A Bought Bride Read online

  “Okay.” There was a twinkle in his eyes. “Let me ask you this. If you were to go on a trip in the next few days, where in the world would you like to go? I want you to make at least two choices.”

  “I don’t have the money to go on a trip. Since you know so much about me, I’m sure you know I’m broke. I couldn’t get more than a hundred miles from Greensboro with every penny I have at the moment.”

  “Forget the money. Say I gave you a blank check and told you it had to be used on your dream trip. Where would you go? Japan? Rome? Paris? Hawaii? Where?”

  “Okay, I’ll play your game.” She closed her eyes a minute. “Let me see. If the world was in a more stable condition, I think I’d like to go to Egypt and see the pyramids and dart into the Holy Land and see the places I’ve read about in the Bible.” She took a deep breath. “Since I probably wouldn’t feel safe there, I think I’d choose to go to a beautiful secluded Caribbean Island where I could laze in the sun, drink those fruity drinks with umbrellas and have one of those handsome cabana boys serve and pamper me.” She blushed and cut a piece of her fish. “This is ridiculous. You know I’ll never have a vacation like this.”

  “Cabana boys, huh?”

  “I’ve only seen something like that in TV commercials. It seems these beautiful women are always lounging on beaches being served by handsome men.” She smiled. “With what I’m able to afford I’d probably end up with a broken plastic lounge chair on a dirty beach, and the only service I’d get would be from the police telling me to move along.”

  He laughed out loud. “Sorry, I was just imagining you lugging a broken chair, and with a cop nipping at your heels.”

  “Well at least I’d be at the beach. I might have to look at it from a jail cell, but I’d be there.”

  “So you think a nice tropical beach would make you happy.”

  “What have I been saying? Of course it would. But as I said before, I’ll never have the money to take a vacation like that.”

  “And as I said before, if you take this job, you’ll have unlimited amounts of money.”

  “If you’re telling me the truth and as long as I don’t have to do anything illegal, I’m ready to sign on.” She looked at him again. “Now, are you going to tell me what I signed on for?”

  He nodded. “Ever heard of Kincade Department Stores?”

  “Of course. I shop their sales. I can’t afford to buy at their regular prices.”

  “Since you’ve signed on for this job, you’ll be able to walk into any of their stores in any city and walk out with as much merchandise as you want. It won’t have to be on sale either.”

  “How in the world…wait a minute. Your last name is Kincade. Don’t tell me you have an interest in those stores.”

  “I do.”

  “What are you? The recruiter or something?”

  “I own them.”

  “All of them?” Her eyes grew wide.

  “Yes, all 128 of them.”

  She stared at him. “I do have retail experience from working at Fran’s. Am I going to be working for your stores?”

  He shook his head. “No. You’ll have an interest in them, though.”

  “If I’m not working there, how will I have an interest?”

  He looked into her eyes and paused for several seconds. Finally he said, “As my wife, you’ll have access to all of them.”

  She dropped her fork and stared at him as if he were crazy. “What do you mean your wife?”

  “I want you to marry me, Jillian.”

  She folded her napkin, put it on the table and stood. “I think you’ve lost your mind. I’ve got to get out of here.”

  He reached out and touched her arm. “Please hear me out. If you don’t like what I have to say, then you’re free to go. All I ask at this moment is that you give me ten minutes.”

  Though she knew she should get out while she could, she was curious. Besides the touch of his hand on her arm made her tingle inside. It was the first time she’d tingled in a long time. She eased back into the chair. “Okay, I’ll give you ten minutes.”

  “Thank you.” He smiled at her and took a deep breath. “My father was a good man, but a very eccentric one. He always wanted to control everyone around him, especially me. Now he’s doing it from the grave.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I went through a couple of bad marriages and Father always said it was because I chose the wrong women. He tolerated my first wife, but hated my second one. I wasn’t madly in love with either, nor they with me, but my first wife was a nice woman and she gave me a beautiful daughter. Our marriage probably would’ve lasted if she’d lived. She was in the throes of childbirth with our second child, a boy, when she went into cardiac arrest. They brought her back a couple of times, but it didn’t last. She and my son both died.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her eyes softened.

  “Thank you. After that, I vowed I’d never fall in love again. Oh, I went out with women, but I never let one get close to me. Father kept telling me the women I brought in were only after my money, but I didn’t see it that way. I ended up married a second time. Of course, my father was right. She only wanted my money and it cost me a fortune to rid myself of her. After that, I decided I’d only have lovers for the rest of my life. My father didn’t like this at all and that’s the reason I want you to marry me. In his will, he sat down the exact qualifications a woman must have and he wrote that I had to marry this woman within four months of his death. He’s been dead almost three and a half months now.”

  “So, what happens if you don’t get married?”

  “I lose control of Kincade Department stores. I can still work there, but the decision maker will be my younger brother, Gordon. My brother is not the type to be the head of a department store chain. He’ll run the business into the ground in a short time.”

  “Are you saying you’re willing to marry a stranger to save your company?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  “Are you talking about a marriage in name only?”

