pick one up at the hardware store.” She stared at the opening. “I guess, now that things have settled, you’ll be on your way back to California.”

  Seth didn’t move. He didn’t want to go back. He wanted to stay right here with Ally but she seemed to be pushing him away again. Was that what she wanted—for him to leave for good this time?

  “Ally, I need to know if you want me to leave, like permanently. And I need to know why.”

  She drew in a deep breath and turned to him with tears in her eyes. “This is my world. Cows and cowboys. Horses, rodeos and people who talk funny. We don’t do social events, wear evening gowns, or know the meaning of words like posh. We don’t travel in jets or live in penthouses.”

  “Ally—”

  “You would be bored. And embarrassed to present me to your friends. We are from two different cultures that weren’t meant to mix. And if someday we had kids, what then? We just wouldn’t work.”

  “I see your point,” he said finally. “And I think it’s a load of bull. I love you, Ally. I don’t know what that means to you but it means a hell of a lot to me. We would work by taking it one step at a time. By fighting for what we want. By showing our determination to be together.”

  “You don’t understand,” she cried.

  “I understand more than you know. I wish to hell you did.” He paused and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “I guess I’d better head to the airport. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

  “I’ll be fine. This door is the only thing that needs repair. Plus, I have two new horses in for training with more expected, so I’ll stay busy.” Her eyes welled with tears, and she quickly turned away.

  “Ally, come with me.”

  “I can’t.” She brushed the tears from her eyes and faced him. “You have your world and I have mine. We knew from the beginning this marriage or whatever it was wouldn’t last. It turned out well for both of us. I really do appreciate getting my ranch back, and I’m enormously happy for you. That research center will save a lot of lives. We both know we live in two different worlds. I’m not a socialite by any means, and while you’re pretty good with a hors
e, you’re a city dude. You always will be.”

  Seth pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He could taste the salt of her tears. Ally would never admit she was wrong about him. Their worlds weren’t so different that they couldn’t bridge the gap. She might trust him, but she would never tear down that wall. He slowly backed away. Her eyes were closed, her face raised to his. Her refined features had never looked more beautiful. One tear slipped down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb.

  It was an impossible situation.

  “Take care of yourself,” he said.

  “You too.” She forced a smile.

  Knowing there was nothing else to say, Seth turned away and walked toward the front door and the truck that waited outside. He pulled out onto the white rock road and turned toward the airport.

  Less than a mile down the road, he stopped the truck. Dammit, he didn’t want to leave. Specifically, he didn’t want to leave Ally. He had been shown what it meant to have a wife that was honest and loyal. Being here these past few months with Ally, and getting to know his brothers and their wives and children, had shown him the truth about caring for someone and knowing they care for you. He was a part of something, a family, for the first time in his life, and he wanted it desperately. His work and all he’d accomplished in the past seemed insignificant in comparison. He’d always been a loner, never spending very much time in the same place, but suddenly, he needed a home and, even more, someone to share it. There was only one person who could make it happen. He had to make her listen. He had to convince her.

  He turned the truck around and headed back to the ranch. When he hurried into the house, Ally was nowhere to be found. He raced for the barn. She was there, sitting on a bale of hay, crying.

  “Hey, you’re going to ruin that hay with all those tears.”

  Surprised, she took a deep breath and brushed the tears from her face as she stood from the bale.

  “What are you doing here?” Her voice was hoarse.

  “I live here. That is, if you’ll let me.”

  Ally opened her mouth as if to say something but instead shook her head.

  Seth approached her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

  “Things that might have once seemed impossible can happen, Ally. I’m in love with you,” he said, lifting one hand to stroke her hair from her face. “I didn’t expect it to happen, but it did. I want you to marry me for real and have my babies and be with me the rest of my life. I don’t care if it’s here or in California or anywhere else in this world as long as you’re there. You are my home. You are my world. If you’ll give me a chance, I know we can make it work.”

  He stepped back and raised her face to his. “How about it? Are you up for a challenge?”

  “Are you sure, Seth? Are you sure I’m what you want?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

  Her tears began to roll down her face. “Then, yes,” she whispered. “Oh, yes.” He held her close while he kissed her, over and over, cupping her face, unable to get close enough.

  “I love you, Seth Masters,” she murmured against his fevered lips. Then she whispered, “Welcome home.”

