Trina wrapped Dane’s big leather jacket tighter around her. If she had known the man lived in a cooler, she would have brought warmer clothes despite the spring-like temperatures outside.

"I apologize for the chilly temperatures, but my blood runs hotter than humans," he said, looking at her from across the small table. "I've adjusted the temperature so that you're comfortable."

"Thanks."

After what they'd done, she could barely look him in the eye. He had some type of pull on her and the only explanation she could muster was that he had imprinted on her from that one round of amazing sex. After her shower, no matter how far away from Dane in the house she was, she still smelled of him.

"I had a phone call come up while you were in the bath," he said. "Now that I've got that out of the way…do you still want to do this?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "Our business together is still business. The sex was…" she cleared her throat "…part of the unfinished business. Let's move on like business partners. About the money…?"

Dane Magnus gave a devilish grin and slid a check across the granite table and under her palm. "First installment delivered today. I've signed it already. Your endorsement means you agree to the terms of our arrangement. Second installment will be delivered on day one of week three. Third installment delivered upon confirmation of the marriage dissolution."

The money was enough to pay the deposit on her dad's surgery. The last two installments would pay the balance and leave some to catch up on bills with. It was just enough to get her and her dad back on their feet.

"We haven't even talked specifics yet."

"What exactly would you like to talk about?"

Dane sat back in his chair, lifting a glass of ice-cold water to his lips. He gulped the water down in just a few short seconds. She watched as his Adam's apple moved against his throat with each swallow.

Something else weighed heavily in Trina's mind. Dane Magnus was no human. He was a shifter, inside and out, in the guise of a man. Why would a shifter do something like this?

"What's in this for you?"

He shrugged. "Why does that matter? I'm offering you a lump sum of money to be my wife for six weeks and three days."

"How do we end the marriage at the end of the term?"

He smiled. "I have three separate lawyers lined up ready to earn their retainers."

At least he wasn't trying to trap her into a long-term marriage that she obviously wasn't ready for. The short-term arrangement made the deal more favorable for her. She didn't need all the trouble of a needy man down her back when she had a parent to care for and a business to run.

"Why did you have to put up an ad? Why not reach out to a nice shifter lady?"

"I was looking for a specific type of woman."

She raised her brows. "And I'm that type of woman?"

"You're not a shifter. And you've just made it clear that you won't renege prematurely."

"It wouldn't make strategic sense. You just said the last installment is paid out when the marriage is considered dissolved. If I go through with this, I expect to be paid what we agreed on."

"A woman who talks strategy." Dane grinned. "No wonder you graduated in the top ten percent of your class in business school."

"So then, tell me. Obviously, I’m getting the money, but what's in this for you, Dane?"

He looked at her sheepishly. "A beautiful human wife for six weeks."

"Do I look like a dummy to you?" She stared out at him from under her lashes. "You think I would believe you have so much trouble finding a temporary wife with your good looks and the amount of money you're offering?"

"I'm picky."

"Won't you answer my question?"

Dane shifted in his seat and the corners of his lips twitched downward in a frown. "I'm a shifter. And as you know, we're not entitled to certain things."

"I'm fully aware of the inequalities in the law for the shifter species," she said.

When shifters were first discovered just decades ago, half of the world revolted in chaos and the other half sided with them. Animal activists group came out of the woodworks fighting for the rights of the wolves even when they could clearly fight for themselves. These weren't just wolves; they had the ability to take the form of human and animal at will. This ability to shift didn't sit right with everyone and struck fear in some humans. But apparently, the shifter species had been living in secrecy for centuries without causing trouble.

Back then, the government only hoped that the public outing wouldn't create mass problems. For the most part, they found this to be true when the shifters were given their space and privacy. Inside the packs, they were governed by shifter laws, but on human territory, they were held to abide by human laws. All the laws were said to be applied the same, but somehow the rights were never laid out equally. So Trina could understand Dane's statement.

"What certain things are you referring to?" she asked.

"I'm a half-blood, but I'm a wolf shifter nonetheless. My mother was a human. My father, a full-blood shifter. When they passed on, the will they began was never fully endorsed or recognized by the human courts so now I'm being challenged for the land and home that once belonged to my mother."

"This home?" Trina looked around at her surroundings. They'd met in what looked like his study or a home office. It was spacious, just like the rest of the house, with the bare minimum—desk, chairs, bookcases. Almost no clutter at all.

"No, this land I refer to is farther west. Near the mountains," he said. "The estate here is where I stay when I conduct business not related to the pack."

Pack. So he belonged to a wolf pack. From what she'd heard, most shifters were loners that never identified with a pack. Some humans were threatened by the wolves' ability to run together and form their own unions and alliances. They feared that one day the wolf packs would rise up against them. After all, one of the goals of a wolf pack was to multiply in numbers and expand territories.

"And where do you conduct business related to your pack?"

"At my pack home," he answered bluntly.

"So let me see if I got this right. You need to marry a human to get your mother's land back?"

Dane cocked his head to one side. "Right. The property won't be deemed shifter territory until I do so."

"So what happens after six weeks? You take our marriage papers to the courts?"

