Kathie DeNosky - His Marriage Pact - The Rancher's Marriage Pact / The Rancher's One-Week Wife / Terms of a Texas Marriage

An obvious slam on her lack of judgment when it came to her former relationship. “Believe me, I’m going to be very certain before I end up at the altar. A part of me says I should go for it. Another part tells me maybe I’m not cut out for matrimony.”

“I don’t want to ever hear you say that again,” her mother said in a no nonsense tone. “You have the capacity to make a marriage work, as long as you can trust and love your mate for life.”

Therein lay the problem—love didn’t figure into the deal. “How do you ever really know that, Mother? Marriage doesn’t come with guarantees.”

“True, but it does come with certain risks if it’s not right. If you happen to be lucky enough to find your soul mate, then don’t be afraid to take the chance. One bad apple named Peter shouldn’t spoil the whole bunch. By the way, what is this man’s name?”

“Dallas.” And sadly he would never be her soul mate, though he could be her financial savior.

“How nice that he carries the moniker of your father’s favorite football team. That should earn him a few points.”

They shared in a laugh before Paris decided to end the conversation. “Thanks for listening, Mom. I’ll take all your advice to heart.”

“You’re welcome, dear. And don’t forget to follow that heart. If it feels right, do it. It’s high time to leave the past behind and look forward to a brighter future.”

“You know, Mom, you’re right. Love you bunches and tell Dad I love him, too.”

“We love you, dear. And don’t wait so long to call, okay?”

“I won’t.” And that next call could be a bombshell that might blow up in her face.

After Paris hung up, she mulled over her mother’s words and clung to one thing in particular—leaving the past behind and looking forward to a brighter future.

Maybe she should choose a different direction, journey down a new path, even an unorthodox one. Maybe marriage to Dallas Calloway could provide all of that, and more. Maybe his offer would be the best way to start over.

Too much to consider, and far too little time.

* * *

Right then, Dallas only wanted enough time to enjoy his lunch alone. But the two women hovering at the dinette where he now sat had no intention of giving him some peace. Maybe if he ignored them, they’d go away. And pigs would probably sprout wings first.

Jenny propped one hand on her hip and stared at him. “Well?”

He swallowed the last bite of the barbecue sandwich before he responded. “Well what?”

“Where is Paris?”

“She went home.”

Maria flipped her braid over one shoulder and folded her arms. “Are you gonna ask her out again, mijo?”

“Nope.”

Jenny sighed. “Sugar, you really should have given her another chance. A lot of women get drunk on a first date.”

He saw an opportunity to rattle their chains and jumped on it. “I decided I didn’t need to ask her for a second date.”

Jen looked crestfallen. “Why not?”

“Because I asked her to marry me. I figured we’d pretty much moved past the dating game at that point.”

That effectively shut them up for the time being, but he suspected not for long.

“You really did it?” Jenny asked, confirming his suspicions.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Don’t just sit there, mijo,” Maria said. “Give us all the down and dirty details.”

Jenny took on that same old wistful, romantic look. “Did you get down on one knee? Did you give her a ring?”

That beat all he’d ever heard. “No, I didn’t get down on one knee. I approached it as a business proposition, which it is. And when would I have found time to buy a ring?”

“You have your mother’s ring, Dallas. It’s in the safe.”

Maria didn’t have to remind him of that. He’d thought about it often, even though he’d never really looked inside the blue velvet box. Giving it to Paris under the circumstances would be as false as the marriage. Ironically, that trinket had been reserved for true love, according to his dad. “A ring is the least of my concerns.”

Jenny’s face fell like it had weights attached to it. “She said no?”

He pushed back from the table and came to his feet. “She said she’d think about it.”

“Then it’s not a lost cause?” Maria asked.

“Okay, you two, don’t get your hopes up.” Exactly what Paris had said to him before she’d left. “My guess is she’s going to think it over and then refuse the offer.”

“You should have knelt before her,” Jenny said. “Women like that.”

“And given her the damn ring,” Maria added. “I’m not sappy like Blondie here, but I do know most gals like to be treated with dignity when a man pops the question. Even your father knew that.”

“That’s true,” Jenny began. “J.D. could be quite the romantic even if he was a jackass.”

He didn’t want to hear anything else about the aforementioned jackass since he was the reason Dallas found himself in this predicament. “It wasn’t going to matter to Paris if I rode in on a white horse, considering what I’m asking of her.”

“A white horse would have been nice,” Jenny added. “That would be hard to resist.”

He wanted to shake some sense into the woman and dislodge her visions of hearts and flowers. “Again, the ball is now in Paris’s court. If she wants to agree to the marriage terms, then she’ll let me know.”

“Maybe you should go after her,” Maria added. “Give her a little nudge in the right direction.”

He had actually thought about doing that very thing before deciding he didn’t want to pressure her more than he already had. “If she wants to go forward, she’ll come to me. I’m not going to coerce her into a decision.” Although that would be a reason for ending the marriage, provided it actually happened. Nah. His sense of honor wouldn’t allow him to use that tactic.

“I hope she does say yes,” Jenny said. “We could plan a grand wedding on the grounds of the main house. I could make canapés and my famous mint juleps.”

That’s all he needed—a drunk bride. Then again, that would be grounds for the annulment. He really had to get a grip. “If she decides to go through with it, and that’s a big if, there won’t be any wedding. Just a simple courthouse ceremony and no publicity.”

Jenny pretended to pout. “That’s no fun, Dallas. You should have your family present for the nuptials.”

Before she called a caterer, Dallas had to get out of there. “You ladies have a good afternoon talking about me behind my back.”

With that, he left the kitchen and headed to the barn, all the while recalling how he’d watched Paris drive away. Probably for the last time.

In reality, the marriage pact was the craziest thing he’d ever conjured up. He sure as hell couldn’t imagine keeping his hands to himself for a day in her presence, much less a year. If everything fell through, he’d be better off. He’d just turn the place over to Fort and find somewhere else to start up Texas Extreme, even if it wouldn’t be the same.

Accepting the fact that Paris would turn him down flat would be best. He’d bet his last buck that’s exactly what she’d do.

Five

“With the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The man should probably be pronouncing them certifiably insane. Four days ago she hadn’t even known Dallas Calloway. Two days ago she’d packed up her limited belongings and moved in with him. Today she wore a diamond-encrusted wedding band and vowed to be his wife. Unbelievable.

Paris waited for Dallas to follow the justice of the peace’s declaration, expecting a peck on the cheek. Perhaps a brush across her mouth. She got a full-on, well-deep kiss that curled her toes in the white satin pumps she’d purchased with the sleeveless matching dress before she’d left San Antonio.