Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage Read Online Free Page A

has never been called into question, and the board would likely see our marriage as a settling influence on me.”
    A snort of laughter escaped before Mattie could stop it. Meeting Bryce’s gaze, she smiled and apologized. “Sorry, I just can’t see you ‘settling.’”
    Bryce pushed his hands into his pockets and paced away from his desk. Stopping at the liquor cabinet, he poured a measure of his favorite single malt. “That’s the problem, Lawrence. The board doesn’t believe it either.” Watching her, he sipped his drink. “I’m not talking about a quick-fix type of solution here. The marriage would have to be real in every sense. As long as the Makepeaces have any power in the company, we will have to present a united front. No divorce. No separations. No infidelities. We stay together for as long as it takes.”
    “How long do you think that will be?” Unsure her legs would continue to hold her upright, Mattie settled into the chair, her hands clenched together in her lap.
    “At the very least, five years.” He grimaced, and then shrugged. “At most, until the old harridan and her husband croak and quit manipulating the board with their horror stories.”
    Mattie couldn’t hold back the laughter at his comment. “That’s a heck of a long time to pretend to be married, Bryce, just to keep my job.”
    “Who said anything about pretending?” Bryce moved back to his desk and set his drink on the clear vinyl protector covering the polished wood.
    “Well…I…I assumed…” Mattie wasn’t sure what she was going to say, but all thought exited her mind when Bryce leaned forward and braced both hands on the arms of her chair.
    “We would arrive and leave work together, live in the same house, share the same bed. It would be a real marriage, Lawrence.”
    Mattie sank farther into her chair. She could feel the heat in her face, and her fingers tangled together to keep from latching on to the man and kissing him silly. Inside, she wavered between euphoria and dread. True, she’d fantasized about being with him for years—hell, since the first day she saw him—but marriage? “I…I’m not…” She shook her head and eyed him carefully as he moved back to lean against the desk.
    “Too much?”
    “I’ve just never…” Mattie waited, then tried again. “I’m going to need time to think this over.”
    “How much?” After finishing his drink, Bryce returned it to the bar and leaned against the built-in cabinet to await her answer.
    “A week?” she offered.
    He shook his head. “That’s too long. I want to make the arrangements so everything is in place before my father’s retirement party in five weeks. I need an answer before you leave tonight.”
    “That’s less than an hour.” It was Mattie’s turn to shake her head. She was used to this type of negotiation with the man. His determination to come out on top was apparent, but she was equally resolute about gaining time to seriously think about her decision. “You’re talking about a serious commitment, Bryce. If you aren’t going to give me a week, I need at least the weekend to make a decision.”
    “Forty-eight hours is too long. I want to get the ball rolling on this before the weekend is over.” Glancing at the grandfather clock across the room, he countered. “It’s just past four now. Think about it and give me a call by ten tonight.”
    “Five hours?” She rose and moved to pace the area between his desk and the seating area. “Still not enough time, Halsey. You’re asking me to make a decision that could affect the next five years of my life. If not more. No”—she shook her head and sat on the rolled arm of a hunter green leather chair—“I need at least thirty-six hours to seriously think this through.”
    “Too much time.” He seemed to be thinking something through as he crossed the room toward her, one hand tugging at the earring while the other rested on his hip. “You’re coming out to the Folly tomorrow