Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Maverick Bargains for a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)
Wives for the Western Billionaires 3
The Billionaire Maverick Bargains for a Wife
Angie McElvaine was reclaiming her life. She had a four-step plan and had completed three.
Brent Terrell arrived in Saddle Creek to see his brother, Drake. Angie considered him for step four, to be her temporary husband. He was here for a visit, not to stay. But, there was danger in choosing him. Her body instantly responded to his nearness. Could she have his baby, see him go away, and come out unscathed? She doubted it, and he'd never agree anyway.
Angie's fears come to the forefront when people begin to question about her changed appearance. Maybe twenty-one years of hiding wasn't enough. Still, no one outside of Saddle Creek would be curious about her.
Hopefully, her stepfather had forgotten about her and her mother. But Angie hadn't forgotten the baby sister they'd left behind or that her stepfather had convinced Angie she never wanted a permanent husband.
Genre: Contemporary, Western/Cowboys
Length: 45,012 words
THE BILLIONAIRE MAVERICK BARGAINS FOR A WIFE
Wives for the Western Billionaires 3
Paige Cameron
EVERLASTING CLASSIC
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic
THE BILLIONAIRE MAVERICK BARGAINS FOR A WIFE
Copyright © 2011 by Paige Cameron
E-book ISBN: 1-61926-042-5
First E-book Publication: November 2011
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
Steve, you are the best bargain I ever got.
THE BILLIONAIRE MAVERICK BARGAINS
FOR A WIFE
Wives for the Western Billionaires 3
PAIGE CAMERON
Copyright © 2011
Chapter One
Angie put on the coffeepot, grabbed her pad, and studied her list. In the past few months, she’d gradually begun to change her wardrobe. Nothing drastic, but a casual change to clothes that fit rather than hung on her body. That was number one on the list in front of her.
Last night she’d thrown away the last of her brown contacts. From now on her eye color would be what nature gave her, a purplish blue. That took care of number two. Three on her list was to discard the black wig she’d worn the whole time she’d lived in Saddle Creek. Not being able to show her real hair had been the most difficult. Today, her beautician and friend, Doris, would take her in the back room, throw the wig away, and pretend to dye her hair. She’d reenter the world as a blonde, her true color.
Angie took a swallow of coffee and a bite of her toast. Her stomach felt unsettled when she looked at number four. She’d think about that later.
She showered and dressed for her hair appointment. Excitement coursed through her veins. She felt like a caterpillar getting rid of her old cocoon and becoming a butterfly. Silly, but her heart was lighter today than it had been in a long time.
After dressing, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed to her car. Time for the biggest change of all.
Doris greeted her when she entered the shop. There were a few other ladies getting their hair done. Angie smiled to them on her way to the back room. The wig was discarded in the trash can outside.
“I’ve never understood why you wore that wig. Your own hair is so beautiful. But, everyone has their own peculiarities, I suppose.” She smiled. “At least you’ve finally come to your senses,” Doris said as she washed Angie’s hair.
They chatted during the time it would normally take to dye her hair blonde. Then Doris wrapped her hair in a towel and led her to the chair out front. The women stared at her new hair color and looked stunned, but complimented her on the change.
“You’re sure about this?” Doris asked for about the tenth time since Angie had talked with her.
“Very sure. Cut it shoulder length.”
Doris brushed Angie’s hair out. It fell to her waist. “This is so beautiful.” Doris moved the brush slowly through the strands, obviously stalling for time.
“I’m not going to change my mind, Doris. I want a totally new look, a new me.”
“There’s not a thing wrong with the old you. But all right, if you say so.”
* * * *
“I’m surprised Mom let you out of her sight,” Drake Terrell said to his brother, Brent.
“She didn’t want to, but I insisted. I was going stir-crazy sitting around. She wouldn’t let me do a thing.”
“You believe you’re able to help around the ranch? If you have a relapse, Mom will have my hide.”
“Damn, it’s been four months. The doctor said the bullet missed everything vital. The only problem was the blood I lost, and I got the doctor’s approval to travel and do some work.” He glanced around as they drove through
Saddle Creek on their way to Drake’s ranch.
“The town is growing.”
