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 funny thing was, the marriage wasn’t a sham anymore. Not really.


After a jet lag nap, Ted accepted an invitation to Bob and Dana’s oversized McMansion in Kettering. They had scotch ready and waiting, though Ted only accepted out of politeness, this time. He settled on their back porch in the spring sunshine, facing the lord and lady of the manor. He’d halfway been expecting the majority of the board to show up. He was grateful to the Kinneys for making sure that didn’t happen.


“It’s not a fake marriage,” he said without preamble.


Bob and Dana exchanged a look. Ted watched with interest. Funny, how these longtime couples were inscrutable to everyone but each other. Would he and Ryan be like that someday, if Ted managed not to fuck this up? Would they go beyond their ten-year contract and read each other’s minds like that?


Chapter 44