Bachelor's Bought Bride

by Jennifer Lewis

  Now they officially lived together.

  “Do you realize I never had the opportunity to live in sin?” She poked him gently with her finger as they lay in his bed, after their first night in their temporary home.

  “I’m so sorry to have deprived you. I’m sure we can come up with some other sins to indulge in.”

  “Isn’t it odd how nonchalant my dad was about the whole thing? He didn’t seem at all surprised when I told him we were getting married. He must really like you. He hasn’t introduced me to a man in a long time.”

  “He knows a good son-in-law when he sees one.” Gavin’s gray eyes twinkled.

  “It’s particularly amazing that he didn’t mind us running off to Sausalito to get married without any big fanfare. He’s usually such a snob about how things are done.”

  “Maybe he’s just glad to see you happily settled.” Gavin twirled a lock of her hair.

  “I suppose so. Maybe it’s a weight off his mind that I won’t be a bitter spinster living in the garret of his house for the rest of his life.” She grinned. “I much prefer being a happily married woman.”

  “Well, your happily married husband needs to get to work.” Gavin eased away from her. Already her skin buzzed with protest, missing the contact with his.

  “I’m not sure I can stand to be away from you all day.” She pouted and pulled the sheets over her.

  “We could meet for lunch.” Gavin climbed out of bed and strode across the room, all toned muscle and easy grace. “That might be enough to prevent withdrawal from setting in.”

  “No. I’ll be stoic.” Bree tossed her head against the pillow dramatically. “I know your work is important to you and I don’t want to be a distraction. Which of your big accounts are you working on today?”

  An odd expression flickered across Gavin’s face as he reached for his shirt. “Hmm. Not sure. All thoughts of Maddox Communications have fled my mind.”

  “You’d better hunt them down before Brock Maddox realizes. I’m glad I’ve met all the people you work with. Now, when you tell me about your day, I’ll know exactly who you mean.”

  “Yeah.” Gavin seemed distracted. Probably getting his head back into business after their weekend of sensual escape. She wasn’t going to be the kind of wife who demanded her husband’s full attention twenty-four hours a day. She intended to be supportive and practical, and make sure she focused on her own business, as well.

  A long, happy sigh escaped her lips. “I think I’ll spend the day photographing couples.” She shot him a smile. “They’ve always been my favorite subject. Now that I’m one half of a couple, I’m even more excited about capturing the glow they share.”

  “Do they usually say yes when you ask?”

  Bree thought for a moment. “Yes. The happy ones do. It’s the unhappy ones who don’t want their picture taken and recorded for all time.”

  “Then I hope you meet a lot of happy couples today.”

  “None of them will be as happy as me, that’s for sure.”

  Bree sank back into the sheets after Gavin kissed her goodbye and left for work. Maybe after strolling the streets with her camera for a couple of hours, she’d head over to the lab to do some printing. There, in the dark, she could have a silly grin on her face all day and no one would care.

  She glanced at the clock—almost nine! Advertising companies must get off to a leisurely start in the morning. Her dad was usually in the office by seven at the latest. But banking was different, and the stock market marched to an entirely different rhythm.

  Speaking of rhythm, was that the phone? The sound of tingling music pulled her attention to the living room. She was sure he hadn’t left the radio on. She climbed out of bed and pulled on her light robe. The music continued and she followed the sound to its source, where a green light flashed on a slim cordless phone on Gavin’s desk.

  Should she answer it? This was her house now, too. Still, it wasn’t the house line. Gavin must have a separate one for business. She probably shouldn’t answer it. For a start, she’d have to explain who she was, since hardly anyone even knew she and Gavin were married yet. Probably better to let the machine get it.

  While she hesitated, Gavin’s recorded message started to play, followed by a beep. She turned to leave the room, since it really was none of her business. The voice stopped her in her tracks.

  “Morning, Gavin, or should I call you ‘son’?” Her father’s familiar gruff chuckle chilled her. Her dad was calling? Well, why not? She turned back to the phone to pick it up.

  “The money’s making its way into your account as I speak. One million big ones. I executed the wire transfer five minutes ago.”

  Rooted to the spot, Bree frowned at the phone. What on earth was he talking about? Dread crept over her, inch by cold, cruel inch.

  “You’re a fast mover, I’ll give you that. I thought you’d have six months of courtship ahead of you. Bree’s a prickly character where men are concerned, but I can see you swept her right off her size tens.”

  Her mouth fell open and her stomach dropped.

  Her feet were only size nine. Not that it mattered.

  Her throat closed and her heart started to pound.

  “So now you can open your own business and support her in the style to which she’s accustomed. I’m sure the two of you will be very happy.” His chuckle sounded more like a malevolent cackle. Bree’s hands shook, but she couldn’t bring herself to grab the phone and ask what was going on.

  She didn’t need to. It was painfully obvious what had happened.

  Her father had paid Gavin to marry her.

  The click and dial tone snapped in the air like a fired bullet. The red light now flashing on the sleek phone told her this wasn’t a figment of her imagination.

  It was all fake. Every loving word, every kiss, every caress.

