Good. The tingles he felt from being near Miya would never matter in the end. It was like she had read his mind and then pushed him backwards, though neither had moved. He tried to visualize Linsey right now, but he couldn’t quite bring her into focus. He said, “I don’t have time for love and romance, and even if I did … I’m not interested in that anymore.”
She tapped his arm and the feeling of being part of a whole hit him hard as she asked, “Why didn’t you marry the mother of your daughter, then?”
That question should knock him out of wondering what Miya’s kiss might be like. After all, he’d never know anyway.
“We planned to marry, after she gave birth. She wanted time to lose the pregnancy weight before the wedding, and I didn’t want to push her. I wish I had. Christine should know we loved each other.”
And every night he wished he could go back in time and shake some sense into his old self.
Miya turned her knees toward him and for a moment even his legs woke up under his wrinkled pants. She said, “Look, I’ve never been good in the romance department.”
Impossible. Pretty girls like her always had more offers than they could handle. Perhaps she was just being kind. He shook his head, “I’m not offering—”
“You’re offering me a job,” she interrupted, and he quieted. She was right. “I understand,” she continued, “and I don’t have a job or a relationship at the moment.”
But jobs can be transitory, and a wife’s position was life-long here in Avce. He ignored how his skin was pulsating with awareness of her presence and asked, “Is there something you want that I can help with?”
She was silent for a moment, then finally she said, “Look, I always wanted the funds to open up my own advertising company and really prove myself. I was fired from my last position. I’d like to show them that was a stupid choice. I earned an MBA with a focus on digital marketing, as online is the new future.
“You cover the start-up costs and let me crash here until my company takes off, and I’ll marry you right now. I can run a company and be your wife, if that’s okay?”
With marriage he would secure a large inheritance. But the title came with responsibility, so he said, “Let’s get this deal in writing, then. But you’ll have to include helping the people in Avce, especially some villagers and their businesses, as you’d be their lady of the manor.”
She shrugged and a huge smile grew on her face. “Sure. We can work in helping others succeed too. In fact, I’d like that.”
“Then let me show you to a room. I’ll have my lawyers prepare the papers today.” He picked up his phone to call his lawyers as he walked her down the hall.
For once he had purpose in his step. If Miya became his wife, then he’d breathe again. Her owning her own business was a good thing, so the deal was easy.
Chapter 3
Frederico was absolutely gorgeous. Hot. And that body of his was made for late night fantasies.
Near him, she’d had goosebumps and her body had actually ached to touch him as electricity zapped through her.
Once she was alone, Miya MacCloud brushed her black hair with her hairbrush she’d taken out of her simple navy blue suitcase and walked around the grand room she was in now.
Impulsive wasn’t her style, but she was still reeling from the adrenaline rush of meeting Frederico. Seriously hot. And way out of her normal league.
But she tried to focus on the room and not those broad shoulders of his that made her weak at the knees.
Wanting a guy she couldn’t have wasn’t going to make this life any better.
But then, she’d lived with so many bad choices in men she was done anyhow.
Besides, her apartment at home might have a kitchen, but here she had cathedral ceilings, multiple rooms, including a living area with furniture made of yellow and blue silk, and the bedroom was yellow with blue flowers embedded into the shimmering accents of the cream-walled room.
These rooms made the tiny room she rented in New York seem like she’d lived in a box that might just fit under her bed in this place. New York had a few fancy homes near Central Park that tried to be like this, but they didn’t come close.
And then there was the handsome Frederico Cerkev, with his blond hair and green eyes and muscles more firm and broad than any other man she’d seen. If he grew out his hair, maybe he’d be up for the Thor role if that was ever recast.
Either way, he was a far cry from the lanky, skinny nerds she usually ended up dating only because they had things to talk about, like coding she needed for some app she wanted to launch. And they only lasted until she realized none of them were faithful or good to her.
At some point all stars fell out of her eyes. She couldn’t let herself build up any hopes for Frederico now.
He’d been clear this marriage was business only.
She’d stick to that.
Ideas were her stock-in-trade, and she was good at selling.
She stared outside at the grounds and decided she’d finally spoken the truth out loud.
She really did want an advertising company of her own. Until she’d been directly asked what she wanted, she hadn’t put her finger on it.
Now she needed to crush Scot and Scot for their foolishness in firing her.
A tapestry hung on the wall across from her bed, with paintings on either side of it. As she gazed at it, it seemed to move a little, like the window was open and the wind has found its way inside.
But that was silly. The windows were all closed.
Her plan seemed pretty perfect, but she picked up the phone and decided to call the one person she talked to every day. One ring later, she said, “Hi Mom.”
Now it was time to tell the one person who had the power to talk her out of this plan. Her mother said, “Miya, I didn’t think you’d be calling me, since you thought vacationing was more important than coming home.”
Right.
Her mother had always told her, save your money to invest in what you want to do that’s big and different. So she had invested in the matchmaking services of AvceLoveMatch.com. Her dream of love seemed rather silly now. But the investment had brought her here, and now she had her real opportunity.
