Til Death Do Us Part by Beverly Barton

Author:Beverly Barton
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 1996-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

“DO YOU, Simon Alloway Roarke, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Simon listened to the Alabama judge’s words, reciting the marriage vows and making the appropriate responses when called upon to speak. Not long after he’d taken Cleo McNamara’s hand in his, a soothing numbness had claimed him. Thankfully the event, being a civil ceremony, wouldn’t last very long. He didn’t think he could have endured anything elaborate. Lucky for him, Cleo was a sensible woman, not one for turning their wedding into a major production.

Of course, once they arrived at her home, they would have to begin acting the parts of madly-in-love newlyweds.

“My family may suspect the truth—that I bought and paid for you,” Cleo said. “But I will not give them the satisfaction of knowing for sure. Whenever we’re around others, I expect you to pretend to be in love with me. Aunt Beatrice has told the family that you used to date a college friend of mine, that you and I were acquainted years ago. And when we met again, by chance, while Aunt Beatrice and I were on our Atlanta shopping trip, you and I found ourselves attracted to each other. You simply swept me off my feet in a whirlwind courtship.”

Roarke wasn’t too sure how sharp his acting skills were, but he’d give it his best shot. After all, Cleo was paying him for his services, and it wouldn’t exactly be a hardship to fake affection for a woman as appealing as Cleo.

“And do you, Cleopatra Arabelle McNamara, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” the judge asked.

“I do,” she said clearly in her deep, raspy voice that Roarke thought was very sexy.

Cleo and Roarke exchanged the simple gold bands she had purchased at the local jewelry store in River Bend earlier that day. He made sure he didn’t hold her hand longer than was necessary.

Remembering a first wedding on the day of a second wedding might be only natural, but Roarke refused to allow himself to remember anything about his first wedding. It would be unfair to Cleo to compare her with Hope. And it would be unfair to him to have to recall the circumstances that had led to the demise of his former marriage.

Simon didn’t look at his new bride. He hadn’t made eye contact with her at all. What was the point? They both knew why they were there and what they had to do. This was a business arrangement, one that would benefit them both.

All the legal documents had been signed beforehand. The equivalent of one year’s salary plus a nice bonus had been deposited in a bank account in Simon’s name and Cleo had agreed to a million-dollar divorce settlement once he had successfully fulfilled his part of their bargain.

And that was the reason he was going through with this farce—for the money. If he was ever going to free himself from a life of danger and violence and still continue to meet his obligations to Hope, he needed money.

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