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

“No. I just don’t understand why it’s so hard to believe that Wally cares about you. I mean, you believe I care about you.”


Ted rolled his eyes. “I believe you’re very into ginger ass at the moment. Don’t mistake my sexual confidence for actual confidence, please.”


“Teddy…” Ryan smiled and reached out for his hand. “You know it’s not true. I get it, you think you’re not lovable. But you are. Just accept it.”


“I wasn’t trying to make you say that,” Ted insisted, though after it was out he wondered if it was a lie. Maybe he had been. Maybe he truly had been making mistakes because he thought Wally didn’t actually give a fuck. Not that Wally’s antics were his fault, but…


“I know…” Ryan edged forward and caught Ted’s mouth in a long, slow, deep kiss. Their hands found each other under the sheets, and when the kiss broke off at last, they were both breathless. “I know,” Ryan said again. “I just wanted to.”


“What else do you want? I mean, what else can I do?”


Chapter 47