Yours for the Taking Read Online Free PDF

justice of the peace picked up his Bible and began the ceremony. Marrying Ben was something for which she’d spend a lot of time in purgatory. She had to promise to love this man in sickness and in health and she hardly knew him. That whole part about forsaking-all-others was worrying but not half as much as the keep-thyself-only-unto-him-for-as-long-as-you-both-shall-live part—at least for the first year, but honestly, Gina couldn’t see herself breaking wedding vows even if the marriage was in name only.
    Ben promised sex wasn’t part of the deal, but that tidbit didn’t make it into the prenup—probably because that would open the door for an annulment. Unlike them, she figured most married couples want to have sex with each other.
    The words “to be my lawfully wedded wife” reverberated in her head like the echo of the loudspeaker at Madison Square Garden. She stepped closer, willing Ben to lean down so she could whisper, “You do? Really? Are you sure you still want to do this?” not that he hadn’t covered his own ass with the prenup, but still, marrying someone was an awfully big step just to get a hunk of land, even if it was the size of several boroughs of New York.
    Ben motioned to the JP to wait and ushered Gina across the chapel until they were out of earshot. “I don’t want to, I have to. I thought you of all people understood.”
    Okay, so maybe he wasn’t a total stranger. “I understand wanting to save your ranch, but there has to be some other way.”
    Ben raked his hand through his dark hair that curled up against his collar and pinned her with his slate blue eyes. “If there was, believe me, I wouldn’t be doing this. Marriage is not on my list of top ten things to do. Shit, it isn’t even on my bucket list.”
    Gina crossed her arms. “Just so you know, marriage is on one of my lists. The list of things I would never do. Comprende ?”
    Ben straightened the tie of his perfectly tailored Hugo Boss suit and crossed his arms, which did nothing but highlight the breadth of his shoulders. “Good, then we’ll have no problem making sure this marriage only lasts as long as absolutely necessary.”
    Gina eyed him. It looked as if he were telling the truth, but still, she trusted no one—especially not a man. She’d had her lawyer go over every syllable of that prenup. It was amazing what a person would do to get or protect their home. She should know. “Okay then, let’s get this over with.”
    Rich walked over to them. “Is everything all right?” He had the protective big brother shtick down pat, which was weird considering they’d spent several months as long-distance bed buddies. Still, Gina appreciated the thought.
    Ben didn’t spare Rich a look as he took her arm. “We’re fine.”
    Richie stepped in front of them. “Gina?”
    She patted Rich’s chest, “It’s all good, Richie. I just wanted to make sure Ben wasn’t having second thoughts.”
    Rich wasn’t convinced, and Ben didn’t look as if he cared what Rich thought. Ben really surprised her; she didn’t know gay men could be so alpha. It was almost as surprising as Rich backing down. It was a damn good thing Ben was gay because if not, between his looks, personality, and the alpha male mojo, well, she’d be toast. Gina knew her weakness for alpha men and was smart enough to avoid close contact. That’s why she broke up with Rich when he’d moved back to town. His close proximity became problematic. Distance had been her safety net. She told him he wasn’t relationship material, but the real reason was that she never wanted to lose control of a relationship.
    When they returned to the Justice of the Peace to continue the ceremony, Rosalie stared a hole through her. Rosalie had made no secret she didn’t agree with Gina marrying Ben, but then Rosalie was still in the honeymoon phase of her marriage and under the delusion that everyone has a soul mate and should be happily married just like her. Being