The Marriage Bargain--The Marriage Trap--The Marriage Mistake--The Marriage Merger The bestselling series "destined to steal your heart" (Lori Wilde): the Marriage to a Billionaire novels from "one of the most exciting breakout novelists" (USA TODAY).
JENNIFER PROBST
"Charming, fast-paced . . . It will hook you and leave you begging for more!"
--Laura Kaye, New York Times bestselling author of One Night with a Hero "A beautiful story with characters that will stay with you forever."
--Candace Havens, bestselling author of Take It Like a Vamp "Highly amusing . . . Jennifer Probst is an amazing author."
--Fresh Fiction
"Fiery and wild . . . it goes straight to your heart."
--Maldivian Book Reviewers
"Witty, sweet, and sexy . . . very enjoyable."
--Bookish Temptations
"Jennifer Probst is quickly turning into one of my favorite authors!"
--Susan Meier, author of Nanny for the Millionaire's Twins "She is carving her way into the hearts of readers with each new breath-catching romance."
--Catherine Bybee, New York Times bestselling author
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"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
--Anais Nin
I write stories about love and romance, but within my books you will always find true friendship.
Without my tight-knit group I've known since high school, I would not be the same person.
We may not see each other as much or as often, but once we do, time melts away and there is no distance.
Jodi Prada, Lisa Hamel Soldano, Marlaine Scotto, Colleen LaPierre, Kimberly Cornman, Nancy Chaudhry, thanks for always being there.
For the late-night poker nights, through good men and bad, through family crises and heartaches, and during some of the funniest laugh-out-loud moments of my life--I adore you.
Women rock.
prologue
IT WAS OFFICIAL.
She was on the date from hell.
Kate Seymour reached for her wine, forced a bright smile, and tried very hard not to stare at the lump of cheese hanging from her companion's chin. Okay, so he was a bit socially awkward. Still didn't make it right not to notice chicken parm was stuck on his face.
She patted her chin in a silent plea for him to grab his napkin. Signals were the universal gesture women used when toilet paper was stuck to their shoe or a price tag was hanging from their skirt, but this guy hadn't gotten the memo.
He kept talking about his marketing business, which was kind of interesting, but how could she focus when she stared at a lump of mozzarella?
"Umm, Bradley? You've got something, umm, r-r-r-right there on your--"
He swiped at it bare-handed like a bear grabbing a fish, and the cheese fell onto the plate. "Thanks. So, I'm really glad we finally got to do this in person. I enjoyed talking with you over the phone."
Suddenly not hungry anymore, Kate pushed the last of her salmon around the plate and nodded. "Me, too. Being a business owner, I'm always fascinated by PR and the best ways to brand. What type of s-s-s-services do you offer at your company?"
Stupid stutter. It always slipped out when she was nervous about making a good impression. Not that her date seemed to care about her thoughtful question. In fact, he seemed more interested in the busboy, giving him a bright smile and respectful silence when he swooped in to clean up the mess at the table.
Bradley plowed through the spaghetti and sucked the loopy strands through his teeth with a hiss. When he finally managed to swallow, he looked up. An odd expression crossed his face. "Well, I'm not exactly employed in that department. I will be soon, though, and I know more than most of the employees."
Huh. He'd insinuated that he ran an entire department. Odd. "Your title is social relations, right? What department is that?"
"Doorman."
Kate blinked. "Oh. Wow, I bet you meet a lot of interesting people."
Sauce stained his lips. She kept her gaze focused slightly to the left.
"Yes, I figured I'd start off with an entry-level position and make my way up the ladder."
This could still work. She admired ambition in a man. Sure, he had kind of stretched the truth about his job, but maybe he was embarrassed to tell her over the phone. Not that she judged: Kate couldn't care less what title a man bore as long as he liked his work. Even his looks weren't bad, more the average Joe, which she courted. Short dark hair, brown eyes, round face. A bit overweight but nothing out of the ordinary in a world filled with fast food and instant gratification. Kate despised the charming, good-looking types who looked at women only as a way to serve their egos.
"Smart. You went to NYU, right?" she asked. "I graduated from there, too, in business management. What did you study?"
"I took a class there once. Didn't get to finish, since I had to go take care of my mom."
Instant sympathy and hope flickered. A man who respected family was key to a good match. "I'm sorry, is she ill?"
Crumbs of Italian bread clung to the edge of his mouth. Yes, eating with him would be a chore, but a man who helped his mother must have a heart of gold. "She's got arthritis. Told her I'd move in and help her out."
Why did there seem to be more to the story? "Does she have trouble moving around? I've heard of severe conditions that can be very painful."
Bradley paused to slurp his water, which added to the entire meal he now wore on his face. "Her fingers hurt sometimes, so I can help her open jars and stuff. I keep her company, and she cooks and cleans for me. It works out pretty well."
The Titanic had nothing on this date, but she fought off the iceberg like a woman clinging to survival. Kate desperately needed Bradley to be the one. One hundred was a lucky number, wasn't it? One hundred dates spoke of patience. She'd waited, invested her time wisely, and believed in the process. As the successful owner of Kinnections matchmaking agency, she lived and breathed her business. She believed, dammit. And it was getting a little weird for the owner to still be single with no prospect in sight.
