Read Their Virgin Concubine, Masters of Ménage, Book 3 for Free Online

he would pay her well. Love would be dangerous, and Piper was too smart to expect romantic gestures. Theirs would be a marriage of minds. If she wanted anything more, she would have to look to his brothers.
    “Who is this Piper woman?” Alea asked, peering at the file on his desk between them.
    Damn. So much for keeping her a secret until he and his brothers reached a final conclusion. “She’s a woman I’m vetting as a potential wife.”
    Alea flipped the folder open and scanned, her mouth turning down. “An American?”
    “Yes. She is from Texas.”
    Alea gave an amused huff of a laugh. “Good, cousin. Perhaps she will come with her six-shooters and teach you a thing or two.” She sobered. “Do you like her?”
    “I like her very much actually.” He often found himself smiling at their conversations. Her soft, Southern voice alone was adorable.
    But would that be enough upon which to base a marriage? Tal worried a bit that she hadn’t seen his face, nor he hers, really. All he had of her after a rushed investigation was a grainy driver’s license photo that was nearly five years old and a high school yearbook photo. Piper was young; he knew that. But after several months of conversation, Tal was convinced that she was mature beyond her years. Intellectual interests mattered to her. She had a solid moral character and a very big heart. She would make an excellent mother someday. All admirable qualities, of course, but nothing to truly tempt his heart and make her someone his enemies could use to weaken him.
    That made her perfect.
    “I’m glad, Tal. I hope Rafe and Kade don’t shoot you down. They were right about that ambassador’s daughter, though. She was completely selfish. She would have been a terrible mother. And the Swedish girl had the most obnoxious laugh. The press would have crucified her. The Miss America contestant was polished and would have played well with the press, but she lacked heart.” She shrugged. “You’ve had a tough bride hunt.”
    Indeed, something had been wrong with every candidate, and Rafe and Kade hadn’t been shy about saying so. They’d had valid points, but if they could not collectively settle on a single bride soon, their country would be in ruins. He prayed that his brothers could look past Piper’s sensible façade and see the wisdom of his unusual choice.
    His computer trilled, a satellite call coming in. He steeled himself. He was about to find out if his idea of bringing a smart, economically intelligent Western woman into his family would fly. He hit the button to answer the call, not bothering to shoo Alea away. She wouldn’t spread gossip. In fact, Alea would be instrumental in preparing any prospective bride he brought to Bezakistan for the ceremonies.
    His brothers’ faces came into view, and Tal skipped the greeting. “Did you talk to Dex? Did he give you the information you needed?”
    He’d sent them to Dex, hoping that if the James brothers got behind the match, it would make securing Piper’s agreement simpler. Getting her out of the country would prove less difficult if her employer colluded with them. And Dex would be able to talk more personally about Piper, in a way Rafe and Kade would be sympathetic to. If they took the time to ask a trusted friend about her, perhaps they’d be curious enough to meet her with an open mind. Tal didn’t need Dex’s information. He knew everything of merit about Piper, right down to how often she bought groceries. Which wasn’t often enough. Piper was hurting for money, and Tal consoled himself with the fact that, if his brothers approved of her and they changed her life, at least he could remove all financial burden from her.
    Rafe nodded. “He did. In fact, we met her for ourselves, and Dex confirmed everything we observed. We took her to lunch and discovered that she is a very kind and intelligent woman. When can we move forward?”
    Tal sat back in his seat. “You don’t intend to fight me on