“Yep, it pleases Janice that we got a new library. Are you hungry? I told Janice not to worry about fixing anything until supper. The kids keep her busy.”
“Sure, I could eat.” He shook his head. “I still have trouble picturing you with a wife, a son, and daughter.”
Drake parked his truck several doors away from the restaurant. “Wait until you see them. Lacy is a little over three, and little Joe is six months old.”
Brent swung out of the truck. “Dad is tickled that he has a namesake.” He took a deep breath of the air. As much as he loved his mother, she’d coddled him a little too much since he got shot during his last job. It was good to be on his own. Strolling along beside Drake, he felt relaxed. The shop’s name caught his eye.
“The Cut and Curl,” he spoke out loud. He stopped and Drake stood beside him. They both glanced inside.
Brent caught his breath. A woman sat in a chair opposite the window. The beautician was combing her hair. It fell to the bottom of the chair where she sat. The light blonde color flashed with gold as the brush slid through the long strands. He’d never seen anything as beautiful.
His heart jumped when he saw the hairdresser pick up her scissors. Without thinking, Brent ran into the shop. “Stop.”
The woman looked around at him like he was crazy, and he must have been “Don’t cut her hair. It would be a sacrilege.”
She put the scissors down and looked beyond his shoulder. “Is this crazy man your brother, Drake? He looks like you.”
Drake’s hand settled on Brent’s shoulder. “I’m afraid I have to claim him. You’ll have to forgive him. He’s been sick.”
Brent turned his head to frown at Drake. “I’m well now.”
He walked over to the woman sitting in the chair with her hair spread gloriously around her body. She hadn’t turned. He spun her chair around. He didn’t recognize her, but something about her seemed familiar.
“Mr. Terrell, do you go around accosting women in beauty shops?”
Her sultry voice flowed over him like heat from the sun. Her beautiful eyes stared at him, a twinkle barely discernable in their depths.
“You have me at a disadvantage, madam. Have we met?”
“I’m brokenhearted that you’d forget. But I’ll forgive you since it’s been three years or more, and we only met briefly.”
Brent frowned. He seldom forgot a face, and certainly not someone as lovely as this woman. Her eyes were laughing at him.
“Perhaps, we could become reacquainted? I’m Brent Terrell, and you are?”
“Angelina McElvaine.”
“The schoolteacher?” He had trouble believing the shy, quiet schoolteacher he’d met briefly owned that head of hair. How had he missed it before? But of course, she’d worn it in a tight bun, and it was black when they’d met.
“You changed your hair color and”—he leaned closer—“you’ve done something to your eyes.” They reminded him of pansies, a purplish-blue color with a soft and tender expression. For a brief second, he thought he saw a flash of fear.
“A very observant man. Now if you’ll excuse me, Doris is in the middle of doing my hair.”
“Why do you want to cut it?”
“Brent, we need to be going. Angie doesn’t have to explain why she’s doing anything,” Drake reminded him.
Ignoring Drake, Brent stepped closer, “Don’t do it, please.” Looking around, he saw several other women studying him. Embarrassed at seeing the laughter in their eyes, he nodded and backed out the door.
“What the hell was that all about, Brent?” Drake asked as he shut the door behind them.
“I don’t know what came over me. Maybe I’m not as well as I thought.” What he didn’t want to admit even to Drake was that when Miss McElvaine turned and looked at him with those eyes and that wonderful hair surrounding her face, he’d felt a rush of desire go straight to his cock.
“You can apologize to her tomorrow at the barbecue. She’s a good friend of Janice’s.” He chuckled. “I can’t wait to tell Janice about this incident. She’s not ever going to let you forget it.” Laughing he opened the door and motioned Brent into the restaurant.
Brent wasn’t sure he ever wanted to see, what did they call her, Angie, again? He was beginning to realize how stupid he’d acted. Still at the thought of seeing her, hot blood surged through his body.
* * * *
“See,” Doris said. “I told you not to cut your hair.”
“And you think just because Brent Terrell says don’t do it, I should change my mind.”
“Honey,” an older woman sitting in the seat next to her spoke up, “if that man ever looked at me like he did at you, I’d never touch my hair with a pair of scissors again. A man like him could put his boots under my bed anytime.”
