The Wedding Wager Read Online Free Page A

the time. Not every couple marries for love.”
    Megan bobbed her head once to acknowledge that fact. “But I remember in college, a girl got in a ton of trouble for agreeing to marry a Russian engineering student so he could stay in the country and get a green card.”
    Kevin spread his hands. “I’m not a foreign national. I’m an American citizen. As such, I have the right to get married if I want to. Correct?”
    Megan bobbed her head again, then moved on to her next note. “You had a lawyer draw up the contract. Will I be allowed to show it to another lawyer? May I take a copy of it with me?”
    Kevin squirmed.
    Megan’s head dropped. “So it is a trick, then.”
    “No, no, it’s legit. I just can’t let you take a copy away with you. You see, if my father’s legal team sees this contract, I’m screwed.”
    “What if they see it after the wedding?”
    Kevin’s heart pounded. Could she be about to say yes to the arrangement? He was flustered and had to think before he answered.
    “If they ever see this contract, they will raise hell in the courts for years.”
    “Then aren’t you taking a terrible chance by showing this contract to anyone? Even prospective signers?” Megan could see that he hadn’t thought of that as his face fell and his brow furrowed with worry.
    “I, er, didn’t think of that.”
    “Did you show it to the other applicants?”
    “No. We didn’t get that far.”
    “And you haven’t shown it to me yet, so you’re safe.”
    “It includes a confidentiality clause.”
    Megan turned a hand over. “But that only helps if I actually sign the contract, right?”
    “Oh, God, I’m screwed.” Kevin slumped in the chair. Why hadn’t he thought through to this point? Thank goodness he hadn’t shown those other women the contract.
    Megan smiled genuinely for the first time since she entered the room. He was definitely fallible and obviously in trouble.
    But then, so was she. The dreaded envelope practically burned a hole in her purse.
    Megan rose and pulled her chair up to the mahogany desk. She laid her paper towel notes out flat, then pulled the envelope out of her purse and set it in front of Kevin.
    “I think we can help each other.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    “WHAT WE NEED,” said Megan, “is a prenup. Your father’s lawyers can never fault you for having a prenup, can they?”
    “You mean, you’ll do it? You’ll pretend to be my bride?”
    “Oh, don’t be silly. I’m not pretending anything. If you want me to help you secure your inheritance, I can do that. But I need to know that you will keep your part of the bargain. So we will get married legally with a prenup.” She tapped her finger on the envelope. “No matter what happens to our marriage, I need to know that this will be taken care of, either as your wife, or as part of the divorce settlement.”
    Kevin studied the envelope. The return address was a hospital imprint. He frowned as he pulled the papers out. Page after page of medical billing stared up at him.
    “Yours?”
    Megan nodded. “Car accident. Everything I owned was in that car. I was moving to the city to start a new job. Never made it. I’ve been in the hospital for six months.”
    Kevin couldn’t stop himself from staring at her. “Sorry, but you look great. Perfectly normal.”
    “I am, now,” she said. “My mother flew home from Guatemala and stayed with me through the surgery and my first two weeks of physical therapy. But my father needed her at the mission. He’s building a school for orphans down there. So when mother felt like I was going to be okay, she went back. She left me forty dollars in cash and a mailing address for the mission. They’re very dedicated people.”
    Kevin’s brow darkened. “Pretty damn cold, if you ask me.”
    Megan tucked her chin. “Really? Not at all like your father, who wants to rip your inheritance out of your hands, right?”
    Kevin held up an index finger. “You win that point.”
    “Can you do it?”