by Nikki Bloom
He eased the Range Rover into a parking space before we both got out, walking to the coffee shop in contemplative silence.
“Damn.”
I looked at Morgan. “What?”
“I was just thinking about what Leyland asked you to do. That’s some crazy shit, huh?”
“Yeah, I mean,” I started with a shrug, feeling a bit embarrassed. “It’s not like I don’t want a family or to fall in love – it’s just that…”
“It’s hard finding someone who can match your energy?” Morgan finished for me.
“Exactly. I mean, you mentioned Lady Sanders? She has no clue about life, you know? I come from the school of Hard Knocks. I’m different than these rich kids I hang out with. It’s not easy to connect.”
“Mmm,” Morgan responded, looking thoughtful. “But you know that you don’t have to confine yourself to that circle.”
I laughed sardonically because Morgan knew better. “Yeah, well, all I know are socialites and bikers.”
We stepped into the shop, Morgan in front of me, and then he suddenly stopped short as if in surprise. “Hey!” he exclaimed, sounding pleasantly surprised.
I craned my neck to see over his shoulder and couldn’t quite suppress the groan that resulted when I saw his sister. The first time I saw her, I must admit, she’d taken my breath away. The pale skinned, slightly freckled, cute-button-nosed elfin face, framed by soft, shiny-looking brown hair, asymmetrically curled cozily against her cheek. The cat eyes, like Morgan, and appearing just as curious and guarded as his. Everything came together to give the impression of ethereal delicacy.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
She was hard as nails and as hostile as a nest of murder hornets.
2
Nicolette
I eventually fell sleep at around four in the morning, which meant I slept in on Sunday. It resulted in that weird hangover that happens when you’ve slept both too much yet not enough.
Coffee was called for.
The Baby Shack was my favorite coffee shop in Brooklyn. They didn’t try to do trendy things, but were all about cozy comfort, and they always remembered my order to precise perfection, every time. Given that I didn’t want to talk much when I’d just woken up, we were a match made in coffee heaven.
“Hi, Nicolette! Good to see you. What can I get you today?” The perky barista, whose name I didn’t know, smiled at me. Thank heavens for name tags.
I summoned the closest facsimile of a smile that I could, hoping it would do. “Hi, Judy. Good to see you too. How is your day going?”
“Great!” She looked like she wanted to skip at my words, her face lit up like the sun. I could never work retail; being endlessly pleasant would kill me.
“I’m glad to hear that. May I have a white coffee with cream and two sugars?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Right away.”
I moved to the side to make room for the next client, tapping my fingers against the counter. Picking up the free newspaper, I skimmed through it as Judy went about making my coffee. Same old, same old; lots of shitty things happening. I pushed the paper aside and fished out my phone instead. When real life got too much, I could always rely on fanfiction to escape. Thumbing open the Daenerys and Khal Drogo fic I was in the middle of, I sighed with content and began to read. There is no such thing as too much of ‘the moon of my life’ and ‘my sun and stars.’
So absorbed was I in my Game of Thrones story that I didn’t hear Judy call my name until she rapped on the counter in front of me. “Coffee’s ready!” Her luminescent personality was still very much in effect and I wondered if she was battery-powered or all this was natural.
Somehow, I managed a dimmer version of her effervescence. “Thank you.”
“Would you like some pie to go with that? Perhaps a delicious piece of chocolate fudge cake?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. Get thee behind me, Satan!
Feeling my mouth water at the suggestion of all that creamy, sweet goodness melting on my tongue, all I could say was, “Er…”
A familiar voice called my name, loud and surprised, and I whirled around with a cocked eyebrow to see my brother standing behind me.
“Hey, you.” I said. “What are you doing here?”
He pointed his thumb behind him. “We were just getting some coffee after clocking in some overtime. You?”
I leaned to the side so I could see behind him. He was with the douche bag who ruled his life. Domenic Cliff - the devil Morgan had sold his soul to. I totally did not understand the hold this man had on my brother.
