Buying His Bride (The Donovan Brothers Trilogy Book 1) by Alison Ashlyn Page A

reminded herself. That’s what she signed on for, and that’s what she and Michael would have. She’d enjoyed his caresses as she’d enjoyed no other man’s, but she’d keep her heart and emotions intact. Unusual though her business arrangement with Michael was, she intended to abide by both its letter and spirit. That’s what she expected of herself and that’s what he’d expected of her as well. He’d made that plain over dinner.
    With Sierra’s expertise in marketing and branding, she believed she could make a larger success of Claddagh. Once she fulfilled the terms of her bargain with Michael, she would have earned her fee from him free and clear, and she would able to pursue her dreams in ways Grace herself had never been.
    Sierra finished undressing, discarded the torn stockings, and finished her tea in short order. If her last thought before sleep was of Michael, she assured herself sleepily that such thoughts were of no consequence. No consequence whatsoever.
    “You got in late last night, dear,” Grace observed as she prepared some eggs and fruit for them the next morning. “I assume that means you had a good time?”
    “Mother, let me make breakfast. You work hard at the pub all week!” Sierra moved to help, but Grace brushed her aside.
    “For goodness sake, Sierra, it’s only eggs and fruit!” She put the finishing touches on a simple salad. “So? How did the evening go?”
    Sierra concentrated on pouring a cup of coffee without meeting her mother’s forthright glance. “Um, yes, we had a good time.”
    “That’s it? Sierra, with a man like Michael, I’m surprised you’re not more enthusiastic!” Grace smiled to herself as she monitored the sizzling eggs.
    “What do you mean?”
    Grace turned to face her with her hands on her hips. “He’s a gorgeous man who had eyes for no one but you during the short time he was in this house! If I wasn’t blind, how could you be?”
    Michael had played his part admirably in front of Jen and her mother, Sierra had to give him credit. Still, she felt uncomfortable fostering her mother’s belief he was interested in her.
    Except it was exactly what she was supposed to be doing.
    “We went to dinner and danced, and yes, it was great!” She tried to insert enthusiasm into her voice.
    It had been great. Wonderful, in fact. So much so that she wasn’t sure what she was feeling or why she was feeling it.
    “Did he kiss you goodnight?”
    Sierra choked as a sip of coffee went down the wrong way.
    “And then some?” Her mother smiled. “Well, good. It’s none of my business, of course. You’re an adult. You just date so rarely I’m glad when things go well.”
    “Are you in that much of a hurry to see me partnered off, Mom?”
    Grace sobered, turning back to the stove. “It would please me to see you well taken care of, yes. Our financial picture isn’t pretty at the moment, dear, and I blame myself for that.”
    “That’s Daddy’s fault, Mom, not yours. And we can take care of ourselves. I can take care of things. We don’t need a man to do it for us.”
    Grace dished up a plate of eggs. “If you say so. But there’s no harm being happy a man of Michael Donovan’s caliber has taken an interest in you. Particularly if you return that interest.” She sat. “I didn’t choose well when I married your father, God knows. But something tells me Michael Donovan is a different kettle of fish.”
    ****
    Brian eyed Sierra opposite him on the Swedish sofa in his office at McKinley on Monday morning. The nut-brown fabric and bright throw pillows made a contemporary splash of color against the dark red brick walls of the converted warehouse. Sierra liked Brian’s taste.
    “When I referred your name to Murdoch, it was because I knew you needed money. It sounded like John could throw some independent consulting your way.” He rubbed his neck in frustration. “I figured it would be good professional development for you, and I knew the firm