The Determined Virgin. Elizabeth August

mother’s last years a living hell.” With her words hanging in the air between them, she again fell silent.

      “You were telling me about your inheritance,” Tobias coaxed.

      Hesper forced her mind back to her current dilemma. “By the time I’d graduated from high school, I knew I’d inherited my grandmother’s knack for investing. I talked my stepfather into allowing me to invest what monies I wasn’t in current need of for my education. Since he couldn’t get his hands on the funds, I think he assumed the sooner they were gone the better. Then he could be rid of them and me. But I didn’t lose them. Instead, through the years I have increased them. There is now a little over a million in my account.”

      Tobias smiled appreciatively. “I’ve always admired women with a head for finance.”

      Hesper briefly smiled back, then her expression darkened once again. “My stepfather took another look at my mother’s will. She had wanted to insure I received the fifty thousand so she was very specific about that particular amount, actually quoting it in her will. My stepfather now claims that all monies beyond what is left of the original fifty thousand, with my college expenses deducted, is his.”

      Tobias nodded his understanding. “And depending on the wording of the will, the law could be on his side.”

      Hesper rose and began to pace again. “Even if he loses, he’ll have tied up the money for years. His demand was simply another of his gambling forays. He knew I’d fight him and he doesn’t want the money tied up any more than I do. Once he’d made the initial overture, he softened it. He said he’d settle for half.”

      She stopped. Her shoulders squared, she again met Tobias’s gaze. “I refused. It isn’t the money. It’s the principle of the matter. I will not add to that man’s coffers!”

      “Sometimes you must compromise.”

      Again hatred flashed in Hesper’s eyes. “Never where Peter Lowell is concerned!” The hatred disappeared, replaced by cunning. “He cannot resist a gamble. So I made a wager with him. If I find a husband and marry before my thirtieth birthday, I get all the money. If not, he gets it.” A plea entered her eyes. “I need your help to find the right man.”

      Tobias frowned with uncertainty. “I’m not a matchmaker.”

      Hesper’s jaw firmed. “I don’t want a real husband. I refuse to take a chance on making a mistake. I plan to buy a husband for the time it takes to get my money. We’ll go through with the ceremony so that we’re legally bound on paper but the match will not be consummated.”

      Tobias’s uncertainty turned to confusion. “If you have all of this planned, why do you need me?”

      “My stepfather isn’t stupid. He knew I could find a husband and he probably guessed I’d simply buy one on a short-term basis. So he made a stipulation.”

      Tobias’s confusion disappeared. “And it is this stipulation that has brought you to me.”

      Hesper again sank into the chair. “Grandmama DuPree has to approve of my choice and she’d never go along with my gambit. She doesn’t believe in trickery and you know how she feels about wedding vows. Once said, they should never be undone. She hasn’t spoken directly to Aunt Eloise since Eloise divorced Uncle Edgar more than twenty years ago. If she found out I didn’t plan to stay married, she’d have both me and my husband thrown out.”

      “Eloise did compound the offense by marrying and divorcing two times afterward, as well,” Tobias noted. “However, you’re right. My sister can be stubborn about certain things.”

      “And painfully honest about her feelings,” Hesper grumbled. Schooling her features into the self-righteous expression Jeanette DuPree assumed when she was about to issue one of her less than complimentary criticisms, she said in a good imitation of her grandmother, “People may not like hearing it, but they need to be told the truth. No lie shall ever pass these lips. To be honest in all things is God’s bidding. If we all lived by his word, the world would be a better place.”

      Hesper breathed a harsh sigh and her countenance became hers once again. “For the most part, she’s right. But a little hedging to save another person’s feelings once in a while can’t hurt. Charity is good for the soul as well.”

      “It would seem you do have a problem,” Tobias mused thoughtfully.

      A plea entered Hesper’s eyes. “Aunt Eloise said that if anyone could find me a husband Grandmama DuPree would approve of, it would be you.”

      “Pleasing my sister in even the smallest of matters has never been easy.” Tobias abruptly grinned. “However, I do happen to know of someone I believe might pass her inspection.” He rose, crossed to his desk and pressed a button on the intercom. “Have Garth come to my study,” he ordered when a male voice answered.

      A minute later the door opened. Hesper stiffened as the man who had greeted her on the porch entered.

      “In case you two didn’t introduce yourselves earlier, Hesper, I’d like for you to meet Garth Lawton, a trusted and valued employee. Garth, I’d like to introduce my grandniece, Hesper O’Grady.” Tobias headed toward the door.

      Realizing he was leaving, Hesper felt a rush of panic. “Tobias…”

      He turned back and smiled. “I’m sure you can explain your situation to Garth much better than I.” His gaze shifted to Garth. “My grandniece is in need of certain services. If you wish to aid her, I will allow you a leave of absence. In the meanwhile, I shall have Mrs. Gibbons prepare a room for her.” His gaze again turned to Hesper. “It is time we became reacquainted. You will, of course, stay for dinner and the night, at least.” Without allowing either of them a chance to respond, he completed his exit.

      Outwardly Garth maintained an air of polite indifference. Inwardly he was holding an argument with himself. He owed Tobias. The career path he’d chosen, both in the military and now in civilian life, was fraught with danger. Twice Tobias had proved to be his guardian angel and had saved his life. For that reason, he knew he should help the woman with whatever problem she was having. But this particular woman had Trouble.written all over her.

      Hesper’s gaze raked over him. “You aren’t at all what I’d have chosen.”

      Garth was surprised by the sharp jab of rejection this statement caused. He never expected to be everyone’s top pick. Normally a remark like that would have run off his back like rainwater off a duck. Good exit line, he decided. “If that’s your way of telling me to get lost, consider it done.”

      Mentally Hesper kicked herself. Just because her first impression of the man was that of a guntoting, cold-blooded goon didn’t mean she couldn’t be wrong. She’d come to Tobias looking for help. It would be foolish of her to spurn it without at least giving this man a chance. Stepping in, front of the door to block his exit, she said, “I didn’t mean that in a derogatory sense. I apologize.”

      He didn’t like the idea of her thinking she’d offended him. His skin was a lot thicker than that. “No offense taken. I just didn’t see any reason to waste both of our times.”

      “My aunt Eloise seemed to think that Tobias was the only person who could help me and he chose you. Could we, at least, talk?”

      The temptation to continue out the door was strong, but he’d seen the hint of desperation in her eyes and couldn’t make himself walk away. “Sure. I’ve got nothing to do this afternoon.”

      You got this off to a really terrific start, she chided herself, motioning for him to take a chair.

      As Garth eased himself into the twin of the wing chair Tobias had occupied, his gaze again traveled over her figure. Nice shape, he again thought.

      Hesper stood several feet away, studying him. She thought she’d seen a look of masculine appreciation in his eyes, then it was gone behind that cool facade. Or maybe his expression wasn’t a facade. “Are you always so cold?”

      Garth