The Billionaire's Marriage Contract

by Avery James

  “Morning,” Hank replied. “I heard from your husband earlier. He asked me not to wake you and wanted me to let you know that he’ll be in tonight. He also said you were taking a break from your cellphone.”

  “Excellent,” Amy replied. She smiled at Logan as she grabbed a bagel off the counter and sat down at the table. “What do we have in store for today?” she asked.

  “I have to head into town on a few errands, but Logan has graciously agreed to keep you company in case you need anything.”

  “That’s awfully kind of him,” Amy replied, “but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I have some work I should catch up on anyway.”

  “Nonsense,” Logan said. “I brought the sleds out. I figure we can go for a ride.”

  “Sleds?” Amy asked. She pictured herself sliding down a hill on an old fashioned toboggan.

  “Snowmobiles,” Hank replied. “Make sure to be careful.”

  “Oh, I’ve been on a snowmobile before. I’m not worried,” Amy replied.

  “You’re not the one I’m worried about,” Hank said. “He might be my son, but he’s less than honorable when it comes to women. The only reason I’m not getting in the way is my confidence in you. That and he seemed to get on so well with Ethan last time he visited us.”

  “If he gets out of line, I’ll make sure he knows it.”

  “That’s the thing,” Hank said, shaking his head. “He always knows when he’s out of line. He just does whatever he wants anyway.”

  “Well, maybe I should rephrase. If he gets out of line, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”

  “Atta girl. If only he had had someone like you to knock some sense into him, I wonder if things would have turned out differently.”

  “What do you mean?” Amy asked.

  “I’ve seen what you’ve done for your husband. I met him a few years back, and he’s a new man now.”

  “I don’t deserve all the credit, but I’ll take it anyway,” Amy said as she headed toward the door.

  “Tell Logan that I’d like to have a chat with him before he heads back into town.”

  Logan was waiting outside for Amy. He took a look at her jeans and coat, and he laughed. “You might want to wear something a little warmer than that.”

  “I assumed that’s what you thought you were for,” Amy replied, shaking her head.

  Logan laughed. “Not yet,” he replied. “Come on. Get on, and I’ll show you around.” He pointed to the snowmobile next to his.

  “What’s with you Hilsons and giving tours?”

  “I think you’ll like this one better than walking around a house.”

  Amy climbed on and turned the throttle. She sprang ahead suddenly and quickly slammed on the brake. She looked back at Logan

  “That’s the idea. Now try to keep up,” he shouted. He revved his engine and caught up to her. Amy watched as Logan sped off onto a trail that stretched out into the vast expanse of snow beyond the house. She took a deep breath and turned the throttle. A moment later, she was speeding along behind him, over the small hill and around the turns. It was a thrill, and the faster they went, the more the tall pines around them seemed to blur into one mass, the more the world and all of Amy’s worries seemed to float away. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all, she thought.

  Within a few minutes, Amy’s snowmobile began to slow. The engine sputtered, and the sled slid to a stop in the middle of the trail. Logan circled back to get her. “What happened?” he asked. He had his helmet on, but Amy could tell he was smiling. “Did you break it?”

  “It’s out of gas, isn’t it?” she said.

  “Might be,” Logan replied.

  “You planned this. You wanted to get me just far enough out here that I had to get a ride with you.”

  “Well it worked, didn’t it?” Logan said. “Come on. Hop on and we’ll do the rest of the ride together. Some things are more fun when you have a partner.”

  Amy shook her head. Logan really was shameless. She wondered if he was just bored. Maybe Ethan had put him up to this. That was the only thing that could explain how hard he was trying with her.

  “We’ll see,” Amy said. She climbed onto the seat behind Logan and wrapped her arms around him. “Ok,” she added, but before Amy could say anything else, Logan revved the engine and sped off, kicking up a trail of snow behind them. Amy grabbed on tight and pulled herself against him as they sped through the open fields and through the woods along the trail. The further out they went, the more the wind picked up.

