Read Online The Inconvenient Bride by Anne McAllister - Free Book Online Page A

end of the week he said, “Let me know when you come back to New York.”
    When she did, he asked her to work with him. Her reputation grew. Not just for her ability with hair, but for her ability to deal with temperamental photographers, demanding ad agency reps, commercial clients, and the occasional prima donna model.
    She was in demand—professionally and personally.
    There were always plenty of men wanting to take her out. For years she’d gone—always hoping to find the one man she’d want to be with for the rest of her life.
    But she’d never found him. And eventually she’d stopped thinking so much about it. She learned to love what she did, to be content with her life, to savor her friendships, to enjoy the dates she did go out on without looking for happily ever after.
    Then along came Dominic.
    He did to her heart, to her body, to her mind what legions of Skip Grimes clones had not. Mariah’s corporate shark of a brother-in-law was the one man who’d ever made Sierra’s heart beat faster, her brain sizzle, and her hormones sing.
    What were there, eight million men in New York City?
    Why him?
    She’d tried to resist. She’d steered well clear of Dominic Wolfe after the day she’d bearded him in his office where she’d gone to learn Rhys’s whereabouts. And even when she hadn’t been able to stay totally away from him, like at Mariah’s shower, she’d made it a point not to spare him a glance.
    Or she’d tried not to.
    It was like trying not to think of giraffes. It was all she’d thought of. Finally, at Mariah’s and Rhys’s wedding reception, even though she’d done her best to avoid him, the inevitable happened. They had to dance with each other. Rhys’s best man, Mariah’s maid of honor. And then, of course, they’d drunk champagne.
    And danced more. And stared into each other’s eyes. And finally had gone to that motel room, determined to get each other out of their systems.
    It hadn’t worked for Sierra.
    Nor for Dominic either, apparently.
    So now they were married. For better or worse. For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health.
    â€œIn bed and out of it,” Sierra muttered.
    In her gut and in her heart she still thought she’d made the right decision.
    She just needed to do her darnedest to make sure Dominic thought so, too.
    In the meantime, though, she had something to give to Pammie.
    Â 
    Pammie didn’t believe it.
    Pammie stared at the check Sierra handed her, then she blinked, and stared again. Her jaw sagged and all the color drained from her face. “It’s not real,” she said. “It can’t be real.” Her fingers shook. She seemed almost to gasp for air.
    â€œIt’s real,” Sierra assured her. “I was at the bank whenthey cut it. It’s made out to me, but it’s for you—for Frankie—for the transplant.”
    â€œYou’re not serious,” Pam said promptly, then looked at Sierra again and said, jaw sagging, “You are. ” Her breath seemed to almost rattle out of her. “Good lord.”
    Then as if she just that moment realized they were still standing in the open doorway, she grabbed Sierra and hauled her into her apartment, glancing over her shoulder toward Frankie’s bedroom
    â€œHow did you—?” She studied the check again. “Who’s Dominic Wolfe? And why did he loan you the money?”
    â€œHe didn’t loan it. He gave it to me.”
    â€œ Gave it to you? Why? In exchange for what?” Pam looked suddenly equal parts nervous and urgent. “What’s he going to do to you?”
    â€œNothing! Nothing I don’t want him to do,” Sierra qualified. “It’s all right. We…we made a deal.”
    â€œWhat deal?”
    Sierra shrugged. “I married him.”
    Pam’s mouth opened. And shut. She looked appalled and horrified and then she