Marry Me Read Online Free Page A

weeks."
    "Why, you're practically a newlywed. I should have brought a gift."
    "I only accept cash."
    "In the millions, I've heard."
    "It's millions or nothing for me," she blithely retorted.
    "Doesn't it bother you to be called a gold digger?"
    "It might—if I was one."
    He snorted. "You stole from my befuddled, dying grandfather, but you don't feel you did anything wrong?"
    "No, and it galls you, doesn't it?"
    "Absolutely. But I'm not worried. You won't have the money for long. I intend to take every penny."
    "You're so mean," she sarcastically cooed.
    Behind her, the front door opened, and she glanced around to see that Gracie, Bryce, and Peanut had come outside. King sat by Peanut, his tail thumping on the porch boards.
    "Is that your family?" He was puzzled, as if she was too bizarre a creature to be related to anyone.
    "Yes."
    "Your kids?"
    "Yes," she said again as he studied them. Would he notice any resemblances?
    "The boy looks to be ten or eleven. When did you give birth to him? When you were a baby?"
    "They're Harold's children," she explained, but provided no more. He could assume whatever he wanted.
    "He fathered two kids in his eighties? I don't believe it."
    "I don't care."
    He nodded at Gracie. "And the flamboyant redhead?"
    "My mother."
    "Figures," he muttered.
    He stared at them, as they stared back. She could almost read his thoughts as he struggled to deduce what was indicated by the presence of the children. He was smart, but arrogant and obtuse. He'd never unravel the mystery, and even if he did, it didn't matter.
    He couldn't harm them or her; Harold had made sure of it.
    He wrenched his gaze away from them and shifted it to Faith again. A surge of energy flickered between them. She'd first noted it at the lawyer's office, and she'd never felt anything like it before.
    She liked how he scrutinized her, as if she was hot and sexy and he might gobble her up. It was his nature to be forward with females, and he looked at every woman the same way, but still, she enjoyed having his attention showered on her.
    "Aren't you going to invite me in?" he asked.
    "No."
    "Why not?"
    "I don't like you, and I don't want you in my home."
    "Can't I at least be introduced to your family?"
    "No."
    In a flirtatious voice, Gracie piped up from the porch. "You can come on in, honey. If she won't invite you, I certainly will."
    She was leaned on the railing, a hip cocked, her incredible bosom thrust out.
    "Go inside, Gracie," Faith snapped.
    "You never let me have any fun."
    "Take the kids with you." None of them moved, and Faith added, "I need to talk to Mr. Merriweather. Alone."
    "Oh, all right," Gracie grumbled. As she herded Bryce and Peanut through the door, she suggested, "Lucas, why don't you give her a ride in your car? Her opinion of you is awfully low. It might be a way to impress her."
    "I just might try that, Gracie," he replied.
    She vanished, and as he watched the sway of her retreating backside, he chuckled. "She's interesting. I see where you get your… charm."
    "She taught me everything I know." So he'd never beat her in any fight. Gracie had a mind like a mathematician. She'd compute all the angles before he'd even picked his course of action.
    "What are you doing here, Merriweather?" she asked.
    "Call me Lucas. Everyone else in your family does."
    "Okay, Lucas. Why are you here?"
    He shrugged. "I don't have a clue."
    "Gracie figures you're planning to befriend me, bribe me, or seduce me. Which is it?"
    "I can't decide. What tactic would work best?"
    "I don't need any new friends, and I have ten million dollars, so bribery is pointless." She let her gaze meander down his torso. "Seduction might be intriguing."
    "You want me to seduce you?"
    "Sure, why not? Do you think you could?"
    He scoffed. "Do I think I could? Is the sky blue?"
    She didn't understand why she was behaving so outrageously, but he brought out her worst traits. She'd never met a man like him, and he stirred a pot of restlessness that was