  He hesitated a moment then said, “No, Jillian, I’m not. My father stipulated the marriage had to be consummated. We have to have sex at least one time. I’m to share the master suite in our home with my wife as well. Being in such close proximity, I’m sure I’d want to have sex occasionally, but as I said, to fulfill my father’s will it only has to happen once. Any other times would be up to you and me.”

  Jillian glanced at her half-eaten dinner. She couldn’t help wondering if this handsome and appealing man was a lunatic.

  When she said nothing, he went on, saying, “If it would make you feel better about what I’m saying, I’ll be glad to show you a copy of Father’s will. I brought one with me to check off the characteristics he said my wife had to possess.”

  “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “I agree with you. The other man you met yesterday is my attorney. He tried to get me out of it, but he couldn’t and I don’t have the time for him to keep trying. In a couple of weeks it’ll all be over.”

  “Then why have you waited so long to find a wife?”

  “I haven’t waited, Jillian. This is the fourth North Carolina town I’ve come to. I thought I’d found the right woman in Charlotte, but come to find out, she was born in Ohio. The will states clearly that she must be born in North Carolina.”

  “But of all the women I saw waiting for interviews yesterday…”

  “None of them worked out. The other two I met with today are barely passable. You’re the only perfect candidate.”

  “What would you expect of me?” She eyed him, wondering if he had kinky sexual habits. Her husband’s bed hadn’t been satisfying, but at least Roman was a normal man and didn’t expect her to do bizarre things. She had always wondered if he had girlfriends that did them for him.

  “You can set your own rules. As I said, we’d have to consummate the marriage, but I won’t rush you. It doesn’t have to be
done right away.”

  “At least that’s something,” she mumbled.

  “I will tell you there’s a way out. We have to stay married at least a year, but then either, or both of us, can dissolve the marriage. You would then get a million dollar settlement.”

  It seemed she could do nothing but stare at him. She wouldn’t know how to handle a million dollars, but she wasn’t about to say so at this point. She had to decide about his sanity first.

  He smiled at her. “There’s one other thing. I know you didn’t have the kind of relationship with your husband that you hoped for. I promise you this, when we have sex you’ll say it was good. I know how to please a woman.”

  Jillian blushed.

  “I’m sorry, but I think we should talk about these things beforehand. I don’t expect you to come to me without reservations. You don’t know me or the kind of man I am. These are only words to you now, but I want you to know I’ll never use or abuse you. As long as we’re married, you’ll have anything money can buy and also my deepest respect. I’ll make sure you have it from everyone I know, too.”

  When she continued to stare at him, he reached in his inside coat pocket. “I took the liberty of making this out to you as a show of good faith.” He handed her a check.

  She glanced at it and her eyes got big. “Twenty-five thousand dollars. Why?”

  “I want you to know I’m on the level. I also want you to know that if you refuse my proposal, this is a gift for your silence about the matter.” He reached in his pocket again. “In the event you say yes, I want you to wear this.” He slid a red velvet box toward her.

  Jillian opened it and looked at the most exquisite diamond ring she’d ever seen. She looked up at him. “What’s to keep me from leaving here with this ring and this check and you never seeing me again?”

  “Not a thing, but I know you won’t do it.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “You may not know the kind of man I am, but I’ve checked deep enough into every aspect of your life to know what kind of woman you are. You’d never do anything like take my money and run.”

  She shrugged. “You’re right. No matter how much I need the money, I wouldn’t do that.”

  After another pause he said, “I think I’ve given you a lot to think about. Though I’d like to have your answer now, I’m willing to take you home and let you mull it over tonight. I’ll come by in the morning and you can give me your answer.” He swallowed. “I’ll have to have it then. If you say no, I’ve got to go back to one of the other two women I met with today. I can’t lose my stores.”

  * * * *

  Jillian was still in a daze when she got ready for bed. How could she consider something as preposterous as marrying a stranger? But considering it she was. Not only would it be wonderful to rid herself of all her financial obligations, but she would be able to help her beloved aunt. And whether she wanted to admit it or not, Quinton Kincade, III was a handsome and intriguing man. There could be worse things in the world than marring a wealthy handsome man, no matter what the circumstances. She clicked off the light and slid into bed.

  Chapter 4

  The woman who came to Quinton’s hotel room at ten o’clock that night was a beauty. He couldn’t help wondering how, after John couldn’t find him a woman last night, he was able to send this lovely creature tonight. She had long black hair and pale blue eyes and a perfect little figure. She was dressed in low-riding designer jeans and a close-fitting pink sweater which left nothing to the imagination. She reached up and pulled her raven hair back and her sweater slipped upward revealing a gold belly-button ring. For an instant he wondered if she was eighteen and he realized the last thing he needed was to be caught with a minor.

  Maybe it was intuition, or maybe his good sense kicked in, but Quinton felt something wasn’t on the up and up with this young lady. He smiled at her and said, “I’m sorry, Miss, but I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding.”

  “This is room 612 isn’t it?”

  “It is, but I’m afraid somebody gave you some wrong information. I didn’t expect company.”

  She cocked her head and gave him a pouty smile. “Even if I got the info wrong, maybe we could take advantage of the mistake. After all, you’re a good-looking man and from what I see in your pants you must think I’m pretty, too.”