She flexed her fingers and fought the impulse to touch him. If there was even a slight tingle of connection, she'd deal with the job and his mother. Her gift of sensing strong energy between two people meant to be together was also a curse. How many times had she gotten an electrical shock from a couple who were soul mates? How many men had she surrendered to other women because she realized her date belonged with the waitress or customer service representative or store clerk? It served her well as a matchmaker but was pure hell on her personal life. The touch ran through the generations of women in her family, but none had decided to use it for business. Still, she preferred using science and skill to make her matches in Kinnections, and tried hard not to let the touch interfere with her main business plan. It was more of a way to confirm they had made the right match once a couple got serious. Not that she was ready to tell Bradley or anyone else about her secret weapon.
She studied him from across the table and refused to lose hope. Bradley was meant to be hers, but she wasn't ready to put her hands on him to confirm.
The waitress glided over and placed the check discreetly in the middle of the table. Kate held her breath, knowing this was the ultimate test. A man who paid for dinner on the first date had values. It was a make-or-break moment. Anticipa
tion cut through her, and she held her breath.
Bradley reached over and grabbed the bill.
Giddiness spilled through her. Finally. She hadn't been wrong. Sure, rough patches needed to be worked out, but Kate believed.
Bradley scanned the bill and whipped out a pocket calculator. Heart sinking, she watched his fingers fly across the keys. "Okay, since it's not even, I'll take the higher portion. You owe $43.00 even and I'll pay $44.63. That's with a fifteen percent tip. Is that acceptable?"
Kate stared as her dream of a soul mate withered as fast as the Wicked Witch's body, but she didn't get any cool ruby shoes left in the process. "Sure."
"Great. Cash or credit?"
She reached into her Coach purse and pulled out her VISA. "Here you go."
"Thanks."
The busboy stopped at their table. "Are you done, sir? Miss?"
Bradley nodded, his gaze fixated on the young man's broad chest and muscled shoulders filling out his smart red and black uniform. Panic fluttered in her belly as the air charged around her. No. Not possible.
But she had to know.
The busboy reached for the plate, giving her date a sidelong seductive glance. Kate dragged in a breath and brushed his hand with her arm at the same time her fingers touched her date's.
A tiny shock shivered across her flesh and vibrated through her body. Bradley smiled at the busboy, his face carved out with pure want.
Ah, crap.
It was over.
She fought a sigh and surrendered number one hundred. "Bradley, I'll be right back. I need to go to the ladies' room."
"Of course."
She grabbed her purse and ducked down the hallway. After a few minutes, the busboy walked past and she reached out to touch his arm. "Excuse me?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
She glanced at his name tag. "Gabe, I'm sorry, but I wonder if you can relay a message to my date? I'm not feeling well and need to leave. I'm sure he'd love to stay if possible. Would you be willing to buy him a drink on your break?"
Gabe's face reddened. "Aren't you together?"
Kate smiled. "No, I'm not his type. I'm sure if you offered, he'd be interested."
Recognition sparked in his dark eyes, and he nodded. "I'd be interested."
"Thank you. Good luck. I'm going to slip out the side door."
She vacated the restaurant, caught between despair for her plight and happiness she had made a match. Damn, her gaydar completely sucked.
The March night was brisk and cold in Verily, and she breathed in, not wanting to go home yet. The shops stayed open on Saturday night, and it was only eight thirty. Her high-heeled boots clicked on the pavement as she walked, enjoying the artsy Hudson River town that boasted a variety of stores and cafes with an edgy, funky feel. White lights glittered around the trees that lined the sidewalk, and music spilled from Mugs, the popular bar that also served as a nightclub. A full moon hung suspended over the river line, illuminating the Tappan Zee Bridge, which glittered in the distance. She weaved her way through pedestrians with dogs on leashes and giggling groups of college students, and dropped a buck in the pail of the young man playing a guitar and singing about broken hearts.
Loneliness hit. She was so tired. When was it her turn? When would she finally find the connection for herself? Unless . . .
She never found it. Bruised from the consistent disappointments, she wondered if maybe giving up on the dream of finding her match would serve her better. Maybe, just maybe, there wasn't a man or woman meant for everyone. Maybe, just maybe, she was meant to be alone.
She fought the sudden urge to cry and wallow in a self-pity party. She was done. If she went on one more disappointing date, she didn't think she'd recover. The hell with love. She'd buy a new book, go home to Robert, and snuggle under a blanket.
Kate paused in front of the used-book store. Time for a change. No more dating. No more chasing love. She'd concentrate on her business, her friends, and doing things that made her happy.
With her head up and her new resolution firm, she stepped inside, and the bell tinkled. Scents swarmed around her in wonderful familiarity. Leather. Paper. Mothballs. Perfection.
She crossed the worn carpet and stopped in front of the marked and battered front desk. "Got anything for me, Hector?"
The boy behind the counter was reed thin, with a smattering of pimples and spiked purple hair. Hector shook his head with a grin. "Been waiting for you, Kate. I'm holding a new box of used books in the back. I had no time to sort them yet, so you may not find anything."
