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My marriage is self-destructing before my eyes. How can the woman I’ve loved for a lifetime have changed so much? I hardly recognize her anymore. Good thing I have Tripp Calhoun’s visit to lift my spirits. Who would have guessed that the troubled teenage gang banger who first showed up at the Hopechest Ranch would grow up to be a caring doctor? He’s done us all proud. He’s in Prosperino for business—and to attend the wedding of a former flame. Pride demands that he make an appearance, and he’s sweet-talked my daughter, Amber, into being his trophy date. Those two are so good at “pretending” that the sizzling electricity they generate is powerful enough to heat up the entire Hacienda de Alegria Estate! Too bad the hardheaded Tripp isn’t looking to settle down with a “pampered” Colton heiress. But come on, now. His true feelings are more transparent than Meredith’s totally inappropriate new wardrobe. And if I can see the writing on the wall, it’s just a matter of time before my savvy daughter does, too….
Two things Sandra Steffen loves are challenges and happy endings. What could be more challenging than throwing a spoiled heiress and a struggling young doctor with a chip on his shoulder together in a pretend engagement? That’s exactly what happens in The Trophy Wife. Sparks fly, tempers flare and of course love finds a way…or does it? This national bestselling author and winner of the 1994 National Readers’ Choice Award was up for the challenge and is immensely proud of Tripp and Amber’s story.
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She remembered the fight between Tripp and Peter Bradenton, and the chaos it caused. The Colton rule was: No fighting. Period. They could argue all they wanted, and had, but her parents simply did not allow fighting. Tripp was the only foster child to come through the ranks who broke the rule. And he did it the first week he was here. Her mother had heard the commotion and had come running. Without saying a word, she’d separated them. Still silent, she’d gotten Peter a towel for his bleeding nose, and Tripp an icepack for his hand. She sent Peter home, and Tripp to the stables to tell Joe. Amber had followed from a distance. When her dad had confronted Tripp about lying, she’d slunk out of the shadows and backed up Tripp’s story, saying that Peter took the first swing. She’d shaken beneath her father’s probing stare. In the end, he’d told Tripp to have Meredith take him to the doctor for X rays, and then sent them both back up to the house.
Tripp hadn’t said a word until they were well away from the stables. She’d expected a thank-you. Instead, he’d shoved his hair behind his ears, his lips curling with contempt as he said, “I don’t need anybody doing me any favors, least of all a scrawny, spoiled little rich girl like you.”
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