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

The villa was a huge but charming stucco construction, with a porch that spilled out in front of ancient, bare olive trees and led the eye directly to a lovely view of Sainte-Victoire. “I can see why Cezanne painted it over and over,” Ryan commented as they lugged their bags up the stairs.


They had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a living space on the second floor, while the bottom floor where the breakfast room was located was otherwise occupied by a host family with three King Charles Cavalier spaniels. The family arranged breakfast times with them, and the dogs greeted them with licks and barks of joy.


“We should get a dog,” Ryan pointed out.


“Yes,” Ted agreed, sincere if distracted. They were here now, and it was all happening, and Ted had a day’s worth of airplane filth to wash off him before he would feel remotely confident letting Ryan touch him. “I need a bath.”


Ryan focused on the dogs rather than commenting.


Chapter 33