The Billioniare's Bought Bride (Contemporary Romance) by Michele Dunaway

Author:Michele Dunaway [Dunaway, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Mini-Story, Adult, Harlequin Type, Billionaire, Bride, Marriage, Marriage Of Convenience, Rogue, Childhood, Collateral, Loan, Bitter, Marry, Baby, Pregnancy, Paid
Goodreads: 19216154
Publisher: Michele Dunaway
Published: 2012-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

The cold front blew through earlier than predicted, and Madison woke up in the middle of the night with chattering teeth. She clicked on the bedside lamp, and drew the light comforter around her neck. The lodge had no central heat or air, and her grandfather had never seen the need to upgrade, as the building was only used in the summer, and normally the weather was palatable. As for the electric blanket, that had been the one thing the decorator had forgotten to replace.

Madison eyed the fireplace. Fatwood fire starters sat in a brass bin, and, in the log holder, wood of various circumferences stood ready and waiting. From previous years, Madison knew that within a half hour, a hot fire would heat the pink granite stones, and the stones would then radiate much needed warmth into the room. The vents on the side of the fireplace allowed warm air to circulate. In an hour, the room would be toasty.

She glanced at the clock. There were at least five hours left before daylight. She had to either get out of bed and make a fire, or suffer the chill. She’d never made a fire, especially since she couldn’t remember a summer cold enough to need one. Still, how difficult could one be?

“Brr!” Madison sputtered as her feet hit the wooden floor. She jerked open the dresser drawer and pulled out some socks. Hopping, she pulled them on and then followed with her bathrobe.

Rubbing her hands together, she knelt before the fireplace. “You can do this,” she told herself. “First, check the damper.”

The contractors had cleaned the fireplace, and she had no idea whether the flue was open or not. She tried peering up there, but couldn’t see anything. But when she waved her arm, she found a low pull of some sort dangling and figured the flue had to be open.

Her body trembled from being cold, and she positioned the starter sticks and logs in what she hoped were strategic places on the grate.

“So far so good.” She congratulated herself and grabbed the long matches. With a flick of her wrist, the match flared on first strike. The ensuing flames sent a warm glow into the room. She basked in the heat for a moment. Perfect.

Except that within seconds she was gagging and waving her hand in front of her face as thick black smoke poured from the opening and into her bedroom. The smoke detector began to blare, sending out loud, deafening shrills.

Coughing, Maddy clambered to her feet, her eyes blinded with smoke-induced tears. She cranked the nearest window open. Cold air billowed inside, sending the room temperature further down.

The wooden door to her room flew open with resounding thud. “Maddy? What’s—” Dylan sized up the situation instantly.

“I thought the damper was open.” Maddy cranked open another window, the cold breeze bursting in.

Dylan grabbed the poker and pushed the wood back against the back wall of the fireplace. Immediately smoke headed up the chimney

“The damper is open,” he said.

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