She ignored the rush that lingered in her veins from holding Frederico’s hand far longer than she should have. He’d lost the love of his life, and it wasn’t her. But then again, she had never been anyone’s true love. The venture proved she should focus on what she was good at. Work.
“I’ll keep it short. I didn’t want to tell you earlier in case it didn’t work out,” she said.
Someone knocked on the door. She turned around and the pins and needles in her stomach hoped to see him again, but then an older woman with two carafes, a teacup and coffee cup, and a plate of cookies came in.
“Thank you,” she said quickly to the servant. At the same time her mother asked, “What’s going on? You sound … happy.”
Once the door closed, she tugged her ear and said as she crossed her arms, “Well … Mom, I’m getting married tonight.”
Her mother’s intake of breath made her steel herself for an argument.
Love wasn’t in the cards for her. Frederick proved that. But he offered a lifeline she’d accept.
“Married?” her mother said. “And not here, in our church?”
Interesting. This was the argument? She lowered her arms as she glanced at her black flats and said, “Mom, maybe we can plan something bigger later, but speed is important right now.”
“This is why you didn’t come home. I don’t know why you didn’t bring him to meet me first though.” Her mother’s small hmm caught her by surprise. It was the same tone that always made her pause. Her mother wasn’t one for beating around the bush and she asked, “Who is he and can I make it in time?”
Miya laughed, but then stopped quickly. Her mother knew she laughed when she was nervous. She said, “No, you’d not be able to fly to Avce and be here in time. But I want you to come soon.”
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Her mother then asked, “Who is he, Miya MacCloud?”
The one question she’d been prepared for. She sat back onto one of the firm silk couches that seemed made for her as she said, “Frederico Cerkev. You can look him up online. He’s the Earl of Martina in Avce.”
“An earl?” her mother asked. “Like dukes, princes and earls and all that?”
Her mother knew her titles from books, not real life. The house she lived in over in Deerrun would probably be considered a small colonial, certainly not anything palatial like this. Miya traced the soft silk edges where they met the carved wooden arms of the couch as she said, “He needs to marry before the new year so he doesn’t lose his home for his daughter.”
Her mother’s voice squeaked. “Daughter?”
Yes. The proof that he’d loved another and she’d never be his one true love. And the reason he wanted to marry her now. It was good that she’d chosen to focus on building herself an amazing future, one where she actually succeeded.
And that was work. She’d worked countless hours to win a chance at Scot and Scot, and now she’d plot the launch of her own agency.
“His fiancée died and the law here says he loses everything if he doesn’t marry,” she said.
Her mother would never understand. She lived for the Christmas season in her hometown. She only wanted to prove that she was the most Christmassy person in the town right now. They both knew her priorities in December.
“That doesn’t matter to you though,” her mother said. “You went on vacation, or to finalize your relationship because you’re in love. I’m not sure which, since you don’t talk to me.”
At least she hadn’t mentioned the Christmas pageant. Small blessing there. Miya looked outside the window as a bird chirped past and she said, “Mom, I’d like for you to be happy for me. I’m getting everything I ever wanted.”
The air outside her room smelled … rosy. She put her head out the window and stared straight down toward the winter rose bushes. The harsh winter landscape was barren. Of course. But there was a flower garden below, which was quite the opposite of her hometown which was usually snow-filled at this time of year.
Her mother asked, “Are you in love?”
Clear heads won in business and in life. She stood back from her window gazing and pressed her hand to her heart like she was making a pledge as she said, “That would confuse me.”
“Then I’m coming,” her mother said immediately.
Her eyes widened but she shook her head rapidly and said, “Don’t leave Christmas. I’ll keep you posted.”
Her mother protested, but ultimately claimed she’d stay home and enter the hot chocolate competition as usual. Miya wasn’t sure she believed her.
But she hung up the phone, and ignored how her skin still trembled from Frederico’s nearness in the library.
Maybe she was being reckless, but he seemed almost too good to be true.
For now, she dug out a change of clothes. Her grey slacks that went well with her plain green sweater could double as a Christmas outfit and yet not be obnoxious about the season at work. This would be fine for today, so she tossed them onto the bed to change as she quickly dialed the phone again for a reality check. On the first ring, before she even heard hello, she said, “Coral.”
Her friend laughed as she said, “Hey, what’s going on? Didn’t you just arrive in Avce for this job?”
She pressed her temples to calm herself down as she said, “A little while ago. I called my mother first to tell her about.”
Coral didn’t even ask for details as she said, “You two are so close. My own mother never answers her phone.”
There. Perfect. Coral was amazing, always bringing her back to reality. For a second she didn’t wonder what being with Frederico would be like, treating marriage like a business deal and leaving her body aching with needs.
She relaxed her shoulders as she said, “I guess. I needed to hear that.”
She headed over to the ensuite bathroom and realized it was bigger than her room in New York as her friend asked, “So what happened?”
A shower might help her forget how Frederico looked, and how he made her melt.
“I’m getting married,” she said.
Her friend laughed loud and hard and finally said, “You work fast. I thought you were there to meet him incognito and apply as a secretary.”
