The Marriage Proposition

The Marriage Proposition
Sara Craven

Mills & Boon proudly presents THE SARA CRAVEN COLLECTION. Sara’s powerful and passionate romances have captivated and thrilled readers all over the world for five decades making her an international bestseller.THE MARRIAGE PROPOSITIONA business proposal of marriage!When Paige looked at Nick Destry she could hardly believe she was married to him! A successful banker, Nick was confidently sexy but ruthless. He'd wanted a seat on the board, and he'd married Paige to get one.Paige decided to act as if their wedding was just a business proposition. But it was hard sharing Nick's bed. She decided he couldn't have everything his own way - if he truly wanted her, he would have to prove it!

The Marriage Proposition

Sara Craven

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Former journalist SARA CRAVEN published her first novel ‘Garden of Dreams’ for Mills & Boon in 1975. Apart from her writing (naturally!) her passions include reading, bridge, Italian cities, Greek islands, the French language and countryside, and her rescue Jack Russell/cross Button. She has appeared on several TV quiz shows and in 1997 became UK TV Mastermind champion. She lives near her family in Warwickshire – Shakespeare country.

Table of Contents

Cover (#u8149d562-f596-527a-9dbf-80820473bbaa)

Title Page (#u65d8ad87-3712-57f3-9a94-0f23537f55eb)

About the Author (#u6b1d3952-584a-56e3-afb5-edbbbb909cf8)

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

Endpage (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#uad64d712-34ce-5a01-953b-0694f9827d43)

‘AND tonight,’ Angela said triumphantly, ‘we’re going to the Waterfront Club.’

Paige, who’d been brushing her hair, stopped and gave her friend a steady look.

‘Isn’t that Brad Coulter’s place?’ she queried.

‘Well, yes.’ Angela picked up a bottle of scent from the dressing table, sniffed it abstractedly and put it down again. ‘Is there a problem?’

‘I certainly hope not.’ Paige paused. ‘Unless you’re taking your matchmaking talents for a run-out.’

‘Brad, my sweet, is an attractive and eligible man, and he’s clearly smitten. So where’s the harm?’

‘You seem to have forgotten one small detail,’ Paige said evenly. ‘I happen to be a married woman.’

Angela snorted. ‘Try reminding your husband of that. Some marriage—when you don’t even live in the same country.’

Paige shrugged. ‘That’s the way it suits us. At least until the divorce comes through,’ she added drily.

‘Well, there you are,’ said Angela.

‘However that doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything to upset the applecart in the meantime.’ Paige resumed work on her hair. ‘The grounds will be two years’ separation. Clean, tidy and final. And nothing for the scandalmongers to get their teeth into.’

Angela raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you claiming that Nick has been equally discreet?’

Paige put the brush down, and began to rub lotion into her hands. ‘I’ve never made any claims on Nick’s behalf,’ she pointed out. ‘He leads his own life.’

‘You can say that again.’ Angela’s tone was waspish. ‘If he wasn’t prepared to waive his bachelor ways, why on earth did he ask you to marry him?’

‘He had his reasons.’

‘And why the hell did you agree?’

Paige smiled at her in the mirror. ‘I had mine, too.’

‘You make it all sound so rational,’ Angela grumbled. ‘And yet you were only together for—how many weeks?’

‘Just over seven, if my memory serves me,’ Paige said reflectively.

‘It’s hardly the kind of thing you forget,’ Angela returned, and Paige’s lips tightened.

‘No. But it’s the kind of thing you want to escape from with as little hassle as possible.’

‘I suppose so.’ Angela frowned. ‘On the other hand, in such a brief time you didn’t really give it a chance to succeed. Have you thought about that?’

‘Believe me, the marriage had failure written into it from day one. But it was a mistake which can be put right, simply and painlessly. However, in the meantime I prefer attractive men—however eligible—to keep well away, until the dust has settled.’ Paige replaced the cap on the hand lotion. ‘And that includes Brad Coulter.’

‘My sweet, you’re going home tomorrow, and everyone visits the Waterfront at least once during their stay on St Antoine. It’s one of the rules.’ Angela’s tone was persuasive. ‘And it’s hardly an intimate dinner à deux. Jack and I will be with you, after all.’ She paused. ‘And I know that Brad’s reserved a special table for us.’

‘Besides, as you all live and work on St Antoine, you can’t really afford to upset him,’ Paige supplied resignedly. She pulled a face. ‘I don’t really have a choice in all this, do I?’

‘Now you’re making me feel guilty.’ Angela glanced at her watch. ‘Hell, it’s time I was getting ready too.’ She squeezed Paige’s shoulder. ‘And look gorgeous. Competition is fierce at the Waterfront.’ She winked cheerfully, and vanished.

As the door closed behind her friend, Paige unpinned her determined smile and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the dressing table and cupping her chin in her hands as she studied herself.