The Contract: Sunshine
Read The Contract: Sunshine Online
Authors: Shiree McCarver
The Contract:
Sunshine
Shiree McCarver
LuLu.com
Copyright© 2011 by Shiree McCarver
Published by LuLu.com
All rights reserved. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means -electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, locations, events and incidents (in either a contemporary and/or historical setting) are products of the author’s imagination and are being used in an imaginative manner as part of this work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, settings or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
First Edition
Manufactured in the United States of America
Cover Design by Shiree McCarver
Proofing: E. Gail Flowers
www.shireemccarver.com
Shifter Series:
FOREVER MOONLIGHT
A SATYR’S TALE: SELBY AND DARIUS
A SATYR’S TALE: ZAZA AND SYLUS
African Warrior Women Series:
THE LORD AND THE SCORPION
THE PRINCE AND THE PANTHER
Mary Christmas series:
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
ALL I WANT IS YOU
Others:
FLAVOR OF LOVE
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS: JAPANESE HOSTS-EROTIC ANTHOLOGY
ZOLA’S MAGIC TOUCH
THE CONTRACT
Obsidian Opus Vampire Series:
ETERNALLY I DO
Musicians in Love:
J-POP LOVE SONG
A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER
VISUAL-KEI ROCK STAR
Acknowledgements
e
ginnings.
Also, much appreciation to all those fans that told me over the past years how much you appreciate my one-of-a-kind—okay, wordy and sometimes outlandish—stories. I have also been paying a
t
tention to those of you who asked me to keep the Asian leading men coming and I hope I do not disappoint you in the future. I also have not forgotten those who have asked for continuations of certain characters or books. It may not happen as quickly as you would like, but I promise I have not forgotten those wonderful characters waiting for their stories to be told.
I am extremely touched by those who have written to me and told me how one of my books has affected a change in some way. There is no greater compliment to my work, I assure you, and know that I am equally influenced by all of you and the decisions I make in starting the next book. Thank you.
This is what I say to all of you: thank you for reading my stories; for investing in my dreams of being a pu
b
lished author and for your continued support.
Here’s to wishing we all become the heroines and heroes of our own romances!
Cheers,
Shiree McCarver
Welcome to my new
Contract
series.
This series of books will be about leading characters whose ro
m
ances didn’t start out in the most ideal ways. Most would like to believe that the day they met the love of their life, the day was sunny, the birds were chirping and the moment you saw each other, you just knew right from the start you were going to spend the rest of your lives together.
Okay, now that you’ve finished rewriting your romantic history with your partner into an ideal scene, it’s time to tell me how you really met and fell in love. Could it be you met your special other jogging and the smell you’ve come to love wasn’t so lovingly present when they accide
n
tally plowed you over on the sidewalk and shot a bird at you as the form of an apology you were expecting? Yeah, you’re remembering now, aren’t you?
The Contract: Sunshine
is the first book in the series. It’s impo
r
tant to note that each book in this series is a stand alone with one co
m
mon theme. Therefore, it’s not necessary to read them in any particular o
r
der.
Wishing you happiness and joy always!
Shiree McCarver
Mothers know best and sometimes fate needs a mother’s hand...
The Red Hat Society Charity Tea Party
“Well?”
“Well what?” The expensively dressed woman peered over the delicate herringbone china tea cup in her hand.
“Aren’t you glad I recommended my son’s investment firm?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I read in the financial news section that your corporation was close to getting the approval for an expansion into the Asian market,” the more petite in stature of the two elegantly clad ladies in red suits with their matching red and purple hats remarked.
“Yes, things seem to be going a lot quicker since I entrusted your son with the transaction.”
“Did you meet with him in person?”
“I did.”
“He’s a handsome boy, is he not?”
“He is indeed, but I was more impressed with his astute mind and great patience. I spoke of everything but business and not once did he steer things back to business. Actually, he seemed to be very interested in my family and our beginnings.” The darker of the two smiled and chuckled.
“Did you speak of your granddaughter to him?”
“Indeed I did,” she nodded.
“Did he get to see a picture of her?”
“Yes. However, I made sure it was one of her most unbecoming pictures.”
“What?” The other woman’s eyes narrowed. “Are you deliberately trying to sabotage this? I thought we both wanted the same thing? Have you changed your mind about getting your granddaughter to settle down?”
“I have not. However, I want my heir to be loved for who she is not because of her family and our wealth.”
Offended, the other woman said, “I assure you my son is by no means a pauper.” In a softer tone, she added, “His father and I made the mistake by forcing him to marry a woman that he did not love for all the wrong reasons. When it ended unhappily, it jaded my son of the idea of marriage.”
“I must say I was a little concerned seeing how he has been married before.”
“As I said, that was not his fault. He was being an obedient son, but unfortunately he also feels he’s done his duty to us by marrying the first girl. I can’t well order him to do so again with your granddaughter.”
“I wouldn’t ask it of you,” the woman said haughtily. “My granddaughter is a treasure. She’s not the prettiest in our lineage. However, she is good natured and tries hard to please.”
“Still, as much as I would like for my son to find someone to settle down with, it has to be the children’s decision. We can set up the chance meeting, but we can’t force them to notice each other.”
“True,” the woman sighed. She took another sip of tea and swallowed. “However, let’s do what we can and decide on the rest as it comes along.”
“Okay.”
“Be warned, I will not make it easy for your son. I must know he can think on his feet and not give up when things get tough. I have a few tests that I will be putting him through. Not only do I need a grandson-in-law that is good in business, I need to know my granddaughter’s happiness will be just as important to him as his own business.”
“That goes without a doubt,” she replied smoothing the hem of her silk dress over her knees as she crossed one pale slender leg over the over. “As long as you know I first must see it with my own eyes that your granddaughter can make my son happy. If she cannot, I will not allow this to go any further.”
“That girl has had her heart broken so many times because of her momma’s scheming. She almost married this man that was in it for a pay off.”
“It is difficult when your wealth is so obvious,” the woman sympathized.
“Since I paid him to get loss before she stupidly married him, she has been obsessed on learning every ‘wifely and motherly’ skill there is to know. I was hoping she would use all her energy learning the business but the girl just doesn’t have it in her.”
“I will give Leslie a call. With her in the picture, it will get my son feeling motivated and hopefully thinking about marriage,” the woman laughed softly.
“What if he falls for this Leslie person?”