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

She might just have bad cholesterol. Or asthma. But no. No, those drug names were familiar from the news.


And it wasn’t just the kitchen renovation that was different in the house. Ted recalled it now, taking a step into Ryan’s foyer and being hit by the unmistakable scent of ever-present cigarette smoke.


It was gone now. Mrs. Costa had quit smoking, and it must’ve been a while ago.


“Fuck.” Ted ran his hands through his hair, which only messed it up, but for once he didn’t care. His imagination was running away with him: was this why Ryan had come back from before he made it to Vietnam? Was this why he’d settled down and gotten a steady job? Was this why he’d come back to Dayton when he knew the whole world was open to him?


It was stupid to speculate. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it had been something but was fine now. Maybe…


Chapter 19