The Tycoon's Bought Fiancée by Sandra Marton

finger. Bed for board, so to speak. But, says Sis, her brother wasn’t a complete fool. He had no intention of providing for the girl beyond the here and now.”
    â€œThe girl knew this?”
    â€œShe says she didn’t. Says her hubby promised she’d be taken care of on a monthly basis, even after his death. She makes no bones about it. David. Kind of boasted to me that she’d insisted on it before she’d agree to marry him.” Russell sat down again and crossed his legs. “Amazing, how cold-blooded some members of the so-called gentler sex can be, don’t you think?”
    David smiled tightly. “You’re asking the wrong man that question, Jack.”
    â€œSorry. I’d forgotten about that ex-wife of yours.”
    â€œActually,” David said, “I wasn’t thinking of her at all. Well, go on. What is it you want from me? If it’s my opinion, I don’t see much of a chance for appeal or reversal. I suppose the girl could sue, on the grounds that she’s been defrauded of her rights to the estate.”
    â€œShe did, and the matter was decided against her. She says she doesn’t care about anything but getting the monthly allowance her husband promised.”
    â€œHow much was it?”
    â€œI don’t know. I told you, I didn’t ask too many questions.”
    â€œWell, whatever it was, fifty bucks or five hundred, I hope you told her the chances of that happening were slim to none.”
    â€œI tried. But she started crying…”
    David gave a wry smile. “I’ll bet.”
    â€œI ended up promising I’d drive down and talk to her—but then I realized how it would look, considering my connections to the sister.”
    â€œDamn right.”
    â€œSo,” Jack said with a little smile, “I’m asking you to do me a favor.”
    â€œJack, for heaven’s sake…”
    â€œIt’s not a big thing, David. Tomorrow’s Friday. You can fly to Atlanta in the morning, cab to her house, be back before dinner.”
    David frowned. “You’re leaving out the part where I tell her not to be greedy, to be grateful for the cash, jewelry, furs, whatever it is she’s got squirreled away.”
    â€œYes—except you might try doing it a little more gently.”
    â€œWhy? To prove that lawyers have hearts?”
    â€œThat’s a cold attitude, counselor.”
    â€œI’m feeling cold lately, Jack. And realistic.”
    â€œLook, we do pro bono work all the time, and that’s all I’m suggesting here, an hour of free advice for a young woman who needs it. I have to admit, I feel sorry for her, even knowing she married for money.”
    â€œSold herself, you mean.”
    â€œI suppose. Still, there’s something about her. She has this vulnerability… What?” Jack said when David’s mouth crooked in a half-smile.
    â€œI knew a rancher once, said the same thing about a yearling grizzly cub just before it mauled him.”
    Jack laughed. “You see? Sometimes, nothing will do but a down-home sentiment.” He sat down again and leaned forward. “Look, we both know the girl’s a manipulative little gold digger, but she did keep her end of the deal, or so I gather. She stayed with Avery, right to the end.”
    â€œSuch dedication,” David said, folding his arms and tilting back in his chair.
    â€œDon’t be so hard-hearted. She’s broke. She has no skills, no talents, well, none other than a secretarial course she took one time, before she married.” Jack chuckled. “There’s an idea. Maybe you should offer her a job.”
    â€œYou’re leaving a skill out, Jack. The one that got her a wedding ring.”
    â€œAh, yes.” Russell gave a deep sigh. “Amazing, what a man will put himself through, and all so he can get one particular woman into his bed.”
    An image of Stephanie Willingham flashed