Ted MacTaggart's overbearing father is still trying to control his life, even from the grave. His will insists that, in order to inherit the family company, MAC Superior, Ted must be married by his twenty-fifth birthday -- and the marriage has to be "real." As in the board of MAC has to sign off on it.<br><br>Ted could fight the will, but then the handsome, artistic Ryan Costa, an old friend from school days walks back into his life, offering to be his groom-of-convenience. Ted draws up the contracts and Ryan, who has family medical bill problems, agrees gladly to the terms. Ted, emotionally walled off and afraid of his attraction to Ryan, also suggests they should keep their relationship strictly professional. Caring for people has always proven a weakness for him. Now isn't the time to start.<br><br>It's not long before Ryan's charm breaks through Ted's walls, but Ted isn't his own worst enemy in this case. Other forces are vying for MAC Superior, and even when their relationship is becoming the real deal, its shaky foundations land Ryan and Ted in trouble.

Poor Little Rich Boy

Ted wasn’t sure why it gave him that excited/sick feeling again, but it did. Still, he could hardly say no to that. “If you like.”


If nothing else, the enthusiasm was infectious. Ted gave a short laugh. “I’ll have Echo set up some appointments for us. Are you free Saturday?”


“What?” Not that Ted was paranoid, but, well, he was. He hadn’t meant to be funny.


“This really is what it’d be like to be married to you, isn’t it?” Ryan asked.


Ted made a face. “What’s that mean?”


“Forget it.” Ryan still looked far too entertained, but moved them on with, “Tell me what the gala is all about so I can be ready.” 4


Ted swung by in the Town Car at precisely 7:30 to pick up Ryan for the MacTaggart Foundation Gala. The driver didn’t even have to beep; Ryan emerged from his mother’s small, virulently purple Victorian home the moment they stopped.


Chapter 13