Wedding His Takeover Target Read Online Free

can’t be bothered. I want to see to Sabrina before I’m gone.”
    The genuine concern in the tired blue eyes yanked at something in Gavin’s chest. Sap. He’s playing you like a fiddle.
    â€œI’m not the man for the job,” he repeated.
    â€œI think you are. The fact that you turned me down despite the fact that Sabrina could inherit everything I have only reinforces my opinion. I ain’t talked to you more than ten minutes, Gavin Jarrod, but I can already tell you’re twice the man your daddy was. He used the land, stripping away whatever got in his way, without thought for anything more than the profit he could make. You, with the way you took care of one good-for-nothing hole in the ground, proved you’re smarter. You respect the land and nature.”
    True. “That’s a broad assumption, Mr. Caldwell.”
    â€œBut a valid one. You’ll treat my girl with the same respect.”
    Gavin backed toward the door. “The answer’s still no.”
    â€œIf you’re thinking you can wait ’til I drop dead and buy the property from Sabrina, think again. If I die before she marries I’ve willed that plot to the National Parks Service.”
    Damn. The park system would condemn land to get road access to the mine. Jarrod Ridge would end up losing even more property and have to deal with tourists wandering off the path. Their secluded retreat atmosphere would be shattered.
    â€œIf you agree I have one more stipulation. I don’t want our girl knowing anything about our little agreement. Ya hear? You’ll court her like a woman deserves to be courted. She won’t marry ya without loving ya. That much I know.”
    In Gavin’s opinion, making a woman fall for him underfalse pretenses was about as low as a man could get. How could he respect himself if he pulled that kind of crap? Refusal hovered on his tongue.
    â€œSon, if you want that five acres, this is the only way you’re gonna get it. That’s my deal. Take it or leave it.”
    Man, this was insane.
    A tap on the door preceded Sabrina returning with a laden tray. Gavin’s pulse thudded harder and faster.
    Marry her?
    There are worse things than being married to a beautiful woman.
    This had to be flat-out the craziest scheme he’d ever heard in his life. So why was he still standing here?
    If marriage was the only way to get the land back, to succeed where his father had failed and to keep his family from losing even more acreage, what choice did he have? For the good of his family and Jarrod Ridge, he had to accept the deal.
    But the marriage would be temporary. Once he returned to his regular job nature would take its course and, aided by his long absences, the relationship would die a natural death—as had all his previous liaisons.
    Hell of a way to start a relationship—planning its demise.
    But he was attracted to Sabrina and the idea of sharing her bed appealed tremendously.
    He’d need an ironclad prenup.
    â€œCan I get you anything else?” Sabrina asked, her suspicious gaze drilling his. The familiar clench of desire fisted in his gut and pounded through his veins.
    â€œThis’ll do, love,” Caldwell answered.
    She left the room, her protectiveness of her grandfather clear in her reluctant steps.
    Gavin took a deep breath, willing sanity to return and offer him a better option. It didn’t. “I’ll do it.”

Two
    H er grandfather had closed the door.
    Sabrina couldn’t remember any other time in her life when Pops had shut her out of a conversation. She blamed their unexpected visitor—one who couldn’t be bothered to make an appointment—for the exclusion.
    Gavin Jarrod epitomized everything Sabrina disliked about the soon-to-be-arriving ski season guests. Rich guys like him, with their perfectly tousled hair, flawless faces and gym-buffed bodies swaggered into town like they owned the place. They threw