She’d told herself she’d do anything to get back her company. That was before she knew what “anything” was. How could she consider marrying him knowing how her body sparked in his presence and the extent of his deceitfulness? Six months. That would take them through the end of the rodeo season and into the fall, where things slowed considerably as they geared up for the National Rodeo Finals in December, the biggest event of all. If she agreed to such a crazy stipulation, she’d be free of Ty and the threat of a sale right before the NRF. But was that enough incentive to put herself through the torture of living with a man she despised—and her body craved?
“Guess there was a lot in that will that came as a surprise,” he said, breaking into her thoughts as an animal, no doubt a prairie dog, skittered in the grass.
No sense denying it. By virtue of that will, her grandfather was the third rider on the trail. “It was definitely a shocker, for me anyway.”
“You think I knew what he was up to?” His eyebrows arched. “Marriage is not on my radar screen for any reason.” He shifted in the saddle, clearly uncomfortable with the thought. Which brought a smile to Mandy’s lips.
“Not even for love?”
Ty scowled and rubbed the back of his neck like he could dispel the thought. “Don’t believe in love—not the romantic kind, anyway. Marriage is like any other partnership, just with some side benefits.”
“Sounds like you.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Well, in order to believe in love, you’d have to have feelings.” Score one for her.
“Just because someone doesn’t show them doesn’t mean they don’t feel.”
She turned just enough so he was in her line of sight. “Lust, Ty, doesn’t qualify as an emotion.” And score another one.
He pulled up his horse.
She reined Willow to a stop and twisted in her saddle to look behind her.
For a guy who was always so controlled, a surprising amount of fire flashed in his eyes. She’d made him angry. Good. At least it qualified as a reaction from Mister Calm, Cool, and Collected.
Turning back around, she nudged Willow into a trot and headed toward the hills. She heard the clacking of hooves behind her and knew Ty was following. The breeze whipped across her face, tangling with her hair. It felt good to ride, even with Ty in pursuit.
Suddenly it dawned on her—they were riding toward the creek. Originating in the mountains, the rivulet cut across the western edge of the flatlands, so there was no way to avoid it and only a few places to cross it—like where she’d tried and failed to entice Ty that fateful day.
She slowed Willow to a walk and pondered whether she should turn back. Before she could decide, Ty was beside her. He sat the saddle like he’d been born to it—because, as a rancher’s son, he had been. She wondered what had made him become a company man. Maybe he just loved the real estate game. No harm in that. She loved rodeo.
“Let’s keep the discussion on the will,” he said, maintaining pace. “JM did give you a way to get me out of here in six months. I just want to be sure you’re dead set against it. Otherwise, I’d reconsider my stance if we could come up with a way to make it work for both of us.”
Would he seriously contemplate marriage? To her? Impossible. Unless he had a way to circumvent the provision. After all, he was a lawyer, though he’d made his fortune on land deals, courtesy of JM’s connections.
“Have you read it through?” She obviously hadn’t had time to take it to an attorney and wouldn’t know who to call, given Brian had always taken care of Prescott business.
“I have.”
“Please tell me there is an escape clause.”
Ty shook his head, and the lock of ebony hair swished across his brow. He had thick hair that felt silky to the touch, if she remembered correctly.
“No. Not in the sense of voiding it and still getting Prescott in six months. JM had obviously done a lot of thinking about this. Even down to the details of the prenup. If we entered into the marriage and didn’t follow every provision, the payoff is voided. We’d be back to me heading up the company for a year, at minimum.”
“Is there nothing to be done?” Even the beauty of the mountains and the feel of the breeze against her skin couldn’t stem the hope leaking out of her.
“It would depend upon us. If we decided to marry, all we need to be certain of is that we’d both walk after six months, because there’s nothing keeping us from divorcing after that time. We’d still get the shares. Nothing keeping us from making the marriage a real one during that time either.”
She shifted so she could see his face. The smile he flashed brimmed with illicit promise, stopping her heart for a beat. With his dark eyes glinting in the rays of the sun streaming just over the mountains, he looked more devil than angel. A handsome devil built for sex, and just sex. The thought caused a volcano of lust to erupt inside of her, spilling its heat into her veins.
He reined in the mare and cocked his head like he noticed the sizzling flush engulfing her. Lord, she hoped not.
“You know we’d be good together—at least in that way. I’d even let you do the seducing…”
The arrogance. “From what I hear, you don’t put up much of a fight with anything that wears a skirt.” Except me, ten years ago.
He laughed as if he was pleased with her description. “Well, I don’t need that hundred acres or the ranch house, nice as it was of your grandfather to gift it to me.”