Page 56 of Fairy Tale Husband

“You have a very fine ranch here.” She wrinkled her tiny nose as though smelling something unpleasant. “Assuming you like ranches.”

“I gather you don’t.” Not that there was much doubt about her opinion.

“No,” she confirmed. “But my sources say this is one of the better ones, which must be why you went to such lengths to keep it. Irefer, of course, to your marriage.” She returned her teacup to its saucer and lifted a finely arched eyebrow. “A condition of your grandfather’s will or some such thing?”

The dragon lady had been busy making inquiries. Who had she spoken to? Or perhaps the better question was, who hadn’t she spoken to? “Yeah, it was a condition of his will. So?”

“So, now that you have legal control of your inheritance, you don’t need a wife anymore.”

His eyes narrowed. “According to you.”

“And according to most everyone in town. Wynne and the boys are excess baggage and it’s only a matter of time before you toss them out the door.”

“Did you hear that, elf?” Ignoring proper decorum, he propped a booted foot on the coffee table. “Folks around here think I’ll be putting you out with the garbage.”

Wynne muttered something uncomplimentary and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was aimed at the Marsh woman or athim.

“Please, Mr. Hondo. Let’s be frank.” Kitty Marsh leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Now that your inheritance is secure, you don’t need the pretense of a family anymore. Sooner or later, you’re going to get rid of them. I’m willing to make it worth your while to make it sooner.”

“How much?” he asked out of curiosity.

Wynne gasped in disbelief, but he ignored her, keeping his gaze trained on the viper seated across from him. He’d learned long ago never to take his eyes off a snake poised to strike and he didn’t intend to startnow.

The Marsh woman smiled in triumph. “How much would you like?”

“I can’t say,” he confessed, running a hand across his jaw. “To be honest, Ihave just about all the money I could ever hope to spend.”

“Then perhaps I can offer something else.” Her smile turned provocative. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Don’t bother trying to seduce him,” Wynne snapped. “He’s not interested in married women.”

“Only one,” Jake corrected with a lazygrin.

“Then we’ll stick to material assets,” Mrs. Marsh retorted, her smile fading. “What will you take in exchange for the children?”

“Why do you want them?” he countered.

She shrugged. “Why does a person want diamonds or furs or a new car? It’s an uncontrollable urge. Maternal instinct or something.”

Maternal instinct in a pig’s eye. He’d never met a woman less cut out for motherhood than this one. “Forget it,” he stated flatly, tiring of hergame.

“I didn’t answer that right, did I?” she asked in amusement. “Okay, how about this...?” Crocodile tears welled into her eyes. “They’re all that’s left of my poor, dear brother. Ihave so much to offer them, so much to give. And since I can never have children of my own—”

“Oh, please!” Wynne cut her off. “You never wanted children. You said they’d ruin your figure, that they were messy.”

Her tears vanished as quickly as they’d come. “But don’t you see? That’s what makes it all so perfect. No horrid pregnancy. No smelly, squally babies. And best of all, they’re housebroken.” She turned on Jake. “Now, how much?”

“I’m not for sale and neither are they.”

“I don’t think you understand.” Her voice hardened. “I’m really quite desperate here. I’ll do whatever it takes to get my hands on those boys.”

“Brad wants them, doesn’t he?” Wynne guessed shrewdly.

Fury robbed her face of all beauty. “Yes. After all these years, my dear husband has decided he wants kids and I suspect he’s looking around for someone young and nubile enough to provide them. Buster and Chick are my only hope.”

Jake laughed. “I’m all broken up over your marital problems, lady. But that doesn’t change my mind. The boys stay here.”

Her eyes darkened, the blue turning as dull and garish as fake sapphires. “Assuming that’s your final word on the matter, we’ll move on to threats.”

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