The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

splashes on a blackboard, they stood out in the room, refusing to be overlooked.
    Her stomach spasmed and she felt the way she had as a child, when she was waiting for a punishment she knew was coming. She clenched her hands at her sides and lifted her chin in spite of the dread swamping her. She had to draw a line somewhere, didn’t she? She had to be a grown-up at some point. Had to stand up to the man who’d been both hero and dragon in her life. She had to speak up for herself or end up married to Willie and sewing sequins onto his dog’s cape.
    “I don’t believe I heard you correctly.”
    “Yes you did, Father. I’m not going to marry Willie.”
    His features darkened, color rising up from his throat like an incoming tide. His eyes flashed and his mouth thinned into a grim slash of disapproval.
    And still, Megan stood her ground.
    Her knees were wobbly, but she stood it.
    “We’ll discuss this when you’re more rational.”
    “I’m perfectly rational.”
    “No, you are not. What you are,” he said, “is dismissed.” He didn’t look at her again. Instead, he opened a drawer, pulled out a manila folder, picked up a fountain pen and began to work—as if she were already gone. As if everything were settled. As if she’d already agreed to the marriage.
    Which was, of course, exactly the way he saw it.
    And Megan thought now, as she resurfaced from the memory, her father was just relentless enough to eventually wear her down. Spencer Ashton would never give up. Unless she was already married…
    “Look at this like a business proposition,” Simon was saying.
    “Business.”
    He perked up, his gray eyes sparkling with anticipation as he realized she was beginning to waver. “I’ll give you anything you want,” he said.
    Was craziness contagious? she wondered. Was she seriously considering agreeing to marry Simon Pearce? Okay, yes. Because here, she could call the shots. And, it would give her the added benefit of being able to face her father and explain that it was impossible for her to marry Willie.
    Besides, how bad could it be?
    Simon was gorgeous, rich and—okay, crazy. But mental stability wasn’t that big a deal, right? Of course, there was crazy and then there was Willie crazy.
    “Do you have a dog?” she blurted.
    “Huh?” His brows drew together. “No.”
    “Okay,” she said on a sigh of relief, “that’s good.”
    “If you say so,” he murmured, giving her a look that said plainly he had a few concerns about her stability.
    “I have a few conditions,” Megan said.
    He nodded. “I’m listening.”
    Oh God, she was really going to do this. Her stomachswirled and her hands went damp. But she started speaking quickly, not giving herself a chance to second-guess this nutso decision. “We have to stay married for one full year.”
    “A year?”
    “Yes.” That way, she’d have enough time to find a woman for Willie. Impossible though that seemed at the moment, she firmly believed in the old adage that there was someone for everyone.
    He thought about it for a long moment, then nodded. “Agreed.”
    Okay, that was easy. “And,” she added, “no one can know that I’m just a last-minute replacement bride.” She started pacing, feeding the nervous energy pounding through her system. “I don’t care how you explain it—say we were swept away or that it was love at first sight—whatever.” She stopped, turned around and stared at him, her gaze locking with his. “I won’t have your friends and family thinking I’m just the emergency wife.”
    “Love at first sight?” he mused, that half smile tugging at his lips again.
    “It could happen.”
    “If you say so.” Folding his arms over his chest, he tipped his head to one side and asked, “Is that it? No more conditions?”
    “One more.” If she was going to do this, then she was going to do it right. She wouldn’t have people whispering or feeling sorry for her or being embarrassedby a “husband” who was still dating. “I expect you to be faithful for the duration. No cheating whatsoever.”
    His eyes narrowed to match hers. “I don’t cheat,” he said tightly. “And I’ll expect the same from you.”
    Megan stared into his eyes for a long minute and was reassured by his steady gaze. She nodded, relieved on that score anyway. “Agreed.”
    “Good. Any more conditions?”
    “No, I think that does it.”
    Simon was stunned. He’d expected her to ask for money. Lots of it. And frankly, he’d