The Magnate's Marriage Merger

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“Yes. I shouldn’t have taken your brother on as a client, but by that time, Kinley was filling in for me often. I was away for several weeks last winter doing a job for a singer who moved to Las Vegas for an extended contract and wanted me to design her new home.” Lydia picked one red strawberry from a plate on the table. “But the profits from the matchmaking work were doing a lot of good for the mothers’ organization by then. I didn’t want to let my support of a good cause lapse. I still don’t.”

She bit into the strawberry, her lips molding to the red fruit in a way that made his mouth go dry.

“You must be aware that Sofia Koslov’s father is an extremely wealthy and powerful man. He allowed my family to investigate the matter of Mallory West’s identity since she’s now engaged to Quinn, but when he finds out who you are, he has every intention of suing.” Ian hadn’t told a soul about discovering that Lydia was behind the debacle.

He hadn’t even told his two brothers, which didn’t sit particularly well with him. But he’d been handed an opportunity to bargain with this woman and he wasn’t about to lose it.

Initially, he’d entertained fantasies about leveraging his position for revenge. But now he knew that his relationship with Lydia was far more complex than that. There was still an undeniable spark between them—and a connection that went deeper than just the attraction. Otherwise, the news of her losing a pregnancy wouldn’t have affected him like a sledgehammer to his chest.

Which meant he was going to be bargaining for something more than sensual revenge.

“I had hoped now that Sofia is marrying your brother later this month, her father wouldn’t want to draw public attention to the matchmaking mishap.” The worry in Lydia’s eyes was unmistakable as the ocean breeze tousled her dark hair where it rested on her shoulders.

Ian buried any concern he might have had about her feelings. She certainly hadn’t taken his into account when she hid the news of his child from him.

“Vitaly Koslov strikes me as a man who does not forget a slight to his family.” Ian respected that. He wasn’t inclined to let a slight to his go unchecked either. “But I have a suggestion that might help you avoid a civil suit and restore your matchmaking business.”

“You do?” The hope that sparked in her gaze ignited a response in him.

This was a good plan. And it was going to solve problems for them both.

“You are aware that, due to familial pressure, I am in the market for a wife?” The terms of his grandfather’s will had caused him no end of grief in his relationship with Lydia, after all. “Last summer, my grandfather had already started to apply pressure to wed, but this winter, he created legally binding terms in a rewritten will. In order to retain family control of my grandfather’s legacy, my brothers and I each need to marry for at least twelve months.”

“But you already have your own successful business—”

“Keeping McNeill Resorts in the family is about legacy, not finances.” He wouldn’t allow his third of the company to go to strangers. Cameron and Quinn felt the same about the family empire.

“I can help you find someone, if you’d like a private consultation.” Her words were stiff and formal.

Did she honestly not guess his intent? Or was she bracing for the inevitable?

“That’s kind of you. But I’m perfectly capable of choosing a temporary wife for myself.”

“You’re taking over that task from your grandfather?” She arched an eyebrow at him, challenging.

With just one fiery look, she reminded him how good it was going to be when he touched her again.

And he would touch her again. Soon.

“Definitely. My search just ended, Lydia.” He allowed himself the pleasure of skimming a knuckle down her bare arm. “You will solve both our problems if you agree to be my wife for the next twelve months.”

Four (#ua790a28e-2042-517b-bd75-6206af3abb56)

“He proposed to you?” Lydia’s assistant, Kinley, squealed in Lydia’s ear late that night during a conference call to catch up on business back in New York.