Page 5 of The Bargain Bride

Change his mind about what? She shook her head and remained on the edge of his father's bed. Her fingers gathered tight bunches of the brown bedspread. “I am not going anywhere with you. I have guests downstairs, and they're expecting a wedding.”

His voice went up a notch. “Simon isn't here. There isn't going to be a wedding. Don't you get it? He's not only refused to marry you, but he's completely ditched you in the process.”

She stood on shaky legs and smoothed her hands down the expensive creamy satin. “Then I need to tell them so they can go home.”

“Forget the damn guests!”

She jumped, startled by his hot temper. It hadn't improved over the years. He might not have changed, but she had. She wasn't a little girl anymore and didn't have to put up with his bullying tactics. Standing up straight, she lifted her chin high. “I think you should go.”

He closed the door with a soft click, effectively trapping her in the bedroom with him. “Look. I have a killer migraine, and I haven’t slept in nearly thirty-six hours. My last nerve is stretched so thin right now. You do not want to tread on it. Grab your stuff and let’s go. We'll take the back stairs.”

“Go where?”

He sighed. “If you aren't in my car in five minutes, I swear I will sell this ranch first thing tomorrow morning.”

A tremor shook her body, and she crossed her arms to try to hide it. “Are you threatening me?”

“I'm telling you how it is as your boss. You either go to Vegas with me so I can marry you, or I will sell this ranch, and you can find a new home and a new job.”

Her jaw dropped.

Did he say marry her?

Was he drunk? She didn't understand anything he was saying. Vegas?

“You want to marry me?”

“Simon won't step up and be a man, so I will. I'll marry you. I'll give this child our family name and make sure he or she never wants for anything. I'll take care of you both.”

She blinked at him. So that was it? The do-gooding, self-appointed hero thought she was pregnant and wanted to do right by her. Never mind that no one had asked for his help, least of all her. Jared had been born bossy, always so sure he knew what was best for everyone else. It was ironic that he hated his father for treating him the way he treated others.

She started to tell him the truth. “I am not—”

“We don't have time for a big discussion. Five minutes. I mean it. Get your butt in the car or I'll call the real estate people.” He went down the hall to her bedroom. She hurried after him, realizing he was serious. He asked, “Do you need anything? Medication? Cosmetics? Purse?”

She didn't even own a purse. Since she rarely wore make-up and hardly ever left the ranch, a purse seemed a useless expense. But she wasn't going to tell Jared that. He already had a low opinion of her. Sometimes she thought about the women he was dating in Boston, sophisticated women in designer clothing with ivy league educations. They probably spent more getting their hair done each month than she spent in a year on beauty products.

She started to ask if she needed her packed overnight bag. It was ready to go to Hawaii for her honeymoon with Simon. The words stuck in her throat. The idea of Jared marrying her was ridiculous. Maybe as a child she had fantasized that they belonged together, but she'd grown up. She was not going to let Jared suck her back into that delusional world.

He shut her bedroom door and led her to the balcony. “Let's go this way. I don't want to have to explain to anyone what we're doing. You can tell them after the deed is done.”

Guilt settled on her shoulders. She should tell him she wasn't pregnant and put his mind at ease. He didn't need to marry her. But what if he got mad and sold the ranch just to spite her and his brother? Jared was known for his bad temper and impulsive nature.

Of course, he'd be angry when he found out she wasn't pregnant later and had married him under false pretenses. But wouldn't it be too late then for him to do anything about it? As his wife, she would be entitled to at least half the ranch. He couldn't threaten to take it away from her anymore.

There was also the fact that Trish was pregnant. What if Jared decided to marry her to give the baby a name? Beth bristled at the thought. Trish could have Simon, fine, but she was not getting her hands on the only man Beth ever truly wanted.

She opened her mouth to protest once again. Even if she were pregnant, she wouldn't marry him. She wanted to offer an alternative to a marriage of convenience.

He planted a quick, hard kiss on her mouth before she uttered a single syllable. “Let's go,” he said.

Stunned, she went with him in silence. They took the balcony stairs and hurried to his waiting vehicle, a shiny black sports car. He drove down their twenty-mile-long driveway so fast she felt like a bank robber on the run from the police. A giddy sensation almost made her laugh. She was eloping to Vegas with her childhood crush, and he thought she was pregnant. Any second she would wake up to find out it was all a crazy dream.

Chapter Four

Instead of driving to Vegas, they went to the airport and took Jared's private plane. Her jaw dropped when she saw it. Why would an ER doctor working in Boston need a jet? It's not like he ever visited them. From what Simon told her, Jared didn't have time to have lunch with him when he went to Boston for a quick visit, let alone take vacations.

Jared didn't say a word to her during the flight. He sat back in his seat, eyes closed, and took a short nap after asking his PA to arrange everything for their impromptu wedding. His assistant looked as shocked by the whole ordeal as Beth felt.

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