The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1) by KyAnn Waters, Tarah Scott

in.”
    Trent jarred. “Wanted in—as in ownership?”
    “Yes.” Tomas set his drink on the coffee table and met Trent’s gaze. “I know I can trust you not to repeat what I tell you, just as I won’t mention this conversation to anyone. But this is something I won’t even touch for After Hours .”
    The air almost vibrated around Trent, as if a fly tiptoed across his web.
    Trent nodded and Tomas said, “Luther has cancer. Not sure about the prognosis, but I’ve heard it doesn’t look good. He’s getting his affairs in order. Thus far, he’s managed to keep it out of the papers. If the paparazzi learn the truth, they’ll make his life impossible. I’m surprised he managed the last six months as CEO. But that’s why he finally accepted Ms. Fremont’s deal.”
    “ She approached him—” Trent did a quick calculation “—six months ago?”
    “Closer to seven,” Tomas said. “ The Journal just reported the merger, but they signed the contract almost three weeks ago.”
    Three weeks ago? Trent felt as if he’d taken a baseball bat to the stomach. A week after he’d learned of his grandfather’s illness. Mere days after he’d cried in Lindsey’s arms and asked her to marry him. He still remembered her slender arms around his waist and her whispered yes in response to his impromptu proposal, the warmth of her body when she pressed close—
    “From what I heard, she swooped in within a week of Luther’s diagnosis.” Tomas’ voice yanked Trent from the memory. “I find her timing too convenient.”
    Trent agreed.
    “Luther sold her Blood Silk two days before they signed the contract with Horizon .”
    Trent went cold. That meant it was Lindsey who signed on the dotted line. “ That wasn’t in The Journal .” He managed to keep an even voice.
    Tomas laughed. “ The Journal doesn’t know everything.”
    “No,” Trent said. “They don’t.”
    ***
    Trent opened the parlor door and halted at sight of Lindsey emerging from the short corridor that lead from the courtyard entrance. Her face lit with the beautiful smile he’d grown accustomed to seeing when their eyes met. She cried out and, in a flash of silver as light struck the sequined mini she wore, flew toward him. Trent froze. In the next instant, she threw herself into his arms with such joy that he almost wondered whether Tomas’s information wasn’t some horrible misunderstanding.
    She buried her face in his chest and an ache sawed through his heart like a dull knife. There was no misunderstanding. She owned a movie company and had signed a three-movie contract that would keep her overseas indefinitely. So much for marriage, family, hearth and home.
    How was he going to make it through this? How was he going to tell his grandfather that he wouldn’t live to see him married, much less have a child?
    Cold steel wound through him.
    “I missed you,” she said into his chest.
    She drew back and Trent quickly turned to face Tomas. “Lindsey, meet a friend of mine, Tomas Fierros. Tomas, Lindsay Fremont.” Trent watched for any hint of recognition in Lindsey’s eyes that Tomas was the owner and CEO of Broken Leg Media .
    She smiled and extended a hand. “Any friend of Trent’s is a friend of mine.”
    She didn’t know Tomas, wasn’t aware that Trent’s investments in Broken Leg Media had assured Tomas’s early success. They’d been friends at the university. Tomas needed capital to launch his empire and Trent had an empire ready to branch into new areas.
    Tomas accepted her hand and they shook. “Ms. Fremont. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He released her and shifted his gaze to Trent. “If you’ll excuse me, Trent, I think I’d better find my wife.”
    “Sure thing,” he replied. “And thank you. I really appreciate your help.”
    “Of course, I’m always here for you…for anything.”
    Tomas betrayed no reaction concerning the fact that Trent had asked for information related to the woman in his life, but Trent knew