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

his brother and his fiancée—the two people he was closest to and loved—that would be devastating for anyone. She could see why he had latched on to Noah so swiftly.
    She studied his profile, his full black hair and thickly lashed eyes. What if she married him and fell in love with him? She didn’t want that distraction to her career. Even worse, Marek wouldn’t return her love, and that would be devastating. There were no doubts he would be agreeable to a physical relationship, but anything more? She believed what he said, that he would never love again. The pictures of Jillian had been breathtakingly beautiful.
    “I guess I should go home and think about this. We’ve discussed it tonight, and I’m at least getting adjusted to thinking about your offer.”
    “Good,” he said, giving her a bigger smile. “You’ll have to give up Noah sometimes, but you’ll be busy. You would have to anyway because of your career.”
    She nodded and stood. “I think I really should go.”
    He stood to take her arm. His slight touch caused another jump in her pulse. “I’ll see you home. Take as long as you need to consider my proposal and to talk to your family about it. When would you like to go out again?”
    “Tomorrow I want to be with family. This is Friday. I’d prefer to wait until Tuesday to see you,” she said, thinking this would also give her time to talk to her attorney. “This will send my sisters into orbit. If I accept your proposal, our lives will have major changes.”
    “Not anything you can’t live with, I hope. I tried to find something that would benefit all of us.”
    Marek climbed into the limousine with her. As the limo pulled away, her gaze roamed over the colonial house with massive Corinthian columns along the front porch. This would be her home, too, if she married him. Dazed, she couldn’t envision that ever happening.
    “Your parents will be all right with our marriage if I accept?” she asked as the limo drove through the tall iron gates.
    “I’m a grown man. Yes, I expect them to be all right with it. They’ve made a life for themselves in California and are busy all the time with social and charitable activities. Dad plays golf and recently fell and broke his ankle, so he’s on crutches right now, which will slow him down about traveling to Texas. My mom hates to fly and they usually drive, but that’s out until Dad’s ankle heals.”
    “I’m sorry about that.”
    “You’ll definitely pass inspection. Although they loved Jillian. They were heartbroken over the crash besides being so hurt over the loss of Kern.”
    “That’s understandable.”
    “I’ve thought this proposal over. You’re beautiful, and you’re a rising opera star. They sounded impressed.”
    “This is their first grandson. Is that correct? Your sister has two girls.”
    “That’s right. My parents are not into grandchildren as much as a lot of parents or they wouldn’t live over a thousand miles away.”
    “So your sister is the person you’ll be concerned about. I assume she’s happy with this.”
    “She doesn’t know about it yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”
    “Have you told Mr. Grayson?”
    “Yes, I discussed it with him. Jess approves.”
    “That surprises me. You’re very close to him, aren’t you?”
    “Sometimes I think he’s more my dad than my own father. He taught me a lot about the ranch. He’s been around as far back as I can remember. I’m closer to him than I am to my parents. They were always busy, but Jess had time for me and Kern. Actually, for Ginny, too, but she didn’t hang out with him when she became a teenager. I did a lot. Now Jess is a best friend, maybe sometimes still a dad.”
    “You can’t beat that combination,” she said, smiling at him. “I’m glad you have someone like that even though no one can take away your grief or replace your brother. But your sister may not be happy to see you marry without love.”
    “Ginny will adjust. She knows