Rule's Bride by Kat Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

he raced back to the breakfast room.
    â€œI was coming,” he said, holding up the ticket. “I bought this five days ago. The date is printed on the top.”
    He handed her the ticket and for the first time she looked uncertain. Clearly, she’d believed he’d never meant to live up to the bargain he had made.
    There were times he wasn’t sure himself.
    â€œStay for the next four weeks,” he urged. “Give us a chance to get to know each other. If you won’t do it for me, do it for your father.” It was hitting below the belt, but for some strange reason he was growing desperate.
    Violet stared down at the ticket, then looked up at him. Her chin tilted up. “All right, thirty days. Then I expect you to stand by your word.”
    Rule grinned, gouging grooves into his cheeks, and Violet glanced shyly down at her lap. She wasn’t immune to him, he could tell, and he certainly wasn’t immune to her.
    Thirty days, he told himself, praying he wouldn’t have to wait nearly that long to have her in his bed.
    All of a sudden, being married didn’t seem like such a bad idea after all.
    Â 
    â€œGood heavens, what did he say?” Caroline shot through the door of Violet’s bedroom, where she had retreated to consider what she had just done.
    â€œHe wants me to stay for a month. He says if I do, he’ll agree to the annulment.”
    Caroline’s fine blond eyebrows drew together. “He wants to stay married?”
    â€œThat’s what he says.” She glanced up. “He was coming to get me. He showed me the ticket he bought.”
    â€œBut you want to marry Jeffrey! The two of you have already discussed it!”
    â€œI told you, Rule said he would agree in thirty days. It’s either that or hire a lawyer, or barrister, or whatever they call them here. In the moment, it seemed the best solution.”
    â€œAnd now?”
    Violet sighed. “I should have pressed him harder, I suppose, but…”
    â€œYou have that funny look on your face…the one I saw three years ago when you told me you had decided to marry him. It was there when you walked down the aisle and Rule took your hand.”
    â€œYou’re mad. I don’t have a funny look on my face. I am merely trying to be sensible. I want an annulment. Rule wants thirty days to convince me we should stay married.”
    â€œHe loses his half of the company if the marriage goes unconsummated. Didn’t you tell me that?”
    She nodded. “That is probably the reason he is so determined. Half ownership of Griffin is worth a lot of money. But people marry for money all the time.”
    â€œYes, but you said you wanted to marry someone who loves you.”
    â€œI know. It’s just…”
    â€œJust what?”
    â€œWell, I promised my father and we are actually married, you know. What could it hurt to at least get to know him?”
    Caroline chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe you’re right. But we were supposed to spend the next few weeks with my grandmother—after you got him to agree. She hasn’t seen me since I was a little girl and she has been so looking forward to my visit. I have to go, Violet. That means you and Rule will be living in the house together alone.”
    She hadn’t thought of that. Or if she had, she hadn’t realized exactly what it would mean.
    She shrugged her shoulders, though she wasn’t feeling exactly nonchalant. “We’re married. It will hardly cause a scandal.”
    â€œI’m not talking about a scandal and you know it. The man is utterly delicious. Are you certain you can resist him?”
    Violet rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. Jeffrey loves me and he is expecting us to wed. I am trying to do this the easy way. And I feel as though I owe it to my father.”
    Caroline sighed. “I can stay another few days, but that’s all.”
    â€œI’ll be fine.