“Not even with all the additional information your doctor provided? We sent an insane amount of paperwork to document exactly why the only option for you is spine surgery if you’re going to have any relief from the pain.”
I wasn’t exaggerating when I called it insane, either. I’d made sure we submitted every single thing his doctor and social worker thought would help sway the insurance company. We documented how the surgery was necessary to his daily functioning. The amount of pain he’d suffer if the surgery didn’t happen. Every medicine, therapy, and procedure they’d already tried that had failed. How his diagnosis and treatment history brought him to the point where he had no other alternatives. I’d been completely certain they’d change their minds, even when his doctor had tried to prepare me for the worst-case scenario.
“I don’t understand how someone could have reviewed your case and said no,” I cried, tears filling my eyes. “I’m so sorry I failed you.”
His grip tightened on my hand. “You don’t have anything to apologize for, Kinsley. I know you tried your hardest, and it means everything to me.”
“If I had the money—” I sniffled.
“No playing the ‘what-if’ game. It’s not going to do us any good.” He offered me a small smile, but it looked more like a grimace. “Without the insurance coverage, the surgery isn’t going to happen. Not unless someone decides to throw a couple hundred thousand dollars of charity my way. And I’m not too proud to admit it. I’m at the point where I’d be willing to accept it.”
I dropped my head onto his chest, holding on tight until his hand loosened around mine and I heard his light snores. Gently tucking his arm under the sheet, I bent over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Sleep well, big brother,” I whispered.
It was the only time he wasn’t in a horrible amount of pain, but rest in the hospital was a hard thing to come by with how often the nurses needed to come in and check on him. I left the room and shut the door behind me as quietly as I could. Stopping at the nurse’s station, I caught the attention of one of the aides.
“Hey, Kinsley. Does Graham need anything?”
“Not right now, thanks. I was hoping you guys could maybe push back his next vitals as long as possible. He just fell asleep, and he could really use the rest, since he got some bad news from the insurance company today.”
“Yeah, I heard. I’m sorry.” She offered me a sympathetic smile before tapping at her keyboard. “It looks like he has about two hours before his next check. I have a little bit of wiggle room, but not much. I’ll peek in on him to make sure he’s still sleeping and wait as long as I can before bothering him.”
“Thanks.”
Since I’d been hoping for better news today and thought we’d be getting everything organized for the surgery, I’d taken the day off work. Now that I knew it wasn’t going to happen, I found myself with a wide-open schedule and an almost desperate need to distract myself. When I got down to the sidewalk in front of the hospital, I pulled my phone out and called Julia back.
“Luxe Connections, Julia Connor speaking.”
“Hi, Julia. It’s Kinsley Taylor returning your call from earlier.”
“Julia! It’s wonderful to hear back from you so soon.”
“Yes, my plans for most of the day fell through.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “And now I have some unexpected free time.”
“Wonderful!” Her cultured tone was filled with what sounded like genuine pleasure. “It looks like fate stepped in to lend me a helping hand, since I’d love for you to stop by my office today to discuss an opportunity which I believe is a perfect fit for you.”
“If only fate would cut my brother the same kind of break,” I grumbled.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing,” I sighed. “I’m not sure what kind of an opportunity a matchmaking service can offer me since I’m not interested in dating right now, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. But you caught me at a weak moment, so why not?”
Julia gave me the address of her office, and I was surprised to discover it was only a couple of blocks away. During my walk over, I tried to reach Sylvia to ask for more details about her experience with Luxe Connections. We’d been roommates in college, but she’d been more interested in earning her MRS degree than getting an education. It hadn’t been a surprise to learn that she’d used a discreet matchmaking service to meet prospective husbands, considering her less-than-subtle desire to marry…up. But it’d been a shock when Julia had asked if I’d be interested in being matched through them as well.
I’d meant to follow up with her. Not because I was really interested in finding a husband, wealthy or otherwise, but simply out of curiosity. However, my brother’s spine condition deteriorated shortly after we met. Dating and marriage had become the very last thing on my mind, which I didn’t see changing any time soon. By the time I reached Julia’s office, I was having second thoughts about meeting with her since I didn’t want to waste her time or mine.
“Kinsley, I’m so glad you could fit me into your schedule,” she greeted me warmly.
“It’s nice to see you, Julia, but—”
“No buts. I simply won’t hear of it,” she interrupted, waving me towards one of the padded chairs situated in front of her desk. “Not until you hear what I have to say.”
“Okay,” I sighed, fidgeting with the bottom of my shirt as she took the seat next to me instead of the one behind her desk.
“This is an unusual situation for me. In all the years that I’ve been in the matchmaking business, I’ve never reached out to a past client to ask for their help in putting me in touch with one of their friends like this.” She reached out a hand and placed it over mine, stilling my nervous gesture. “But when I bumped into her a couple of weeks ago, I asked her if she’d talked to you recently, since I was disappointed that you didn’t call me to set up an appointment. She mentioned your brother’s situation, and how it’s been eating up all of your free time lately.”
