Curvy Girls: Claimed By The Cowboy (The BBW and the Billionaire Rancher) by Georgette St. Clair Page A

eyes like saucers. She knew what Ty was about to ask of her. She couldn’t do it.
    “Talk sense into him!”
    “I’ve tried everything. Begging. Threatening. I’ve consulted numerous lawyers. The trust is ironclad, unbreakable.   If he gets married first, the ranch goes to him, and I have absolutely no say over it.”
    “But…” Abigail spluttered. “Are you about to ask me what I think you’re going to ask me?”
    “Yes. I know you don’t want anything to do with me. I know you’re sorry about that night we spent together.  I know you can’t stand the sight of me.   But I also know you love this town, and you love the land, and you will not stand by and let anyone destroy it if you can stop it.  Abigail Wintergreen, will you fake-marry me?”
    “I am not sorry we spent the night together!” Abigail’s head was whirling.
    “Oh, really? So you’ll maybe real-marry me?” He was half-smiling, as if he were about to break into a laugh. She almost wanted to laugh too.
    Why did the stupid bastard have to be so funny and charming?
    “No! Not that either!” she groaned. “Why don’t you marry your bitchy little girlfriend?”
    “She’s not my girlfriend. She works for Graniti Industries, she’s out here with all the developers that Clayton invited, and she’s been following me around trying to get in my pants since the day she got here. I have no interest in her. But I’m glad to see that you’re jealous of her; it means maybe you like me a little bit after all.”
    “I am not jealous!” Abigail squawked indignantly, but she sounded ridiculous, even to herself.
    “Either way.  We need to get married right now.”
    “No. Absolutely not. I am not fake-marrying you. Find somebody else. You’re a good looking millionaire. Any single girl in town would jump at the chance. Any single girl anywhere. You could even get them to sign a prenup protecting the ranch and all of your assets.”
    “Billionaire.” His lips quirked in a smile. “I could pay you.”
    “There is literally not enough money in the world to make me agree to a fake marriage. Take me back to town and pick up a new bride.”
    “It has to be you. I know that I can trust you. I know that you love this town and would fight to your last breath to preserve it. I know you don’t care about my money. Or me. But you care about the land.”
    “Are you not hearing me? I am not your only option.” Abigail felt dizzy; there wasn’t enough air in the tiny little cab of the truck. She threw open the door and stumbled out into the parking lot.
    Ty climbed out, following her. “I didn’t want to do it this way, but I’ll fight dirty if I have to. I’ve got you on videotape cutting the wire fence to my property and riding on to it.”
    She turned to stare at him, jaw dropping open.
    “What? Are you blackmailing me?”
    “Not at all. I’m just saying that you’ve been arrested for trespassing before. Twice. And got off with community service.”
    “One time it was to keep a chain store out of town, and another time it was to protest the hunting of feral horses!”
    He shrugged, looking as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “The judge probably won’t be as lenient the third time. And that would be really hard on your mother.”
    “You son of a bitch!”
    He turned to look at her, and his eyes had gone as hard as flint. “I can be one when I have to be, darlin’. After all I’ve got Jackson family blood in me.  I will stop at nothing to save this ranch and this town.”
    Furious, she raised her hand to slap him, and he grabbed her wrist and pinned it above her head. Before she knew it, he was pressed up against her, pushing her against the truck, and she found him plunging his lips on to hers, hot and hungry. And her mouth parted to accept him, and he kissed her with a ferocious intensity, tongue thrusting into her, claiming her as his own.
    Time seemed to slow, and she kissed him back, eagerly, pressing up against him and