“Yes, it is, and it’s gaining recognition. I just think my dad is not giving it enough time.”

  “Okay, well, it just happened this morning, so just calm down and take a few deep breaths, you know. Take out your pad and pencil and write down your options. Do you want me to fly down there? We could meet up and maybe I could help?”

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll tell you what—if I need you, I’ll holler. But you’re right. I just need to calm down. I need to write things down and look at them and then I need to come up with a plan. You always know how to calm me down, to talk me off a cliff.”

  Allie chuckled. “And you always know how to push me off a cliff.”

  They laughed. It was so true.

  As soon as Allie hung up the phone, she dialed Wade’s number.

  “Hey, darlin’. Didn’t I just see you?”

  “Yes, you did. But something very interesting has just happened.”

  “Oh, really? More interesting than what I told you earlier about Todd having to find him a wife in three months? Deja vu all over again. Man, I’m hoping he finds a woman at least halfway as good as you. I don’t think he can find one as good as you; don’t think—I know he can’t.”

  Her heart soared. She loved that man so much. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought a cowboy could walk into a truck stop and then the next day she’d be married to him, a cowboy billionaire. It was too crazy to believe and too unbelievable that in all the craziness, they had actually fallen in love.

  “Well, actually, it kinda is. Ginny just called. And her parents are going to sell the winery to a corporation. For big bucks. So they can retire. And it’s going to make Ginny lose everything she cares for, just like the way you felt when you were going to lose your ranch and just how Todd feels right now. The same thing is happening to Ginny. And she’s not going to put up with it. She’s got four months before the deal to come up with the money to stop her dad from selling. Wade, she needs a billionaire.” She didn’t say anything else; she didn’t say what she was thinking because it was so hard to believe that one, it could be happening and two, the fireworks between those two were not good.

  Wade got really quiet on the other end of the phone. “Allie, do you think?” Neither one of them said anything. “No…I can’t even suggest what I’m thinking.”

  She chuckled. “I know, right? They would kill each other. They did not get along at all when Ginny came down a month ago. But…”

  “Yeah, but they could help each other. The only problem with that is that Granddaddy really wanted to give us a shot at a real marriage. And I can’t say that I believe that what happened between you and me would ever happen between Todd and Ginny. Man, that Ginny…I mean, I like her and all and I’m glad you have her as a friend. She was always looking out for you and all. But I have to say, I could not even imagine being married to her.”

  “Hey, don’t be talking bad about my friend. But seriously, I understand what you’re saying. She speaks her mind, she’s very blunt, and yeah, she is kinda hard to get along with sometimes. But you know Todd—he’s not in the best of moods either. I mean, he’s nice to me but he’s pretty grumpy.”

  “Yeah, darlin’, you’re right. And he really needs to get this done. The sooner he marries, the sooner he gets to have the final three months up. I’m going to mention this to him. That is what you wanted me to do, right?”

  She groaned. “I really don’t know, Wade. I didn’t mention it at all to Ginny when she was telling me. I think all we can do is have you mention it to Todd, and I’ll mention it to Ginny and then we’re out of it. And they can figure out if they want to go through with this. They’ve got to decide if they think they can make it three months at least halfway getting along.”

  “You don’t think she’s going to bring Loretta out, do you?”

  She laughed. “I’m not saying she’s not going to bring Loretta out because who knows.” They both chuckled, knowing that Wade had almost met Loretta, the pink shotgun, face to face when Ginny had tried to make sure that he was going to do right by Allie.

  “Well, all I can say is, if Todd does see a pathway to going through with this with Ginny, he’s going to have to toe the line and not do anything that makes your buddy bring Loretta out.”

  “You know that’s a lot of talk. She would never use Loretta on anything other than an intruder or attacker.”

  “I know, but she is intimidating.”

  “As she wants to be.” She smiled. “And growing up, I loved having her beside me. No one messed with me.”

  “Good. That makes me happy. I kind of think she might be good for my brother.”

  Allie smiled. “You think so?”

  “I do. You were very good for me, but Todd needs someone who can go toe-to-toe with him and your Ginny can. I hope it happens. It will be entertaining.”

  “Yes, it will.”

  Chapter Three

  Todd sat in his office, staring out at the grapes. He could still remember the day his grandfather had bought this piece of land. It had been a winery that had gone out of business and they’d gotten it for a song. And his granddaddy had done it because he could see the potential. Todd had been with him that day and also saw it. Todd liked ranching; he enjoyed riding his horse but he had always wanted to create something, build it from the ground up.

  He had wanted to put his stamp on it and know that it hadn’t been because of something his ancestors had done. And it hadn’t been because of the oil that the McCoys were blessed with. No, this had taken him toiling and learning and researching and selling. And they were doing amazing. And now his grandfather was throwing this brick at him. He had to marry somebody. Now he just had to figure out who. In his mind, he went through the list of candidates, all women he had dated and stopped dating for one reason or another. None he’d wanted to marry.

