Free Hired Bride by Jackie Merritt Page A

couldn’t understand the way I live in a million years.” She opened her door, got out and walked over to Zane’s car. Naturally it was one of the most costly cars on the market, and repairing its back end was not going to be cheap. She heaved a sigh, which she cut short when Zane walked up.
    Her gaze flicked over his custom-made suit, shirt and shoes. But it didn’t matter that the clothes on his back today had probably cost more than every stitch in her closet. She’d run into his car, and the repairs were her responsibility.
    â€œGet it fixed,” she said flatly. “Send me the bill. Now, if you’ll move your car so I can get into my garage, I have a table to pick up and deliver.”
    Zane narrowed his eyes on her. She had a way of asserting her independence that grated on his nerves. It was almost as though she was daring him to step on her pride. Fine, he thought, he wouldn’t argue about who was going to pay for the repairs to his car. She would never know which body shop had done the work, and therefore she couldn’t pay any part of the bill.
    Signs of her way of life were everywhere he looked—her old beat-up van, her small house, and even the harried look in her eyes. Money was probably a constant worry. No wonder she’d taken him up on his offer of two-thousand dollars for spending the weekend at the ranch and pretending that she was his girlfriend.
    â€œI’ll move my car in a minute. There’s something I have to ask you first. I would have done this on the phone, but you never answer the phone.”
    â€œI can’t sit around the house waiting for the phone to ring. I have to earn a living.”
    â€œI know that.” Zane found himself speaking gently. Any previous anger he’d felt was gone. There was nothing he’d like more than to write Gwen a large check on the spot. She shouldn’t have to struggle to earn a living when he had ten times, twenty times, more money than he could spend in his lifetime. He could well afford to help a friend.
    But something told him that the quickest way to forever end his and Gwen’s relationship was to try to give her money. He would mull it over; there had to be a way to help her out financially.
    â€œGwen, my sister Vanessa called and invited you and me to dinner at her house on Wednesday.”
    Gwen gasped. “I couldn’t!”
    â€œDon’t forget that she believes you’re my special lady friend.”
    â€œSurely you’re not intending to prolong that charade.” Gwen was shocked and couldn’t help showing it.
    â€œActually, it sort of backfired on me,” Zane admitted. “I didn’t think ahead to what could happen if my family liked you.” Or if I liked you. Gwen stirred him in unique ways. She was pretty and sexy, and he never would forget how she’d looked in that wet T-shirt. If only she would invite him into her house so they could talk in private. He really felt that they were on display for the whole neighborhood to see while they talked in her driveway.
    â€œA rather crucial oversight, don’t you think?” Gwen said dryly.
    â€œA damn stupid oversight is more like it. Anyhow, I seem to be up the creek without a paddle. Wouldyou go to Vanessa and Devin’s with me on Wednesday?”
    Frowning, Gwen paced a small circle. Then she stopped and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I have to say no. I told you I don’t date, and you really should have believed me because it’s the truth. And I agreed to the charade as a one-time deal only. I’m sure you can come up with some kind of story for your sister about you and me not seeing each other anymore.”
    Zane cleared his throat. “I probably can. Gwen, my throat feels dry as dust. Could I have a drink of water?” Thinking fast, realizing that she could go into the house and bring a glass of water out to him, he added, “And also use your