  Soon Amy and Logan were conversing as they sped around the bends and turns of the trail. She knew she should just play it safe and ignore a few of the things they had each said to one another the night before.

  “I’m playing a show tonight. You should come,” Logan shouted.

  “Could be fun, but I think my husband is getting into town at some point today.”

  “He can come too,” Logan said.

  “You really don’t care do you?”

  “About what?”

  “Anyone but yourself,” Amy replied.

  “That was the first thing I told you. Did you think I was lying?”

  “You might be the first guy I’ve ever met who’s been completely honest about what he wants from me.”

  “Is there something wrong with that?”

  “I’m married.”

  “That’s not my fault,” Logan replied. “I’m just wondering why you’re here with me and not off wherever with him.”

  “He wanted me to stay here and meet your father.”

  “If I were him, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.”

  “That’s just because you’d expect everyone else to be like you.”

  “I thought I told you. There’s no one else like me.”

  “People keep telling me that. I’m not so sure it’s a compliment.”

  Logan laughed. “Who’s talking about me? Hank?”

  “What’s the deal with your relationship with him?” Amy asked.

  Logan let go of the throttle and let the snowmobile glide to a stop. He reached forward and turned it off. “You want to know the truth?” Logan said. “He can’t stand the sight of me. He’s always talking about what he had done by my age as if I didn’t know what a disappointment I am.”

  “I don’t think that’s what he means at all,” Amy shouted to him. The silence around them rang even louder than the engine’s roar in her ears.

  “Look, I’d rather not talk about it,” he said.

  “Why’d you turn off the engine then?” Amy asked. “Are you afraid that I might see something more behind that pretty face of yours?”

  Logan stood up and hopped off the snowmobile. Before Amy realized what was happening, he had slid in behind her and placed his hands on her waist, giving her a squeeze as he leaned in. His touch sent a little thrill up Amy’s spine, and she found herself both fearing and excited for what he’d do next.

  “I was thinking it’s your turn to drive,” he said. Then he ran his hands over Amy’s shoulders and down to her hands, leaning into her as he placed her hands on the grips. “Try not to go faster than you can handle. I wouldn’t want to push you too hard. You might lose control.”

  Amy could smell Logan’s cologne, and she could feel the heat from his breath as he leaned against her. She knew he wasn’t just talking about driving. “I thought that was how you liked it,” she replied, “you know, fast and out of control.”

  “I’m always in control,” Logan said with a laugh.

  Somehow Amy doubted this was true. She turned the ignition and felt the sled come alive between her legs. Then she reached and turned the throttle. As they jolted forward, Logan wrapped his arms tighter around her waist and held on. Amy opened the throttle all the way and sped as quickly as possible along the path. She could feel the wind roaring by them as they sped faster and faster. “Woohoo!” she heard Logan shout. “That’s what I’m talking about! Come on, shout with me!”

  Amy leaned forward and stared off into
the distance. There was no one around for miles, no one to see her with Logan, no one to hear her. It was just her and him and the sled. Amy took a deep breath. “Woo!” She shouted. She felt the thrill echoing through her body as she and Logan sped across the snow. She took another deep breath and felt the cold air roll through her lungs. Her feet and fingers were freezing, but she didn’t care. She kept the sled going as fast as possible, streaking across the snow. Something about it just seemed perfect, but there was only one problem. She was with the wrong guy. If Ethan were with her, she’d be able to lean into his body and act on her instincts, but with Logan, she knew she couldn’t do that, even though she found herself confused by wanting to more and more.

  ***

  Back at the lodge, Amy checked her phone to see if Ethan had tried to contact her at any point during the day, but she had no missed calls. She sent him a quick text asking where he was. Then, after a while, she headed back down to the kitchen out of boredom. No calls from work, no calls from her husband. Amy wasn’t sure what to do with all of this free time. When she reached the kitchen, Logan was waiting for her at the table.

  "Since your husband is nowhere to be seen, maybe you can come down to the bar tonight and watch our set."

  "While that's a tempting offer," Amy started to say. She wanted to think of some kind of excuse to say no.

