The Billionaire’s Bidding

work through the maze of mortgages, letters of credit and personal guarantees signed by her father.

Her chest tingled and tightened. Why, oh, why did her father have to die so young? She missed him desperately. And she’d counted on having his guidance for decades to come.

“Ms. McKinley?”

“Why do you even want McKinley Inns?”

Garrison Hotels had dozens of properties, bigger, more opulent facilities. McKinley occupied a small, high-end niche, where Garrison could compete with any luxury hotel chain in the world.

“You’re joking, right?”

She shook her head.

“Like anyone, I want to expand. And you’re an opportunity.”

“And you don’t care who gets trampled in the process?”

The man’s reputation was well and truly deserved. Though his press coverage had become more flattering over the past months, Emma wasn’t fooled. He was a coldhearted takeover artist who profited from other people’s misfortune.

He took another step forward and crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t think Katie made the situation clear. I’m the one doing you a favor.”

Emma’s spine snapped straight. She tipped her chin to look him in the eyes. “By marrying my sister and taking over our company?”

“By saving your company from bankruptcy. You’re insolvent, Ms. McKinley. If I don’t take you out, somebody else will. That’s the way capitalism works.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

A cold grin flexed one side of his mouth. “Way I see it, this is a win-win.”

“The way I see it, this is a lose-lose.”

“That’s because you’re idealistic and impractical.”

“At least I have a soul.”

He shifted his stance. “Last time I checked, a soul wasn’t a requirement for a business license in the state of New York.”

“She will not marry you.”

“Did she explain the deal?”

Yes, Katie had explained the deal. Alex wanted their company. But he’d spent thousands of dollars over the last two years improving his image, and he was afraid of negative publicity from preying on two newly bereaved sisters.

Oh, he still wanted to prey on them. He just didn’t want anybody to know about it. Hence the cover of marriage and all the joyous goodwill that would go with it.

“She told me,” said Emma tightly.

“Then you know you’ll keep half the company.” His impassive expression turned to a scowl. “And I’m crazy for offering you that much.”

“You actually expect to buy a bride.”

“At that price. Yeah.”

Emma honestly didn’t know what to say.

“Are we done?” he asked.

Were they done? What did she do now? Make a hollow threat? Storm out the door? Swear he’d never get his hands on her precious inns when they both knew that’s exactly what he would do?

He seemed to sense her hesitation. “Nobody gets hurt,” he said. “The publicity will help us both. The press will go nuts over the merging of two great hotel families. We’ll feed the story to female reporters, who’ll get all misty- eyed at-”

She raked her bangs back from her forehead. “Are you listening to yourself?”

He blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t find that plan just a little cold-blooded?”

“Like I said, nobody gets hurt.”

“What about Katie? What about David?”

“Who’s David?”

“Her boyfriend. The sweet, gentle caring young man she’s been dating for six months. He’ll be heartbroken and humiliated.”

Alex paused. For a second she thought she saw an actual emotion pass through his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by hard gloss slate once again. “David will get over it. He can marry her later, when she’s worth a lot more money.”

Emma opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

“What about you?” Alex asked into the silence.

“I’m pretty upset,” she answered, in the understatement of the century.

He rolled his eyes. “Your emotional state is irrelevant. Do you have a steady boyfriend?”

“No.” And what did that have to do with anything?

“Problem solved.”

“Huh?”

“You marry me.”

Emma reached out to grip the back of a leather chair, afraid she might lose it right there. “What?”

Alex stood there, looking for all the world like a rational person, while tossing out the most outrageous proposal she’d heard in her life. Marry him? Marry him?

“It doesn’t really matter which sister,” he continued without a thread of emotion in his voice. “I only picked Katie because she’s-”

“The pretty one,” Emma finished, straightening away from the chair and squaring her shoulders. For some reason it killed her to have him of all people say it out loud. Not that everybody didn’t think it. It was just that Alex cut to the heart of the issue with such dispassionate accuracy, that it hurt more than usual.

“That’s not-”

“I am not marrying you, and Katie is not marrying you.”

Alex’s voice took on a soft warning note. “Option three is calling your loan. Then you get nothing.”

Emma tightened her arm on her shoulder bag. “Option three is me working out the finances first thing tomorrow morning.”

His mouth crooked in another half smile. “In that case, I’ll leave my offer open for twenty-four hours.”

She turned and stalked toward a side door. Her exit was all bluff and bravado, and they both knew it. For that alone, she’d never forgive him.

“No need, Mr. Garrison,” she said tightly.

“Under the circumstances,” he rumbled behind her, as she reached for the handle and twisted.

“You might want to call me Alex…Emma.”

She didn’t turn back, but her name on his lips sent a shiver up her spine.

Two hours later, the office door closed behind the Rockwell brothers, and Ryan Hayes turned his stare on Alex. “I assume you nailed down the details with her?”

Alex closed the top manila folder, carefully straightening the pile on the polished tabletop in front of him. “Not quite.”

Ryan narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean not quite?”

Alex sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing a fingertip across his temple. Gunter’s plan was looking more ridiculous by the minute. “I mean, the details aren’t nailed down yet.”

“But you are getting married.”

“I’m trying,” Alex snapped.

Ryan shook an admonishing finger. “You are not touching McKinley Inns without a bona fide McKinley bride on your arm. Jeez, Alex, they’ll crucify us in the press.”

Alex gritted his teeth. He’d turned this thing over in his mind a thousand different ways. If it was up to him, he’d call the loan right now and take over the damn company. This was business, not a day care for dilettantes.