Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée Read Online Free Page A

Nick.

Two
    N ick drove his black sports car away from the strip mall where Grace rented space for her office. Relief dominated his feelings as he glanced at his watch. His lunch appointment with his closest friends would get his mind off this problem for the time being.
    Jake and Tony were already waiting and soon Gabe Benton joined them. Over hamburgers, Nick realized the lunch was not pushing his problem out of mind.
    â€œNick, I don’t think you heard a word I said,” Jake stated.
    â€œSorry,” Nick answered. “It’s Dad and what he wants. Long story, but the three of you know about the baby that might be Bart’s. Dad has a bee in his bonnet about getting the baby into the Rafford family.”
    â€œAnd that’s not what the baby’s guardian wants,” Tony guessed.
    â€œMoney talks. I can’t imagine your dad hasn’t made her anoffer or had you make her an offer,” Jake remarked. “That’s the usual MO for all our dads.”
    â€œShe’s not interested.”
    â€œIs this the new caterer you had?” Tony asked.
    â€œAs a matter of fact, yes.”
    â€œSimple. Just marry her,” Jake suggested with a twinkle in his eyes.
    Nick gave him a look. “I’m not marrying anyone to get something for Dad. I’m not marrying for years, period. All you guys will be married before I am.”
    â€œThe hell you say,” Tony replied. “Name your price, I’ll bet you’re married first.”
    Nick relaxed, enjoying the good-natured exchange and getting his mind off his problem. “I will be the last. One million in the pot.”
    â€œOh, no. I’m definitely going to be the holdout. I’ll bet a million and I will win,” Jake said.
    â€œI’m guaranteed to win,” Tony stated.
    â€œYou guys—betting a million over getting married. I could be the winner because I’m the youngest, but my money is going elsewhere,” Gabe said. “Count me out of this.”
    â€œAll right,” Nick said. “We have a bet. Last one to marry gets one million from the other two—namely, I will collect from both of you.”
    â€œDeal,” Jake said as Tony nodded. “It’s sweet,” Jake added. “Gabe is our witness. I don’t expect this bet to be over for years.”
    â€œYou guys are in it now, and it will be years,” Nick said, smiling and relaxing.
    Their conversation shifted to sports and for half an hour he didn’t think about Grace, the baby or his father. It wasn’t until he told his friends goodbye and left that he went back to thinking about his father’s demands.
    â€œMight as well get this over now,” he said to himself,dreading breaking the news to his father. He changed direction and headed to his father’s palatial estate. When he entered the grounds, he called his dad’s nurse to let her know he was coming.
    Circling splashing fountains, assorted statues and well-tended beds of flowers, Nick drove around the mansion to the back, sitting in the car long enough to call his office and tell them when he would be in.
    He pushed the bell at the back and the door was opened by a gray-haired uniformed woman he had known since childhood.
    â€œGood morning, Miss Lou,” Nick said, smiling at her.
    â€œMorning to you, Mr. Nick. Your father will be glad to see you.”
    â€œI have doubts about that. I’m telling him something he doesn’t want to hear.”
    She laughed. “None of your escapades now!”
    â€œThere hasn’t been any such nonsense since I went off to college,” he said, laughing with her.
    She chuckled and shook her head. “He’s in the library. He’ll be glad to see you. I think he’s lonesome. He talks to me a lot more now.”
    â€œThen he shouldn’t be so lonesome. You’re good company,” Nick said, smiling at her. He walked down the broad terrazzo-floored hall