“Oh,” I breathed out. “Then I don’t understand why you’d want to meet with me anyway, when you know that I’m not in a place where I can devote any energy to a relationship right now.”
“It’s actually part of what makes you perfect for a new client I’ve taken on.”
My brow wrinkled as I tried to make sense of what she said. “What? Why? How does that even make any sense?”
“The matches we make here are often atypical. While I do have plenty of clientele looking for their soul mate, I also cater to a more discerning group. Those not looking for the usual kind of match, more of a business arrangement. The man I have in mind for you wants a companion to help eliminate family pressure to get married,” she explained. “As well as having someone on his arm at events to keep the…let’s just call them ‘social climbers’ away.”
I shook my head. “I can’t take on someone else’s problems. I’m having a hard enough time handling my own.”
“That’s why he’d be perfect for you. He’s a very powerful man,” she added.
“I couldn’t care less about power,” I snorted.
She tilted her head to the side and quirked an eyebrow. “Not even if the arrangement comes with access to a hefty bank account?”
I thought back to the offhand comment my brother had made about being willing to accept charity if it meant that he’d be able to get the surgery. “How many zeroes are we talking about here?”
“Think real estate mogul money.”
That was more than enough zeroes to get my brother what he needed, but I knew as well as anyone else that there was no such thing as a free lunch. “What’s the catch?”
“He’s basically looking for a trophy wife.” She eyed me up and down. “You’re beautiful, put-together, educated, and articulate.”
“So are plenty of other women in the city.”
She reached over and pulled a file off the edge of her desk. “My client also needs his wife to convince his family that it’s a love match.
During your maid of honor speech at Sylvia’s wedding, you shared a story about the acting class the two of you took when you were freshmen in college. I believe you mentioned that you enjoyed it as much as she hated it. So much so that you went on to take several more during the course of your studies.”
“I did.”
Flipping the file open, she lifted a photo out of it and handed it to me. “He also expects this to be a real marriage where you both honor your vows. Not one of convenience.”
Whoa. That comment brought reality to a screeching halt. He wanted a physical relationship? From what she was saying, it sounded like the man basically wanted a paid companion. If I went through with this…could I go through with this knowing it would make me nothing better than a high-priced call girl?
I was ready to turn her down flat when my gaze landed on the image of her client. With blond hair, hazel eyes, and tanned skin, he was exactly my type. He was gorgeous enough to attract just about any woman, without the help of his bank account. With it, he could literally have anyone he wanted. Now I was very curious. “Why does he need to use your services when he could go out and find his own wife with barely any effort?”
Her eyes lit up, and the smile she gave me was radiant. “For the same reason you’re considering saying yes. Family. His mom is an old college friend of mine and set the appointment up for him. He’s laser-focused on his career, but he doesn’t want to disappoint her. An arrangement with just the right woman will keep her happy without interfering with his work. It also gives him the perks of companionship without the responsibility of devoting time to building a loving relationship. Something I think you both could benefit from.”
I looked down at his picture once more and sighed. If I was going to sell myself to someone, at least he was a freaking Adonis. My phone chimed, and I threw Julia an apologetic glance before checking my text messages. Graham had sent me a selfie of himself and his thermometer, which read 98.6 degrees. He was making a funny face, but I could see the pain clouding his blue eyes. A wave of affection rushed through my body, and my eyes filled with tears at the thought of his suffering. My brother would do anything for me, just as I would for him. Yet here I was, considering turning down what could be the perfect solution.
Putting my phone away, I realized that maybe the hand of fate that Julia had mentioned when we talked on the phone really was at work. His mom and the matchmaker were old college friends. One of her clients and I were college friends. He didn’t have time for a relationship, and neither did I. He was doing this for his family, and so was I.
“I’ll do it.” My answer was confident—I’d do a heck of a lot more to ensure my brother’s well-being. And that meant I had a requirement of my own. “I have a condition. I’m going to need a signing bonus of three hundred thousand dollars.”
Chapter Three
SULLIVAN
“What is your educational background?” I asked the knockout blonde preening on the chair across from me. I couldn’t fault Julia on this one’s looks, although I was pretty sure that it was all paid for, from the roots of her bottle-blond hair to her nose, overly-puffy lips, veneers, enhanced breasts, to the tips of her fake nails.
She…Brittany, I think…giggled, and the sound grated on my nerves, but I smiled politely and waited for her to answer.
“I have a degree in early childhood education from Hudson University.”
“What made you choose that field of study?” I asked warily. I had a feeling this was headed nowhere good fast.
“Well, it was the most logical choice, since my end goal is to be a stay-at-home mom.”
And there it was… I had been emphatic with Julia that I didn’t want kids and anyone she matched me with needed to be okay with it. It wasn’t that I didn’t like them. My niece and nephew were two of my favorite people. I’d grown up with busy but attentive parents, and I refused to give a child of mine any less than I’d been given. I barely had time for a wife, much less to be a parent, and I wouldn’t raise a neglected child. And it wasn’t as though I was my parents’ only hope of grandchildren—thank you, Franny.