“Hey,” Domenic said to me and waved as if we were friends or something. He smiled, brilliant blue eyes fixed on me.
I nodded stiffly because I’m not rude. Morgan looked from me to Domenic with a tired sigh. “Why can’t you two just get along?”
I favored him with bitch face number five, before stepping around them. I still had no coffee in me, so I wasn’t in the mood to talk. “Bye, bro, I’ll see you later.”
Morgan reached out a hand to stop me. “Hey! Where are you going?”
“Home?” I gave him a wide-eyed look at his obtuseness. Where else would I be going dressed in sweatpants and an old t-shirt? Let’s not even talk about the crocs on my feet. Morgan kept his hand on mine.
“Stay awhile. Let’s visit. I haven’t seen you all week.”
“Yes, that’s because you’ve been working all hours.” I flicked an accusatory glance at his boss, which he totally ignored.
Typical.
“Yeah, so anyway, I’m free now and so are you.”
“Free?” I said, staring at Domenic. In my experience, your boss didn’t follow you around when you weren’t working.
“Yeah, free. Let’s sit together. Hang on while I get us some coffees. Y’all go and snag us some seating space.” He propelled me towards his boss and much as I tried to resist, he was much stronger than me.
Domenic smirked, turning around to lead me to one of the outside tables and presenting me with a view of his ass. Not that I was trying to look or anything, but it was right there, encased in form-fitting grey slacks.
He favored suits that lovingly adhered to the line of his sleek, tall, broad-shouldered, slim-hipped, long-legged silhouette. Conceited bastard that he was, he knew how sexy he looked. It was one of the most annoying things about him. Always so well turned out and here I was in my crocs.
The wind ruffled through his longish black hair, making it even more artfully tousled than it had been before. God, why did everything about him have to be so perfect? We had our choice of sidewalk seating as most people chose to stay out of the windy weather. Domenic pulled out a chair for me, his eyes expectant.
I snorted, pulled out another chair for myself, and sat down. Sighing loudly and rolling his eyes, he sat in the chair he’d pulled out. His shiny electric blue shirt was open at the collar which left the Greek-lettered tattoo on his throat visible. It was the only thing that shattered the image of straight-laced executive he liked to project. That and the five-o-clock shadow along his strong jaw. Damn him anyway for being so uncompromisingly attractive.
“So…” he began.
I narrowed my eyes warningly.
“Would this be a good time to find out why you don’t like me so much?”
My lips twisted. “It’s not really mandatory for people to like you, you do know that?”
“Yeah, but what with having Morgan in common, I thought we could at least try to get along.”
My brow furrowed. “Are you threatening me?”
His ultramarine eyes widened and he reared back as if I’d slapped him. “Why would you say that?”
“You told me we need to get along because of my brother. Are you gonna fire him if I’m not pleasant to you?”
“For Pete’s sake!” He threw up his hands as if I was the problem. “I was merely saying we could try a little harder to get along. Why are you so suspicious of me?”
“Why do y
ou have my brother on such a short leash?”
He threw back his head and laughed as if I’d said the funniest thing on earth. Then he leaned forward, favoring me with the full Domenic Cliff Blue Eyes of Doom. “He’s my head of security. It’s his job to be near me,” he said slowly as if I was special or something.
I mean I’m not dumb. I know what my brother does for this guy. I also know there’s more to Domenic Cliff than meets the eye. I just want to know how deep he has my brother in his shit. “Really? And what’s he keeping you so secure from anyway? Angry exes?”
He shrugged nonchalantly, massive shoulders moving under Armani with a fluidity that said he was quite capable of crushing anyone who got in his way. Hell, he was more jacked than Morgan was. He did not look like a man who needed a personal bodyguard.
“Do you have some objection to your brother’s job or is it just me you don’t like him working for?”
“This isn’t a job. He works for you; he lives with you… it’s a cult.”