"Exactly. When we are legally married, that will freeze any ongoing proceedings threatening my claim. Once the papers are finalized, my mother's land will be safe from government seizure. You and I own the land on paper for six weeks. After six weeks is up, we will dissolve the marriage and you will release all rights to me. The land will then become territory of the Aspen Valley Pack as it should be."

"You've got this all planned out perfectly. What's your Plan B if things don't happen that way?"

He bit his bottom lip. "This is the only way to get my mother's land back. I will make it work. A Plan B would mean I've failed to gain my territory."

"This is a very underhanded deal? What if the authorities find out?"

"They will only find out if you tell them," he said. "That's why it has to look like a real marriage for the next six weeks."

"There's danger involved with this. I can go to jail for aiding and abetting this type of thing."

He grinned. "Well, something tells me there's a story behind why you'd reply to an ad like this."

She swallowed. "I need the money. And I need it quickly."

"For?"

"My dad's surgery. We have no health insurance and medical bills never disappear fast enough. I get us in the green and something comes up unexpected related to his care and we're deep in the red zone again—like now." She shook her head. "I shouldn't be telling you all of this."

Dane sat up in his chair. "But your background shows that you have a Ph.D. What happened?"

"I left a six-figure job as a marketing executive in Manhattan to come back home to take care of my dad. I lost my mother to the same car accident that crippled my father. Although he made it out alive, he'll wear prosthetics for the rest of his life. Both legs have already been fully amputated. Once there's enough money, we'll go ahead with his surgery for customized prosthetics. It's not a one-time deal at all. After the initial surgery, there will be many follow-ups for maintenance and replacements."

His brows had furrowed. "I'm sorry about your loss. I'm no stranger to death of parents…"

"So you understand that I just want this six weeks over with quickly so that I can collect the money and pay for my dad's surgery. It will give him some comfort in his everyday activities and quality of life and will give me piece of mind. I understand the risks, but like you, I want to keep this marriage as low key as possible from the public eye."

He nodded. "We're on the same page it seems."

"I'll need this to cover the deposit." She grabbed the check off the table. "When can we get this over with? The marriage, I mean?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Huh?" Trina hadn't expected it to be so soon, so his answer surprised her to the point where she was no on the edge of her seat. "As in tomorrow tomorrow…?"

Dane lifted his wrist and glanced at his watch. "In twenty-two hours from now."

"I guess, but I'll have to get things in order at my dry cleaning business."

"Already taken care off. I have two young interns in their early twenties who would love to learn the ins and outs of running a local business. If you lend them your trust, they will operate your business for the duration of this arrangement. I will pay them double what you would normally offer for part-time work."

Trina's mouth fell open. "You were serious about doing research on me, weren't you?"

"Very serious. I made some arrangements while you were in the shower."

She narrowed her eyes. "My father…"

"I knew you were still living with what looked like an older gentleman. I figured he was your father, but you confirmed that today."

"And he needs my help. And that's what we need to discuss now. I can't leave him home alone for too long."

"No discussion needed. While you are my wife, you will remain under my protection and act as such. I'll make a quick call and we can set up round-the-clock care for your father right here. However, you will remain with me at another location during the duration of our marriage."

"Are you crazy?" This part of the deal had never been discussed.

"I'm not crazy. As you witnessed, there is some danger involved in being the wife of a shifter. I can't have you exposed and at risk. I have a Plan A. That is all and I don't plan to deviate. Do you understand?"

What would she tell her father? She hadn't told him a word about signing up to be a temporary wife of a shifter just so she could earn all the money to take care of his surgery and medical bills.

"I…"

"Six weeks. Three days. Is all I'm asking."

Dane Magnus had backed her into a corner. She wondered what he did for a living because he'd just literally turned the tables on her. She would have to give up more of her freedom than she thought.

Six weeks. Three days.

"So…" He leaned forward.

"How do I know you're not some serial killer on the loose?"

"You had no problems accepting my cock in that sweet pussy of yours with these suspicions." He smirked. "And if that was the case, I would have been arrested that night when I bit the arm of the man who held up that nightclub."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a very candid bastard?" Trina wanted to punch Dane and kiss him at the same time. What was wrong with her?

"Why yes, as a matter of fact, I've been called both of those names." His voice sounded like a deep bass, and as he spoke he assessed her with a dark teasing stare. "I should warn you that I am not popular with your human government. I'm…how can I say this…active for the rights of shifters."

Trina couldn't blame him for fighting for what he believed him and for a group of which he obviously belonged.

"Since there is risk…" A warm sensation crept up her spine and she shifted in her seat. "…pay me all the money up front and you've got yourself a deal."

"Whoa…"

"You want me locked away in a secreted location with a ball and chain around my ankle. I need some reassurance that I get paid in the case that your Plan A doesn't work because you said it yourself…you don't have a Plan B."

Trina smiled sweetly.

Dane rested in his chair and remained silent for several moments before he opened a drawer. He pulled out a blank check and began writing the details on it with the full amount of payment. After signing it, he slid it over to the table at her. "Deal."

"Then you've got yourself a human wife."