Alex Read online

  Izzy muffled a snort behind one hand. Finn practically heard Blond Guy grit his teeth.

  “Could I have a moment with my—” the man made a pained expression, “fiancé and our witnesses?”

  “Sure thing,” the clerk replied with a smile. “Take your time. There’s an hour left until the next civil ceremony.”

  Blond Guy stormed out of the chapel, an unrepentant-looking Izzy on his heels. Finn headed reluctantly after them with his great-aunt.

  “I like him,” Aunt Maggie stated. “He’s plucky. I bet he’s a firecracker in the bedroom.”

  A strangled groan left Finn. “I can’t believe you just said that!”

  Aunt Maggie gave him a stern look. “I may be old, but my eyes still work. If I were thirty years younger, I’d take him for a spin myself. I mean, have you seen his buns? They’re mighty—”

  Finn put his hand up. “Please, just—just stop talking!” he begged.

  Aunt Maggie chuckled. “You’re so straight-laced. I don’t know where you get it from. It certainly isn’t from my side of the family.” She patted Finn on the back, her eyes gleaming with a light that caused a shiver to run down his spine. “You need to learn to relax, Finn. Enjoy life while you still can. Do the things you’ve never dared do before.”

  Finn couldn’t help but feel there was some kind of hidden meaning behind her words. Blond Guy’s voice reached his ears as they stepped into the hall.

  The man was admonishing Izzy in a low voice brimming with fury.

  “I can’t believe this!” he hissed. “Why the hell did you tell me your client was a woman when he’s quite clearly a man?!”

  Izzy blinked innocently. “I never said my client was a woman.”

  Blond Guy’s mouth fell open. “What?!” he spluttered.

  Finn’s gaze dropped to the man’s perfectly shaped Cupid bow and sculptured lips.

  “I never said my client was a woman,” Izzy repeated patiently. “You just assumed that he—” she looked over at Finn, “was a she.”

  A glazed expression washed across Blond Guy’s face. “Shit!” He glanced at Finn. “Well, he quite clearly didn’t know he was gonna get hitched to a dude either!”

  Finn narrowed his eyes. “He has a name. And he is standing right here.”

  Blond Guy blew out a sigh. “Look, Mr.—?” He arched an eyebrow at Finn.

  “Mr. West,” Finn replied coolly. “Finn West.”

  “Look, Mr. West,” Blond Guy said briskly, “surely, you don’t want to go ahead with this? I mean, it’s clear you were expecting to marry a woman today!”

  “I was,” Finn admitted.

  Relief darkened Blond Guy’s eyes. “Great!” He turned to Izzy. “I really don’t know what you were thinking but I’m calling this—“

  “I still want to marry you.”

  Blond Guy froze. He turned stiffly and looked at Finn as if he’d grown horns and a forked tail.

  Finn stared back, not sure who was the most shocked out of the two of them at the words he’d just blurted out. He registered Izzy’s surprised expression and Aunt Maggie’s thoughtful stare. He ignored the two women and kept his gaze locked on the stunned blue eyes opposite him.

  “You’re obviously in some kind of financial trouble, otherwise you wouldn’t have agreed to this. And I need a spouse.” Finn cast a dark glance at his great-aunt before looking at Blond Guy once more. “Let’s make the best of this situation. After all, it’s only for six months.”

  A muscle jumped in Blond Guy’s jawline. He observed Finn with a frown, his expression clearly conflicted.

  A wicked impulse Finn never even knew he possessed suddenly took hold of him. He pasted a cocky half-smile on his face, stuck his hands in his pants pockets, and closed the distance to Blond Guy at a leisurely pace. The man’s citrusy cologne hit Finn’s nostrils when he stopped in front of him. Blond Guy tilted his chin and glared at Finn. Finn’s lips twitched. He had a good two inches on the man. By the looks of it, Blond Guy wasn’t too happy about that.

  “So, what’s your answer?”

  Chapter 3

  I have lost my fucking mind. There’s no other way to explain this.

  Alex scowled as he followed Finn’s Jeep up the winding mountain road. As Fate would have it, the man he’d just married during what had to be the strangest day of his life was the owner of the vehicle that had blocked his bike in at the courthouse.

