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

Ryan held up one hand in surrender. “Arguing with you will get me nowhere. Just think about it. It’s typical little brother shit, amped up to rich people drama levels, is all I’m saying.”


Ted finally backed the car out of the drive. “He doesn’t even like me.”


Ted felt that faint buzzing again, as if he might pass out, in spite of not feeling remotely dizzy. He drove slowly down the block, through one stop sign, and pulled up in front of Ryan’s mother’s house.


Ryan was smiling when he finally spoke again. “Yeah, so do I. It is possible to love you, in spite of your best efforts.”


Ted shot him an impatient look, then got out of the car as quickly as possible. It was too much to think about, just then, when all he wanted was to feel righteous fury about his idiot brother.


Chapter 46