Read Online The Rancher's Marriage Pact by Kristi Gold - Free Book Online Page B

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.”
    â€œWe could look into an annulment.”
    â€œUnder 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.”
    â€œDid 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 but never had.”
    â€œVery funny and kind of creepy.”
    â€œI’m kidding, Paris. I don’t harbor any brotherly feelings for you whatsoever.”
    She looked up to see Dallas’s smile before scanning the text again. “On to the next point. I guess one of us could get drunk during the ceremony and claim we weren’t coherent enough to consent. We could then say we didn’t sober up until after our first anniversary.”
    His low laugh gave her pleasant chills. “Sounds like you could handle that with a couple of Jen’s mint juleps, pre-ceremony. I’m sure she’ll keep you supplied for the next twelve months.”
    This time she didn’t bother to look up. “Clever, but not anything either of us should consider. Coercion is out because I wouldn’t agree to this unless we’re both sure. Bigamy is also out. And fraud unless one of us is lying about our age.”
    â€œNope,” he said. “But back to that bigamy thing. Are you sure you’re divorced?”
    Realizing she’d inadvertently hit a nerve bringing up bigamy, Paris closed the computer and frowned. “Yes, I’m sure I’m divorced. Peter couldn’t get out of the marriage quick enough. He’s a CPA so he’s fastidious and detail oriented.” As well as a con artist, a fact she chose to withhold. “That leaves us with the final possibility. Do you have issues with impotence that would lead to the old standby, failure to consummate?”
    He looked more amused than insulted. “You and I both know the answer to that after what happened a few minutes ago.”
    She’d realized very quickly he hadn’t been poking fun. “That’s too bad since it would make the whole failure to consummate much easier, which appears to be our only option. Get married, no whoopee.”
    He looked like he’d just bitten into a dill pickle. “You expect me to go without sex for a year?”
    Paris thought that would be the greatest challenge of all, and a possible reason for him to rescind the offer. “Cowboy up, cowboy. You can handle it if you want to keep the ranch. Which leads me to another question.”
    â€œShoot.”
    â€œDoes maintaining control of this place mean so much to you that you would enter into a fake marriage that requires celibacy for a year?”
    â€œI don’t like the celibacy clause one damn bit, but I can only promise I’ll try. And it would have to be a real marriage in order to meet the will’s requirements.”
    She saw a possible alternative. “Who would know if we only pretended we married?”
    â€œFort will make a point to check it out.”
    The decision would be so much easier for Paris if that weren’t the case. “You’re obviously a rich guy, Dallas. I imagine you could buy a ranch just like this one anywhere in the