  And now, here I am, being led to God knows where by a potential mad man!

  He still couldn’t believe he’d fallen for Finn’s unspoken challenge a few hours ago. When Izzy’s client had walked up to him with an arrogant air and practically dared him to go ahead with their farce of a wedding, Alex had wanted nothing more than to turn around and hightail it the hell out of that courthouse and Twilight Falls.

  But something in Finn West’s eyes had piqued Alex’s interest. He still wasn’t sure what it was, or what had made him stand his ground and accept the man’s offer.

  There was one thing Alex couldn’t deny. And it only added to his growing irritation at the situation he now found himself in.

  Izzy was right. The guy’s gorgeous.

  Finn’s taillights flashed as he slowed. He flipped his indicator and steered the Jeep onto a private road that disappeared into the forest. Alex headed after him, intrigued; he’d not explored this part of the forest around Twilight Falls before.

  A wrought-iron security gate appeared at the end of the muddy, wooded lane. Finn entered a code in the panel on the post on the side of the path and drove the Jeep through the gateway.

  Alex revved the Triumph’s engine and kept up. Cream gravel crunched under their tires as they negotiated a canopy-covered approach. The trees gradually cleared ahead. They crested a rise.

  Alex drew a sharp breath and braked to a stop.

  The land dipped before him to form a shallow valley overlooking a gully with a gurgling brook and a creek. Looming out of the forest at the bottom of the gentle incline was a beautiful, modern, wood and glass house. Set over two stories and topped by gray slate tiles, it blended beautifully into its stunning surroundings.

  That doesn’t look like a bad place to be stuck in for six months.

  Alex rode down the slope after Finn and pulled into a graveled forecourt. He parked his motorcycle next to Finn’s Jeep just as the man got out of the vehicle. Alex climbed off the Triumph, removed his helmet, and raked a hand through his tousled hair.

  “When was this place built?” he said curiously as he studied the building’s contemporary frontage.

  “Five years ago,” Finn replied.

  Anger surged through Alex at Finn’s curt tone.

  “Look, I know neither of us wanted this, but if anyone deserves to be pissed right now, it’s me,” he said coldly. “I’m the one who just moved halfway across the state and got tricked into marrying you.”

  A muscle jumped in Finn’s cheek.

  Gravel crunched behind them, distracting them both.

  Relief flooded Alex when he turned and saw Izzy’s red Mini rolling down the driveway. Although he blamed Wyatt’s kid sister for his current predicament, he was grateful she had decided to come to the estate with them. The tension between him and Finn was only growing with each passing hour and it didn’t look like things were going to get better any time soon.

  Izzy parked her car and popped her trunk open. Alex helped her unload the backpack he’d brought from San Diego and the suitcase he’d purchased in town. Now that he knew where he was going to be living for the next six months, he would arrange for some of his stuff to be delivered to the house. In the meantime, he’d bought enough clothes to last him the week.

  Izzy pursed her lips in a faint pout as she looked from Alex to Finn. “I can’t believe both of you refused to go for a celebratory lunch. Why don’t I make you guys an early dinner?”

  “This is a business arrangement, Izzy,” Finn said coolly, letting himself inside the house. “There’s nothing to celebrate.”
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  “He’s right.” Alex frowned at Finn’s disappearing back. “The last thing I feel like doing right now is celebrating.”

  Izzy took a bottle of champagne and a bag of groceries from the Mini’s rear seat. “Well, if you guys aren’t going to paint the town red, then I will!” She stormed past Alex, her expression determined.

  Alex sighed. “You know you’re driving, right?”

  “I’m allowed one glass to commemorate your wedding,” Izzy retorted. “Honestly, I don’t know who’s the bigger grouch of the two of you!”

  Alex bit back a frustrated groan and followed her, his luggage in hand.

  The interior of the house was nicer than he’d imagined, which ticked him off even more. A wide, airy vestibule topped with a glass roof branched out into an east and west corridor before leading to an open-plan living and dining room that spanned half the property’s width and overlooked a deck out back. Thick pine forest filled the skyline beyond the sleek wood and steel terrace.

