Mail-Order Brides For Christmas - Frankie Love Page 0,30

It has all the common information on it and includes the clause that we each take what was ours with us when we get divorced. I’ve tattooed over too many ex-lovers’ names on countless clients to be naïve enough to think that anything real can come of this arranged marriage.

I still can’t believe that my mother set this whole thing up. As soon as she learned about the Titan Corporation coming in to buy the town, she’s been searching to find a way to stop it. We all have. But Mother took it into her own hands. She contacted the mail-order bride company and put everything into motion.

The rules for the town’s ownership are clear and say I have to be married. I’m working on a clause. Something we can figure out about changing the antiquated laws of Snow Valley. Phew! It’s crazy. The owner must be married. It’s a crazy idea, and the rules definitely need changed. Until I can figure it out, we will stay married.

Snow Valley means so much to our community and my family, and I know there’s no way I can let the Titan Corporation come in and buy it. We don’t want a tourist town. We like our town the way it is. My brothers and I are prepared to buy it, but the city bylaws say that the town’s owners have to be married. I think it’s a bunch of hogwash, but there’s no way I’m telling my mother no. I won’t be the one to let my family down, not when my five brothers all agreed to do this. Plus, I’m not so worried about the idea that I would stay married if it turns out really bad. If it comes down to it, I’ll figure out a loophole of selling my shares of the town or something. As long as the majority stays in the Mistletoe family, I won’t need to be an owner.

Marriage really isn’t for me anyway. I don’t believe in happily every afters. My buddies in the service would agree with me. My best friend’s wife left him while he was serving overseas. Another friend’s wife divorced him because she fell in love with someone else. Yeah, I’m not a betting man anyway, but if I was, I definitely wouldn’t be betting on the success of these arranged marriages. But there’s no way I could turn down my mom. Not on this. I know how much this town means to her, and there’s no way I’m going to stand in the way of it being kept to its current standards. Snow Valley is a special place, and it means a lot to all of us. It’s where our family is from, it’s where we grew up, and it’s where we plan to stay. We definitely need to preserve the town. For us and for all the townspeople.

So once the decision was made, I just had to go through with it. Honestly, I’m glad Mom had a plan for the arranged marriage. The only prospects I would have had in this town that would even consider marrying the likes of me is Marla, one of my tattoo artists at the shop. She’s nice enough but marrying her would be a huge mistake. She’s already following me around like a lost puppy; she probably would get the wrong idea and think it was a real marriage.

Nope, I don’t need that drama. I need a professional. I mean, what kind of woman would be a mail order bride? She obviously knows what’s up. I shake my head at the thought. My mom told me she talked to Mia, but I didn’t get much more than that. Mom has romanticized all of this, thinking it’s going to be six successful marriages. All I can do is promise her I’ll do my best. I know it’s not going to be some big love match, but we can at least attempt contentment and hopefully just a hint of happiness.

I finish signing and wait for Mr. Davis to give me a copy before giving him a thumbs-up on my way out of the office. I’ve already arranged for a licensed minister to officiate the marriage, paid for witnesses to be there, and by greasing a few palms even got the marriage license rushed through to be ready on time.

It’s all working out. I now only have to pick up my bride-to-be, one Mia Devin, at the airport, and we’ll get married right there. It will