A British Bride by Agreement Read Online Free

the chance to do
something. He took a few moments of grinding and brewing his favorite java to
fully wake up and sort out his thoughts.
    His proposal of marriage was farfetched,
but he reasoned it could benefit both of them. She would gain from his
financial help, his protection, and a new start in life. And he needed to have
children. He stopped for a moment. No. He wanted children. If he was going to
prove to his father he was capable of one day reigning over the
three-generation Steller business empire, surely as the only son, part of that
was passing on the family name. Only son . The phrase hit him in his gut.
    Once he’d succeeded in every area of the
company, his father would surely see him as the heir apparent. Anything was
better than being stuck in his soon-to-be position as director of the Steller
Charity Foundation.
    He snuck a glance at Emma’s blonde hair
and trim figure. What would it be like to touch her silky—he halted his
thoughts. Keep it business .
    He filled a mug with the steaming brew
and handed it to her. He couldn’t tell her he’d done a complete background
check on her and knew her life history in the U.S. in detail, including her
desperate financial situation. Or that information from the U. K. on her family
was proving strangely difficult to uncover. But he could tell her how happy he
was she’d come. “I’m glad to see you. Perhaps, I’m not as ridiculous as you
first thought?”
    She took a long sip of coffee. “You
still haven’t fully answered my question. Why me?”
    He ran his hand over his mouth,
determined to convince her of his sincerity. “I first really noticed you at one
of the children’s hospital charity events for our foundation last year. I saw
you talking with the sick kids, singing songs with them, hugging, kissing
them.” The memory of her   bright smile and lilting British voice sent an ache of longing
across his chest. He dropped his gaze. She was the kind of mother he’d want for
his children. Heat prickled his scalp, and he fixed his coffee. Whoa, relax the emotions. He furrowed
his brows and spoke more logically. “I chose you because you’re a believer,
you’re about the right age, and you’re musical.”
    She set down her mug. “You picked me
because I can play the piano?”
    He smiled at her straightforwardness.
“My mother is very musical. Before she married my father, she sang opera at the
St. Louis Opera Theater. It would please her to know her grandchildren may have
musical potential.”
    Her face fell. Silence echoed between
them. Had he offended her again?
    “I’ll think about it.”
    He schooled his appearance to remain calm.
She was a beautiful woman, but this time his decision would be based on logic,
not emotion. He had to get this right. “Sure, take your time.”
    She took another sip of her coffee and
leaned forward, setting her elbows on the countertop. “Thank you for stopping
those men today.”
    The deep blue of her shirt brought a
glow to her face. How soft was that skin—He swallowed. No one in his family,
including past generations, had ever been divorced. He had to make this choice
based on facts, not attraction. With a flick of a button, he shut off the
coffee machine, and his feelings. “Always glad to rescue a stolen piano.”
    Her green eyes were filled with
gratitude. “Well, thank you to my knight in shining armor.”
    Sweat was collecting on his forehead. He
needed to get away. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
    Minutes later, he strode back into the
kitchen and slid a binder across the granite counter, his confident corporate
persona firmly in place. “Before we met to discuss my proposal, I had my lawyers type up letters of intent, stating my objectives.”
    She stiffened. “But how did you—”
    “I wanted to have a clear plan in place
in case you were willing to consider my offer.”
    By the firm set of her lips, her
defenses were rising.
    “I just hoped you would.” He held his
breath. That sounded