  Alex dragged his gaze from the riveting landscape outside the floor-to-ceiling glass wall and put his stuff down. He followed the sounds of clanging pots and pans to a modern kitchen that opened out onto a sun-drenched veranda overlooking the creek.

  Izzy had taken her pumps off and was muttering to herself while investigating the contents of several cabinets.

  “Want a hand?” Alex said lightly.

  He’d never been able to stay mad at Izzy for long and they both knew it.

  “Nah.” Izzy’s face brightened when she finally spotted what she was looking for. “Aha!” She removed a pair of roasting pans from a drawer with a triumphant air. “Why don’t you go check the place out?” Her eyes softened as she studied Alex’s wary expression. “Knowing Finn, he’s probably being a bear and hiding in his studio. Here, you might as well take this to him. God knows you two need something in you to lighten up the mood.”

  She popped open the champagne, filled two flutes, and handed them to him. Alex accepted the drinks gratefully before heading back into the lounge. His unease melted away as he started exploring the house that he was going to live in for the next six months.

  From the limited conversation he’d had with Izzy after the wedding, Alex knew Finn was some kind of famous artist who’d moved to Twilight Falls when his wife was still alive. According to Izzy, the man had become a virtual recluse since his wife’s death from ovarian cancer three years ago and now barely left his estate apart from the occasional short trip into town to get a haircut.

  Well, whatever the guy’s problem is, he definitely has good taste.

  Finn had decorated the mansion with a sparse, eclectic collection of furniture and artwork. Though Alex recognized some of the exorbitant brands and paintings on display, his eyes were drawn to a select few sculptures scattered randomly around the place. The carvings, mostly of human figures, were made from various materials and evoked a feeling of deep sensuality.

  Finn’s studio was at the end of the west corridor.

  Alex stilled when he opened the door and stepped inside what was effectively a giant glass box with a stone floor. He stared at the mesmerizing views of the forest and the brook beyond the walls before looking around.

  There was no sign of Finn.

  Alex hesitated before heading farther inside the room. He observed the tidy worktops and sink, an easel with a partial charcoal sketch of a woman’s body, and a drape covering what looked to be Finn’s current work in progress. He moved toward a shelf holding half a dozen trophies, feeling guilty at snooping around a perfect stranger’s life.

  A grimace twisted his lips at that thought. Well, to be fair, he’s my husband.

  Alex’s eyes widened when he read the plaques on the trophies. They were all distinguished national and international art awards.

  A picture stood at one end of the shelf. It showed Finn and a pretty, petite brunette with warm, hazel eyes standing next to the creek, the skeleton of what would become their house in the background behind them. The woman stood with her back to Finn and was grinning at the camera. Finn had his arms looped around her and his chin propped on top of her head, a contented smile on his face.

  Alex studied the couple. It was clear to him from their body language that Finn and his wife had loved and respected each other. He frowned.

  This is the only picture of them I’ve seen in the house so far though.

  Alex exited the studio in a pensive mood and made his way back to the main living area. A glass and steel staircase rose past the open, circular fireplace. The steps curved up to a mezzanine and the second floor.

  Alex wasn’t surprised to discover that all the bedrooms and bathrooms were south facing to take advantage of the incredible views of the pine forest and the creek.

  Whoever designed this place did a great job of making the most of its surroundings.

  He navigated an airy passage dotted with more sculptures and paintings and spotted an empty room that he liked the look of. He opened the door of the bedroom next to it and froze on the threshold.

  Finn stood barefoot in the middle of the carpeted floor, next to a king size bed. He had his back to Alex and was stripping out of his shirt, his imposing silhouette outlined against the dazzling greens of the trees and the blue sky beyond a glass wall.

  Alex’s mouth went dry.

  Finn turned, his hands stilling on his belt buckle. A frown darkened his face.

  Alex’s pulse thumped in his veins as he met Finn’s eyes.

  “Here.” He crossed the floor and handed the artist the second flute of champagne. “Izzy’s orders.”

  Finn hesitated before blowing out a tired sigh. He took the glass, oblivious to the tension now coursing through Alex.

