Million Dollar Marriage Read Online Free PDF

huh?”
    “I’ve had that urge for some time now. And my time’s running out.”
    “Don’t be silly. You’re only…”
    “Thirty-four,” she said, lowering her eyes to hidethe fear she knew she couldn’t hide. “And then there’s the clinic.”
    “Still can’t get the funding, huh?”
    Lucinda shook her head. “Health care for lower income women around here is practically
     nonexistent. And my big plans to change that state of things don’t seem to be going
     anywhere.”
    “I don’t see why you won’t just let Matthew and I back you.”
    “I need several backers, not just one. The amount I need to get this clinic up and
     running is too much to expect one person to give. And taking money from friends—especially
     the kind of money we’re talking about here—is never a good idea, Claudia. You know
     how I feel about that. Besides, the Fortunes aren’t the only wealthy family in Texas.
     I want to do this on my own. I just have to convince the local bigshots to open up
     their pockets for a good cause.”
    “Just know you can count on us if you need to,” Claudia said.
    Lucinda nodded and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I do know. And I’m grateful.”
    “Come on,” Claudia said, tugging Lucinda toward the back of the room and the wide,
     curving staircase. “Let’s go up and see if Bryan’s ready to make his big entrance.”
    “Hey, hold on a minute. We’ll come with you,” a voice called from behind.
    Lucinda stiffened, because it was Holden’s voice. The voice that could still send
     delicious shivers up her spine yet make her want to claw his eyes out all at the same
     time. She turned, fixing a false smile onto herface as Holden and Matthew joined them at the foot of the stairs.
    Maria had been quietly observing all of them, watching the women parade around in
     their expensive clothes, perfect hair, glamorous nails and real jewels. Watching the
     men, who watched the women. Rich bastards, all of them. When it looked as if the party
     was in full swing, and most of the guests had arrived, Maria slipped away again, up
     to the nursery to collect James. It was time for the big announcement. Time to watch
     them all pale with shock when they realized that she had mothered one of their own.
     That she wouldn’t be content to be merely tolerated or seen as a former servant, or
     as the daughter of Ryan Fortune’s whore. No. She’d be one of them now.
    She slipped into the nursery, and leaned over the bassinet, cooing softly. Then she
     went still, because all that lay inside was the rumpled, down-soft blanket, and a
     large sheet of paper.
    “James?” she whispered. What…
    A soft gurgling noise made her turn her head sharply toward the massive crib at the
     far end of the room. That was it. Someone must have moved the baby. She quickly went
     to the crib, only to stop dead again. It wasn’t James staring up at her with wide,
     baby-blue eyes and a toothless, dribbly smile. It was Bryan. Matthew’s legitimate son.
    Oh, God, where was James?
    Her heart in her throat, Maria rushed back to the bassinet. Only then did she begin
     to panic. That sheet of paper seemed to stare up at her, daring her to lookat it, to read what it said.
    With the tip of a fingernail, she lifted the top fold.
    We have taken Bryan Fortune. He will be returned unharmed, as soon as you have delivered
     fifty million dollars in cash.
    “Fifty million…” Maria whispered. Kidnapped! Her son—her James—had been kidnapped!
     Mistaken for Bryan Fortune. Whoever had done this probably hadn’t even noticed the
     other baby in the crib across the room. Maria hadn’t when she’d first come in.
    Fifty million dollars. Who would give fifty million dollars for an illegitimate little boy like James? Not
     the Fortune family. Even if they knew he was one of their own, even if Maria could
     somehow prove it to them…no, because James’s appearance in this family would throw
     their golden lives into chaos. They’d