“I’m sorry if you don’t have any friends, so you might not know this, but when people like each other, sometimes they just hang out without having to be paid to do so.”
Okay. That stung.
He’s right. I don’t have many friends. Doesn’t mean I can’t spot a dysfunctional relationship when I see one. Willing the heat away from my cheeks, I looked away, pursing my lips.
“Hey…” his voice was soft, apologetic. I forced myself to look back at him because I didn’t want him to think he’d hurt my feelings. “I’m sor-”
“Can the fake concern. I ain’t buying it.”
Morgan took a seat between us, already frowning at me. He placed a slice of cake in front of me; the bastard. “Nico…” He said my name like an admonishment and I scoffed under my breath. Domenic sure had my brother under his thumb.
“What? It’s true though.” I forked a large piece of chocolate heaven and put it in my mouth, savoring the taste with my eyes closed.
“Nico, could I ask you a favor?”
I didn’t want to be difficult. Honestly, I didn’t. But this never-ending campaign of my brother’s to get me and Domenic to get along was old. Why couldn’t we just agree to disagree on everything?
I opened my eyes and gave him a long sidelong glance. “What is it?”
“We’ve had a long day. It’s Sunday, and we just came from the office. Can we all get along for five minutes, so I can relax?”
Of course, he had to make me feel bad. I subsided in my chair, too high on chocolate goodness to really maintain my high dudgeon. “Okay then.”
“Great.” He put his elbows on the table and leaned confidingly towards me. “So boss man here has got to find a bride-to-be by like, week’s end. Someone respectable, kind, loving… do you happen to know anyone like that?”
“What-?”
“Dude-!”
Domenic and I spoke at the same time, my face paling while his went all red. Morgan grinned evilly at us both.
“What?” He looked at Domenic with wide eyes, spreading his hands out innocently. “She’s a respectable girl. Might know other respectable girls. I thought I’d ask.”
“Why do you need a respectable bride? Are you recruiting more members for your cult?” Maybe my voice held a bit more snark than was called for. What can I say? That took me by surprise. The thought of Domenic snaring some innocent young thing into his web of lies didn’t sit well with me.
“No, Nico. He has a high-profile appointment pending and they’d prefer if he was married.” Morgan, of course, jumped to Domenic’s defense like a lap dog.
I didn’t even try to hide the incredulity in my laughter. “What? Don’t tell me you’re running for office or some shit? Don’t you think we have enough unqualified people in power?”
“No, I am not running for office. Tech Dyne is offering me the position of CEO but with strings attached. My competition is an Ivy Leaguer with a family. Right side of the tracks. I need to level the playing field as much as I can. Being married to a good woman will do that.”
I blinked, not having expected to actually be given an explanation. And I must admit that the notion of him having to even the playing field got to me. I had my own Ivy Leaguer to deal with –goddamned Danna Powell– so I could relate.
I don’t want to relate to Domenic Cliff, goddamnit!
“So why’d you leave it so late?”
It was his turn to blink in surprise. “Huh?”
“Why did you wait until one week to the date you need a bride, to start looking for one?” I said it very slowly.
“I just found out today that it would be a good idea to get one. Sue me, I was focused on my work record and ability to make money for these guys. Not my social life.”
“Hmm.” I considered him, and then looked away. A thought had occurred to me and I didn’t know where it came from. Certainly not my rational mind. It must have been a chocolate high confusing my brain.
Too late, my brother had noticed. “You thought of something. Come on, Nico, share with the class. What’s that big brain of yours come up with?”
I was already shaking my head but Morgan was a bloodhound. “Come on, girl, tell.” He squeezed my hand, looking eagerly at me. Even Domenic looked interested.
“Hey…” He held out his hand, palm up. “If it makes you feel better about helping me, consider it a paid consulting position. Give us your idea and we’ll pay you for it.”
Well…that’s awkward.