The other women nosily agreed, and laughter filled the shop. Doris stood back and gave Angie the once-over. “You’ve changed your appearance with new clothes that fit and quit using those contacts. I’ll cut some bangs and a few wisps of hair to curl around your face. You’re looking great just as you are. Don’t change yourself too much.”
“What she needs is someone to teach her how to be sexy,” Old Lady Stouffer said. “Sitting at home with your momma these past few years has made you shy and reclusive. It’s good to see you coming out of your shell, and I know just the person to help finish the project. I’m sending my granddaughter to your house this evening. You listen to her.”
Before Angie could protest, Mrs. Stouffer left the shop. Doris grinned. “She’s a case, that lady. There were plenty of rumors about her love life when she was young. She’s right. You need a little push to get you started finding a man.”
“I don’t want a man.”
“Honey, no woman goes through a transformation like you are without a good reason. You must be husband hunting.”
She decided letting them think that might be a good idea. She didn’t want them speculating on what other reasons she might have to change her appearance.
“You found me out, Doris. I’m lonely since Mom’s gone. I wouldn’t mind at least having a man friend.”
The women sitting around chuckled. They all understood that need. Good, I've ended the speculation right here. Gossip thrived in Saddle Creek, as in most small towns, and soon everyone would hear the shy schoolteacher was hunting a husband.
All she really wanted was a child. In this day and age, you didn’t need a man. A sperm clinic would do the job, but not here, where she planned to live. Here, she needed a husband, or at least a temporary one.
Angie was surprised at the difference a fringe of bangs and a few wisps of hair made. It gave her a softer look, and emphasized her eyes. Her mom had always said they were her best feature. Her grandmother’s eyes were the same color.
Blushing at the risqué comments made as she started to leave, Angie peeked out first to make sure Brent wasn’t anywhere around.
She had an idea. Could she make a bargain with him? He didn't visit Saddle Creek often, so that made him a good candidate for number four in her plan. But did she dare try to snare Brent Terrell into being her temporary husband?
If he agreed, after they had a child, she’d give him a divorce. She’d sign a prenuptial agreement and ask for no support. She had money saved and a good job. She didn’t need him, except for having the child. They’d have a very convenient and amiable marriage and divorce. He’d go back to his job, whatever it was, and she’d be a respected, single mother.
Liar. When he’d looked into her eyes, she gotten hot, and a heavy feeling settled in her lower abdomen. For years she’d kept her emotions bottled up. What might happen if Brent uncorked that bottle? Could she just take their baby and walk away unscathed?
No, Brent Terrell was not a safe choice for the father of her child. But heck, she’d played it safe for the past twenty-one years. It was time for a change in more ways than one.
&nb
sp; Teresa, Mrs. Stouffer’s granddaughter, was waiting at her door when she returned home. Angie parked her car, grabbed her bags, and unlocked the door.
“You really didn’t need to come over, Teresa. I’m sure you had other plans already made.”
“No problem, Miss McElvaine. I wasn’t doing anything this afternoon, so thought I’d come see you. I think this will be fun. Grandma says you met a guy you want to impress. I can help. I like guys, and they like me.” Her brown eyes sparkled with mischief.
“I’m sure they do, Teresa, but I’m older than you, and not as pretty.” Angie put her bags on the table and opened the windows to let in the afternoon breeze. She saw Teresa peeking at what she’d bought at the local women’s apparel shop. She’d stopped there on her way home.
“This is cool.” Teresa pulled a low cut, purple blouse out. “Wear this with a neat pair of jeans and you’ll look great. Now let’s see how to make you sexy.” Her eyes glinted with laughter.
“You want to appear confident, as though you know every man around finds you attractive. When you see the particular one, you make eye contact.” She walked around the room showing Angie what she meant. Confidence showed in her every step. Then she looked directly at Angie for a second, then away.
“See what I mean. Get his attention with your eyes, and then pull away slightly. You might lick your lips. It drives the men crazy, and then you look over your shoulder and give him another quick glance. It’s like a dance. You’ve seen those birds on television. They move around, forward, back, to the side.”