The Texan's Contract Marriage by Sara Orwig Read Free Book Online Page A

star. I love opera. But I love Noah and I want what’s best for him.”
    “Then I think you’ll have to seriously consider my offer.”
    “I suppose I will,” she said, gazing beyond him, watching the splashing water in the fountain in the pool. “This is a beautiful place.”
    “This is my Dallas home. The best place is the ranch.”
    “I know very little about ranches.”
    He reached over again to take her hand. “Camille, Kern was drawn to you, and I feel certain he would have proposed. I think you and I can have a workable arrangement that will benefit Noah. I’ve tried to do what will benefit you. This million a year I’ve offered—your monthly allowance will be enough that you shouldn’t need to touch that money. You should be able to invest it and I can help you and make it grow. I want what will make you happy—as happy as I will be if you accept.”
    “Suppose you fall in love with someone later?”
    “Divorce still exists, but I don’t expect to fall in love again in my life. I gave my heart to Jillian.” He looked away, and she instantly regretted bringing up a subject that would open his wounds.
    This time she reached out to touch his arm, placing her hand on him. “Marek, I didn’t mean to cause you hurt.”
    He inhaled deeply. “Sometimes it just comes out of the blue, and I feel weak in the knees. Don’t apologize. You had no way of knowing.”
    “You talked about a physical relationship. I won’t have a lot of time, and I’m not about to jump into one when we’re strangers,” she said. “I did that once in my life, and I won’t do it again. Your brother charmed and captivated me that night. Now, a physical relationship will have to come later, maybe much later.”
    “I keep busy at the ranch and try to do the hard, physical jobs. That’s helped. Remember, we’ll be married. You’re a beautiful woman, Camille. You’re getting shortchanged here, but you’ve told me you don’t have time for a man in your life and I won’t be in the way or demand your time. A physical relationship will have to be mutual.”
    His answer reassured her. She smiled. “You’ll probably hope I’ll disappear for months on end.”
    One corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin that she realized was about the best he would do for a smile most of the time. “I won’t be hoping any such thing,” he said. “We can work out a schedule. You think about what you’d like for a schedule.”
    “I can’t even imagine. What about when I’m in New Mexico this summer?”
    “You decide what you want, and I’ll look at it and we’ll go from there.”
    She thought about all he had said to her as they sat in silence. “How different this might have been if Kern had lived,” she remarked, going from memories about Kern to thinking the two brothers were so different in looks, personalities, in nearly every way. The only similarity was their blood tie and their shared love of ranching.
    “I still think he would have proposed and done something to convince you to marry him. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave Texas, either, any more than I do.”
    She studied Marek’s handsome features. Mrs. Marek Rangel. The idea took her breath away and seemed totally impossible. Millions would be hers. She thought of all the things she could do for Noah and for her family. Marek would do so much for Noah that she wouldn’t have to factor in what she could do. It was staggering to try to deal with his proposal. But this was about so much more than money. It would give her a father figure for Noah. It would make him close with the Rangel family, and he would know ranching and a cowboy’s life. These were all things she wanted and the reason she had contacted Marek in the first place.
    She had to think about his offer, discuss it with her sisters and with her family. Silence stretched between them. He sat watching the fountain, sipping his iced tea. How much had his solitary life contributed to this proposal? To lose