My idea only occurred to me because I’d been reading Khal Drogo and Khaleesi fanfiction. It was a modern AU where Khaleesi married Khal Drogo to save her business. I couldn’t tell them that of course because they’d laugh me out of New York but there were similarities. Domenic needed someone to be a respectable bride by his side. I supposed I could fit the bill. And being married to the Domenic Cliff might just be what I needed to tip the scales in my direction with this grant.
Win-win.
Now how to put that in a way that doesn’t sound totally bonkers or straight out of a romance novel? I looked into Domenic’s hopeful eyes and just knew in my gut that he would think I was in love with him or some shit like that if I opened my mouth.
I leaned back and forked another piece of chocolate cake, dripping with chocolate cream; an orgasm in my mouth just waiting to happen. Shaking my head, I stuck the fork in my mouth.
“I can’t.” I avoided both their eyes as I focused on the chocolate melting on my tongue.
3
Domenic
I reached into my jacket pocket and extracted my checkbook. Signing it, I passed it across the table to Nicolette. “There, blank check. Name your price.”
Her cheeks were rosy as if she was embarrassed and I looked to Morgan for guidance, but he looked just as perplexed as me.
“Nico?” His voice was soft and gentle. Coaxing. I got to my feet.
“Here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna go to the john and release the hostages. You can discuss whatever it is with Morgan and if he thinks it’s a good idea, he can tell me about it. How about that? Does that work?” I didn’t know why we had to baby the idea out of her like this, but after all this drama, it’d better be a good one.
She nodded, her cheeks getting rosier, and I took off, feeling extremely bemused. I couldn’t resist one last look before disappearing into the men’s room. Nico and her brother had their heads close together, talking quietly. Morgan’s eyes were wider than usual as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I looked around, wishing there was a plant near our table I could hide behind and eavesdrop like a Disney villain.
Sadly, there were none.
I shrugged inwardly and went to the men’s room since I really did need to use it.
What could it be that’s so embarrassing?
Biting my lip, I tried to imagine. Whatever it was, the build-up excited me enough that I was looking forward to finding out. Morgan wasn’t kidding when he said Nico had big brains. By the time he was able to get c
ustody of her, she’d missed a bunch of school thanks to her deadbeat stepfather and still, she ended up valedictorian at her graduation.
Morgan had been so proud of her.
To be honest, I was pretty proud of her myself. Nicolette was nothing if not a fighter.
Which made me even more curious about what could make her blush the way that she had. Whatever it was, I would definitely try it out for sure.
I got back to the table to find the siblings avoiding each other’s eyes. Naturally, my curiosity intensified. “Well?” I was jittering like a crackhead, eager for someone to explain the awkward silence.
Morgan lifted a hand as if in surrender. “I’d like to go on record as saying, this is a bad idea.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “But…?”
“But…” He sighed, his whole body deflating. “It’s also brilliant.”
I made gimme gestures with my hands. “Tell me, tell me, tell me.”
Morgan leaned forward with a sigh. I swear these two knew how to stretch out that suspense. Nico was looking anywhere but at me. “So, Nico’s idea is that we can have an arranged marriage-”
“Well, duh-” My heart was sinking with disappointment at the predictability.
“-between you and her.”
I blinked a few times. “W-what?”
Morgan took a deep breath. “It’s actually brilliant because obviously a man in your position, you need somebody you can trust to not only keep your secrets now but even after the marriage is annulled or whatever. Being that close to you, man…” He shook his head. “That was my main worry. That you’d get some Amber Heard wannabe who would destroy your life. But this way, you marry Nico, you both get to focus on changing the world in your own different ways.”
I swallowed, still unable to process. “A-and this was your idea?” I pointed at Nico just to clarify that it was she –my nemesis– that we were talking about.
She took a deep breath and bravely met my gaze. “I can relate to how difficult it is to get a foot in the door, especially when you don’t have the right last name or come from the right background. This isn’t just me doing you a favor. I have my own battles to fight and being your wife would take me from being a nobody to a somebody that would have to be reckoned with. We can help each other.”