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

“College. I always liked taking pictures of things, so this was just one step further.”


“Yes, I noticed you uploading our charcuterie.”


“Pretty food is one of my favorite subjects.”


Ted grunted in reply and went back to thumbing through the pad. “We should use this one.” It was a smallish stone temple with a monkey sitting on the front step. Up close, the monkey was just a few brownish blobs. From a distance, even its impish expression was clear.


Ryan leaned over. “That temple was cut from a single rock. Also, that monkey stole a German tourist’s duffle bag two minutes after I took the picture I painted it from. It was awesome.”


“I feel like your travel has been very different from mine,” Ted said with a small laugh.


“We should travel together someday.”


Ted didn’t look up. His stomach clenched. He kept looking at the paintings in silence.


Chapter 21