Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

"That's right."

They'd just had another argument in the car-Yvonne was getting more and more annoyed the longer she thought about it. She kept pressing Xander for an

explanation, but he absolutely refused to give her one.

All he would say was, "My mom's on board. My brother's on board."

Excuse me, but wasn't it *Yvonne* helping him out here?

So he gets his brother's blessing, his mom's approval, but if *she* says no, suddenly he's threatening her? What kind of logic is that?

Yvonne was never one to just sit back and take it.

Naturally, it turned into a full-blown fight.

Now Xander had a few fresh scratches on his neck-and was that a bite mark? Yvonne rolled her eyes, not the least bit sorry.

"So, if all you need is a quick fix, why not just, I don't know, pay someone for a marriage contract?" Yvonne shot at him, arms folded.

He stared at her.

"I mean, seriously. Throw enough cash around, there are plenty of women who'd marry you for a few months."

She'd known a trust fund brat back in college-his family was breathing down his neck to settle down, but the woman he actually loved had been forced out of his life ages ago. He just tossed some cash at the problem and hired a stand-in bride to parade home for the holidays. Nothing real about it.

If Xander was in such a pinch, shouldn't he be doing the same?

Xander snorted at her suggestion. "I'm broke."

Yvonne blinked, incredulous. "Are you even listening to yourself right now?"

Before she could say more, Xander went on, "You really think women come cheap these days? You'd need at least a couple million just to get anyone halfway decent."

Yvonne gaped. "Wait, what? Wasn't it, like, half a million a few years ago?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You think it's still 2017?"

She had to admit, he had a point.

And as she remembered, that trust fund guy had shelled out five hundred grand to buy himself three years of a sham marriage. Didn't end well, either. The woman refused to divorce without a fight-turned out she was pregnant and ran off!

So much for 'no strings attached.' That one definitely got his money's worth, but as for the love of his life, who knew what place she held in his heart after all that.

"But, come on, you're the Schultz family's golden boy. Even if you're not in with them now, you didn't exactly leave empty-handed."

When he'd cut ties with the Schultzes, he'd taken plenty with him—his mom's share, a chunk of the company, the works.

Xander shrugged. "Lost it all. Happy?"

Yvonne stared. "Uh-huh."

She wasn't buying it, not for a second. She knew exactly what Xander owned in New York-he might have a taste for the high life, but he was no fool when it came to making money.noveldrama

Whatever. If he wanted to play the pauper, let him.

He smirked when she fell silent. "What's the matter? Worried you'll

have to stum it with me? Well,

newsflash: I might be broke, burnet

nover

Dan'seven worse off. He's so desperate he's marrying for resources."

Yvonne nearly choked. Seriously? Dragging Dan into this?

His own financial mess was one thing-no one was judging. But dragging someone else down with him? That was low.

"Whatever. Your wealth or lack thereof-has nothing to do with me. We're not tied together just because of some piece of paper. Dream on."

He gave her a wry look. "You sure know how to wash your hands of things."

She shot back, "Don't forget why we're even doing this. I'm helping you get out of a jam, and, yeah, maybe it'll get under Dan's skin' too. You're really getting everything you want here, aren't you?"

Xander couldn't help but grin at the fire in her voice, especially when she spat out Dan's name like a curse.

"Funny," he drawled, "sounds like you've got your own reasons for wanting to annoy Dan."

Yvonne glared. "And what if I do?"

God... Just thinking about it made her blood boil. She'd gone all the way to Chicago, only to catch Dan and Aira's engagement party in full swing.

To say it didn't get under her skin would be a lie.

Someone she'd carried in her heart for years—a man she thought was gone for good-turned up alive and well, throwing himself a big engagement party with another woman. Talk about a punch in the gut.