  Logan smiled and waited for Amy to finish her sentence. "I'll make sure you can leave whenever you want. Plus I'll dedicate a song to you."

  "Oh, wow," Amy said. "A song? Dedicated to me. You really know the way to a woman's heart."

  "The heart has nothing to do with it," Logan said. He laughed at his own comment. "So what do you say? You can spend a night reading in bed, wondering what fun you could have had, or you can come with me into town and just see what happens."

  "Just see what happens?" Amy asked.

  "Yeah," Logan replied, he rubbed the stubble on his chin. He could barely contain his smile.

  "Does that work on all your women out here?"

  "You're putting my streak in danger here. Come on, you're a guest of my father. It's my duty to show you a good time."

  "You're worse than my husband, you know that?"

  "I do," Logan replied. "See you back down here in twenty?"

  "I haven't said yes yet."

  "You also haven't said no."

  ***

  An hour later, Amy was sitting by the bar, watching Logan and his band take to the small stage at the back of the room. For a dive bar in a nowhere town out west, the place was really packed. Amy was surprised at how "cool" the people in the crowd looked. They seemed like the kind of people Callie would bring over for a dinner party every now and then in DC, a mix of students and young professionals, all coming from money, all afraid for anyone to know. She guessed there were more than a few trust fund millionaires in attendance, including the man singing on stage, but, aside from asking each one of them for their bank information, there was no way to know. A few things were for sure though: everyone was wearing flannel, and every last person in the bar was drinking light beer in tall cans.

  Amy signaled to the bartender for a drink. She was the same young blonde Amy had met the day before. As she walked over, Amy couldn’t help but think that this bar was a far cry from the bar at the Colonnade. When Amy tried to pay for her drink, the bartender waved her off, saying, "You're on the house tonight."

  "No, it's ok," Amy replied. She wanted to say that she was using her husband's charge card, and that she'd pick up the tab for the whole bar if she would let her.

  The bartender pointed to Logan up on stage. "Boss's orders."

  "Well, am I allowed to pay for other people's drinks?"

  "I don't see why not," the bartender replied. "God forbid someone actually pay for booze in this place."

  "I'm Amy," she said, holding out her hand. "We actually met yesterday."

  "I know," the bartender said. She stared off at patrons at the other end of the bar.

  "Oh," Amy replied. So much for being friendly, she thought. "Can I get a round of shots for the band?"

  "Get them two if you'd like."

  "Is there a problem?" Amy asked.

  "Trust me," the bartender said. "You're better off just walking away."

  "Oh, do you think I'm interested in Logan?"

  "Aren't you?"

  "I'm married," Amy said.

  "That hasn't stopped any of the others."

  "What do you mean?"

  "A new woman every week. Like you, they don't fit in here. Like you, they try to strike up a conversation. They try to fit in. They never do.”

  Amy laughed. “Look, he’s just keeping me company until my husband gets back into town. If I had a choice in the matter, I’d be back home with a book and a hot bath.”

  “Hot baths are Logan’s specialty,” the bartender replied.

  “I’m sorry,” Amy said, “but I think you have the wrong idea here. Do you two have a history or something?”

  “One far too long to get into here,” the bartender said before heading back down to the other bar. “Just remember, men always want something from you.”

  “For once, that’s the appeal,” Amy said, but the bartender had walked away without waiting to hear her. Amy rolled her eyes and turned around to watch Logan finish a song before announcing a break. He caught her glance and gave her a wink as he said the band would take a quick break. Amy leaned one elbow against the bar and waited for him to come to her.

  She could see his smile from across the room, and she could feel her pulse quicken as he crossed the crowd toward her. She imagined their exchange, the playful back and forth, the exchange of glances. She’d brush back her hair and say how surprised she was that his band was good. He’d smile and place his hand on her arm before leaning in to say something funny and flirty before letting her know exactly what he wanted.

  Logan walked around to the bar and poured himself a drink. “What did you think?” he said with that cocky look Amy had already grown used to seeing.

