The Substitute Wife Dallas Schulze

"The usual reasons," Devon said, shrugging lightly.

Cat's mind boggled at the idea that there were "usual

reasons" for a marriage of convenience. Before she could

try to sort out what they might be, Devon continued.

"Luke's grandfather wants him to get married for some

reason. Luke didn't tell me why, exactly, but apparently he's

got something to hold over Luke's head. He has to be

married before his thirty-sixth birthday, which is in a couple

of months."

"Okay," Cat said, dragging the word out as she absorbed

this new information. "That explains what Luke was getting

out of the marriage. What about you?"

"You have to ask?" Devon rolled her eyes, and Cat

flushed as a sudden image of Luke popped into her head.

No, she supposed she didn't have to ask. The man was not

only ridiculously good-looking, but he had that indefinable

something that made the muscles tighten low in her belly. It

was pretty obvious why Devon would-

"Money," Devon said, cutting through Cat's thoughts.

"Money?" she repeated, trying to shift her thinking from

blue! blue eyes and thick dark hair to crinkly green stuff.

"Money?"

"Come on, Cat. The man's richer than God." Devon

laughed. "His great-grandfather owned half the San

Fernando valley back when it was nothing but chicken

ranches and orange groves, and his grandfather managed

to make money even during the Depression. I don't know

details about his father, but Luke is some sort of real estate

wizard. Every time he draws a breath, he's making more

money."

"And he was going to ... what? Give you money to marry

him?"

Devon wrinkled her nose. "It sounds so ... sordid when

you put it that way," she protested. "But, yes, Luke was

giving me money to marry him. A whole lot of money,

actually." She sounded wistful.

"And you're giving that up to go live on a dairy farm?"

Cat asked, then winced at the incredulous tone of her own voice.

The idea of Devon living on a dairy farm had been

difficult to grasp even before she knew the truth behind her

engagement to Luke Quintain. Now it seemed even more

incredible. It wasn't that Devon was mercenary. Not

exactly. It wasn't money that Devon loved. It was all the

pretty things it could buy. Shopping wasn't a hobby; it was

an avocation. It was one of the things that made her good

at her chosen career as a decorator―she got to shop for

beautiful things and get paid for doing it.

"Money can't buy happiness," Devon said with the air of

someone presenting an original truth. Cat might have been

impressed by this new, improved Devon if she hadn't

continued, "Besides, I have the engagement ring Luke gave

me, and that's worth a fortune."She picked up a small

leather jeweler's box from the nightstand and snapped it

open to admire the ring inside.

"You can't keep that ring," Cat protested, appalled.

Even from several feet away, she could see the way the

light caught on the diamonds.

"Why not?" Devon snapped the case shut and closed her

hand around it as if afraid Cat might try to snatch it from

her. "Luke gave it to me. It's mine."

"Luke gave it to you because you were going to marry

him."

"I was going to marry him."

"But you're not going to marry him now," Cat pointed out.

"I don't see what that has to do with it." Devon picked up

her purse, tan leather, made by coach and another gift from

Luke, and tucked the ring box safely inside. "It's not like I

lied to Luke. I did plan on marrying him. He gave me the

ring, and it's mine. I'm sure he'd want me to keep it."

"Traditionally, you're supposed to give the ring back."

"So?" Devon set the purse on the bed and turned back to

finish packing her makeup. "Traditionally, you're supposed

to be madly in love with each other when you get married.

Luke and I had a business arrangement. He gave me the

ring for getting engaged to him. We were engaged, and the

ring is mine. Besides, it's worth a lot of money. It would be

stupid to give it back."(9)