The Temporary Mrs. King by Maureen Child Read Free Book Online

that?”
    He snapped, “I didn’t see any other way to get the property.”
    â€œYou’re out of your mind.”
    â€œNo, I’m not,” Sean said, reeling in the irritation starting to churn inside. “It’s a temporary thing. Two months and we’ll get a divorce. But the Kings will still have the land.”
    Lucas shook his head as if he couldn’t think of anything to say—which under other circumstances mighthave been funny. Rafe, on the other hand, wasn’t having that problem.
    â€œYou can’t do this, Sean,” he said tightly. “Getting married knowing you’re getting a divorce just isn’t—”
    â€œWhat,” he asked, “ right ?”
    â€œWhat I want for you,” his older brother finished pointedly. “When you get married it should damn well mean something.”
    Sean gritted his teeth and bit back the words he wanted to say. That getting married didn’t mean anything to some people. That he’d already tried marriage a long time ago and wasn’t interested in repeating that mistake. That the only reason he had agreed to this farce was so that his family could get what they needed—and because he had an escape clause written into the bargain.
    His brothers were happily married to wonderful women they each loved desperately. They would never understand Sean’s point of view. And why would they? His brothers didn’t know that Sean had already been married once before. In fact, no one knew about that very brief, very messy marriage and divorce and that was how he wanted it.
    Kings made mistakes, sure. But they didn’t talk about them and they for damn sure didn’t share their feelings about them. It had been Sean’s mistake, and he’d cleaned it up. Dredging it back up now wouldn’t serve any purpose at all.
    When he felt like he could speak without clenching his teeth even tighter, Sean said, “Don’t think of it as a marriage. Just a merger.”
    â€œDamn strange way to do business,” Lucas muttered.
    â€œStrange or not, we’re getting what we want out of it,” Sean told them. And that’s what he had to keep uppermost in his mind. This was for the Kings. For their future.Going into business on this hotel with their cousin Rico would take their construction company to an even higher level than where they already were and that was something that was worth any risk. “Walter’s going to have the deed to the property drawn up for our signatures before the wedding.”
    â€œWhich is when?” Rafe wanted to know.
    â€œBy the end of the week,” Sean said and swallowed hard as if there were a noose around his neck, tightening. Ridiculous. He had agreed to this, and he wouldn’t back out.
    â€œA week?” Lucas stared at him, stunned.
    â€œTell us when,” Rafe said. “We’ll be there.”
    â€œNo.” Sean shook his head, in spite of the throbbing behind his eyes.
    â€œWhat do you mean, no?” Lucas demanded, with a glance at Rafe to make sure he was just as pissed.
    He was.
    â€œOf course we’ll be there for you, you moron,” Rafe said. “We’re not going to let you do this on your own.”
    â€œDamn it, Rafe,” Sean said, “it’s not like this is the real deal. It’s business and that’s all it is.”
    â€œDoesn’t seem right not being there,” Lucas muttered. “We support each other. Always have. Always will.”
    He smiled in spite of everything, grateful for his brothers and the strong family ties they had. But love his brothers or not, he didn’t want them there for the wedding. There was just no point. And damned if he’d listen to Rafe and Lucas—or worse yet, Katie and Rose—giving him grief for doing what he knew he had to do.
    â€œIt’s fine,” Sean insisted, meaning every word. “It’ll be easier on me if