  He had friends from among some of them. But what friend did he have who would be willing to give up three months of her life for him? It was almost too much to ask. Miraculously, Wade had been able to do it. He wasn’t sure he could. Grabbing his cell phone, he jumped to his feet and strode from his office, out the door and into the sunshine. He headed for the vines and waved at several of his men who were working with the vines. He strode down one of the vast number of rows of vines, leaving everything behind him as he kept walking down the path. His mind reeled and his thoughts filtered through everything and everyone he needed to consider. Who could he ask to do this temporary marriage? Because he wasn’t kidding; he had no plans to stay married. His granddaddy wouldn’t have that control over him. He didn’t build this jelly business and wine business up, just to have his granddaddy yank it out from under him. No way, no how.

  His phone rang. He tugged it out of his pocket and saw it was Wade. Probably calling to encourage him. His brother was so deliriously happy, he was practically spouting marshmallows, stars, and shamrocks.

  He didn’t even say hello. “If you’ve got advice, I’ll take it. I’m so mad I could spit horseshoe tacks.”

  Wade chuckled. “And what’s new about that? But I might be able to help you out. I have a very interesting development. One that seems to me to be, well, honestly, a miracle that could easily turn into a disaster.”

  Todd frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “My sweet wife just told me that Ginny—you remember Ginny?”

  “How could I forget the ill-tempered, bossy cowgirl?”

  The gorgeous bossy cowgirl.

  Wade chuckled again. “That’s what I thought you would say. Well, she’s kind of in a bad situation and she needs to marry somebody with a bunch of zeros behind their name. It seems her parents are going to sell their winery out from underneath her for their retirement. And the only way she can stop it is if she can come up with the money to cover what they were getting from the corporation that’s wanting to buy them out.”

  Todd stopped walking and muttered, “Holy smokes.”

  Ginny. The spitfire from central Texas. They’d gotten along like vinegar and oil but this was terrible for her.

  “Wow.” He drew the word out in a long drawl as he let his thoughts whirl. “I see what you’re saying. I certainly wouldn’t call this an act of God. Ginny can’t stand me, and I wasn’t too fond of her either. She was here for five minutes and trying to tell me how to run my business. I couldn’t imagine her here for three months. Can you imagine how she would be trying to get in my business?”

  Wade laughed. “Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. But Allie is the one who thinks you two should join up and help each other out. She hasn’t mentioned this to Ginny yet, but wanted to run it by me and you. Ginny is her best friend and she loves her. Ginny needs help, and you need help. But we don’t want our relationships with either one of you to suffer, so don’t do anything that you aren’t comfortable with or think you can’t do amicably.”

  Todd yanked his hat off his head, slapped it on his knee and glared at the dirt. He’d have to be crazy to consider this.

  He’d have to be desperate.

  You are desperate.

  He groaned. “How long does she have?”

  “The deal with her parents goes down in four months. It looks to me like the timing is right. The way I figure it, if you get married quick, you’d bypass the three-month period of finding a wife and go straight into the three months of staying married. You’d retain the vineyards and both jelly and wine business after that, free and clear.”

  “I would have to be desperate to bring her on to my property. But the fact is, I am desperate and I’m in a hurry. Why draw this out? Tell me again where she lives.”

  “You going down there?”

  “Yeah. This doesn’t seem like something you make a phone call about. Besides, I have a feeling that when she knows it’s me, she’d hang up the phone. I’ll take the jet.”

  There was a pause on the end of the line. At last, Wade let out a low whistle. “All right, I’ll send you her address. And Todd…go easy. You do not want to get a tiger by the tail. You need this tiger in your corner for three months.”

  “Yeah, I know. Hopefully, she realizes she needs me as much as I need her…I can’t even believe I just said that. But it’s true. I do need her.”

  “Exactly.”

  Todd raked a hand through his hair and grimaced. “Here goes nothing.”

  The day after her parents had given her the news that they were selling out, Ginny walked out of the courthouse and into the bright sunshine. She’d been to see everyone she could think of and had gathered some help, but nowhere near enough. And in this situation, she knew it was all or nothing. She stared up at the cotton candy sky, as the bird’s song rang from the trees. It was a beautiful day and she couldn’t care less. She was drowning inside; it could’ve been a dark and stormy night for all she cared. She would not give up, though. It was a numbers game. She was going to get told no so many times; all she needed was a few yeses…right, a few yeses with a lot of zeros behind it. Truth be told, she didn’t even know where to go to look for that kind of money.

  She opened her eyes. Her brows dipped. Allie had that kind of money now. She hadn’t even thought to ask Allie. But no; Allie had just married a billionaire. She wasn’t going to jump in there and beg her best friend for money. No, she’d do this on her own. Thinking of Allie marrying a McCoy had Ginny’s thoughts jumping instantly to that darn Todd McCoy. That man got under her skin. The handsome, smart-aleck cowboy had been interrupting her sleep lately. She stood there, thinking about the aggravating cowboy, and as if she conjured him up, suddenly she heard a slow drawl to her left. And she recognized it.

  “Well, if it isn’t Ginny Rossi. Fancy meeting you here on the doorstep of the courthouse.”

