Read Online Buying His Bride (The Donovan Brothers Trilogy Book 1) by Alison Ashlyn - Free Book Online Page B

could deal with desire, though. It was one of the reasons he hired Sierra, after all. Hell, the more others could witness the chemistry between them, the more convinced they’d be that their relationship was the real deal.
    Michael frowned. Granted, he and Sierra were bound together by a business arrangement, not a personal one, but it only stood to reason that he would protect what was his, either way.
    And for all intents and purposes, according to the contract, Sierra was his for the duration.
    He tightened his arm on her elbow, glared at an old friend of the family who stared at her, and approached his father who stood with his brothers near a giant fireplace.
    “Sierra, this is Connor Donovan, my father. Father, this is Sierra Callahan.”
    Sierra extended her hand to the older man. “I’m pleased to meet you, sir.”
    At several inches over six feet, the indomitable Connor towered over all men but his three sons. Despite his recent stroke, he was an impressive figure. “Sierra, is it? Happy to meet you. Michael rarely introduces me to his female companions.”
    Michael groaned and cursed the older man’s frankness. Connor’s stroke hadn’t diminished it one whit.
    Sierra laughed. “I can imagine. I’m honored he has tonight.”
    Without missing a beat and with a charisma similar to his oldest son’s, Connor inclined his head. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Callahan.”
    Trust his father to turn on the charm. That was a good sign. Connor was feeling better tonight than he had in the past weeks and his speech was scarcely slurred at all. He liked Sierra.
    Hurdle one down.
    Michael turned Sierra toward his brothers. “Sierra, this is Rafe. And this is Gabe. Don’t trust them farther than you can throw them.”
    Sierra greeted them. As co-authors of the idea of his contract with Sierra, they sized her up. She smiled, shaking each man’s hand in turn. “I see height runs in the Donovan family. All three of you have a family resemblance to your father, who must be very proud of you.”
    Rafe smiled. “Gabe and I are fraternal twins and had a different mother than Michael. But yes, Father’s genes won out in the height department.”
    “I’m happy to meet you,” replied Gabe. “It’s rare to run into a woman who’s willing to take on our big brother on equal terms.”
    Michael shook his head. “Don’t let them put you off, Sierra. I’m not that terrifying.”
    She shot him a tart look. “I never thought you were. Don’t flatter yourself!”
    At his brothers’ hoots of laughter, Michael relaxed into a genuine smile and shook his head.
    Hurdle number two down.
    “I can see if I let you talk any longer with my father and brothers, they’ll decimate me. Let me introduce you to some of our friends.”
    For the next half hour Michael and Sierra circulated. The party was small by San Francisco society standards, a gathering of people the Donovans had known well over the years. Michael was proud of the way Sierra greeted the other guests. His instincts about her had been correct. She was the perfect choice for his contract bride.
    After tonight, no one would question his choice of a wife, regardless of how quickly they progressed from meeting to marriage. Sierra was smart, beautiful, and even more poised than Michael anticipated based on their previous meetings. She was a potent combination of intelligence, good looks, and, had the guests only known it, professionalism. So potent in fact that Michael felt another surge of desire. He wanted this woman, and he didn’t need to hide it, given the roles they played.
    “Thompson, excuse us a moment. I’d like to show Sierra the view before it gets much darker.” Michael intervened in a conversation she was having with a family friend and his wife. The older couple nodded, exchanging smiles with each other.
    Before Sierra could react, Michael whisked her through a curtained set of French windows that led to a balcony overlooking the San Francisco bay. The