Well, she was marrying him that way, it seemed. He had no idea about the silly matching, clearly. He’d already had real love, so some name in a computer didn’t matter. And matchmaking was rubbish, despite how her body lit up like fireworks near him. She saw her doorknob jiggle and said, “I was. My application was never even looked at. Look. I gotta go.”
“Okay, we’ll talk soon,” Coral said and hung up.
Miya put her phone on the charger and then opened the door.
A tiny girl that barely went to her mid-thigh came in. Her hair was in pigtails and she had a brilliant smile and bright eyes.
The girl must have slipped away from a nanny or something, Miya thought, as she went to her knees and asked, “Are you Frederico’s daughter?”
“Christine,” she said, like she was six and not two. She waddled a little but then said, “You don’t look like an evil stepmother who expects me to clean like Quintella.”
Full sentences? That was impressive. And apparently she’d heard stories or seen movies about Cinderella. Miya glanced down the huge hall that gleamed with chandeliers but seemed never-ending in both directions as she asked, “Who’s Quintella?”
“My maid,” Christine said, and walked further inside the room.
Miya left the door open in case her father or a nanny rushed down the hall to find her as she followed the tiny tike. “No,” she said. “I don’t expect you to be Cinderella or anything like that.”
The girl went to the table next to the tea and almost seemed like she expected to be served, but there was nothing suitable for a toddler to drink. She jumped onto the couch. Miya followed, poured herself some coffee and said, “I’ll ring for some milk for you?”
“No.” Christine quieted in her seat. “I want to see your dress.”
“I don’t have one,” she said quickly, and sipped her coffee. She hadn’t planned on ever getting married, to be honest. So this sham wedding was all she’d ever have. She fixed her hair behind her head and said, “Your father wants to make sure you’re safe and happy, which is why he needs to marry me.”
Christine nodded like she was at least ten, but she was adorable with those cheeks of hers that shone as she said, “He’s happy.”
This girl was shocking. Miya ignored how being near Christine gave her goosebumps. She said, as if she was interviewing again for a job, “I hope I can help make you both happy.”
Christine’s big green eyes, like her father’s, showed keen interest in her as she asked, “Can you show me Umizoomi?”
“Sure.” She searched on her phone for whatever that was and quickly found a cartoon that she played for her.
A few seconds later, she heard footsteps in the hall. She put her phone back on the charger and Christine jumped out of the seat and said, “Dada.”
A hand tapped on the cream doorframe and she turned toward it as her heart thumped. She’d see Frederico again. He was carrying a manila envelope under one arm as he appeared in the open doorway.
“Yes,” he said. He stepped into the room and went down on one knee while he smiled at his daughter. “Christine, you should be upstairs with Marsha.”
The blonde, green-eyed girl was tiny and sweet next to the huge, muscular man who could be a Norse god. She argued with her lips pursed, “Miya is here.”
Seriously, this wasn’t normal, Miya thought. Frederico hugged Christine and pointed toward the door. Miya’s hair stood on its ends that this girl understood everything, as he said, “It’s time to go upstairs to Marsha now.”
The girl stomped off to a maid waiting outside the door. He watched her head down the
hall and then said, “Sorry.”
“Christine is not what I’d expected,” she said honestly. The young girl seemed far older than her size or age.
She’d expected a girl who hardly talked, but maybe she remembered ages all wrong. She’d been in college and then New York for eight years now, but before that, in her small town, she’d known little kids from volunteering at Sunday school.
He took the envelope from under his arm as he said, “Here is the contract. Once you’ve read it, you can sign, but my lawyers are in the study if we need to make any changes.”
Of course. This was all business, for both of them. As she reached for the envelope, she ignored how her skin reacted to his—like she’d found a spark of energy that made her warm all over and stood her hair on its ends. But business was what she’d agreed to, she reminded herself, as she put the envelope down next to her coffee cup. She said, “One more thing before I go and read this?”
He widened his stance and asked, “Yes?”
Good. Her heart doing a flip because he was this close didn’t matter. Not really. Her attraction to him was only ever going to be one-sided. She put her hand on her hips for something to hold onto and said, “I didn’t pack anything white. It doesn’t have to be some magical wedding gown, but I’d like a simple white dress for tonight’s ceremony … in case anyone, like my mother, sees the pictures.”
He stared at her and for a moment it was like everything else faded away and they were the only two people in the world. But then his brow narrowed and he said, “I’ll have my secretary get right on it.”
Her face heated. Of course. She’d been silly there, a minute ago. She massaged her neck to stay calm, but her mind couldn’t quite think clearly as her lips had tingles that would never be satisfied. She turned away from staring at him to calm down and asked quickly, “You have a secretary?”
“Temporarily.” He placed one hand on her arm while he texted a quick message with the other. Then he pointed toward the contract. Her head spun and his fingers on her skin almost scorched her. He took a seat, but as she joined him, he jumped up and said, “Yes, Marsha, come in.” She stood up again and turned to meet the silver-haired, plump woman in purple.
Forbidden Lord Page 3