  Ginny slowly turned toward the sound of Todd McCoy’s deep Texas drawl. Yup, there he was. He leaned against the concrete picnic table set under the big oak tree, his legs crossed. He wore shiny expensive boots, starched jeans, a brilliantly white starched button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to expose muscled, tanned, amazing forearms and that set of hands that she had noticed when she had last seen him. Those arms were crossed over that hard chest and he had his head slightly cocked. His longish, sun-bronzed hair curled out from beneath the felt cowboy hat. And those steel-blue eyes that looked as though they were deep pools of icy water from the Guadalupe River lazily took her in as she stared at him.

  The man let that gaze roll over her, making her very aware that she might not like him, but her inner woman, for some reason, reacted to him. She crossed her own arms and cocked her weight to one leg. She glared at the man with cool eyes. “Far as I know, cowboy, I’m in my territory. Question is, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be back there at your little jelly bean farm?”

  He chuckled. Those eyes held hers, unflinching. “It seems my little jelly farm doesn’t grow beans. But it does a fine job with jelly. And grapes. And wine.”

  “Well, according to you. That still doesn’t answer my question—what are you doing here? You’re a long way away from home, I’d say about five hours.”

  “Actually, I’ve had a little dilemma come up. And I just heard a really oddball rumor that you also are in a little bit of a dilemma.”

  “What do you know?” Her eyes narrowed at the cowboy. Had Allie told this jerk her business? Okay, that wasn’t fair and she knew it. She didn’t like the dude but he was Allie’s brother-in-law; she had probably told Wade what kind of problem she had, and he had probably mentioned it. She could not let that get her riled up.

  “Well, actually, I’ve got a little bit of a problem, too, so we’re even. The thing is, I think we could be mutually beneficial to each other. See, I have got to have me a wife before the end of three months. You’ve heard that line before, haven’t you?”

  “You have got to be kidding me. Your granddaddy did it to you too?”

  Todd did not look happy as he nodded. “Yeah, you might say that. As he’s so fond of saying, I’m the second domino to fall. Wade was lucky enough to be the first domino and I’m being facetious right there. And after me, it will be Morgan’s turn to find out what his fate is. I’m sure Granddaddy did something equally terrible to him…might even be saving him for last to add a new devious twist to the plot. They butted heads all the time. He barely comes around even though he has a house on the ranch.”

  Ginny busted out laughing. “Well, cowboy,” she said at last, “I can tell you right now you are not the marrying kind. Wade thought he wasn’t the marrying kind but he had wedding material written all over him. You, on the other hand…nope. Your granddaddy was really off if he thought he’d marry you off and it would last. It’s just going to mess up your dating game for a short while.”

  “For your information, I don’t date much. I haven’t found women to be worth the trouble.”

  Their glares bore into each other. “Well, I can say the same. I haven’t found a man yet who makes me feel much. Especially one who makes me feel like getting married.”

  “I am not surprised.”

  “Yeah, you’re being a smart aleck. It’s not going to help your situation any.”

  “Not going to help your situation any either. From what I hear, you need some money. So I have a proposition for you.”

  “A proposition?” She started to say something else then stopped. Oh wow. “No way.”

  Chapter Four

  Todd stared at Ginny. She was cute. She had wild brown hair, a nice figure underneath those Western shirts and jeans she was so fond of, and those raggedy old boots she wore a lot. And then there was that hat. Well, he figured he’d seen her twice and she had a hat on both times, always a different color. This one was purple—a hat only a woman would wear. But the purple of the hat made her soft gray eyes look almost lavender but they sparked like storm clouds when she was angry or irritated. He liked her eyes and her hair but not her bossiness and know-it-all attitude. Once he proposed what he had to say, she was going to be trouble for him. He saw fireworks in his future.

  “You know what I’m going to ask. What do you say we join up? I need a wife for three months and three months only, and you need a whole lot of money before the end of four months. I figured we better get hitched quick so by the end of three months you’ll have your money.”

  She stopped chewing her gum. Her expression was that of a woman who thought the person in front of her was talking gibberish. Or a language she didn’t understand. He didn’t say anything else; he just stared at her and let the clock tick.

  After a second, she laughed. “Get out of here. Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack. Because I have a feeling with the two of us together that one of us might end up having one.”

  “Probably so. But I needed a miracle. I just didn’t think it was going to be you.”

  “Same here. But I can go out and find someone else, if you’re not interested. But the longer I drag this out, the longer it will be before I can call that place mine without anything hanging over my head. I figure you got now to decide.”

  “Well, ain’t that mighty nice of you to give me a whole five minutes to decide if I’m going to marry you.”

  They stared at each other and just like the first time he’d met her, his pulse quickened.

  “So, are you going to find all that money you need somewhere else? Because I have a feeling I’m the only miracle that is going to happen to you today. And probably the only miracle that will happen in the next four months. I flew down here with plans to be married tomorrow. I can pull a few strings; we get married and then the clock starts ticking. You could fly back home with me and we can get this thing started.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Just like that—you got in a plane and flew down here. I bet you flew down on a private jet?”

 

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