  Everything in him wanted to go along with her suggestion, but he still had that strange feeling. Quinton seldom ignored those warning bells in his head. The few times he’d not listened, he’d lived to regret it. He didn’t want to regret it tonight.

  “I’m sorry, Miss. I’m sure it would be nice, but I think you should leave now. Go tell whoever sent you they gave you the wrong room number.”

  “Let me get a little closer and see if you still want me to go.” She reached for him.

  He backed up a little and was thankful because if she’d touched him he might have given in. “I’m sorry, Miss, but I said no.”

  She looked as if she was going to cry. “Aren’t you going to give me some money for my trouble?”

  “No, I’m not. Go tell your contact he has to pay for his mistake. I’m tired and I want to go to bed.”

  “Alone?” She batted her eyes at him.

  “Yes, alone.” He moved to the door and opened it. He put his hand on her back and eased her out of the room. “Thank you for coming.”

  He closed the door and locked it then went into the bathroom, stripped and took a cold shower. All the time he was wondering if he’d passed up a good thing.

  * * * *

  The next morning he met John in the lobby.

  “I sent for Calvin to bring the limo around. Did Jillian say yes?”

  “I gave her until this morning to make up her mind. I’m going to see her and get the answer now.”

  “Shall I call the other two?”

  “Not yet. Let me have a firm answer from her first.”

  John nodded and followed Quinton toward the door. “By the way, I’m sorry I couldn’t come up with a woman for you last night.”

  Quinton gave him a sharp look. “What happened?”

  “I mentioned it to the desk clerk and he said he’d see what he could do. I never heard from him.” John followed Quinton out the front door and they stood on the sidewalk. “I heard something interesting in the bar later last night, though.”

  “What was that?”

  “A little black-headed beauty came in and sat in the booth behind me with some men. I heard her tell them it didn’t work. The man sent her out of his room and refused to give her any money or let her take any clothes off.”

  “And?”

  “I nosed around a little and found out the desk clerk is only part time. He’s really a cop. Good thing I didn’t set up anything with him because it seems he called them and told them someone had asked for a prostitute. They tried to run a sting.” He grinned at Quinton. “Wouldn’t happen to be your room the woman came to was it?”

  “You know damn good and well it was. I had a feeling there was something fishy going on. I sent her away.”

  “I’m glad your instinct was on warp speed last night. I don’t know if I could’ve done that. The lady cop was a looker.”

  Quinton chuckled. “I liked her looks, too. Took two cold showers to get rid of the evidence.”

  “I don’t know how you do it, boss. You’ve made some wise decisions living by instinct.” He grinned. “What’s it telling you about this morning’s conversation with Ms. Lockland?”

  The limo pulled up. The driver jumped out and opened the door for Quinton. As he was getting inside he said, “I have a feeling I’ll be married by tomorrow and my wife’s name will be Jillian.”

  John gave him the thumbs up sign as the driver closed the door. In an instant, the car pulled away.

  Chapter 5

  At one in the afternoon Jillian sat on the deck of her small second-floor apartment with a glass of iced tea. She was too nervous to eat any lunch. She wondered
if she’d made a colossal mistake, but she knew she wouldn’t back out now. The plan was in motion.

  Quinton was at her door at eight this morning. The minute she’d told him she’d marry him to save his department stores, he got on the phone and instructed his attorney to send regrets to the other two applicants and to pay all the bills they’d discovered Jillian owed. He also told him to handle the lease on the apartment and to make sure any unforeseen things that came up were taken care of.

  He then told her to take the morning and go to her friend’s boutique, and any other store she wanted, to buy several outfits to take with her to Las Vegas, where he said they’d marry this evening. He gave her a credit card with an astronomical limit and said he’d be back shortly after lunch. He even offered her the limo, but she said she knew where she wanted to go and she’d drive her own car, though it was ten years old.

  Jillian dressed and headed to town before the stores opened. Her first stop was Fran’s place. She let herself in with a key and started selecting items before Fran arrived.

  “What’s going on?” Fran came in and looked at the stack of lingerie and other clothes Jillian had placed on the counter.

  “I’m buying some things, Fran. I’m getting married and I need them.”

  “Married. Who the hell are you marrying?” Fran looked stunned.

  “You haven’t met him.” She held up a pair of slacks. “Do you think these will be all right to wear on the plane?”

  “Where are you going on a plane?”

  “I’m eloping to Las Vegas.”

  “So, who are you eloping with?” Fran continued to stare at her friend. “And why haven’t I heard about him before now?”

  “I had to keep it a secret, Fran.”

  “Why? You and I have shared secrets ever since tenth grade.”

  “I know, but this time I thought it better to wait and tell you. Now how about the slacks? Are they okay and what should I get to wear with them?”

  “They’re okay, but the beige silk ones over here are prettier. They won’t wrinkle like the linen ones.” She pulled a peach colored cashmere sweater from the rack. “This will be beautiful with them and it would be good for a plane ride. Now that we have the outfit selected, tell me about this man you’re going to marry.”