  She shook her head as her brain rejected the idea. Hair tumbled into her eyes, and her breathing came heavy and ragged.

  Money? Why did he want her money? He had a good job—didn’t he? He must. She’d met all his coworkers. Still, there probably weren’t too many people who couldn’t use another million dollars.

  One million dollars. So that was her value. Pretty high, all things considered.

  A racking sob exploded through her. Why one million? Why not two? Or just two hundred thousand? Or twenty? Or a slice of pie from Stella’s bakery?

  She crumpled to the floor. It was hardwood, and her shins and elbows hit hard as she came down. The sharp pain didn’t mean much, though, as agony soaked through her from the inside out.

  How could you be so foolish as to think he wanted you just for yourself?

  “Idiot!” She yelled the word aloud, and it bounced off the clean white walls.

  She’d been suspicious at first. Wary. Prickly, as her father so astutely observed.

  But her doubts and fears had capitulated under his volleys of kisses and flattering words. In less than two weeks he’d seduced her up the aisle, all for the promise of a nice, fat, financial reward.

  Bree curled up into a ball on the hard, shiny floor. What now? She couldn’t go home and face the father who’d sold her like an unfashionable antique he no longer wanted in his collection.

  She certainly couldn’t face her friends. She’d proudly called each one of them from their Sausalito hotel room to announce her newly married state. They’d mostly sounded so surprised—and why not? Obviously no one in their right mind would marry boring old Bree Kincannon unless there was a tempting added incentive.

  Did everyone at his office know?

  No. She drew in an unsteady breath. Unlikely. This must be a private deal between him and her father. It wasn’t the kind of thing you’d want people getting wind of. Marrying a woman for money was…sleazy, to say the least, by today’s standards.

  Bree eased herself into a sitting position and hugged her legs. Likely she was the only person who knew, outside Gavin and her father, of course.

  And right now
it was her little dark and dirty secret.

  Tears rolled over her cheeks and splashed in dark spots on her green silk robe. The one she’d bought to bring out the green in her…contact lenses.

  A growl of fury slid between her teeth. She’d let Elle doll her up and convince her she could attract a man like Gavin, when all along…

  Was Elle in on it? The thought washed over her like an icy wave. She’d been an “instant friend,” in a way that might make more savvy people suspicious. Had she been goaded by Gavin into turning his frumpy future bride into a woman who wouldn’t embarrass him too much in company?

  Bree bit her knuckle. It made sense. Gavin had introduced her to Elle and set the whole thing up. Bree snatched up the phone and was both angry and unsurprised to see Elle’s name right there in the contacts list. She punched the button to dial and rose to her feet, fury flashing through her.

  “Elle Linton.”

  “It’s Bree.” Her voice was dark and rasped.

  “Bree?” Elle sounded surprised. “How are you?”

  “How am I?” Bree turned and paced, trying not to let raw fury shut down her brain. “Let’s see. I just found out that my new husband married me for money. How do you think I should be?”

  “What?” Elle’s voice rang with fake surprise.

  “Don’t pretend you weren’t in on it. I know why you put so much effort into defrizzing my hair and finding me new clothes. Gavin put you up to it.”

  “I have no idea what you are talking about. Are you okay? You sound a little—”

  “Crazy?” Bree snorted. “Yes. I believe you’re right. And no, I don’t think I’m okay. In fact, I’ve never felt less okay in my life.”

  “Hold on a minute, please.”

  Bree resisted the urge to slam down the phone. But of course she wouldn’t hang up on someone—she was dependable old Bree and that would be rude.

  “Sorry about that.” Elle’s breathless voice grated against her ear. “My desk is right outside Brock’s office and not at all private. I’m in the ladies’ room now. I still don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Of course you do. I phoned you myself from Sausalito to tell you my happy news.” The last two words dripped with venom.

  “I know, and I’m thrilled for you both.”

  “Why, are you getting part of the money?” Ugly scenarios unfolded in Bree’s mind.

  “What money? Slow down, Bree, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “The money my father paid Gavin to marry me.”

  The following silence sucked the last breath from Bree’s lungs. Now that she’d said it aloud, to another person, the awful reality of what had just happened seemed literally unbearable. She paced into the bedroom, where the sheets were still warm and wrinkled from their most recent tryst.

  “I don’t believe it.” Elle’s shocked whisper came at last.

  “You didn’t know?”

  “I swear it. I know Gavin from work, but not personally.”

  “Your number is programmed into his phone.”

  “I’m Brock’s assistant. He calls me all the time to set up meetings.”

  “So you had no idea about any of this.”

  “Not the slightest clue, Bree.”

  “You’ve never lied to me about anything?”

  A moment of silence followed. Elle’s voice was subdued, quiet, when she spoke again. “Not about this. I was sure Gavin genuinely liked you. Where did you get this idea about the money?”

  “Oh, just the message my own dear father left for him about the wire transfer.”

  “Bree, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

  “Why did you sound so hesitant when I asked if you’d lied?” Another pause made suspicion crackle through Bree’s brain.

