Paper Marriage Proposition (Gage Brothers 1)

Nothing was impossible for a twisted mind like Halifax’s.

Christ, the man begged for it. And Landon was aching to give him what he deserved. Not here, not tonight, but the bastard had had it coming for a long, long time, and now the clock was ticking. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

The man had the balls to waltz into his engagement party and exchange words with his bride—just like he’d had the balls years ago to sleep with his wife.

Landon breathed out through his nose, attempting to focus, control his rage. Belatedly he noticed Beth’s bewilderment and felt his gut clench.

Searching for something to say other than the twisted things he wanted to do to the man, he gently stroked the top of her shiny blonde head with his hand, curving his palm around her skull and drawing her gaze to his. He had to do something, say something to comfort her. “Here I thought you’d met my mother.” He felt his lips curl upward.

She made a sound, like a laugh, then regarded him as if he’d just become a giant scorpion. “Landon, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Us…marrying…”

He shot her a get-serious look, then seized her chin in one hand and searched her gaze. A wrenching sensation slammed into his midsection. “Maybe I underestimated you,” he murmured. “You have feelings for him.”

“I have hate!”

“Then use it! Hang on to it, Bethany. Your hate will feed mine. You want me to be ruthless, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You want me to have no heart? To trample him to the ground?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want your child back?”

“Of course I do!”

“Smile then—and get out there with me. Let the reporters have a good look at my future wife.” He helped her to her feet, gritting his teeth as he felt his body respond when her breasts brushed against his chest on her way up.

She wiped at her face and straightened her shoulders, amazing him with how easily she composed herself. “I’m sorry, I’m not usually so emotional.”

“Hold your head high.”

“Okay.”

“Hold my hand.”

Her palm felt cool when she slipped it inside his, and he gave it a squeeze as he guided her around the corner. She walked easily beside him, but a hint of alarm still lingered in her voice. “Landon, I feel like all these people can see right through me. That they know this is a farce and that I have no clue who you are. I mean, do you like sports? Do you take your coffee black or—?”

“I like sports. And I like strong coffee.”

“I have mine with milk, two Splendas and cream.”

“Do me a favor, Beth?”

“What?”

“Just act like you love me.”

Six

Blinding camera lights exploded as they approached.

Beth put all her efforts into her smile and struggled to remember why she needed to fool all of these people. Look fabulous, Beth, look besotted, ecstatic, she thought, so ecstatic a judge won’t resist granting custody of David to such a dazzling couple.

Landon was greeting the press in a congenial tone when a brazen reporter elbowed himself forward, mike in hand. “Miss Lewis—how does your ex-husband feel about the wedding?”

Beth had not been prepared for that question. She and Landon had reviewed some facts in the car when she’d asked him for instructions on dealing with the press, and he’d said, “Whatever you do, don’t lie. Twist the truth however you want, but don’t lie, not to them. One lie will take your credibility, and then you’ll never get it back.”