The Marriage Bargain. Susan Fox P.

than usual.

      The sidewalks were crowded with gamblers and vacationers eager for the nightlife of Las Vegas. The whole town was light and energy and excitement, but none of it touched her.

      If the circumstances of their visit hadn’t been so serious, she might have enjoyed going into a casino, maybe trying her luck at a game of chance, to at least see what the attraction was. But the knowledge that she’d just married a man to get a ranch, and that, in essence, she was betting her grandfather would die before he found out, made her feel heartless and mercenary.

      It didn’t matter to her conscience that Hank had barely tolerated her, that there were times when he’d been unbearably cruel. He was her grandfather. Whether that had ever meant anything to him or not, it had meant something to her. Which was why his treatment of her all these years had so wounded her, and had possibly influenced this disloyal act.

      They arrived back at their hotel. Wes paid the driver and they got out to walk into the hotel and cross the lobby to the elevators. When one arrived, they stood aside as the passengers got off.

      The last three passengers who stepped out were older women. One of them glanced at Wes and gave a startled look.

      “Why, Wes Lansing. What a surprise! And—” she looked at Hallie with great interest “—who’s this lovely young woman?”

      In the next second, the woman’s gaze dropped to the hat that Hallie carried in her left hand, and her face showed fresh surprise as she eyed the rings.

      “My goodness, Wes, is this your bride?”