She shivered with the lure of the unknown. Would she ever get tired of ripping open a new box of books and sifting through the treasures? "No worries. I'll go through them if that's okay?"
The teen motioned toward the back of the store. "Help yourself. It'll save me some work."
"Thanks." Kate walked down the deserted aisle and into the storeroom. The cramped space held an array of boxes, file cabinets, and papers in an extremely unorganized fashion. The new shipment was clearly marked, though, so she pulled it down from the pile and ripped it open with her own hands, rather than with the box cutter. She'd never be able to keep a perfect manicure anyway.
Kate sat cross-legged on the cold concrete floor and pulled them out one by one. Romance. Biography. Some dieting. She kept to the side a few that she wanted to try, then found a great one on love signs that seemed several years out of date. Hmm, you never knew what you'd glean from the eighties. Could be helpful. She added it to her growing stack. An interesting book on how males relate to dogs. Definitely couldn't pass that one up. And then--
Her fingers closed on a fabric-covered book and she pulled it out. Bright violet assaulted her vision. The Book of Spells. Simple title. Small, square, not a novel but more of a how-to book? She cracked the binding a bit and glanced through the first page.
A low hum vibrated to the tips of her fingers. Her belly wobbled, as if she'd just seen a hot male prospect rather than a simple book. The hum grew stronger as she flipped through, making notes of an ancient love spell and a chant to Earth Mother. Fascinating. She'd never seen anything like it; there wasn't even an author noted. How was that possible?
Definitely a keeper. Maybe something fun for her clientele.
Kate dropped the book on her pile.
A crackle of electricity shot through her body like a wet plug in an outlet. She yelped and yanked back, staring at the purple cover. What the hell was that? Maybe the fabric gave some type of shock. But damn, that hurt.
"Need any help back there?"
Hector's voice echoed through the store. Shaking her head, she pushed to her feet and set the box back. Careful not to touch the purple book, she scooped up her treasure pile and made her way out of the storeroom.
"Got everything I need. Hector, I took six books. Charge it to my account, please!"
"You got it. Have a good one."
Feeling a bit better over her new purchases, Kate headed toward her car and the typical Saturday night with her books and her dog.
Good-bye, number one hundred. That date belonged in the record book of disasters.
It was going to be a long time before she had the stamina to even think about one hundred and one.
one
I'M MOVING OUT."
Slade watched his sister drag her oversized floral pieces of luggage down the hallway and drop them at the front door. A strange panic roared through his system, but he stood frozen in the foyer, watching the scene unfold. Hell, no. She wasn't ready to go anywhere on her own yet, but somehow he needed to convince her without looking like a crazed control-freak brother. He kept his voice gentle and firm.
"Jane, I don't think it's a good idea. I know you want a place of your own, but I don't think you're ready. Besides, I'll get lonely by myself. Give it some time, and I'll help you find an apartment."
Jane turned fast, hands on hips, that furious female scowl he knew well. Bottom line, he'd screwed up his words again. "First off, give me a little
credit. I'm ready. I appreciate you letting me live here, but I should've moved out a year ago. And the only reason you're lonely is your refusal to stay with a woman past one night."
Slade winced. Unfair. He was always discreet when it came to women, not needing his sister to try to bond with any of them, since long-term commitment was doomed from the start. The statistics alone of marriage breakups caused a shudder.
She marched into the open living room and headed toward the bookcase to grab a few off the shelves. Crap, was that The Chew's new cookbook? He hadn't even looked at the pictures yet. "Be reasonable, Jane. You have nowhere to go, and I don't want you staying at a crappy studio in Manhattan. It'll cost a million dollars and won't be safe. Are you still upset over your breakup? We can go slash his tires, get drunk, and watch chick flick movies. That's what women do, right?"
Jane tipped her head back and laughed. "God, Slade, if I didn't love you so much I'd murder you. I have a place already. I rented an apartment in Verily on the river. I quit my job and lined up a new one at the local community college there."
The room spun. He stared at his normally shy, logical, steady sister and wondered what she'd drunk to turn into Mr. Hyde. "Quit your job? You were working on tenure!"
"And I hated it there. Stuffy, pompous, and boring. I hate Manhattan, too. It's crowded and hurts my head most of the time." Jane dragged in a breath and walked over, stuffing the books into her tote bag. Her long jet-black hair sprung into a whirlwind of curls, and her cocoa-brown eyes peered at him sadly from behind thick black glasses. "I can't do this anymore," she said. "I need a fresh start on my own terms. Verily is small and quaint, and the college focuses on using creativity in literature. I can grow there. Maybe meet a man who won't wring me dry and dump me." Her laugh was totally wry, and Slade's heart squeezed in sheer fear.
He couldn't let her go. If something happened, it would be his fault. Again. At least if she were under his roof, he could easily gauge if she was down-spiraling. Slade swung into lawyer mode. Being one of the top divorce lawyers in the state had to be good for something other than money. "I understand you want to be on your own. I agree it's time, but quitting your job and running off to a town you don't know is dangerous. I'll go with you to Verily this weekend. I'll help you look, maybe meet some people there so you're not alone, and we'll figure it out together."