be passed down to his first-born grandson, and my dad was forced to adhere to that request. But then he added a condition that would allow me to continue to run this place only if I did his bidding.”
She was almost afraid to ask. “Such as?”
“I have to get married before my thirty-eighth birthday. If not, controlling interest reverts to my half brother Fort who doesn’t give a tinker’s damn about this place. He’s so ate up with anger he’d like to see all of us fail.”
So now she knew why that milestone held so much importance with the mothers. And she suspected she knew the reason behind the spontaneous proposal. “Am I correct in assuming you want me to prevent that from happening by entering into a bogus marriage?”
He scowled. “When you put it that way, it makes me sound like a jerk. But after I met you yesterday and learned about your current situation, I figured it would benefit us both.”
“How am I going to benefit from a lie?”
“Financially.”
She’d begun to feel a bit like the prostitute Maria had believed her to be. “Marriage for money. Interesting. And out of the question.”
“Will you at least hear me out?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. But first, I have to know one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“How could you put that much faith in this plan when you know so little about me?”
He paused for a brief moment. “Your parents are Howard and Sheila Reynolds. You were born in San Diego thirty-two years ago on November second. You graduated from a prestigious college, worked for an equally prestigious firm in Nevada and you married Peter L. Smith in Vegas eight years ago. I didn’t find any record of your divorce though.”
She was floored he’d gained so much information in such a short time. “I have the documents although they’re in Spanish, and a photo of the book where the registrar recorded the divorce. And exactly when did you do this background check on me?”
“I couldn’t sleep last night so I did an internet search. This morning I called a friend who’s in security. He took it from there.”
Security meant criminal history. Momentary panic set in. “Did he find anything interesting?”
“Nope. Not one felony or misdemeanor or even a speeding ticket.”
She relaxed for a moment knowing he hadn’t discovered her primary secret, but then no one knew about that. No one ever would, thanks to a nondisclosure order arranged by her attorney. “I’d expect you to thoroughly investigate someone you intend to hire, but not someone you intend to marry.”
“I’m a businessman, Paris, and this is a business proposition. Maybe that sounds kind of crass, but before we go any further, I wouldn’t want you to have expectations of it being anything else.”
For some odd reason that stung like a hornet, as if she was stupid enough to think it might be more. “Really? Again I ask, what’s in it for me? Aside from being wed to the object of many a woman’s lust, of course.”
He didn’t seem affected at all by her sarcasm. “First of all, you have a fairly substantial debt you’re dealing with.”
Had he somehow discovered the money she owed her former firm? Impossible. Or so she hoped. “Did you run a report on my finances?”
“No. I figured that out when you came begging for a job, and confirmed it when you mentioned your ex taking your money and cutting out of the country. I also recall some issue with staying in your apartment and possibly having to move to Idaho. Am I wrong?”
If he only knew the true magnitude of her problems. “No, you’re not wrong.”
“Exactly how much debt are you carrying?”
“That’s really none of your—”
“Business? If you want me to help you, you’ll have to be honest about the money aspects.”
He had a lot of nerve making the request when she hadn’t agreed to anything. “I believe I asked you for a job, not for your help.”
“Yeah, but I’m asking for yours. We could help each other. How much debt?”
She momentarily swallowed her pride. “Over seventy thousand dollars.” Most of which she owed to her former firm.
“Are you a chronic shopper?” he asked.
“No, but my ex is. He left me with all the bills.” Including money he’d stolen that she was having to reimburse.
“Okay. If you agree to this, I’ll make sure you’re debt-free. I’ll give you twenty thousand up front and you can live here rent-free. You can also design the lodge and I’ll pay you monthly for that. If you see that through, I’ll provide a reference and the seed money to start your own company.”
Wow. She would finally be solvent, liberated from her former employer and on her way to a bright future. But at what cost? A nagging voice told her to go for it. Her mother’s voice told her to proceed with caution. “If I did agree to this, and I’m not saying I am, how long would I be expected to remain in this marriage?”
“The will states a year,” he said. “It’s going to take at least that long to get Texas Extreme up and running and the lodge ready for guests. If you’ll stay until then, I’ll throw in another bonus. I’ll buy you a new car so you can put that rusty sedan out to pasture.”
She took offense to him insulting her car. “Bubba is not rusty.”
He chuckled. “You gave that clunker a name?”
“Yes. He’s been very reliable, unlike most men I’ve known.”
“Bubba sounds like he’s barely running.”
“He does need a little work.” Now for a very pertinent question. “There is the very important matter of dissolving the marriage. I’m personally not keen on being labeled a two-time loser with another divorce.”
“We could look into an annulment.”
“Under what grounds after we’ve hung in there for a year?”
He streaked a palm over his shaded jaw. “I’m not sure.”
Neither was she, but she intended to find out. “Mind if I borrow your laptop to do a little research?”
He reached behind him and offered her the computer. “Knock yourself out.”
After setting it on her lap, Paris began the search for annulment criteria. She selected the most official-looking article and began to read. “Let’s see here. The first condition states the parties are family members, but I highly doubt we’re related to each other.”
“Did you not pay attention to me telling you about my father’s philandering ways? I wouldn’t be surprised to discover you’re the sister I’ve always wanted