“I thought Julia made it clear to you that children were not an option.”
Brittany blushed and looked down demurely, but it was clearly a contrived reaction that I easily saw through. How would she ever fool my parents with her terrible acting?
“She did, but I thought maybe once you met me, you’d change your mind. We would make such beautiful babies.”
I frowned and stood, ready to move on. “Clearly, we aren’t a good match. Thank you for your time,” I dismissed her. She sputtered a little, but I’d already sat back down and was going through the next file.
The door opened, and I heard her heels click on the hardwood floor as she left. When the door quietly swished shut, I knew the next candidate had arrived. Standing once again, I turned to greet her.
“Sullivan Bradford,” I introduced myself and waved a hand toward the empty chair at the conference table I’d set up at.
She was on the shorter side, with dark, almost-black hair cut short, ending just below her ears. Her face was round with large, expressive brown eyes and an attractive smile. Hmmm…I’d hoped for someone taller. I wasn’t a fan of having to bend over to talk to or kiss a woman. However, she had definite potential as someone I could be attracted to.
Then she opened her mouth. “Candice,” she replied in a high, squeaky voice that grated on my nerves like nails down a chalkboard. This was going to be a tedious interview.
The next woman asked me about my net worth before even telling me her name. I gave her a conservative number, and then she stood and walked out without another word.
After that, there was a string of unacceptable applicants. They were all intelligent, well-educated women, but that was where their list of met criteria ended. I became incredibly frustrated. If this was Julia’s idea of my perfect match, I had no idea how she’d built such a successful business. She popped her head in to check on me, and I glared at her.
“I’ll give you one more interview, but if this one isn’t suitable, then I’m terminating our contract.”
She simply smiled and winked at me. “I wanted you to experience some variety and have choices, but I think you’ll be happy with this last candidate.”
I stifled the urge to roll my eyes, having lost my confidence in her abilities. “Let’s get this over with.”
A few minutes later, in walked a tall, willowy brunette with crystal-clear blue eyes. Her hair was long and wavy, framing a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and full lips. She had curves in all the right places, highlighted by the tasteful, cream sheath dress she was wearing.
Before I could stand and greet her, my cock was at full attention. I adjusted myself as discreetly as possible and then got to my feet.
“Mr. Bradford?” she asked in a melodious voice. She smiled sweetly, but her eyes were wary and clouded with sadness. To my ever-loving shock, I suddenly wanted to take her in my arms and comfort her. I shook my head to dispel the unnatural inclination.
“Sullivan,” I corrected her.
“Okay, Sullivan,” she agreed, and she glided across the carpet to the empty chair. “I’m Kinsley Taylor.”
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,” I stated. I hadn’t meant for my tone to come off sounding so terse, but my hard-on was becoming increasingly uncomfortable, and I was already at the end of my patience after the day I’d had. “What is your educational background?”
“I was in my third year at Columbia University, studying business management and financial economics, but—circumstances have forced me to take a hiatus from school. Right now, I’m working full time.”
I perked up at her response. Business management. Excellent. This was starting off on a better note than all the rest.
“Where are you working?” A job would keep her occupied, but I was concerned about her being available to me whenever I needed her.
“I’m one of t
he front desk assistant managers at the Four Seasons.”
Hospitality. Another point in her favor. However, I was right, her job had very little flexibility and would take too much of her time and attention. “I appreciate the work it took you to get that position, Kinsley, but you’ll have to quit. My schedule won’t accommodate yours. You can find a more flexible job if you wish, or you can focus on other endeavors, such as charity. Maybe even go back and finish your degree, if you’d like. You certainly won’t need to work for the income.”
Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might argue with me. Another surprise…the thought turned me on even more. However, she simply nodded, her lips pressed together to form a straight line.
I had to admit, I was a little disappointed. I thought I’d seen some fire in her, and the idea had held definite appeal. Still, she was sexy as fuck and, so far, she seemed to be perfect. I wanted this woman in my bed, so I hoped she met the rest of my criteria. “I assume Julia has gone over my requirements with you?”
She nodded, but I pressed harder, needing to be sure. “While our marriage will not have emotional attachment, it will be real in every physical sense.” I let the lust I was feeling burn in my eyes as I leaned in to speak my next words. “I can promise you’ll be very satisfied in that regard.”
She visibly swallowed, and I smirked when she shifted restlessly in her seat before uncrossing and re-crossing her legs.
“You understand we will not have children?” I also clarified. I didn’t bother to explain my reasons. She either accepted the term or she didn’t.
Her eyes shuttered quickly, but not before I caught a flash of resigned acceptance. “Yes. While I will admit to a desire for children, I don’t want to raise kids in a union like ours.”
“Excellent,” I agreed with a firm nod. “One last thing. You’re comfortable with the pretense required when we are with my family?”
Bought for Marriage (Bought by the Billionaire Book 1) Page 2
