Marriage At Any Price. Lauren Canan

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      “I still don’t see what any of that has to do with me.”

      “I have the plans ready to start building a research facility in California. The money I get from the estate could put me well ahead of the game. The center is badly needed. The research will primarily focus on finding a cure for leukemia.” He paused. “My problem is, according to Mr. Rucker, any of the heirs who aren’t married by the time the will is probated won’t receive an inheritance.”

      “So...let me get this straight. You need someone to pose as your wife long enough to obtain money.” She thought she saw him grimace.

      “Put that way, it sounds underhanded and conniving. But most of what I inherit will go to the center. You can see the plans if you have any doubt of that. Or I can put you in touch with my partners, who are doing their part to get this building up and running.” He paused, giving that time to soak in. “And it wouldn’t be just pretending to be my wife. It must be a legal marriage.”

      “Surely you know someone who would agree to marry you.”

      “No. Because of my schedule, there’s no time or place for a woman in my life on a permanent basis. I don’t know of anyone I would trust to say ‘I do’ then walk away a few months later, not expecting anything more than what was stipulated in our original agreement.”

      “But you think you can trust me?” she said, picking up on his idea. “You don’t even know me, Masters.”

      He shrugged. “Call it a gut feeling. When I realized this was your home, I felt it worthy of asking just how badly you want your ranch back. And if you’d be willing to marry me for a few months in order to get it. It would fulfill the terms of my inheritance, and you would have your ranch.”

      “It’s preposterous.”

      “It’s a crazy idea,” he agreed. Silence settled over them before he continued. “So, will you marry me, Ally Kincaid?”

      That took the breath from her lungs. The man really was crazy. Like she would ever marry a stranger. The very idea was ludicrous. Insane.

      “Of course,” he began, “it would be temporary. I figure about three months should do it. I’ll need to check with Mr. Rucker on that. But when it’s over, I head back to LA with some money to go toward my research center, and you have a clear deed to your ranch in your name. We both win.”

      “I thought you wanted a ranch or a small farm for yourself.”

      He shrugged. “I do. But I can always find another one.”

      He made it sound so simple. She looked at Seth Masters for a long time. “How do I know I can trust you? How do I know if I agree you will give me my ranch when you get your money? How do I know if you’re a decent, honorable man? You could up and walk out and leave me with nothing. Hell, I would be worse off than I am now.”

      “Mr. Rucker,” he stated. “He can attest to who I am. And I can fly my legal staff in to prepare the document. Exactly like a prenuptial agreement, in writing and completely aboveboard. You won’t lose this time, Ally.”

      “What about you? What if we do this and it ends up that you don’t receive any money from the estate? I mean, do you know for sure you’ll get any funding?”

      “It’s a gamble. But I’m willing to risk it.”

      “That research center is really important to you, huh?” She frowned, only now realizing what Seth was willing to put on the line.

      “It’s become my life. It’s worth taking the risk.”

      She looked around the familiar room, the walls calling to her. “How soon would you want to do this?”

      “As soon as documents can be prepared. Kathy Chisum, the real estate agent, said they have already had quite a lot of interest. If we don’t make a decision—correction, if you don’t make a decision—pretty quick, the ranch might be sold to someone else and we both lose. The probate hearing is on the eleventh, which is eight days from now.”

      She thought about his offer. Without it, she knew realistically she had little to no chance she would ever come home again. Was thinking his plan might work merely a measure of desperation?

      “No,” she said finally. “Thanks for the offer, I guess. But no. I’ll have to pass.”

      For the longest time, there was silence in the room.

      “Then, if you’re ready, I guess we should head back.”

      Why did she feel as though the breath had been knocked from her lungs? As they made their way to the front door, the walls seemed to call to her. She remembered the last time she’d walked out of this house, fearing she would never see it again, leaving behind cherished childhood memories. Memories of her father. Her mother. Even her first horse. And now she had the chance to come home permanently and she’d turned it down.

      It still wasn’t too late. She could have it...if she believed in Seth Masters. If she trusted him. Something she had no reason to do. He is a Masters, she reminded herself. You’re making the right decision.

      Why, then, did it feel so wrong?

      He dropped her at her little house without mentioning it again. There was no attempt to convince her to go along with his plan, no telling her she was making a huge mistake, no pleading with her to change her mind or give it additional thought. He bade her good-night, thanked her for her time and disappeared back down the driveway through the trees.

      It occurred to her she didn’t know how to find him. But why would she want to find him? She wouldn’t let herself dwell on the answer to that question. She’d made the right decision. It was a scheme formulated by a member of the Masters family, and she was correct in turning it down flat. Was this what had happened to her father? Had Reginald Masters offered him something that meant so much to her dad that he’d gambled everything on an outcome that Mr. Masters knew would never happen? If so, in the end it had cost them everything. The ranch was taken, and her father died of a massive heart attack knowing he’d lost it all. She couldn’t go through it again. She couldn’t. Parting from the ranch a second time was more than she could deal with.

      Trust had to be earned. Seth Masters had done nothing to prove himself. If he was setting her up and if she went for it, it would only confirm she was as big a fool as her father. Masters would laugh all the way back to LA.

      She dropped down on her small, well-worn sofa. It was either the cruelest thing she’d ever experienced or the chance of a lifetime. Either way, it was done. She had to let it go. But why would he do such a thing if he wasn’t serious? It was a very expensive joke. She couldn’t figure out the catch, but there had to be one.

      Grabbing her cell, she punched in Ben Rucker’s phone number.

      “Ben,” she said when he came on the phone. “This is Ally Kincaid. What can you tell me about Seth Masters?”

      All Ben would say was that Seth was an entrepreneur and sat on the boards of two large regional hospitals in Los Angeles. He couldn’t attest to the man’s nature, but he’d made a positive impression.

      What did that mean? Positive. So he was a good liar?

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