Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

The truth I had to face was that while I still believed Simon was a greedy opportunist, he wasn’t totally wrong about how things had turned out in Salvation. Ryder did play the gig event though it was for his sister’s mayoral opponent. Simon said money trumped all, but Ryder was a good person, there had to be more to the story there.

He shrugged as he leaned his forearm on the bar. “I nearly left.”

“Why didn’t you?” God, I wanted him to tell me that Simon had threatened him with something heinous.

“For one, I made a commitment. Two, I needed the money.”

My heart sank. “Money. So, he’s right. Money trumps everything. Even love.”

Ryder frowned. “I didn’t say that.”

“You just said you needed the money. You had to know it was betraying your sister. I can’t imagine that Trina was okay with it.”

He studied me for a moment. “I did it for Trina and the baby. And while I was sure Sinclair would bust my balls for it, I knew she’d understand and in the end support it. After, I used Stark’s money to make sure he couldn’t buy this place.”

I sat up and smiled. “Beat him at his own game.”

“Right. The problem with Stark is that he’s so sure that money is all anyone wants, that he underestimates the power of love and family.” He grabbed a towel and wiped the counter where a man two stools down had just left. “Take that whole deal with the Mayor and Brooke. He thought he’d get one over on the Mayor by exploiting Brooke’s father’s financial problems. What he didn’t anticipate was how much the mayor cared for Brooke’s father and Brooke.”

I nodded.

“And that thing with Holly, bringing Rick back. Again, he saw love as a weapon, and it backfired because you can’t fake love. Not the real thing. It’s sad really.”

“Rick?”

“Well him too, but Stark. I mean, the guy has a lot going for him, but he’s hell bent on being an a-one asshole.”

“True.”

“In all your research, do you know why?” Ryder asked with genuine interest.

I considered telling him that Simon hadn’t always been like that. Or maybe he had. Maybe that kind part of him wasn’t real. I don’t know why he’d be faking it five years ago, but since his reaction to my pregnancy, I hadn’t seen the old Simon. Well, I had a glimpse for a moment when he was touching me.

No, I reminded myself. That was my mind playing tricks on me.

“Poor little rich boy, I suppose,” I said. “His parents weren’t involved in his life.”

“Ah man, that sucks.”

I looked at Ryder in surprise. “It doesn’t give him the right to be a jerk and hurt people.”

“No, but there’s nothing like family. It’s sad when people don’t have that, don’t you think?”

I suppose I wasn’t surprised by his compassion and I had to agree. I had my mother and Mason. Simon had no one except the people he hired.

“Speak of the devil.” Ryder nodded toward the door.

I turned and saw Simon enter. When he saw me, surprise shone on his face, but then he made a b-line to me.

I was wrong. This day could still get worse. I stood up and tossed money on the bar, ready to make my exit.

“Thanks Ryder.”

“Want your change?”

“Nope.” I started to the door, but Simon stopped me.

“Don’t go. I have a proposition for you.”