Page 27 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
“I think your brain has stopped functioning.”
“I’ve thought about it. A marriage of convenience—I legally adopt my nephew. We end the sham marriage after Dad’s gone. The marriage puts a crimp in my life for only a little while.”
“Suppose your dad recovers fully and is here another twenty years? You’d be married to a woman you don’t love and vice versa, raising your brother’s child. The last wouldn’t be bad, but the other terrible. Don’t do it.”
“We could divorce. She’d get the benefits of the Rafford money because she would be part of the family.”
“You’d have to share the fortune.”
Nick shrugged. “Not really. I’ll be Dad’s heir because I’ll agree to make Michael and Grace my beneficiaries. She’s not a gold digger or she would have gone after Dad’s money when she had the chance. If something happens to Dad and then to me—I don’t have heirs anyway.”
Jake tilted his head, his deep blue-eyed gaze intent. “I guess you have a point there. Michael is Bart’s child, so that would be good. You’ll make your dad happy.”
“Yes. If I can talk Grace into this.”
“She’d be crazy to turn you down.”
“She’s independent as hell and fighting to keep us from latching on to Michael. She’s scared of losing him.”
“She’s his mother and he’s actually been her baby from the start from what you’ve told me,” Jake said. “I guess I can see how you came up with the idea, but a loveless marriage is scary as hell. Marriage is scary as hell. Look at our dads and their failed marriages and the misery it gave everyone.”
“It’ll be a cut-and-dried business deal,” Nick said, thinking about Grace’s kisses. “Sort of.”
“Not exactly cut-and-dried,” Jake replied in a sarcastic tone. “I saw her. Sparks were flying between the two of you when you didn’t know each other. There won’t be anything cut-and-dried about a marriage to her. She’s hot,” Jake said. “You’ll sink like you’re in a tar pit.”
Nick grinned as he shook his head. “I don’t think you can compare her to a tar pit, and you’re right about hot. No, I guess it might turn out to be exciting.”
“Watch out, Nick. You’re going to complicate your life terribly. You’ll also lose a million dollars in that bet we made.”
“I can stand the million. I don’t want to lose my dad’s fortune.”
“I don’t blame you. No matter how old they get, our dads can’t stop trying to manipulate everyone around them. That’s one reason you and Tony and I got to be close friends—shoved together first by our dads and then sticking together because we all had the same kind of dad—driven, controlling.”
“If you stop and think about it, we’re probably somewhat that way ourselves now.”
“I hope to hell not,” Jake said, with a dark look at Nick. “Are you telling Tony this harebrained scheme of yours?”
“If I see him, I will.”
“Well, I don’t think any of us, you included, can say a marriage of convenience would work. Even to a woman like you have in mind. We three know firsthand the likelihood of a successful marriage. At least in the circles we’ve moved in. I suppose if you go into it with low expectations, you won’t be disappointed.”
“I have high expectations of getting back in Dad’s will. That’s my prime goal. Grace and I should be able to develop a workable arrangement and she won’t be hanging on me, falling in love with me.”
“Suppose you fall in love—I don’t need to ask that one. You won’t. I know you as well as I know myself. No such thing will happen. We were disillusioned long ago.”
“If you’re through eating, we might as well head to the poker game. Tony may be there by now,” Nick said, drinking the last of his water and standing. As the two men left the luxurious club dining room, Nick fell into step beside Jake in the hallway.
“By the way, are you going to the private horse sale at the Jenkins ranch next month?” Nick asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it. Tad Jenkins has the best horses around.”
“I agree. We’ll be bidding against each other,” Nick said, and Jake grinned.
“I won’t bid if you start first and you don’t if I start first—how’s that?” Jake suggested.
“Sounds okay. Every horse he sells will be prime horseflesh.”
“You’ll miss it if you’re on a honeymoon.”
