Hannah sat in the plush interior of the small jet with her hands folded in her lap while her heart thundered in her ears. She learned long ago to keep her feelings off her face and out of her body language. A lady doesn’t get too excited. A lady doesn’t wear her emotions on her sleeve. A lady never slouches. Those were just a few of the countless admonishments she’d heard all her life. It seemed no matter what she’d done, it had never been right. At least according to her tutor. Her mother had been less restrictive, but only just. Every time Ms. Porter had reprimanded Hannah, whether for failing to pay attention to her lessons, or simply not sitting with the proper posture, Hannah’s mother would remind her she needed to do her best and make a good match. A few times her mother had said something along the lines of secure her future, but the words had meant nothing to Hannah at the time.

Now, they meant so much more.

The engine sound changed and Hannah’s heart leapt into her stomach. The pilot announced they would be landing soon and the ball of fear receded, but only some. The plane started a steep decent and Hannah looked outside, desperate for a distraction. A line of large buildings she knew was called The Strip stretched out below her and somehow looked smaller than she’d imagined. Maybe it was more impressive at night, when it was all lit up, but she didn’t know when she might find out. She didn’t even know where her groom lived, only that someone would meet her at the airport.

As the plane banked and tilted at an angle she was certain was way too steep, Hannah turned away from the window, closed her eyes and did her best to forget about where she was. She didn’t know much about her new husband, only that he wanted a wife with a good name and connections. That and his name, Justin Scarborough, had been all she’d been told.

Hannah flinched as the wheels touched the ground with a slight jerk. There. She was on the ground again, drawing her first comfortable breath since she’d taken off more than three hours earlier. She’d never cared much for flying and liked it even less since the crash that had taken the lives of her parents and James. It had taken more than she’d thought she’d had in her to board the tiny aircraft that morning. Now that she was on solid ground again, she didn’t want to fly again for a very long time, if ever.

Now that she could think again, she picked up the envelope she’d been handed by Ms. Creed the last time she’d seen the woman from the agency, two days before and held on to it. Hannah had read the contents twice. It seemed to be little more than a standard prenuptial agreement. There were stipulations granting her settlements, the value depending on how long the marriage lasted, provided she was not unfaithful. If it lasted under two years, no matter who ended it, she got nothing. The only exception was if Scarborough abused her.

The possibility hadn’t even occurred to her, but it had put her a bit at ease. She had no objections to the contract. She was just waiting to sign it in front of his witness.

She set the envelope aside again. Whatever, it didn’t matter. She didn’t plan on the marriage ending. She wasn’t looking for love, or happiness, just security. The only way to be sure of that was to make the marriage last. She had been trained to be a hostess, to manage a household, and take care of all the small things involved. In the last six months she’d learned exactly how useless that was. She’d also learned how far she as willing to go not to have to wonder where her next meal was coming from. With all her society connections she couldn’t make a living with the skills she had. There had only been one option left. To find someone to take care of her. Someone who valued what she could bring to the deal.

The plane taxied, making several turns before slowing to a stop. Hannah remained where she was long after the lone flight attendant went to the door and opened the hatch, fussing around in the back of the tiny aircraft for several minutes before leaving. Hannah stayed. She couldn’t make herself stand. Nor walk down the gang plank to her destiny. A few moments later the pilot opened the cabin door and emerged. Hannah recognized him because she’d met him briefly before they’d taken off. She remembered thinking he was shorter than she thought he would be.

“Are you all right, Miss Rockfort?” he asked.

“Fine.” She gave him a half-hearted smile. “I just need a moment.”

“A Mr. Scarborough wants to board and speak with you, is that all right?”

Hanna looked up at the uniformed man. She’d thought he knew why she was here, but from the way he spoke he didn’t seem know that she was here to marry Scarborough.

“Yes, it’s fine.” Her stomach flipped, and her heart thundered in her ears. She would finally get a look at the man she’d promised to marry. What if he was twice her age, or even three times? At this point it didn’t matter. She was committed. She would marry him. She just needed a moment.

The pilot disappeared back into the cockpit, making Hannah frown. Why didn’t he leave like the stewardess? Maybe he would be leaving again once she and her things were off the plane.

“Ms. Rockfort?”

A deep voice she didn’t recognize made her look up and keep looking up until her neck ached. Realizing this was likely her groom, she stood. He didn’t seem quite so tall from this angle. Judging from her own 5’6” well, 5’9” in her heels, then the man in front of her was over six feet, but not by much. And far closer to her own twenty-four years than she’d dared to hope. She guessed he was about thirty, no more than thirty-five. He wore slacks and a blazer over a white button-down shirt. Smooth skin peeked out from an open collar making her want to run her lips across it and see if it was as smooth as it looked. Where the hell had that thought come from?

“Yes. You’re Mr. Scarborough?”

“I am, but call me Justin. If things go well, we’ll be married all too soon. The formality seems a bit,” he paused, “unnecessary, don’t you agree?” His friendly smile made the knot in her stomach loosen and her nervousness ease.

She smiled back. “I can do that. I’m Hannah.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Hannah. Why don’t we have a seat?” He motioned to the seat she’d just vacated and the one beside it.

“Sure.” Hannah snatched the envelope she’d dropped there a few minutes earlier and held it in her lap as she resumed her seat.

The man she was contracted to marry took the seat beside her and her stomach flipped again. The faint musky scent of him stirred something deep inside her that nothing had ever touched before. She’d been attracted to men before, of course, but never before had the simple, clean scent of them pulled to her.

“The agency said you understand the terms, but I wanted to be sure for myself.” He watched her with what she thought was interest.

She recited to him, from memory the terms she’d signed for the agency. That she was here to marry him, his satisfaction was guaranteed, ending with, “I’m here of my own free will, I’ve not been coerced, and I’m willing to sign this as well.” She lifted the envelope in her lap. “I was just waiting to see if you wanted a witness.”

“I appreciate that, yes, a witness would be good.” Justin paused, watching her long enough she looked up and met his peridot gaze. “I thought we’d marry now. I considered bringing someone to perform the ceremony here, but decided you might like to change. There is a chapel at The Aussie we can use instead, if you are amenable.”

Hannah’s heart skipped a beat and the blood rushing through her head echoed in her ears.

“This marriage. Will it be true in every way?” She wasn’t able to keep the slight tremor from her voice.

He blinked then looked at her again. “Do you mean sex?”

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze while they spoke of such things. “I do.”

“It is my intention, though I won’t force you. I’m not into rape.” He fell silent for a moment, then spoke again. “I have no doubt you caught that I expect fidelity. I don’t ask for things I don’t intend to give.”

A weight settled in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t sure she was ready for this, but she didn’t have any other option. “All right.” She nodded, steeling herself to face the life she was committing herself to. She was attracted to him, at least on a physical level, and if he turned out to be a real asshole, she could avoid him as much as possible. A soft touch along her cheek startled her. She looked up to find him watching her, the back of one finger smoothing along her jaw.

“I won’t hurt you. Just give it a few days, you might find you like me.”

Hannah smiled. She hoped she could like him, but if he was likable and a good guy, then why resort to a mail-order bride?

“I’ll try.” She’d been so disappointed, so let down by her parents and those in their circle recently, she wasn’t sure she could trust him.

“We can sit here a while if you wish, or we can head back to The Aussie.”

The Aussie? That was an odd name for an estate, but some people were a bit eccentric. She’d learned not to question it. She might as well get it over with.