  “I have a secret of my own.” Elle’s whisper startled her. “I wish I didn’t because it’s making lies part of my daily life.” Silence hung in the air for a moment. “I’m having an affair with my boss.”

  “With Brock Maddox?” Bree didn’t hide her surprise.

  “Yes. I certainly never intended to, but things happened, and now…it’s complicated. I wish I could tell you more, but it’s better if I don’t.”

  “I’ll bet.” Bree shook her head, trying to clear her tangled thoughts. What next?

  “Do you love him?”

  Elle’s blunt question shocked her. “No.”

  “Not even a little?”

  “I loved him madly until about four minutes ago. Does that make things clearer?”

  “You can’t switch love on and off. No one knows that better than me.” Elle’s voice was shadowed with regret. “You must still love him somewhere, underneath your anger and hurt.”

  “I’m sure I do. I’m dumb like that.”

  “Gavin’s a good man. There’s got to be something more to the story. Maybe this little discovery doesn’t have to spoil everything. It could turn out to be a hiccup you can get past.”

  “That he took money to take me off my dad’s hands? That’s a lot to get past.”

  “Why don’t you give him a chance?”

  Could she? The possibility lit up Bree’s brain like the lights on the Golden Gate Bridge. Could everything work out anyway? Could they live happily ever after and go whistling off into the sunset together?

  Fresh tears pricked her eyelids and slid over her cheeks.

  She swallowed hard. “Elle, you don’t understand. This is what I’ve been so afraid of my whole life. I’ve always known men were only interested in me for the money I inherited from my mother. I fell so hard for Gavin because I was sure he was different. But he’s no better than the rest. Worse, in fact.”

  “Maybe he really loves you, in spite of the money. Every time I saw him look at you, I could swear he had adoration written all over his face. I’ve never seen him like that before, and as you can imagine, he’s never short of women flocking around him. I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t believe it, but I really think he loves you.”

  Bree cursed the way the possibility opened inside her like a ray of fresh hope. “I guess there is a really tiny possibility that you could be right.”

  “He gets a very good salary and bonus—I should know, since I file all the records. He certainly wouldn’t need to marry you for money. I think you should stick around and figure out what’s going on before you throw away a good chance for happiness. Sometimes life is more complicated than we want it to be, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the trouble.”

  “I’m not sure I can philosophize right now, but I won’t do anything rash.” Bree frowned. “At the very least, I want to hear his side of the story.”

  “And maybe your relationship will end up stronger after you get through this.”

  “I very much doubt it, but I’ll try to keep an open mind.” Bree ran a hand through her tangled hair. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t tell a soul. Trust me, due to some unfortunate circumstances, I’ve become very, very good at keeping secrets.”

  Bree put the phone back in its base. She carefully deleted the message from her father, and wiped her fingerprints from the shiny surface like a criminal, despite the fact that she was apparently the only innocent party in San Francisco.

  When the phone rang again, she snatched it up, terrified of discovering yet more shocking secrets about her new husband.

  Her husband. The word that had filled her with such joy a short while ago now filled her with sadness and regret.

  It was the hotel in Sausalito on the phone. Their wedding photos were ready and had been mailed to them. Oh, joy. Pictures of her grinning like a lovesick fool on the arm of a man who swept her off her oversize feet just to fatten his wallet.

  The big question was what to do when he came home tonight.

  Seven

  The sound of Gavin’s key in the lock almost made Bree squeeze her eyes shut for a moment, but she didn’t want to smudge her mascara. She’d just finished putting it on so she’d b
e sure not to cry.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” His warm, rich voice rang through the apartment.

  “Hi,” she called back, willing herself to sound bright and enthusiastic, as if she had no idea she’d been bartered for cold cash. “How was your day?”

  “Pretty good.” Gavin hung his suit jacket in the closet and approached her, arms outstretched. She tried not to steel herself against his hug. Instead she stuck her arms out and approached him with shaky knees. “How was yours?”

  “Fine.” One way to describe the worst day of her life. “I made lasagna for dinner,” she proclaimed, turning away before he could scrutinize her expression. She was still working on keeping it serene.

  “Mmm, fantastic. I was too busy to eat lunch so it’s lucky we didn’t make plans.”

  “Something big going on at Maddox?”

  “In a way.” His voice had a funny tone to it that made her turn around. “Oh?”

  “Me, leaving.” A sheepish grin snuck across Gavin’s face. One that just a few hours ago she would have found adorable.

  She froze. “Leaving Maddox Communications?” One million dollars was not enough to retire on. Not in San Francisco, at least. Maybe he just planned to kick back and live off her fortune?

  She turned and marched to the kitchen to check on the lasagna. The dish had helped get her focus off Gavin this afternoon. Might as well use it as a distraction now.

  “You’re shocked, aren’t you?” Gavin followed her into the small galley kitchen. His physical presence filled the doorway and she fought a stray surge of desire.

  “Well, yes. I thought you liked it there.” She didn’t look up. Instead she busied herself with taking the dish out of the oven.

  “It was a good place to build my reputation. But now I’m ready to strike out on my own.” He eased up beside her and slid his arms around her waist.