Hired Bride by Jackie Merritt Read Free Book Online Page A

flirt with him for the benefit of his female relatives, and to pretend that this was a real date.
    When he laid his arm across the back of her chair, she smiled and leaned his way. He whispered in her ear, “This is great. I’d bet anything that a good half of my family is wondering when our wedding is going to take place.”
    â€œRight after the new year,” Gwen murmured dreamily.
    â€œPardon? I didn’t catch that.”
    Gwen felt heat in her face. “Uh, it was nothing.” How could she have repeated Rosita’s prediction so carelessly? It certainly was not going to come true, for pity’s sake. Watch yourself, Gwen Hutton!
    The bride and groom got up to dance the first dance, and soon others were dancing as well. Zane talked quietly, for Gwen’s ears alone. “I should dance with you first, then do a little circulating.”
    â€œWhatever you say.”
    A few minutes later she was on the dance floor with Zane, and he was holding her as a lover held a woman. It had been a long time since Gwen had done any dancing, especially this kind of dancing, and she unconsciously stroked the back of Zane’s neck as they floated around the dance floor, all but glued together.
    The intimate caress startled Zane for a moment, but then he told himself that Gwen was merely putting on a good act. Rationalizing didn’t stop his body from responding, however, and he brought her closer still and deliberately inhaled her arousing scent. However this whole thing had started out with Gwen, business deal or not, he knew now that he wanted her. She hadn’t only impressed his family and friends today, she had impressed him.
    â€œYou’re very beautiful,” he whispered.
    â€œThank you, kind sir. You’re beautiful too, you know,” she said teasingly.
    â€œYou think I’m still pretending, Gwen, but I’m not. You really are beautiful.”
    The hoarseness in his voice jolted Gwen a bit, butshe could only think that if he wasn’t pretending at this moment, then he was handing her a line.
    â€œI know all about your reputation with women,” she whispered, “so please don’t insult me with false flattery just because we both drank too much champagne.”
    For a few seconds Zane was at a loss. He certainly hadn’t expected that sort of reply, and it hurt that she would bring up his reputation at a time like this.
    â€œDon’t you recognize a sincere compliment when you hear one?” he finally asked.
    â€œYes, I believe I do.”
    â€œMeaning you don’t believe in my sincerity.”
    â€œThat sounds about right.” The music had stopped and they had stopped dancing, but Zane kept holding her. She tilted her head back to see his face and was rather surprised by his frowning expression. “Right now you are getting exactly what you wanted from today. People are watching,” she said, adding, “A lot of people. You really should erase that frown or they’ll think we just had a disagreement.”
    â€œRight now I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks,” Zane growled. “Except for you.”
    â€œWhy would it matter to you what I thought about anything?”
    â€œThat’s a damn good question and maybe it’s something we should both think about.” Releasing his hold on her, he took her hand and led her back to their table. When she was seated, he leaned over and said, “I’m going to dance with Lily and my sisters. Will you be all right?”
    â€œOf course I’ll be all right,” she stated confidently, but after he’d gone she sucked in the breath she needed very badly and told her racing pulse to calmdown. Without question Zane had come on to her. She’d imagined all sorts of things happening today and this evening, but not that. And the turmoil in her system because of a few words of phony flattery scared the daylights out of her.
    What scared her even more,