Free The Great Texas Wedding Bargain by Judy Christenberry Page A

put enough distance between them. From now on, she’d make sure he didn’t touch her.
    “Ladies and gentlemen,” a booming voice said from the small stage. “It’s time for our newlyweds to lead the first dance.”
    “No!” Megan mumbled, her eyes widening.
    Rick wrapped that strong arm around her waist again and led her toward the center of the room. “Don’t worry. They don’t expect Fred and Ginger.”
    She guessed she should be grateful he didn’t realize what she’d meant by her protest. She sucked in a deep breath and tried to hold it through the dance, as if that would stop him from touching her.
    Instead, he cuddled her closer. “Relax, Meg. It’s just a dance.”
    Just a dance. And that kiss had just been a kiss. And their marriage was just a marriage.
    And she was just an idiot. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t share a house with this man, a life with this man, without paying a heavy price.
    “Rick,” she began, thinking maybe they should get an annulment before—no, it couldn’t be too late for an annulment because they weren’t going to make this a real marriage. That’s right, it was a pretend marriage.
    The kiss had almost made her forget that important fact. It wasn’t a real marriage.
    His lips brushed across hers, dragging her gaze to him. “Don’t do that! Don’t…you can’t—”
    “But everyone’s watching. Don’t you want them to believe this is a love match?” When she stared at him blankly, he added, “For the children? Isn’t that what you said?”
    “Y-Yes, for the children.” Dear God, she’d almost forgotten why she was doing this, marrying this stranger. She’d almost panicked and called the whole thing off because his kiss, his touch, had made her forget the reality.
    She sought her mother in the group of people sitting down at the tables, watching them. There she was, holding a sleepy Torie. Drew was in a neighbor’s arms, already asleep.
    The children. She had to protect her sister’s children. And Rick was helping her do that. He’d been magnificent, doing everything and more that she’d asked him to do.
    “Yes, you’re right,” she said with a sigh, leaning her head against his strong shoulder. “We need to pretend… for the children.”
    He pulled her even more tightly against him. “It’s not so hard, is it? We fit together well.”
    She gave a small nod and closed her eyes. It was best if she didn’t think about that. She’d concentrate on the children.
     

    A FTER THAT first dance Rick found his bride in great demand. So much so, that he didn’t even get close to her for the next hour. But he kept his gaze fixed on her.
    Finally, Jessica ordered him to grab Megan and come cut the cake. “After you do that, you both need to eat something.”
    “Okay, I won’t argue with that.”
    He strode across the dance floor and tapped Ed Baxter on his shoulder. “Time for us to cut the cake, Mr. Baxter.”
    “Well, I guess I can give up the rest of my dance for such a good cause, but don’t you forget, young lady. You owe me half a dance.”
    “I won’t forget, Mr. Baxter,” Megan said softly, a gentle smile on her lips.
    Which made Rick want to kiss her again.
    Hell, he had half a million reasons to kiss her again. He’d collected them as he’d watched her dance around the room in the arms of other men.
    “Are you any good at cutting a big cake, ’cause I don’t have any idea how to go about it,” he told her as they moved in that direction.
    “We only have to cut one piece,” she assured him, taking his hand in hers. It was the first time she’d voluntarily touched him tonight, except when she’d rested her head on his shoulder during that one dance.
    “I’ll let you show me,” he assured her, realizing the way to his wife’s heart—no, not her heart, her kindness. The way to receive consideration from her was to need her.
    But not in the way he needed her.
    Florence Greenfield, Mac’s aunt, was in charge of the cake,