Paper Marriage Proposition (Gage Brothers 1)

Feeling himself smile, he signaled to his adjoining office. Trust was important to him. His brothers trusted him, his mother, his employees—and soon enough Bethany would trust him, he’d make sure of it. “We should get down to business.”

“By all means.” Swiftly on her feet, she clutched her purse and followed him into the wood-paneled office. “Revenge awaits.”

They were smiling as they walked. Smiling, together. And suddenly the thought of living with her and not having her was intolerable, not an option.

This little Buffy the Husband Slayer was going to be his wife, and he was making her his woman. This little thing thirsty for revenge would get her deepest desire from Landon, delivered on a silver platter—Halifax on a tray with an apple in his mouth—and Landon would take his own justice one step further.

Bethany, her son, Halifax’s family…

Would be Landon’s.

“I’m organizing a celebration tonight at La Cantera.” He moved behind his desk and derived a purely male satisfaction at the approval in her gaze. “I’m fairly certain it would help your image to be seen at a small, tasteful gathering to announce our engagement. Wouldn’t you?”

She took a seat across from his and thoughtfully considered. “I agree,” she then said, crossing her legs. “Yes. And when would the wedding be?”

Beautiful slim legs. Damn, what were they talking about? The wedding, right.

“Friday at city hall works for you?”

“Of course,” she said, her teeth white behind her smile.

Landon had to tear his eyes away from her, as he punched the intercom button on his phone. “Donna, are my brothers available? I’d like them to come in.”

“I’ll get them.”

It was important for his fiancée to get better acquainted with his brothers before the press flocked around them tonight. Thankfully, within minutes, his efficient assistant led both men inside. They wore their best, politest smiles.

“Donna,” Landon said as he started toward Beth. “Have the car ready in three minutes.”

“Right away, sir.”

He shot both men a “behave” look past Beth’s shoulders and then grasped her arm to lead her forward. “Bethany, you met Garrett, didn’t you?”

“Yes, he seemed very nice.”

“He’s not.” Landon brought her over to Jules. “Julian John, Bethany Lewis.”

“A pleasure,” drawled Julian as they shook hands.

Landon bent his he

ad to hers. “He’s not nice, either, Bethany.”

She grinned.

And when that white grin reached his eyes, Landon thought: I’m good as dead, just like Halifax.

This isn’t going so bad, Beth thought, relieved as Landon led her through the halls of the executive floor of the San Antonio Daily toward the elevator bank. Not so bad at all.

True, they hadn’t yet discussed their plan in detail, but it didn’t matter. Beth knew a lot of things about Hector. Little rocks to toss in his path. Big boulders, rather.

She couldn’t wait to watch him trip.

“They’re my brothers but they drive me mad. It’s a chemical thing,” Landon said.

As people stared in their direction from their cubicles, Beth frowned. Did they know she was marrying their boss soon? Did they know it was a farce?

“Your clothes are in the car?” Landon asked then.