The Contractual Fiancée
Chapter Two
The Man Who Didn't Believe in Destiny
T he helicopter banked hard against the wind.
Snow whipped across the windshield in thick white ribbons as the rescue helicopter hovered over a granite cliff overlooking the sapphire waters of Lake Tahoe.
Below…
A stranded rock climber clung to a narrow ledge.
One mistake…
One loose grip…
One cruel gust of wind…
—and he would disappear into the canyon forever.
Rowan DeVille smiled.
“Well,” he muttered into his headset, “this beats sitting in traffic.”
His rescue partner, Kai Mendoza, shot him a look.
“You seriously joke at times like this?”
“I joke because I don’t want my mother to be right.”
“What did she say?”
“That one day I’d do something stupid.”
Kai snorted.
“Pretty sure dangling from helicopters qualifies.”
“It only qualifies if I fall.”
The rescue cable tightened.
Without another word, Rowan stepped off the helicopter.
For one impossible second…
He floated.
Then gravity claimed him.
The icy wind slammed against his chest as he descended toward the frightened climber.
“Easy,” Rowan called. “I’m here.”
The climber’s terrified eyes filled with relief.
“Oh, thank God.”
“No,” Rowan said, grinning. “My grandmother gets credit for that.”
The man blinked.
“What?”
“Long story.”
Within minutes, the rescue harness clicked into place.
“You married?” Rowan asked casually.
“What?”
“I asked if you’re married.”
The man nodded. “Thirty-two years.”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“So your wife can yell at you for doing something this dumb.”
Even through the panic, the climber laughed.
The tension broke.
Sometimes making people laugh saved them almost as much as the ropes.
Fifteen minutes later, both men stepped safely onto solid ground.
Applause erupted from the emergency crew.
Someone slapped Rowan on the shoulder.
Another handed him a bottle of water.
A little boy ran up clutching a notebook.
“Mr. DeVille?”
Rowan knelt.
“What’s your name?”
“Ethan.”
“You going to be a mountain rescuer someday?”
The little boy nodded enthusiastically.
“No,” Rowan said.
The child frowned.
“I think you’ll be better.”
Rowan signed the notebook.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
He ignored it.
It buzzed again.
Kai looked over.
“You going to answer that?”
“Nope.”
“It might be important.”
“If it’s important, they’ll leave a message.”
The phone buzzed a third time.
Kai laughed.
“Whoever that is… they’re persistent.”
Rowan sighed dramatically.
“Fine.”
He answered.
“This is Rowan.”
A warm woman’s voice greeted him.
“Good afternoon, Mr. DeVille. My name is Glenda D’Goodwrench-Jackson.”
Rowan frowned.
“I’m sorry. Have we met?”
“No. But your grandmother knew mine.”
“Okay…”
“And Queen Califia knew them both.”
Rowan looked toward Kai.
Kai mouthed:
Telemarketer?
Rowan shrugged.
“I’m afraid you have the wrong number.”
“No,” Glenda said softly. “I have waited twenty-nine years for this conversation.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Lady, I just rappelled off a helicopter. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
“I’m afraid your excitement is only beginning.”
“Is this about insurance?”
“No.”
“Taxes?”
“No.”
“A lawsuit?”
“No.”
“Then I’m out of guesses.”
Glenda chuckled.
“You’ve inherited something.”
Rowan laughed.
“My grandfather left me fishing poles. My father left me old trucks. My mother left me anxiety. What exactly did I inherit now?”
Silence.
Then Glenda answered.
“A fiancée.”
Rowan stopped walking.
“Come again?”
“A contractual fiancée.”
Kai nearly choked on his bottled water.
Rowan covered the phone.
“I think someone is pranking me.”
Kai grinned.
“This is already the best day ever.”
Rowan uncovered the phone.
“I don’t even have a girlfriend.”
“I know.”
“You have an heiress.”
“I don’t want an heiress.”
“You haven’t met her.”
“I’m not planning to.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to.”
“And why is that?”
“Because without both signatures… the Trust dies.”
Rowan sighed.
“What trust?”
“The Living Veil.”
He closed his eyes.
“That sounds incredibly fake.”
“It isn’t.”
“And who exactly is this mystery woman?”
Glenda smiled through the phone.
“You’ll like this part.”
“I doubt it.”
“She’s an archivist.”
“Oh.”
“She likes history.”
“Oh.”
“She dislikes risk.”
“Oh.”
“She has never jumped out of a helicopter.”
“Smart woman.”
“And she already thinks you’re impossible.”
Rowan laughed.
“She’s probably right.”
His phone chimed.
A photograph appeared.
A woman.
Dark hair.
Intelligent eyes.
Standing inside an archive surrounded by ancient manuscripts.
She wasn’t smiling.
She looked like someone who trusted books more than people.
Olivia Jackson
Your Contractual Fiancée
Rowan stared longer than he intended.
Kai leaned over his shoulder.
“Dang.”
Rowan looked up.
“What?”
“I think you’re in trouble.”
“Why?”
Kai grinned.
“Because she’s beautiful… and she already looks annoyed with you.”
Rowan laughed.
For the first time all day…
He couldn’t seem to look away from her photograph.
Then his phone vibrated one last time.
A new message appeared.
She already knows about you.
Rowan smiled.
“Oh…”
“This should be interesting.”
✨ To Be Continued... ✨
Tomorrow in Chapter Three...
Olivia has already decided Rowan DeVille is reckless, arrogant, and exactly the kind of man she intends to avoid.
Unfortunately, fate has reserved only one room at the mountain lodge.
💕 If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow along for the next chapter of The Contractual Fiancée.
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