  “Has Izzy always been this bossy?”

  Alex told himself to focus on the question and not on Finn’s six-pack or the strip of dark hair that arrowed alluringly down his abs before disappearing behind his belt buckle.

  “Pretty much. She was worse when she was a kid.” Alex swallowed. “I’m sorry, I’ll leave you to get undressed.” He twisted on his heels and made for the exit, suddenly eager to get the hell out of there. A thought came to him as he reached the threshold. He paused and looked over his shoulder at the man who stood silently watching him. “By the way, can I use the room next door?”

  “Sure,” Finn murmured with a shrug. “You can use any of the bedrooms.”

  “Thanks.”

  Alex left Finn’s bedroom, walked down the corridor to the landing, and stopped at the top of the stairs. He drew a ragged breath, conscious of his arousal pressing uncomfortably against the zipper of his pants.

  Shit. The strong, beautifully defined muscles of Finn’s shoulders and back flashed in front of Alex’s eyes. How the hell does an artist get a body like that anyway?

  Alex hoped Finn hadn’t noticed his body’s reaction to his near-nakedness. Because one thing had just become abundantly clear. He was attracted to Finn West. And that could only mean a whole heap of trouble.

  Chapter 4

  “Excuse me?” Finn said blankly.

  They had just finished dinner and were clearing the table. Izzy looked at them innocently from where she was stacking plates and cutlery in the dishwasher in Finn’s kitchen.

  Alex gazed open-mouthed at Izzy, his head spinning at the bombshell she’d just casually dropped.

  “You two have to share the same bed,” Izzy repeated. “It’s a stipulation of the contract you signed this morning.”

  “What stipulation?!” Finn roared.

  He stormed out of the kitchen and returned a moment later, a document in hand.

  “Page two, section ten,” Izzy said helpfully.

  Finn rifled through the contract and went deathly still. He raised his head and narrowed accusing eyes at Izzy. “This wasn’t here the last time I looked!”

  Alex walked over to Finn and took the document off him. His stomach dropped as he studied the clause that had been added to the contract. It looked leg
al and above board.

  “Finn’s right.” Alex frowned at Izzy. “Why the hell is this even in here?”

  Izzy shrugged, looking for all the world as if she wasn’t to be blamed for this latest mess.

  “It was one of Aunt Maggie’s last-minute requests. I’m kinda surprised you didn’t notice, Alex.” She smiled. “You’re a lawyer after all.”

  Alex’s frown turned into a full-blown scowl. “Yeah, well, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve had other things on my mind lately!”

  Finn stared at Alex. “You’re a lawyer?”

  “Yeah, I am,” Alex replied testily. He scanned the rest of the document. “Christ. What’s next? Is she gonna want a blood ceremony?” He glared at Izzy. “Is there another clause where someone turns up tomorrow and checks the bedsheets for evidence of my virginity?”

  Finn swallowed the wrong way and choked on his breath.

  “Oh, I think we both know the name of the guy who popped your cherry,” Izzy declared tartly while Finn coughed.

  Alex felt his cheeks grow warm.

  Finn stopped coughing and stared at Alex, surprise widening his pupils. “You’re gay?”

  Alex stiffened. Though he knew Izzy would never have gotten him involved in this had she known Finn hated gays, he still tilted his chin challengingly at the other man.

  “Yes, I am. You got a problem with that?”

  Finn blinked, nonplussed. “No, I don’t.”

  Alex turned to Izzy, not quite sure what it was he’d just read in Finn’s dark gaze.

  “And how exactly does Aunt Maggie intend to enforce this condition?” His tone turned acerbic. “Is she gonna install cameras? I mean, I’m all for a bit of kink in the bedroom, but this is taking things too far, don’t you think?”

  Izzy grinned. “Aunt Maggie and I know that you two are honorable men. She’s counting on the fact that you’ll keep your word.”

  “So, she’s just going to trust that we’ll actually sleep with each other?” Alex snapped.

  He regretted his words instantly as a hot image flashed before his eyes. Of him in Finn’s bed. Of him under Finn.