Interim Spouse

eling more like Cinderella

ers in a short receiving line

opes and dreams lay in this t

ant and made a wish, a wish

their hea

the Cinder

her eyes, realizing she’d r

was the most beautiful

y black, pulled away from

ere huge and a clear, rich am

n their depths. She held out

’m Ella M

easure to meet you.” She

eresting to look like this

Mrs. Marsh had once called

e to intimidate her, certain

price. Even beauty, judging

f this evening,” she murm

he velvet-lined basket she he

floors. Buffet-style dinners a

ur enjoyment. Once you find

s off the main ballroom. I

en who can assist you. Th

o you can’t

ed and moved further down

expressions as guilele

oman said in greeting, ta

ague. And this is m

r shoulder at Ella, a mesm

en back at the Montagues.

tentat

ta confirmed cheerfully. “A

en

ike wrens. They’re quick

o say for t

t a lovely description

ook hold of Wynne’s hand

lly tonight. Only

im,” Wynne hastened to sa

y b

a’s eyes. “I’m so pleased.

ll see you ag

Wynne asked

Anniversary Ball. All tho

ted to celebrate their f

“Then I’ll see you again

canned the crowd for coal-bla

ad sho

nd her hus

and watched the crowd with w

ssed since he’d arrived—fou

t of lust-crazed bull in a f

ospect to show for it. Oh,

size. But they’d all come wit

alone had a hope in

as interested in a te

ched just then. It didn’t t

f his bank account than in ma

d never sign his prenuptial

her he wasn’t interested in

, a redhead replaced her. She

took every ounce of gumpti

introduced herself a

e Ho

nded as she scrambled fo

usband,” she fi

m looking for a wife.”She stared at him in dismay, b

re was a mistake.” A hint o

orry to waste your time. It’s

I thought…

gusty sigh, afraid that if h

urst into tears. “You

little shrug. “Is

ng for a temporary w

“Yes. As a matter of fact

she relaxed minutely. “I

ent in t

ooty eyebrow.

band long enough to conv

rie

py,

eyes narrowed. “You can

at before adding, “If you’r

ell open. “

d and bedded to inherit my

p in court and admit as much

. “Can you h

t over. If she hadn’t clai

ve brushed her off. One gla

o beautiful—as lovely as his

learned nothing else in his

ful women a wide berth. For

work since the day she’d tum

n a ranch as a si

out of options. He could

the parlor and look as gorge

bed. Check that. So long

wifely duty before the ju

nes

” he p

no othe

d no other conditio

ddition to my sister, I hav

e loving-husband whenever

henever my fa

re were you planning on co

rriage o

” she answ

to run. I need my wife l

ed my husband living with

smile. “This isn’t

t look

fered her hand again. “

easier from here on out.” W

ed into t

you?” a friendly voice

both intrigued and irritat

I thought I got r

movement drawing his atte

ers, her short, layered hair

ture he’d seen in a long

lean and delic

she replied, not in the

“I’m pe

the corners of his

acio

es

ermi

ing

him. “In that case

m afraid of,” h

de, she gave him a sympath

ck

h. How a

ven up yet. These

ething we’re fast

rtuna

from her eyes and peeked

element of both caution and

pit it out, munchkin

d offered an engaging smi

rselves. I’m

—they each had a fey, alm

replied with no

d. “I’m starved. Why don’t

me what it is you

t ground,” he said, a bard

arrangement. Yo

said, correcting him. “But

t someone who’s not afrai

e first gu

blow away. And as for ha

marred by calluses, the ski

bucket of s

event an exclamation of fu

ke the redhead’s hands, silk

elf worked hard for a livin

You want a gentle warrior,”

to g

minelike grin

h pointed finalit

he stood quietly at his sid

ess was made of some sort o

tch for her eyes. The V-ne

savage urge to steal her away

with those curves—curves, h

f a lot softer

d her in a harsh undertone.

nd fo

his breath. “If you won’t

e?” sh

l that pale, velvety skin b

o his? He gritted his teeth.

de of?

t the words and grabbed h

the buffet