Charles gave her a smile and corrected her. “Billions, though possibly trillions in your US currency, and a noble title.”
All those reasons were why a man like him would never, ever, ever want to marry her. Sandi was the epitome of awkward. And he wasn’t looking to cut a deal on something she had in her warehouse. She braced both bunny feet on the floor, but her soles slid slightly forward. He'd said he had a couple of reasons but had only mentioned one. “So why did you agree?”
The curve of his cheeks showed off a dimple, no…two. He was like a handsome Roman gladiator of old. “Agree to marry a bunny?”
A joke. Great. Soon he’d laugh at her, and he had no idea how that had been the story of her life.
She'd wanted to make good choices, but her last boyfriend decided work was more important than her. Of course he was a doctor who saved people so that was probably the right choice.
“Yes.”
Charles sat in his chair like a natural-born king, which made sense with the title he’d just mentioned. He said, “I didn’t know you were a bunny.”
In his posh French-like accent, at least jokes about her sounded funnier. Perhaps it was the dry delivery, but either way she relaxed her shoulders, just a bit, and asked, “And?”
He scooted closer and their legs barely touched but a spark rushed in her veins. “And… having an American wife means that customers trust me more so I can take over the US market.”
Yet no one she knew actually looked up who owned what product they bought. Everything was digital, and at most they checked reviews. If it was food, and supposed to be organic, most talked to friends for recommendations. He wanted an American wife to help him sell his products? “That’s it?”
“Pretty much.” He nodded like what he said made sense when it so didn't.
Because of how he made her feel, though she wouldn't act on it, she’d offer him some free advice. She reached for his hands, but dropped them fast the moment the charge hit her. “Look, the consumer really only cares if they like your product, and the price…I’m not the best at making business decisions.”
He took her hands like her dropping his was an accident to be fixed. “My market research says otherwise.”
Did he not feel the sparks? Seriously? Her entire body was alive and she squirmed on her chair. “Well, you know you best. You're from Avce, yet you speak English with just a slight French accent--how come?”
“I went to school in Paris.” He let her hands go.
The loss of his touch was like she'd been taken off an IV and now had to fend for herself. She caressed her hand as if she might recreate that sense of him. “Of course you did.”
His brown eyes seemed warmer as he inched his chair closer. “Now can I go to dinner?”
She shook her head. Her face heated and it wasn’t from his good looks or her own stupidity of how she'd handled today. For five years now her parents had been making adjustments to their lifestyle so that no one knew anything was off with their finances.
Her mother stopped upgrading the car. Her father started fixing things around the mansion himself like he knew how to sparkle a wall. The fact she knew that the word "sparkle" did not mean glitter for paint meant she'd pitched in.
But she had limits. Like, marriage.
Them gifting her a vacation to Paris should have been a clue that they were up to something. She sighed and decided it was time to tell Charles the truth. “I can’t let you cancel the deal with my parents.”
His eyes widened but he pressed his hand on her palm, igniting her from the inside. “I told you my need, and time is of the essence. I turn thirty-one soon and according to the rules of my country, I must find a bride or forfeit my inheritance…Normally, the law is by age thirty, but since I just discovered my bloodline, I've been granted an extension.”
Sandi couldn't ruin her parents' business plans, but she refused to simply sell her life to the highest bidder.
She traced his thumb. “How about this… I’ll find you an acceptable alternative to me, someone who wants to marry a noble lord and trillionaire, in exchange for you keeping the contract? This way we all get what we want.”
He scooted closer and for a brief second she thought he’d pull her on his lap and kiss her senseless.
But only men in movies, proving their love to the heroine, did that.
If not love, then sex, because the lady was a beautiful creature and irresistible.
Charles wasn’t in love, or lust, with her…so he didn’t grab, touch, or taste her. He just barely touched her fingers as he said, “I have a business to run and don’t have time for dating--I want to be married in thirty days.”
“Then my deal is perfect for you.” She would hopefully find him someone he’d like to lose control with as he seemed altogether too intense.
Actually finding a guy who wanted to lose control with her would be good for her too.
Anything other than the boring, backyard neighborhood barbecues where every week someone else she knew announced their engagement and bought their own starter homes, while she still lived in her parents' house, in the same room she’d had since birth.
He stood and she offered to shake his hand though he said, “It sounds like a waste of time.”
This time she ignored the desire that raced up her arm because being with Charles wasn’t ever going to happen. Business mattered more. She nodded convincingly and said, “I’ll get the women in groups according to what you're looking for, and set up casual meetings. You can pick from that selection.”
He glanced down at her and asked, “Will you be in this costume the entire time?”
She’d pack away her bunny outfit for another hospital visit back home in Denver. She straightened a droopy ear. “No. I’ll… be more circumspect.”
He pivoted like he’d leave but then nodded and turned back toward her. “Tell you what--I’ll give you a forty-eight hour window where we’ll test your matchmaking skills. I’ll be attending a fundraiser for the Arabian horses care here, in Paris. My secretary will give you the address. Bring yourself and five other women.”
Find five stunning women, strangers to her, in a foreign country. Right. This was a test, but she didn’t blink. She would have her shot to make sure she only married who she chose if she found Charles a wife. “Consider it done, Charles.”
He headed to the door and paused at the threshold. She joined him as he said, “If you find me an alternative wife in thirty days, the contract with your parents still stands.”
From the front desk, the thin-lipped woman's eyes widened like she'd heard their conversation and was interested.
Maybe she'd be the first of five.
Sandi needed to ignore how her stomach twisted at the idea of the pretty woman near Charles. “Then I’ll see you again soon.”
“Goodbye, Miss Smith.” He headed down the hall, leaving her in his office.
She watched until he was out of sight, then she collapsed against his desk.
Today she'd go back to her hotel, lose the bunny outfit, and somehow find five women for Charles to choose from.
She’d fight for her freedom. She had to.
Order Forbidden Bastard Now!
Also by Victoria Pinder
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Secret Romeo
Secret Caress
Secret Match
Secret Bridesmaid
Secret Admirer
Secret Cowboy
Secret Mistress
Secret Cinderella
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 7-9
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 10-12
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 13-15
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Monsieur
Forbidden Marquis
Forbidden Count
Forbidden King
Forbidden Bastard
Forbidden Noble
Forbidden Lord
Princes of Avce 1-3
Princes of Avce 4-6
Princes of Avce 7-9
Steel Series
Legendary Rock Star
Rocking Player
Ruthless Financier
Wicked Cowboy
Powerful Prince
Cocky M.D.
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
Hawke Series
* * *
Brothers in Revenge
Irresistibly Lost
Irresistibly Found
Irresistibly Charming
Irresistibly Tough
Irresistibly Played
Irresistibly Rugged
Irresistibly Strong
Irresistibly Dashing
Irresistibly Boxed Set 3-5
Irresistibly Boxed Set 4-6
* * *
Hidden Alphas
Hidden Gabriel
Hidden Raphael
Hidden Michael
Hidden Dane
Hidden Rocco
Hidden Alphas Boxed Set
* * *
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Crush
Favorite Mistake
Favorite Sin
Favorite Scandal
* * *
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Gerard
Liam
Eric
* * *
Then if you also like
Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance
Hidden Dragon Series
Call of the Dragon
Dawn of the Dragon
Escape of the Dragon (Coming Soon)
The Queen Gene
Whispers of a Throne
Storm of the Throne (coming soon)
Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
The Zoastra Affair
Ancient Greek Heroes
Romancing Theseus
Mything the Throne
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
Visit my website and download a free novel
www.victoriapinder.com
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