Free Married To The Boss by Lori Foster

typically female consideration was a relief after her bout of sensual demands. “Your white suit will do just fine. After all, it’ll be a civil ceremony at the justice of the peace. And we’ll want to keep the frills to a minimum.”
    The second he said it, he saw a small light go out in her eyes and belatedly realized that she’d wanted to make the occasion special. He had a sudden pang in his chest that he didn’t understand, an ache that was unfamiliar but that he knew was centered around Dana and her happiness. He cupped her face with one hand, letting his thumb smooth over her temple. Now that he’d gotten used to touching her, he couldn’t seem to stop. Her skin was so incredibly soft. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Here I am, bulldozing right over you with no consideration for your wishes.”
    She shrugged, staring at his silk tie. “It was your idea, after all. You should certainly do things however you like.”
    He frowned. “There’s no need for you to play the martyr.”
    â€œI wasn’t!”
    He shushed her by placing his thumb over her lips, which were even softer than her skin, prompting him to continue touching. She froze, her eyes huge. “What I’d like,” he murmured, “is to make you happy. If you really want to wear a new dress—”
    When she shook her head, he reluctantly removed his thumb so she could speak. “No, the suit will do. You’re right.”
    He hesitated, not wanting her to look so fatally resigned. But he knew that the less fanfare the better—for his reputation and his peace of mind. He already felt far too involved. To make it up to her, he would buy her flowers, traditional white rosebuds to go with the suit. And another emerald for her wedding band. Knowing Dana, she wouldn’t be expecting a ring; she wouldn’t be expecting anything at all. He didn’t want their bargain to be one-sided. He wanted to pamper her and he wanted to see her smile.
    But he also wanted to protect himself, because he had a feeling he’d miscalculated his reaction to Dana Dillinger. She’d changed things around so that now it was a marriage of her convenience. Her sexual convenience. And now that she’d insisted on getting down and dirty with him, he felt thrown off balance in a way he’d never experienced before.
    He wanted her. And that had never been part of the plan.

CHAPTER FIVE
    â€œH I , SWEETHEART. ”
    Dana caught her breath as R.J. gently touched her cheek, drawing her attention. She’d been so preoccupied and nervous over the coming ceremony that she hadn’t heard him enter. And this new habit of his of using endearments continually caught her off guard. She wondered if she’d ever get used to it.
    His smile was teasing, as if he knew she was nervous and found it endearing. “This is for you.”
    Dana stared down at the large, square white box R.J. handed to her. She’d been surprised by the appearance of the judge’s chambers moments before when she and her good friend Hope Logan had arrived. The large room had been fancied up with white satin ribbon and a white runner. And there were flowers everywhere, flanking a small altar, situated on either side of the door, in a row of pots bordering the floor and in every corner. The air smelled sweet with the combined scents of orange blossom, roses, carnations and orchids.
    She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it hadn’t been wedding decorations, not when the wedding wasn’t real, not when there was no love involved.Hope, one of her closest friends and the only witness Dana had invited to the wedding, had known for some time how Dana felt about R.J. Trusting her friend completely, Dana had confided R.J.’s motive for the wedding, and had been grateful that Hope hadn’t tried to dissuade her from going through with it.
    When they’d discovered the decorated chambers, Hope