Read Online A Suitable Wife: A Sweetwater Springs Novel by Carol Burnside, Emily Sewell, Kim Killion - Free Book Online
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thing. With her luck, it was more likely the onset of freakishly early menopause.
“I had this crazy idea that if I explained the predicament I was in and helped you with your cash flow problem, you’d help me provide the rest of the ‘complete family’ Bill says I need to present in court.”
His words sunk in, nipping the budding feeling before it could flower. Put that way, it sounded like a deal she shouldn’t refuse. And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Why couldn’t she get it through her head? Sam was appealing to her as a businesswoman, not a potential life partner and certainly not a love interest. She was the necessary trump card in a court fight, with Sam the resigned but reluctant groom.
“It’s a smart move, business wise. You wouldn’t have to repay the loan. Helping me keep custody of Lorelei would more than settle the debt.”
Quite the sales pitch Sam had, and he was expecting some kind of response.
“Are you—”
She held up her hand to stop whatever he’d been about to say, to adjust to the strangely disconnected sensation now holding her in its grip. “I need a minute here.”
Or a week. She needed to think. But when everything else was factored in, it didn’t change the heart of this whole scenario. This was about Lorelei and what was best for her. After the story Sam had told, Rosie didn’t doubt Jasmine had some issues and needed parenting classes, at the very least. Sam loved his daughter deeply and made her a priority in his life. He was protective and gentle with her, too. That, Rosie had seen for herself.
Right now, Lorelei was better off with her daddy.
“This guy, Bill. Your lawyer. You trust his judgment?”
“Absolutely. I’ve known him a long time. He wouldn’t suggest this on a whim.”
She nodded. If it were anyone else but Sam in this scenario, she’d swallow her pride, talk to her dad about helping her secure a business loan and be done with it. No way she’d consider tying herself to a loveless marriage and a child. Not even temporarily.
A child. Barely more than a baby.
Rosie squeezed her eyes closed for a moment. This was crazy. She was crazy to consider it, and the potential for hurt was enormous.
The image of Jasmine handing Lorelei off to be cared for by some flunky, or worse, a succession of them flitted across her mind. What would that do to the already shy, somewhat fearful child? And Sam would suffer, worrying about her the whole time she was in Jasmine’s custody.
“For how long?” Rosie asked, startled that the words came from her lips.
“Since middle school. We—”
“No,” she interrupted, realizing he thought she’d asked about his relationship with the lawyer.
“How long . . .” Her throat tightened, and she cleared it before beginning again. “You said temporary. How long would we need to stay married?”
“Oh. I’m not sure. Until the custody case is settled. Maybe a year? I’m sorry. It’s asking a lot from you personally.”
“You’re offering a lot of money,” she said, trying to maintain the casual tone Sam had adopted. Her voice sounded strange. Wooden. Like it belonged to someone else. “And like you said, it’s a good deal for my business.”
“So you’ll consider it?” Sam leaned forward, his gaze intense. “For your business?”
She opened her mouth to say she’d do it for Lorelei, but caught herself in time. Keep it impersonal. Remember? “With the guarantee of a large business loan wiped away in a year? If you’re serious about the terms, then I won’t find a better offer.”
Rosie took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”
Sam’s mouth opened and closed. It seemed she’d rendered him temporarily speechless.
“Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
“No. No! This is . . . great.” His dazed expression belied his words. “Bill will be ecstatic that I’ve found a suitable wife so quickly.”
Well, isn’t that lovely? Suitable. Every bride’s dream compliment.
“I had this crazy idea that if I explained the predicament I was in and helped you with your cash flow problem, you’d help me provide the rest of the ‘complete family’ Bill says I need to present in court.”
His words sunk in, nipping the budding feeling before it could flower. Put that way, it sounded like a deal she shouldn’t refuse. And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Why couldn’t she get it through her head? Sam was appealing to her as a businesswoman, not a potential life partner and certainly not a love interest. She was the necessary trump card in a court fight, with Sam the resigned but reluctant groom.
“It’s a smart move, business wise. You wouldn’t have to repay the loan. Helping me keep custody of Lorelei would more than settle the debt.”
Quite the sales pitch Sam had, and he was expecting some kind of response.
“Are you—”
She held up her hand to stop whatever he’d been about to say, to adjust to the strangely disconnected sensation now holding her in its grip. “I need a minute here.”
Or a week. She needed to think. But when everything else was factored in, it didn’t change the heart of this whole scenario. This was about Lorelei and what was best for her. After the story Sam had told, Rosie didn’t doubt Jasmine had some issues and needed parenting classes, at the very least. Sam loved his daughter deeply and made her a priority in his life. He was protective and gentle with her, too. That, Rosie had seen for herself.
Right now, Lorelei was better off with her daddy.
“This guy, Bill. Your lawyer. You trust his judgment?”
“Absolutely. I’ve known him a long time. He wouldn’t suggest this on a whim.”
She nodded. If it were anyone else but Sam in this scenario, she’d swallow her pride, talk to her dad about helping her secure a business loan and be done with it. No way she’d consider tying herself to a loveless marriage and a child. Not even temporarily.
A child. Barely more than a baby.
Rosie squeezed her eyes closed for a moment. This was crazy. She was crazy to consider it, and the potential for hurt was enormous.
The image of Jasmine handing Lorelei off to be cared for by some flunky, or worse, a succession of them flitted across her mind. What would that do to the already shy, somewhat fearful child? And Sam would suffer, worrying about her the whole time she was in Jasmine’s custody.
“For how long?” Rosie asked, startled that the words came from her lips.
“Since middle school. We—”
“No,” she interrupted, realizing he thought she’d asked about his relationship with the lawyer.
“How long . . .” Her throat tightened, and she cleared it before beginning again. “You said temporary. How long would we need to stay married?”
“Oh. I’m not sure. Until the custody case is settled. Maybe a year? I’m sorry. It’s asking a lot from you personally.”
“You’re offering a lot of money,” she said, trying to maintain the casual tone Sam had adopted. Her voice sounded strange. Wooden. Like it belonged to someone else. “And like you said, it’s a good deal for my business.”
“So you’ll consider it?” Sam leaned forward, his gaze intense. “For your business?”
She opened her mouth to say she’d do it for Lorelei, but caught herself in time. Keep it impersonal. Remember? “With the guarantee of a large business loan wiped away in a year? If you’re serious about the terms, then I won’t find a better offer.”
Rosie took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”
Sam’s mouth opened and closed. It seemed she’d rendered him temporarily speechless.
“Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
“No. No! This is . . . great.” His dazed expression belied his words. “Bill will be ecstatic that I’ve found a suitable wife so quickly.”
Well, isn’t that lovely? Suitable. Every bride’s dream compliment.
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