A BOUGHT BRIDE
by
AGNES ALEXANDER
WHISKEY CREEK PRESS
www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Published by
WHISKEY CREEK PRESS
Whiskey Creek Press
PO Box 51052
Casper, WY 82605-1052
www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Copyright © 2014 by Agnes Alexander
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-63355-765-9
Cover Artist: Molly Courtright
Editor: Melanie Billings
Printed in the United States of America
Dedication
For my special Taynard Court friends: Danny, Karol, Marilyn, and in memory of Debbie. I miss you folks more than you can know.
Chapter 1
Quinton Kincade stared at Attorney John Von Cannon, the man who had been his best friend since they met in college. The lawyer finished reading the will and looked at the disbelief and anger that filled Quinton’s dark eyes—filled his entire countenance. “How the hell could he do this to me, John?”
“I know it’s a hard thing to accept, but he was adamant. If you want to inherit the business you’re going to have to abide by the stipulations he put in his will.”
“But to demand I marry a woman with the qualities he listed as the only ones that are acceptable is ludicrous.” Quinton’s voice grew louder.
“I know it is, but you know how eccentric your father always was. Ever since your first wife died and you married and divorced Eloise, he’s wanted you to settle down with the right kind of woman. Because you haven’t done so on your own, I guess he decided to do it for you.”
Quinton ran his long fingers through his dark hair which was graying evenly all over. “What if I refuse to do what he asked?”
“Then it looks like you’ll forfeit control of the Kincade Department Store chain and your brother will take over.”
“All of the stores?”
“Yes, all of them.”
Quinton shook his head. “The old bastard has always been determined to control me. Now he’s doing it even from the grave. He knew I’d never let Gordon get his hands on those stores. I love my brother, but Gordon would run them into bankruptcy in no time.”
“He’s a great guy, but he’s sure not the business man you are.”
“If you can’t get me out of this mess, I’ll have no alternative but to find a wife, John. There’s no way I’ll give up control of my stores.”
“I figured you’d say that. With millions of dollars involved, I wouldn’t give up control either.” John Von Cannon looked at the man who was now his most prosperous client. Pushing back his stylish wire- rimmed glasses, his voice sounded filled with regret. “I tried everything I could think of to get you out of this, but I just can’t do it. The will is unbreakable.”
Quinton sat back in his chair. He looked defeated. “Then, I guess I have no choice.”
“How do you plan to find a suitable woman and marry her in four months?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll think of something.” He pulled his long frame from the green wing-back chair and stretched his full six feet and two inches. “Of course, I loved the old cuss, but I never did understand him. I thought he was pleased with the way things had gone since his stroke--and that was ten years ago.”
“He was, Quinton. He often said you were a smart businessman. I don’t think he made these demands because of the way you run things. I’m sure it was because he thought you needed a more stable home life, and to him marriage to the right woman meant stable.” John looked up at his friend. “Why don’t you sit down? We’ll have a drink and try to start figuring this out?”
“I knew he didn’t approve of my choices of companions and didn’t want me to bring the women I was dating to the house. I honored his wishes and kept them away from the estate. Of course, I never intended to marry any of them. You know how it is with me. Women are only a pastime and that’s all they’ll ever be.” Quinton sat down again. “Got any bourbon?”
John moved to his liquor cabinet and took a bottle of bourbon and two crystal glasses. “Yes, I well know how you feel about the fair sex. You haven’t made a secret of it.”
“Then why the hell couldn’t my father accept that I’m a happy middle-aged man who likes to have sex with no strings attached?” He took the glass John held out. “Why did he think I needed marriage to make me happy?”
“Maybe because he thought if he didn’t control who you married you’d end up with another woman like Eloise.” John returned to his leather chair behind his desk.
“I have to admit I was lucky to get out of that one as well as I did.”
“Yeah, you were. It could’ve ended up costing you more than the million bucks she settled for.” John took a swallow of his drink. “Then a few weeks ago you do something stupid like showing up with that Vegas hooker. I don’t think that made your father happy.”
“I have no idea how he found out about Maddie. She was here only a couple of weeks before he died.”
“You and I both know your father had a way of finding out things, even from his sick bed.”
“Now I almost wish I’d married Maddie, even if she is a prostitute and twenty-five years younger than me. That would’ve given the old man a start.”
“I’m sure it would have, and I’m sure it would have cost you your stores.”
“You’re probably right.”
John looked serious. “You don’t plan to marry the whore now, do you, Quinton?”
“Of course not. I’ll pay her off and get rid of her when I get tired of her. I only brought her home because she begged me. She was a lot of fun in Vegas and I guess I wanted to extend the good time for a while.”