  “Not bad,” she said.

  “I was thinking of ending the set early. How about you join me back at my place?” Logan said.

  So much for the flirtation, Amy thought. “Why?” she asked.

  “Why not?” Logan replied.

  “That sounds... a bit forward of you, doesn’t it?”

  “Isn’t that the appeal?”

  “Excuse me?” Amy said. She could barely hear Logan above the din of the bar.

  He looked down at the ring on her finger. “What exactly do you want?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Can we go outside for a moment?” Amy asked.

  Logan motioned off to the side. “We can talk in the back room.”

  Amy thought for a moment about what it would look like for her to slip off with Jackson Hole’s most eligible bachelor and placed her drink down. She watched Logan slip behind the door, and she took a deep breath to follow.

  As she closed the door behind her, Amy smiled at Logan. It was almost a reflex, the way she always smiled when entering a room, wanting to appear friendly and kind. It was a defense, and when she realized she was smiling, she stopped. “I don’t know what you want from me,” she said.

  “From you?” Logan replied. “I think I’ve been pretty clear. I’m not the one who’s married. I think we could have some fun together.”

  “What about my husband?” Amy asked.

  “Not really my thing,” Logan replied with a laugh.

  “I mean does that bother you?”

  Logan shook his head. “I’m drawn to what I can’t have. Have you ever felt that pull, knowing something is forbidden but just within reach?”

  Amy wanted to say yes. She wanted to say that she wasn’t really married, and that if it weren’t for the business deal, she’d give in to her attraction to Logan and make out with him right there in the bar, but that wasn’t who she was, and, as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t find the words to express how
badly she wanted just for a moment to give in and take what she wanted. She wanted to tell him how she felt like Ethan was toying with her, kissing her one moment, pretending everything was all business the next, and that she appreciated the crystal clarity of Logan’s base intentions. Instead, she smiled at him and said, “I thought you had everything.”

  “Not yet,” Logan replied. He looked down for a moment and pulled out his phone to check the time. “I have to go back on.” He slipped the phone in his pocket and then placed his hands on Amy’s hips. “Think about what you want.”

  ***

  Back at the bar, Amy watched the rest of the set, as Logan and his band mates played and sang their hearts out., everything from country songs to Tom Petty covers, whatever they felt like playing. She had to admit he was pretty good at it, and the way he would look over to her in between songs and while he sang made her heart race. If Ethan had even shown up or called or generally given a damn, she would have been with him, back at the lodge, enjoying a drink with Hank or maybe by themselves, maybe in front of a fireplace. That seemed like a nice fantasy. But it was just that: a fantasy. She didn’t know where Ethan was or what he wanted from her, and here was Logan, practically throwing himself at her, offering up his body and, well, what more did she expect from him?

  An hour later, after Logan had finished his set, he thanked everyone for coming out and then hopped off the stage. Amy took a deep breath. It was time to make a decision. Logan gave her another wink as he approached. “We’re having a few people back to my loft if you’d like to come,” he said. “It’s a few blocks from here. I can drive you back up to the lodge in the morning.” Logan ran his hand across his chest as he gave Amy a wink. “Scout’s honor, I’ll help you figure out what you want.”

  Amy froze for a moment and wondered what to do. She knew Ethan would be landing at some point soon, but she hadn’t heard from him in hours. She knew she should politely decline and find some way to get back to the lodge, but a little bit of her wanted to see where the night was going. It had been years since she had stayed up all night for anything other than work. It definitely had an appeal.

  As she wondered what to say, Amy felt a firm hand on her shoulder. “Thank you, Logan, for looking after her while I’ve been gone,” Ethan said. Amy felt a rush of adrenaline, like she had just been caught doing something very bad. As she waited for either Ethan or Logan to say something, Amy could feel the guilt building in her stomach. Why should she be upset about this? Ethan wasn’t really her husband, and she hadn’t even done anything wrong. Ethan leaned in and gave Amy a kiss on the cheek. Even though she couldn’t see it, Amy knew he was staring Logan down.