Page 42 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
“You’re loco. You’re smiling when you’ve lost a million, you’re getting a loveless marriage and you will be a dad overnight. You know nothing about babies,” Tony said. “I’ll manage.”
“He’s lost his mind,” Tony said, and the others agreed while Nick took some more good-natured kidding.
“You’re not scared or worried about this marriage, are you?” Jake asked.
“I’m not thrilled with what I have to do, but scared or worried to have a marriage of convenience with Grace and inherit my father’s fortune? No. I think this is going to work.”
Jake looked at Tony and they both nodded. “He’s done it,” Tony said.
“So we might as well accept the inevitable and toast him on succeeding in getting back his inheritance. That would have been a hell of a loss,” Jake said. All three men raised glasses and Nick raised his to touch each glass lightly.
“Here’s to success, Nick, and a rewarding bargain with Grace.”
“Thanks for the grudging wishes,” Nick said and sipped his martini. As he lowered his glass, Gabe stood. “I’m meeting a friend for dinner. I’ll see you guys later. Congratulations, Nick.”
“Thanks, Gabe. Keep in mind, the wedding is mid-January.”
“You’re not wasting any time,” Tony remarked as Gabe walked away.
“Nope, I’m not. There’s no reason to and that’s the first question from Dad—he wanted to make certain this wasn’t a long engagement. He’s talking to his attorney about his will as we speak. Now, will both of you be able to be there?”
As soon as they gave him affirmative answers, Nick set down his glass to get a quarter from his coat pocket. “Okay. I can’t choose between my lifelong closest friends, so I’ll flip a coin for best man unless one of you definitely doesn’t want the task.”
Again his friends exchanged a look and then Jake shrugged.
“Flip away, but you won’t hurt feelings if you make the choice without the coin. We’re too close and have been that way for too long to get bent out of shape. Especially after offering to flip.”
“We’ll flip first to see who calls it.” Nick flipped and the two men looked at each other waiting a second before Jake spoke. “Tails.”
They looked down at the coin. “Tony gets to call this time for best man.” Nick tossed the coin in the air.
“Tails,” Tony said as the quarter dropped to the table.
“It’s heads. Jake, you’re my best man if you want to be.”
“Sure. Thank you. I’m honored.”
“So am I even though I lost,” Tony said.
“So we’ll have another drink on me to say goodbye to your freedom. You have three weeks to back out. You really don’t have to have the money,” Jake said.
“Oh, yes, I do. I’m not letting that fortune get away. You two will marry in the next few years, so stop grousing over my marriage.”
“We’re not marrying in the next few years. I don’t plan to ever,” Jake said firmly.
“I don’t until I’m fifty. By then I’ll have enough sense and experience to continue to avoid the marriage trap,” Tony said.
“You cynical guys,” Nick said good-naturedly. “I’ll be astounded if one of you isn’t married or planning to marry before next year is up.”
“No way,” Tony protested.
“Just watch us,” Jake added.
“I will watch.” Nick grinned. “How about we order dinner now?” he asked, and their conversation shifted to basketball. He tried to pay attention though his thoughts constantly returned to Grace.
The first morning Clara was back in town, she went to Grace’s house to keep Michael. As she held Michael and Grace finished her coffee, Clara sat at the kitchen table and put Michael in a high chair to feed him breakfast.
“Grace,” she said, and dread filled Grace. “Why are you marrying Nick? When I left town before Christmas, you were totally against an arrangement like this.”
