Read Online The Marriage Contract by Lisa Mondello - Free Book Online

the game with
Jerry, and while he’s there he picks up things he needs to fix the house.”
    “So everyone is
happy.”
    She laughed
that wonderful rich laugh and he knew he’d have come here for that reason
alone.  “You are the only person I know whose head doesn’t spin when I talk
about my family.”   
    “Not like Roger,
I gather.” 
    Cocking her
head to one side, she said, “You’ve been talking to my mother.”
    He shrugged. 
“She’s concerned.  You want to tell me your side?”
    Cara rolled her
head, then pulled her sweatband on her forehead.  “There isn’t enough time in a
lifetime to tell you how my mother feels about Roger.”
    * * *
    It was an odd
feeling, watching Cara and Roger together as they ran along the sand.  Devin
had never considered himself a jealous man.  There’d really never been a woman
who'd made him care one way or the other.  Indifference, that's what it was all
about to him back in Manhattan.  Women were merely a physical outlet for
releasing pent-up frustration from the everyday grind.  He made no promises and
had no regrets. 
    He'd never been
sexist enough to think a woman couldn't stand her own ground in a court of law. 
He even admired those who'd sometimes use their feminine wiles to their
advantage while trying a case.  It was only strategy and those same women knew
when to back off.  After all, every attorney had their strengths and weaknesses
and they all played for the same prize.  The win.  Fortunately for him, he did
most of the winning.
    But now, he had
to admit to being a bit green.  
    As they rounded
the grassy bend for Gooseberry Point, Cara panted, “Race you to the watchtower,
Michaels.”
    “Is that a
challenge?”
    “You bet.”
    He jogged in
place and waited for Roger to catch up.  When he did, Roger doubled over and
rested his hands on his knees, his breathing just short of a wheeze.
     “What do you
say, Rog.  Are you up for it?”
    Roger tossed
his head back and forth.
    Cara stopped
jogging, a note of concern etched her expression.  “Maybe this wasn't a good
idea.  We could try walking for a while.”
    “No, no, you
guys...go ahead.  I'll catch up...with you.”
    She cast a
questioning glance at Devin.  “I don't know.”
    “Trying to get
out of it already?” Devin teased.
    She eyed Devin
devilishly and laughed.  “You'd better hope you win.”
    “Lady, I play
to win.”  
    Leaving Roger
behind, they sprinted full force along the causeway leading to the Gooseberry
point watchtower.  Although Devin had the advantage of longer legs and wider
strides, he admired how Cara rose to the challenge and kept right up alongside
him.
    As they reached
the tower, he saw how the morning sun hitting the side of the gray stone tower
made the shiny green ivy growing along the edge glisten.  He avoided the rest
of the greenery by staying on the walking path, although running through it
would have given him the advantage. 
    Cara sprinted
through the first floor door first and ran up the center of the stairway, their
footsteps echoing off the surrounding walls, with Devin just a step behind. 
The cooler air inside the stone watchtower was inviting and bathed him with
each stride higher until he reached the top.
    “Beat you,” she
panted, gripping the outer rail of the landing.  She walked in circles,
feathering back the wayward curls that had fallen loose from her braid. 
    Watching her do
this brought Devin the most incredible urge to reach out and do it himself.
    “You cheated,”
he said, following her lead and walking in circles to keep his muscles from
stiffening.
    “Did not. 
You're a sore loser.”
    “You're right,
but you still cheated.”
    “How?” she
said, raising her arms up and then dropping them to her sides.
    He leaned
against the rail, looking out at the ocean, trying to catch his breath.  “I
held the door open for you.”
    She shot him a
side long glance.  “So you lost on the side of chivalry?  I