Christmas Wedding. Pamela Macaluso

that you might be trying to pay me to have sex with you really ties your boxers in a knot, too. Besides, if he’d just lighten up and smile once in a while he could probably charm his way into any bed he wanted. She was sure he had a killer smile.

      The waitress arrived with their coffee. Holly thought she fussed too much over Jesse, making sure his cup was lined up just so. It was the sort of thing a fiancée would notice.

      Maybe she could pull it off, even without formal acting experience.

      Once the woman left, Jesse continued. “You’ll have your own bedroom and the place has so many servants, you’ll think you’re in a hotel. We’ll need to spend some time together. Engaged couples do that sort of thing, I believe. But I’ll be sure you have time off to pursue your own recreational interests. There are horses, a sailboat, and the beach is about an hour away.”

      Holly sipped her coffee. “You make it sound very tempting.”

      “Good.”

      “Earlier you mentioned a salary?”

      He named a figure much higher than what she normally made in a week. With tuition for the next term coming up, she could use the money. And the shop could use some remodeling.

      Such a large sum for only a week’s work...if you could call a week of playing “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” work.

      The life-style was not completely unknown to Holly. When she was eight, her mother had left her tattoo-artist father and married a successful Florida land developer. Holly had visited them and their four children several times a year. While there, she’d acted and dressed the part of dutiful stepdaughter.

      Other than that, she had little to do with them. Although she was certain they would give her money for school and probably for the remodeling, too, if she asked. After high school they’d offered her money to continue her education instead of delaying until she’d saved enough on her own.

      Then, as now, she knew her father would have a fit if she took their money. He might frequently be short of the green stuff, but he was long on pride.

      “You do make it tempting. But I need to think about this.”

      * * *

       She looked like the kind of woman his parents would expect him to marry.

      What exactly had he meant by that?

      Holly’s best friend Ellen worked at the library. The two had been close since elementary school. Holly knew she could trust Ellen not to tell anyone about Jesse’s offer. So she called her and asked her to find information about Jesse, especially anything on his family.

      Ellen had a whole stack of things for her when Holly stopped by the library after work. Two hours later, after reading through a number of magazine and newspaper articles, she had the story.

      Ultrarich family. Millions made on railroads way back when by enterprising ancestors, now maintained by investments. The family was currently into breeding and training polo ponies.

      Instead of blending into the family business and life-style, their eldest child, Jesse, became a motorcycle enthusiast in high school, then went on to study engineering in college. With Rorke O’Neil, he built a prototype motorcycle. They added a third partner, Alex Dalton, and founded Yankee Motorworks.

      The family had had a fit. It was bad enough Jesse was working for a living, but to have the Tyler name associated with motorcycles was more than they could stand. It made no difference to them that many rich and famous people were now cruising the roads on two wheels—it was not appropriate for their son. When Jesse persisted, they cut off his trust funds and wrote him out of their wills. Since then they’d had little or no contact with him.

      With her usual softhearted tendency to side with the underdog, Holly was immediately sympathetic to Jesse. She was willing to overlook the fact that the man was probably getting ready to sue her and that he was handsomer than any man had the right to be.

      All she saw was his rich, powerful parents trying to control him and make him live their choices for his life and not his own.

      “This is interesting,” Ellen said.

      Holly looked at the newspaper Ellen was holding. It was an engagement announcement. Joanna Tyler and Douglas Wellington. The wedding was to be in December at the home of the bride’s parents in Lake Wyndham, Florida.

      A smile tugged at the edges of her mouth. She didn’t like Jesse much, but although he’d missed the humor in Tiny’s tattoo, the guy did have a sense of humor about some things.

      Ellen reached her arms above her head and stretched. “When did you say he wanted you to go with him?”

      “The week before, through the day after this wedding.”

      “What are you going to do?”

      “I probably need my head examined, but I’m seriously thinking about going.”

      Ellen held up a magazine with a picture of the three Yankee owners on the front. “There are worse guys to be stuck pretending to be in love with.”

      They would be expected to act like they were in love. Holly hadn’t thought about that part of it. While she had considered there would be hand-holding, she hadn’t looked at the bigger picture.

      Of course if she gazed into his gorgeous green eyes long enough, it would be easy to convince even herself that she was in love with him.

      Ellen continued. “Is he as good-looking in person?”

      “Better.”

      “Impossible. Do you think you’ll get a chance to meet his partners?”

      “He didn’t say. But you can stop drooling, the other two are already married.”

      “So, are you going to do it?”

      “I don’t know. What do you think?”

      “I think you should. Besides getting paid, you’ll probably have fun. And maybe if you get on his good side, you can convince him not to file charges.”

      She might also be able to get information on the rumored Yankee clothing line. If she were spending time with Jesse, maybe she could get the inside scoop and possibly a foot in the door for a job.

      “Oh, I guess I’ll go.”

      “You make it sound like a sacrifice. Most women would be willing to pay him for the chance you’re getting.”

      Holly knew Ellen was right. Yet she couldn’t quite shake all her misgivings. She looked at one of the magazines on the table, opened to an article titled Billionaire’s Renegade Son Makes His First Million.

      There was more to Jesse Tyler than met the eye, that was for sure. What would it be like to spend a week with him?

      * * *

      “Mr. Tyler, Mr. Dalton is on line one.”

      “Thanks.” Jesse picked up the phone. “What can I do for you, Alex?”

      They discussed Alex’s idea to offer public tours of the Daytona Beach facilities. The issue would be brought up at their next board meeting, but since Jesse was most familiar with the setup down there, Alex had called to verify some details.

      “How’s Genie?” Jesse asked after the business was taken care of.

      “Fine. We’ve got our first anniversary coming up in December.”

      “That’s right. Congratulations.” Man, the last year had flown by. “Speaking of December, I’m planning to take a week off for my sister’s wedding.”

      “You’re going to your sister’s wedding?” Both of his partners knew about his estrangement from his family.

      “Joanna asked me to be in the wedding party.”

      “Be sure to have a good time.”