Page 6 of Fairy Tale Husband

Time to find her husband-to-be.

Jake lounged against a wall and watched the crowd with weary impatience. Damn it all! Four miserable hours had passed since he’d arrived. Four hours spent stampeding from woman to woman like some sort of lust-crazed bull in a field full of bashful cows, and he didn’t have a single prospect to show for it. Oh, there were plenty of women, available in every shape and size, but they’d all come with a list of wants he couldn’t care less about, let alone had a hope in hell of fulfilling.

And not one of them was interested in a temporary relationship.

A hard-eyed brunette approached just then. It didn’t take long to discover the size of his bank account interested her far more than marital bliss. After two minutes of conversation, he knew she’d never sign his prenuptial agreement. After another two he managed to convince her he wasn’t interested in purchasing the goods she had for sale. The instant she left, an auburn-haired woman replaced the brunette. She practically shook in her ivory heels and he suspected it took every ounce of gumption for her to even approach.

“Nikki Ashton,” she introduced herself and offered herhand.

“Jake Hondo.”

An awkward silence descended and she visibly scrambled for something to say. “I—I’m looking for a husband,” she finally announced.

“Really?” he murmured dryly. “What a coincidence. I’m looking for a wife.”

She stared at him in dismay, bright color sweeping into her face. “Oh, Iknew this would never work. Coming here was a mistake.” A hint of violet glinted within the pansy-blue of her eyes. “I’m sorry to waste your time. It’s just that I’ve never done this before. And I thought... Or rather, I’d hoped...”

He released his breath in a gusty sigh, afraid that if he didn’t say something nice—and quick—she might burst into tears. “You want to start over?”

She gave a forlorn little shrug. “Is there any point?”

“Could be. I’m looking for a temporary wife. You interested?”

That caught her attention. “Yes. As a matter of fact, Iam.” A small smile crept across her full mouth and she relaxed minutely. “I wouldn’t mind a temporary arrangement in the least.”

He lifted a sooty eyebrow. “You serious?”

“Very. Ijust need a husband long enough to convince my sister I’m happily married.”

“Happy, huh?”

“Ecstatically happy.” Her eyes narrowed. “You can fake ecstatic, can’t you?”

“I suppose.” He waited a beat before adding, “If you’re willing to sleep with me.”

Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”

“I have to be legally wedded and bedded to inherit my grandfather’s property. And my wife will need to stand up in court and admit as much to the judge.” He rocked back on his heels. “Can you handle that?”

He watched as she mulled it over. If she hadn’t claimed she’d be interested in a temporary marriage, he’d have brushed her off. One glance had told him she’d never do. For one thing, she was too beautiful, as lovely as his little elf, though perhaps more colorful and vibrant. If he’d learned nothing else in his thirty-five years of existence, it was to give beautiful women a wide berth.

For another, Nikki’s soft, white hands hadn’t seen a lick of work since the day she’d tumbled into this world. She’d be about as useful on a ranch as a silk-covered saddle.

Still, he was fast running out of options. He could tolerate the woman, if push came to shove. Let her sit in the parlor and look as gorgeous and helpless as she wanted, so long as she warmed his bed. Check that. So long as she warmed his bed and confirmed she’d done her wifely duty before the judge, along with various and sundry witnesses.

“Well?” he prodded.

“There’s no other option?”

“No other option and no other conditions. How about you?”

“Just one other detail. In addition to my sister, Ihave a boss to convince. You’d have to act the part of the loving-husband whenever we attend business functions together or whenever my family’s around.”

Damn. “Whoa. Time out. Where were you planning on conducting this ecstatically happy marriage of ours?”

“New York,” she answered. “Why?”

“Because I have a ranch to run. Ineed my wife living with me in Texas.”

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