Interim Spouse
eling more like Cinderella
ers in a short receiving line
opes and dreams lay in this tant 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
addition to my sister, I h
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 hard
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