“I’m glad to hear it’s not serious. You know it wouldn’t do your business any good if it got out you were keeping a woman like that in an apartment. Nobody likes to know that a working prostitute has snagged a rich playboy.” John looked directly at Quinton. “Do you think she might give you trouble? She may have expected things between the two of you to end in marriage.”
“All women expect marriage, John. I’m used to it. Every single woman, and some of the married ones I sleep with, manages to get the conversation around to a walk down the aisle. Hell, until this came up, I didn’t intend to ever get married again no matter how many women I give the impression I might change my mind. I’m forty-five years old and the young girls chase me like I’m still a twenty-five year old stud. I know it’s because of my money, but I like the attention and the sex. And until today I had no intention of messing up a good thing by taking on a wife.” He took a drink.
“What are you going to tell Maddie when you find the right kind of woman to be the next Mrs. Kincade?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll think of something. I doubt she’ll walk out on me. She likes the condo and the gifts I give her, and to be honest, I still want to keep her around for a while. That young woman knows how to please a man.”
; “I figure that’s what she’s paid to do.”
Quinton chuckled. “That’s sure what I’m paying her for.”
“If you get tired of her, I could take her off your hands. I got rid of the fashion model ‘wanna be’ a few months ago. I’ve been kind of footloose since then. Nothing but one night stands and my duty to my wife now and then.”
“Maybe I’ll pass Maddie on to you soon, but not yet.”
“So you intend to keep her as a mistress when you get married?”
“Why shouldn’t I? She has nothing to do with this. I consider it a separate matter altogether.” He downed the rest of the bourbon and sat the glass on the corner of John’s desk. “In the meantime, to keep my stores, I’ll work out a plan to find the kind of wife my father envisioned for me.”
“I’ll do whatever I can. You know I’m here to help.”
“Of course. I’m not about to let anyone else know what my father did to me. The tabloids would have a field day.”
“Then we’ll set it up so nobody knows about the search for the new Mrs. Quinton Kincade, III. I’ll start the rumor that you have a secret love. That’ll be so unexpected people will start spreading the gossip right away. I’ll think about this then we’ll meet again in a few days to see what we can work out.”
“Sounds good.” Quinton stood.
John came around his desk and opened the door. “In the meantime, you think on it, too.”
“I’ll do that.” Quinton stepped into the reception area as the door closed behind him. He glanced at the secretary and couldn’t hold back a crooked smile. She wouldn’t be right. She was pushing retirement age, too far from the perimeters the elder Kincade had set for the age of the next Mrs. Kincade.
* * * *
Maddie’s green eyes filled with tears as she snuggled her naked size eight curvaceous body close to Quinton’s long lean one. “How can you make love to me then tell me you’re going to marry another woman? I thought I was going to be Mrs. Kincade.”
“You know I’ve made no secret of the fact that you and I are as close to marriage as we’ll ever be.”
“But I had dreams about us. I wanted to walk into your country club with you and let your friends see I was more to you than a good roll in the bed. I even bragged to my girlfriends back in Vegas. They said you’d never marry me, but I told them I knew you would.”
“I guess you should have listened to your girlfriends. I’m not the marrying kind.”
She ran her hand over his chest. “Then why do you want to marry her?”
“I told you I’ve been seeing her for a while and she’s the refined kind of lady who’ll fit in well with my friends.”
“I could’ve learned to fit in. I know some of your friends have young wives.”
“Age has nothing to do with it, Maddie. I need a wife with a good reputation.”
“What’s wrong with my reputation?”
“Honey, your reputation is fine for what you do. But you know I told you in Vegas that I could never marry you. Accept it.”
She sniffed and said, “I don’t want to accept it.”
“You have no choice, baby. But just because I’m getting married doesn’t mean you and I have to change anything. I’ll still visit you and buy you pretty things. What would you like for me to get you tomorrow?”
“I saw a diamond bracelet I liked.”
“Have it delivered and the bill sent to me.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “Now let’s forget about my marriage. It’s not long before I’ll be going home.”
She slipped her arms around him. “Why do you have to marry somebody like her? She’s too old for you. You know you need a young woman like me to keep you satisfied. I wouldn’t mind when people called me your trophy wife.”
“You and I both know it’d never work.” His hand cupped her well-enhanced breast. Breasts he couldn’t help wondering who paid for. He knew Maddie was a highly-paid prostitute, but for some reason she didn’t have a lot of money. He wondered if it was poor management or was she on some of the expensive drugs prostitutes often used.
Her voice whined into his thoughts. “But I don’t want to lose you. I love you, Quinton.”
