The Texan's Contract Marriage - By Sara Orwig Page 0,32
way things turned out, but I’ll do my best with Noah.”
Marek wiped his eyes. He missed his brother so often. Such a waste! He pulled off his shirt, feeling restless, wishing he had someone to talk to for a while. He wondered what time Camille went to bed. The thought of her stretched out in bed set his pulse racing. She wanted to wait on a physical relationship, but he suspected neither of them would wait long. If he had his preference, they would not wait at all. Just the thought set his pulse racing faster. He knew nothing about her except the facts of her background that he had gleaned from what she’d told him and the little on the web about her. She wasn’t heavily into social media and neither was he, so he hadn’t learned much there.
In slightly over three weeks he would be a married man—married to a woman he barely knew. The idea astounded him.
*
Two weeks later Marek’s cell phone jingled and he answered to listen to his sister.
“Mom and Dad are so worried about you and what you’re doing.”
“Don’t let them get to you. The paternity test indicated Noah is Kern’s baby. I’m doing what I want. I think it will work out.”
They were both tense about the upcoming evening. “I’ll see you at the party tonight,” he said, thinking about the engagement party that was being held by his parents’ dinner club and oldest friends.
“Okay, little brother. I just want you happy. Noah is a cute little fellow and he does look like Kern.”
“Whether he looks like Kern or not, Noah is Kern’s, Ginny. Could you let him go now?”
“No. You win. See you tonight.”
“Ahh, that’s my sis.” He ended the call and left for the corral, thinking about the wedding. He still did not expect to love again. To love was to risk your heart, and he would never go through the kind of hurt he had experienced after losing Jillian. That was vastly different from lusting after someone. Camille knew this, and she knew what to expect from him. She was completely aware that love would never be part of the equation. Still, he wanted to make love to her. He wanted her in his arms, in his bed. He wanted her as his wife in the fullest sense. Thinking about her aroused him, and he glanced at his watch, counting the hours until he would see her.
Walking into the barn, he found Jess with his head under the hood of a truck.
“What’s wrong with the pickup?”
“Nothing I can’t fix,” Jess said. He straightened. “They giving you a hard time?”
“Yes. Mom and Dad are worried about me rushing into a marriage. They’re interested in Noah, but feel I can work out a better arrangement. I’ve had a call from Ginny about their opinion.”
“Do you think you are making a mistake?”
“No. No matter how I look at it, I don’t. You’ve seen Noah, and we all know he’s Kern’s baby. I can’t just see him a few times a year.”
“Kern’s little boy, growing up here—I don’t see how you can go wrong with him growing up as part of the family.”
“Both Camille and I want him to have this ranching legacy.”
“Amen to that. ’Course, you’re tying your life to hers and hers to you, but that should work out.”
“I think it will. Can I help with this?” Marek asked, leaning over the truck.
“It’s a dirty job,” Jess said.
“I take that as a yes. Give me the wrench, and you take a break.”
“Won’t argue with that one,” Jess said, handing Marek his wrench and stepping away to sit on bales of hay.
Marek was soon absorbed in the truck, glad to find something that occupied his thoughts, thinking it would be a long day until he could pick up Camille for the party.
“Wedding will be here before you know it, so you better be sure,” Jess said.
“The sooner the better,” Marek replied. “I want to get this over with and put an end to the arguments. As soon as my tux is done, I’m ready for a wedding. I hope Camille is, too.”
Five
Dressed in a tailored white silk dress with a skirt that ended below her knees, Camille stood poised to walk up the aisle in a small chapel in the Saint Louis church she had attended all her life. Her arm was looped through her father’s, and he smiled at her. “You look beautiful. I hope you’re happy.”
“I will be, Dad,” she said,