Interim Spouse

crowds, calling himself e

n around him. But he found

e unquestioning faith he re

der his wing and ensure that

reaction. He only knew that

of her—and of the men stal

ght her on the verge of selec

d been mule-kicked

he decided. He didn’t know

that marriage represented sa

ality. If he married her, she’

lized that marriage didn’t so

ly too happy for an o

eeble attempts to rationaliz

hat he cared about just two

s bed. He wanted her. He wa

ssion. Most of all, he wanted herto continue gazing up a

doration

him worthy of either. And

onin

way to the dining area, sta

never seen so much food in

k-covered tables, piled h

spared no expense. His mouth

for tickets to this ridiculo

nt s

asked, amused by the hungr

con

answered promptly. “Let’

usement, amazed that he

about ca

ithely. “I find plenty o

ring if she meant that to s

probed, handing her a c

e slice of fudge cake. “Ver

ssion determinedly frank.

worked as a waitress and d

mor

As for his innuendo, she

naive. He frowned. Or wa

e couldn’t handle that. Vi

ins expected forever. He

was getting into. Someon

ital duties and would then h

Judge

away from him witho

, anyway?” he as

nty-

f. Twenty-six. That was en

rgins left in the world. St

ent and fresh that made him f

ou ever slept with a ma

e near as stunned as the

ad to one side and blinked

thout qu

y tart onto her plate. “Well

three

is plate. Damnation. Thr

unity to lure his little el

. Instead he felt murde

es

ad the truth in her eyes. T

ere they blind, stupid, or jus

is head toward an open do

to talk. I want to

toward the desserts they’d

doors and into the garde

ng chill barely penetrating.

a full moon splashing the pat

Tables and benches were re

to the garden, Jake

arry,” he began peremptori

ta

ng softly in the subdued s

afraid you were going to ask

l of rum cake. “I don’t sup

ng his plate to one side. “

er marry or I lose it.” His

you know, I don’t

ared at him in astonished d

pinning her with a look of

tance and you thi

ou don’t u

lain it s

o. And the only way I can

Quite a coincidence

ing it a little too conveni

anent marriage?” h

e to be permanent. It’s jus

y—something he suspected sh

an. Mrs. Marsh. She wants

away from me.” She frowned,

hree fiancés. That’s why I

elp me f

previous fiancés sounded l

n of keeping. All so they cou

are easy,” Jake commented. “

my

ou’d say that. Which le

distracted by the more pl

aiting her trap. A trap he’d

without a price. “What’s you

. But I don’t know how lon

er that she can’t take my

stand. Once yo

Legally. But if she find

. She’ll try to get her hands

e marriage wa

ave to make sure she doesn

lip. “If she does, I guess

ban

urge of displeasure her comm

ulfilled her marital duty, it

p get rid of this Marsh wom

aware their deal wasn’t the le

, someone who’d stick aroun

ould never b

said in a low voice. He st

take another look around. M

manent sor

smiled. “I’ve already

ce to escape. If she stayed,

nd he could take her with a

ly. “Go now, while you still

I’ll only

t me,” she said, lif

hands closed on the narrow

o his arms. “Why

any longer, he took