Page 62 of Fairy Tale Husband

Her gaze grew stony with dislike. “Very well. You had a quickie Nevada marriage, now I want you to get a quickie Mexican divorce. You do that, and not only will I grant Wynne generous visitation rights, I’ll put it in writing. Fight me for so much as another day and she’ll never see them again.” She paused, flashing shark-like teeth. “You’ll understand if I require an immediate answer.”

He knew what he’d like to tell her. But one glance at Wynne, one glimpse of the fear and panic she fought so hard to hide, put paid to that idea. Besides, he didn’t want open warfare with the Marsh woman. Not yet. Not when another option availed itself, achoice that had to be one of the toughest he’d ever faced.

“Well?” she prompted impatiently.

His hands clenched. “My marriage in exchange for the kids, is that how it works?”

“That’s it.”

“I’ll agree, on one condition.”

“Jake, no!” Tears sprang to Wynne’s eyes, tears she brushed aside with an impatient hand. “Don’t do it.”

“Name your condition,” Mrs. Marsh said quickly. It was obvious she sensed an easy victory.

“I need time.”

She inclined her head. “Very well. I’ll give you three days.”

“It might take longer.”

“Don’t let it,” she retorted with curt finality. “You have money. Use it. These matters can be taken care of easily enough for the right price.”

“Trust you to know that,” he muttered. “Oh, and there’s one other condition. I’ll fly out today, but I need your promise that you won’t act until my return.”

“I’ll hold off for three days and not a second longer. Do we have a deal?”

“I guess you could call it that.”

She heaved an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Well! That wasn’t so difficult. It certainly has been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Hondo.”

“Not from where I’m standin’.”

She flashed her dimples. “Next time we meet I expect it to be with divorce papers in hand. Don’t disappoint me, now. You wouldn’t want to make me angry.” Throwing Wynne a look of triumph, she sailed from theroom.

Silence reigned for a full minute. Jake stared at the floor, steeling himself to deal with the tears, the disillusionment, the pleas.

“Jake—”

He stopped her with a single look. “We don’t have any choice, you realize that, don’t you? We have to settle the issue of our marriage once and for all.”

“But—”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it. Those boys have to come first. Do you want to lose them completely? Your dragon lady isn’t fooling around. She’s desperate, and as much as I’d like to deny it, she has a case.”

“You promised,” she whispered. “We had an agreement.”

“I promised to take care of your dragon and that’s what I’ll do. But it has to be my way.”

She started to speak, then hesitated. Instead she took a step closer, then another and another until she stopped right in front of him. And all the while she stared as though she could see straight through to his soul. Questions danced within her unflinching gaze, trembled on her lips. She didn’t speak them. Even as he watched a quiet conviction slipped across her face, absolute trust a flame in the verdant green of hereyes.

Finally, she nodded. “I’ll let you take care of it,” she simplysaid.

“That’s it?” he demanded. “No questions? No complaints?”

She managed a shaky smile. “Would it do any good?”

“No.”

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