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

“I pretended it might be.” Ryan glared. “To justify you totally ignoring my existence. But hey, whatever, it’s not a real marriage, not even a real friendship, so why should I expect—”


“Oh, fuck you, Ryan! And fuck real.” Ted blurted. “You know goddamn well it’s a real friendship; the only one I have, practically.”


Ryan rolled his eyes. “Poor little rich boy, no one to love.”


“Fuck you sideways! Well, at least you had all that ginger porn to content yourself with!” Once it was out, Ted flushed again, but he didn’t feel particularly bad about it. In fact, he was glad he’d said it.


“You left it next to the goddamn wedding favors, you idiot. Almost like you wanted me to find it.” The thought was ridiculous, but Ted wanted to say it anyhow.


“Maybe I did!” Ryan’s voice rose. “And maybe I wanted you to think about me fucking myself while I watched them!”


Chapter 34