He shook the thoughts about drugs away and said, “I told you, things can be the way it has been. I don’t intend to give you up. I like what you do for me.” He began to trail kisses down her neck and across her shoulders, landing on her breasts.
Maddie moaned and moved her hands to his hips, pulling him closer to her. Through a gasp, she whispered, “Why didn’t you marry me before we left Las Vegas?”
“It’s too late to think of that now.”
In seconds they were in the throes of passion. Quinton knew it could get no better than this. She had such a sweet young shapely body and she satisfied his every need. What did it matter that she was two years younger than his daughter, Pamela? Until he tired of Maddie, he had no intention of denying himself the pleasure of this woman. He didn’t care who he had to marry to save his company, it wasn’t going to interfere with these encounters. Even if his new wife was a diversion for a while, it could never be as fulfilling as this. A wife who, according to the will, had to be no more than five years younger or three years older than he. This meant she had to be between forty and forty-eight. A woman of that age would never be able to compete with a hottie like Maddie.
Chapter 2
Jillian Lockland wondered for two days if she should answer the newspaper ad for a mature individual looking for a unique career, but she was getting desperate. Her ex-husband, Roman Lockland, a shrewd businessman, left her almost destitute after the divorce. She had to find a better job than working in the boutique her friend Fran Palmer owned. Though Fran gave her as many hours as she could, this minimum wage, part-time job wasn’t bringing in enough to meet her bills, much less keep up the payments to the rest home where her aunt was lingering with Alzheimer’s. Jillian had maxed out her credit cards and was getting deeper into debt every day. She wondered if the smart thing to do was to go back to school and renew her teaching certificate, but being practical, she knew that was impossible at this stage. She’d been out of the profession for almost twenty years—the eighteen years she’d been married to Roman and the two she’d been divorced. Realistically, she knew if she went back to school now she’d be on the street or living in her car in a few months. It would take at least a year if not longer to get the classes required to renew her certificate.
That’s why the strange ad jumped at her from the Sunday newspaper. When she read it a second time, she became more intrigued, but decided right away it probably wouldn’t be anything she’d be qualified for. Yet, she picked up the paper and read it again and again.
Unique Position for Mature Applicants
No experience necessary.
Must be willing to relocate.
Generous Salary.
Minimum Requirement: BA or higher in any field of study.
Must fill position immediately
She still probably wouldn’t have considered answering the ad if it hadn’t been for Mrs. Miller. The woman was a good customer at the boutique, but she expected royal treatment, and on Tuesday she demanded it from Jillian. She came in near closing time and wanted to exchange the expensive purchase she’d made a month earlier. Jillian tried to tell her how lovely the dress looked on her, but she wouldn’t hear it. She wanted to exchange it. There was nothing Jillian could do, but take the dress back, though she knew the old lady was lying about not having worn it.
When she finally was able to leave the store, twenty minutes late, Jillian stayed upset all the way home. She grabbed a glass of iced tea from the refrigerator and took a seat at the small second hand dinette table in the corner. Trying to calm herself, she picked up the paper and read the ad again. As all the other readings, the first line grabbed her, but she wasn’t sure she wanted anything unique in her life right now. She’d gone through a divorce. That was probably all the unique she needed.
But the no “
experience necessary” line really hit home. Roman hadn’t wanted her to work when they were married so she gave up her teaching job and settled in to become a nice quiet housewife. “And look, where it got me,” she mumbled as she continued to read.
She liked the idea of relocating. She had nothing to keep her in Greensboro. She had no children and in the two years since the divorce most of her so called friends had drifted to Roman and his new wife. Fran was the only one who seemed to care and she was busy with her own family. That left only Aunt Estelle and the poor woman hadn’t known herself, much less her niece, for a long time.
“Generous salary” would be wonderful. She needed money. Life was hard and getting harder every day. As far as the BA degree was concerned, hers was in education, but it said it could be in anything.
And the “must be filled immediately” line sounded good. If she could get a good paying job, maybe she’d be able to get out of debt before she reached the age of eighty.
The confrontation with Mrs. Miller and this last reading of the ad pushed Jillian over the edge. Without debating the decision, she took one of her typed resumes from the drawer in the table and headed out the door. She drove two blocks to the office supply store and faxed it to the number listed under the ad. The minute it was gone, she wished she hadn’t sent it, but it was too late now. On the way home she hoped it got lost somewhere in the cosmos so she’d never hear from them.
* * * *
The next day Jillian received a phone call. The man was pleasant and professional. She answered a few non-personal questions and was then asked to come in for a personal interview. When she explained she had to work the next morning, they made the appointment for the afternoon and gave her a number to present to the interviewer on her arrival.
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