Page 2 of Bred

“And produce a grandchild, a true heir for Thanes and Ehler. If you can manage it within a year, then the company will be yours. Fail to do so, and you have to return half ownership to me, free of charge.”

I stood, fiery anger flooding my veins. “I don’t know what you have heard, but I do not buy women. I do not buy children. You are fucking si—”

“Don’t finish that sentence, boy.” Ehlers held up a shaking hand.

At forty-three, I wasn’t sure the last time anyone had called me boy. But I supposed to this man, who must be in his mid-to-late seventies, that must be what I looked like. But no matter. What he was accusing me of, it was sick. And he clearly knew it.

“I offered you a deal. A mutually beneficial deal. I know you’re the third generation Thanes. I know your father left this company to you and that he probably imagined the same thing I am. And don’t think that Wren isn’t in on this. She knows. She’s willing to do what it takes to protect our company’s legacy. Even if that mean marrying you.”

Mentally, I was slammed with an image of a female version of Ehlers. I must’ve cringed, because the old bastard sent me a snarl. “She’s pretty as a picture, my Wren. Don’t get me wrong. And she has a clean bill of health. You can be assured she’s ready to give me great-grandchildren as soon as you are.”

I stared at him, really stared. “You’re serious?”

“Deadly.” The man dropped into his chair once again, exhaustion showing in the pale pallor of his skin. “Wren agreed a month ago, but I wasn’t sure. She grew up alone. Her parents have been gone since she was a child. She wants a family, a man who can be as devoted to her as her father was to her mother.”

“Why doesn’t she go out and date, find herself someone?” A horrible thought occurred to me. “How old is she?”

Shit, it sounded like I was actually considering this. Which I wasn’t. At least, not really. I was merely humoring an old man. But my thoughts strayed for a moment to the big ranch house I’d just bought. I’d always thought I’d have a wife there, a family waiting for me, someone who begged me to get off the phone and play with them.

Instead, I used only a fraction of the house and worked all the time, even when I was there.

Maybe I did need to get married. But I wasn’t bargaining with a woman’s life. Not for profit. I would find my own wife, in due time.

“Let me remind you again, if you decide to agree to my terms, meet Wren, and cannot abide by her as your partner, all you have to do is stay away from her for a year. Or avoid getting pregnant. No baby, no marriage in a year. All it’ll cost you is half of Ehlers Power.” A wry smile pulls at his lips. “Which is still a half more than you have now.”

Well shit, that actually did sound okay. I could put her up in my house, a sort of strange roommate if things weren’t good. Which there was no way they would be. There was no way on earth this woman would fit into my life.

But it would get me half of Ehlers Power and the chance to get out of this boardroom.

With a distinctive feeling that I might regret this, I rose and extended my hand to Ehlers.

“You have a deal.”

CHAPTER TWO

WREN

Thehelicopterbladesslidthrough the air with deadly precision as I stared down at the land that was going to be mine.

Grandfather sat across from me, his stern face unreadable as the ground grew closer and closer to us, the blond-colored grasses waving madly in the air our transportation was providing. I lifted one corner of my mouth for him, a show of confidence that he knew I really didn’t have.

But still, I tried. For him.

Because we both knew that it could be the last time I saw him. Not only because he was leaving me at this stranger’s home, but a wedding dress also tucked into the bag at my feet and my future hovering on a bastard’s promise.

On my new husband's promise.

The helicopter touched down with a soft thump, and my gaze dashed about, looking for the welcoming party I’d assumed would be here. My father had always had a full entourage. Even my grandfather’s people had begged to join us today. He’d allowed only one, his trusted assistant, Mr. Hunt.

But there was no one. The elaborate ranch house was stone-faced and seemed just as cold and resistant to the land as its owner seemed to be.

Or at least that’s how I had pictured him. Grandfather had told me he was tall, handsome, and gentle. He’d put even more emphasis on gentle the closer to this day it had gotten. I wasn’t sure why it only made it more nerve-wracking to me. My family came from strong, sturdy stock. I was a full five foot ten inches tall, and my bluntly cut blonde hair swung heavy and thick across my jawline.

The fact that he felt he should emphasize the gentle factor made me wonder what my new husband was truly like. And close behind that thought was the startling fear that he wouldn’t find me appealing.

Stamping down on the rising panic in my throat, I swiveled to look out into the manicured yard we’d landed on. There wasn’t a soul in sight. Even the white boarded fences were bare of livestock. From what I’d learned from my limited findings on my soon-to-be husband, this ranch was a functioning entity, not only a publicity stunt.

Grandfather had warned me how resistant Loren was to the marriage. I hadn’t pictured him not showing up at all. But there wasn’t anyone. Even the lights in the house were off.