  * * *

  Don’t miss a single story

  in the Masters of Texas series

  by Lauren Canan

  Redeeming the Billionaire SEAL

  One Night with the Texan

  Stranger in His Bed

  Marriage at Any Price

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  Texan for the Taking

  by Charlene Sands

  One

  Of course he had to be here.

  Mason Boone.

  Drea MacDonald had avoided him all these years, but there was no hope for it now. She had to deal with him on a strictly professional level. She liked to think she’d moved beyond what had happened, had moved way beyond him, but how could that be? Something that profound in her life, something that had scarred her so permanently, wasn’t easily forgotten.

  Mason pressed his tall frame against the back wall of the hospital conference room, arms folded, watching her through intense coal-black eyes. She couldn’t ignore him. He was a presence in the room; a tall, dreadfully handsome man, dressed impeccably in a dark suit, who commanded respect and exuded confidence.

  As a young girl, all those traits had lured her in. But he’d rejected her without a second thought.

  Her best bet would be to treat him with indifference, to give him a nod and get on with her business. He didn’t have to know the pain he’d caused her. He didn’t have to see the hurt look in her eyes or the flush of her skin. It would take an award-winning performance, but she was up to the task. After all, she’d imagined this moment in her head fifty times, if not more.

  Her heart sat heavy in her chest because she wasn’t the only one who had lost something precious. She wasn’t the only one who’d been deeply scarred. Mason had, too. He’d lost his wife and unborn child nearly two years ago. His loss and grief only contributed to the tremendous guilt she felt for disliking him so. He had the town’s support. Everyone was sympathetic to his loss. It was hard to hate a guy everyone else rallied around. Guilt ate away at her even though she had every right to hold a grudge.

  She stood at the head of the conference table, just finishing up her presentation. “And thanks to the generosity of Mason Boone and his family,” she said, grinding her teeth as she gave him praise, “we’ll hold our multifaceted weekend fund-raiser at Rising Springs Ranch. Our goal, two million dollars.”

  The doctors, hospital administrators and committee members overseeing the fund-raiser gazed at each other, raising skeptical brows. It was a tall order, true, but she had always banked her reputation on fulfilling her goals. And this part of Texas was rich with donors of cold hard cash.

  “It’s doable,” said an assured voice from the back of the room.

  All heads swiveled to Mason Boone. His family had founded the Texas town of Boone Springs decades ago, and the hospital had recently changed names from County Memorial to Boone County Memorial. The Boone family and their kin practically owned the entire town. Well, they owned the best parts, so when a Boone spoke, people listened.

  “It’s very doable, if we’re smart,” Drea persisted, again avoiding Mason’s dark eyes. “
And I intend to be...very smart.”

  “Thatta girl,” gray-haired Dr. Keystone said. “We trust you, Andrea. You’re one of our own.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate your support. Together, we’ll make this work.”

  She smiled, feeling powerful in her black suit and three-inch cherry-red heels. She wore her long, dark cocoa hair up in a sleek, practical style. She meant business.

  Landing this job at the hospital served many purposes. Nailing it would all but guarantee her promotion to vice president at Solutions Inc., the consulting and events planning firm she worked for in New York. But more importantly, she wanted to help the community where she’d grown up by raising funds for a much-needed cardiac wing, to honor her mother, who’d died of heart failure. And she also wanted to reconnect with her ailing father. Unfortunately, that meant living in the cottage the Boones had gifted Drew MacDonald after practically stealing Thundering Hills Ranch out from under him. Her father’s acceptance of the living arrangements irritated her to this day. How could he be okay with their charity, while Drea’s life had been snatched right out from under her as a young girl when the Boones took over Thundering Hills? She’d lost her home, too, but her father hadn’t seemed to notice how much that had disrupted her life.

  After the meeting, as Drea collected her papers, carefully placing them in her briefcase, she heard footsteps approaching and held her breath.

  “Nice job, Drea.”

  That deep confident voice unsettled her. The timbre, the tone, the way Mason said her name—memories came rushing back, tilting her world upside down. God. Why was he heading this committee? Deep in her belly, she knew. He’d lost his pregnant wife to heart disease. Drea couldn’t really fault him for wanting to be involved; she had similar reasons for being here. Yet, even knowing the pain he’d recently endured, seeing him in the flesh for the first time in years curdled her stomach. She resented the Boones, but him most of all.

  Mason stood facing her, his eyes boring in, and finally, because she felt defiant and fearless, she stared back and gave him her best aloof smile. “Thank you.”