Page 8 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

“I think I should feel insulted, but I don’t. Justin’s dad gave him incentives to give in. If he marries me, he gets a partnership in the firm after the first year of our marriage. If I’m pregnant, he gets an even bigger deal,” she said, shivering.

“No wonder you want out of that. Damn. My dad gets an F in fatherhood, but he hasn’t pulled anything like picking a wife for any of us.”

“Until this, my parents have been wonderful. So have my grandparents, and I love them all dearly.”

“We’ll head Tanya’s way. I won’t protest meeting her,” he said, dancing Meg her way.

The music stopped and she turned, smiling at Tanya and pulling lightly on Gabe’s hand. Tanya’s straight, waist-length blond hair fell loosely around her face. She wore a tight blue silk top with bling along the neckline that dipped in a deep vee, revealing half of a butterfly tattoo on the curve of her full breast. Curiosity filled her eyes as she watched Meg and Gabe approach. She glanced back and forth at each of them until Meg greeted her.

“Tanya, meet Gabe Callahan. Gabe, meet Tanya Waters.”

Smiling, Tanya touched the arm of the man beside her. “Hi. This is Bobby Jack Lawrence.”

As the men greeted each other, Gabe held Meg’s hand lightly. They talked a moment until the music commenced again and then Gabe pulled her to his side for a two-step.

“That was absolutely perfect,” Meg said. “I’m so glad we came here. I see Cassie Perkins from Justin’s office. I think she’s interested in Justin, so I’m sure she’ll get the word out around his office.”

Gabe looked down at her. “I didn’t know you could be so plotting and devious.”

“Only because I’m desperate,” Meg said. Then she became quiet, enjoying dancing with him and thinking the evening had been a huge success.

“How in the world did you get involved with Justin in the first place?”

“Friendship. The way I am with you. We go to the same places and see each other. We like the same things—symphony, opera, contemporary art. His folks were giving him a terrible time about seeing Tanya and we talked about that. I just didn’t realize what it would lead to and suddenly he was talking a marriage of convenience.”

“Lesson learned there, I suppose.”

“There’s no danger of our families trying to push you and me into a marriage of convenience. Actually, this ought to set family tongues wagging about us going out together and get Justin out of the conversation.”

“This fake engagement sure as hell isn’t going to endear me to any of your family.”

“I’m sorry about that, but they don’t like any Callahans anyway, so it isn’t like you’re losing their friendship.”

“Somehow, your logic doesn’t cheer me,” he said and she smiled.

It was after midnight when a number ended and Gabe spun her around, catching her and pulling her up against him. She looked up into his eyes and her laughter faded, her grin giving way to a sultry smile.

He gazed back and took her hand. “That look should convince the most doubting spectator. If I didn’t know better, I’d be on fire now,” he remarked.

“Well, I’m thankful you didn’t laugh because that definitely kills the effect.”

“What I felt wasn’t laughter,” he said. The smoldering look he gave her made her tingle, which surprised her. How shocking that she found him so appealing.

“I think we can leave now,” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close against his side.

She slipped her arm around his waist, looking up at him and smiling, as if they were about to go home and make love. She hoped that’s what others thought.

“That was fun, Gabe. You’re perfect for this. You would convince anybody that we’re a couple.”

“Anybody who doesn’t really know you,” he remarked drily. “Otherwise, I think there will be suspicion.”

“No, there won’t,” she assured him, supremely happy with the way the evening had gone and looking up at him as if she thought he was the most adorable man on earth. At the moment that wasn’t even pretend.

Gabe drove to her small home in Downly in an older part of town with tall shade trees. Her bright front light illuminated the porch, the surrounding flower beds, the steps, the walk and half of her front yard.

“That’s some porch light you have. Your house hasn’t been broken into, has it?”

“Heavens, no. I just like a light when I come home. It’s cheerful.”

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