The Billionaire's Secretly Fake Bride (MANHATTAN BACHELORS Book 3)

by Susan Westwood

  “Not if we’re really married. We’re living together. Who would question it?”

  She rubbed a hand down her face. Why wasn’t she more excited? This made perfect sense. “Okay. If not healthcare fraud then why would I want to marry you?”

  He stumbled over that. “This isn’t a romantic request, Violet. This is a practical one.”

  “Just what a girl wants. Let’s get married so we can be practical together.”

  “This isn’t a romance, Violet. We both know this. This thing between us has an end date. You know that. I know that.”

  She nodded, her jaw set. She wasn’t happy about this. He didn’t understand it. This would give her more security. Isn’t that what women wanted?

  “Then there is no reason for us to get married.”

  He sighed. She wasn’t seeing the point. “You get healthcare. You get a settlement when the baby comes.”

  “You think I’m in this for the money?”

  He stood up straighter. That didn’t sound good and he noted an edge to her voice. What had he said wrong? They weren’t going to be romantic partners. They were great in bed together and she was having his child. That wasn’t enough to base a relationship on. “Uh, no.”

  “That’s what it sounds like. You’ve only talked about the money. As if that’s all I’m getting out of this.” She stood, pacing away from him. “Yes, I need you to pay for the doctor visits, but I never asked you to pay for anything else. You volunteered.”

  “And I don’t mind that. I have more money than I know how to spend.”

  “Right. So you might as well sprinkle the poor girl with it. You know, maybe this whole thing was a mistake. Maybe I should have never let you know that I was pregnant. All I wanted was for you to pay for the abortion.”

  Amedeo felt like he’d been slapped in the face as she stormed out past him.

  ***

  Violet didn’t know where she was going, but she had to get out of that room. Amedeo was talking nonsense and not listening to her. She was livid and might have said something she would regret.

  So she got out. She didn’t have her purse so she couldn’t go far, but around the block might cool her off enough. She’d been seeing red as he spoke. Was he an idiot or just clueless?

  She strode around the block, mumbling to herself. She arrived back at Amedeo’s building, but she wasn’t done being mad. Not in the least. She needed more time. So she walked around the block again. Still mad.

  She crossed the street, but she guessed that the combination of not being in a cross walk and the fact that she hadn’t looked both ways, caused a car to clip her. Shit.

  She fell down in the street. It wasn’t even the whole car that hit her. Nope. The side mirror and knocked her off of her feet. The person stopped the car and jumped out.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Uh, I don’t know.”

  Her body hurt. She tried to sit up, but her body hurt too much. She could just rest here for a few minutes. Hopefully no one would mind.

  “Don’t pass out.” The person had a phone to her ear. “I’m calling 911.”

  Violet didn’t think she was going to pass out. She just wasn’t ready to get up yet.

  “The ambulance is on the way. Can I call someone for you?”

  Violet motioned in the direction she thought the building was. “Amedeo.”

  Hadn’t she been mad at him? He might want to know that something happened to her. The woman talked into her phone then she pointed to a person who had walked up. “Go in that building and find Amedeo.”

  The woman driver sat down next to Violet.

  “What’s your name, honey?”

  “Violet,” she whispered. She couldn’t produce much more sound than that. She was tired.

  “That’s a pretty name. Does anything hurt?”

  “Everything.”

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you step out between those cars.”

  She wanted to tell the woman that it was okay, but at that moment a cop car pulled up. He blocked traffic from where she lay. She really probably should get up. She was in the street and that wasn’t safe.

  Then Amedeo’s face appeared in her vision. “Violet? Honey?”

  He held her hand. It was warm and a just a little calloused. She hadn’t noticed that before. He should have office hands. Soft and manicured. Why didn’t he?

  She wanted to tell him that she was hurt, but he seemed to know that.

  “Are you her husband,” the cop asked.

  “Boyfriend.” Amedeo turned back to her. “It’s going to be okay, Violet. The ambulance is on the way.”

  Of course he would say that. Amedeo always wanted to make it right. That’s who he was. She closed her eyes.

  “Violet, stay with us,” Amedeo said.

  She wanted to sleep. That’s all she wanted. Maybe the pounding in her head would subside. She couldn’t take anything for it because of the baby. She wouldn’t want to, anyway.

  “Violet?”

  “I’m here,” she said.

  Her voice sounded weak and creaky. Very odd. She heard a siren approach then strangers pushed Amedeo out of the way. They poked and prodded her, then rolled her onto a stiff board. They put her on the stretcher. It rolled past Amedeo.

  “I’ll be at the hospital right after you, Violet,” he said.

  She smiled, but it must have come off as a grimace because Amedeo said “she’s in a lot of pain.”

  He patted her hand before they put her in the ambulance. She closed her eyes when the doors closed.

  “You still here, Violet?” someone said.

  The voice sounded a little far away so she opened her eyes to see who it was. She couldn’t move her head because she was strapped onto the board. Someone’s face appeared in her line of vision. “We’ll be at the hospital in just a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  “Sit tight. You aren’t bleeding anywhere. What hurts?”

  “Everything.”

  “You’re bruised, but that may be it.”

  Violet tried to nod, but just flashed the man a wan smile. As promised she was at the hospital a few minutes later. They wheeled her into a room and was transferred to a gurney still strapped to the board. It was becoming uncomfortable.

  Amedeo appeared at her side. He must have followed the ambulance.

  “I’m here, Violet.”

  “You’ll have to leave, sir. We need to examine her,” a nurse said.

  “Okay. I’ll be right outside.”

  She tried to nod again, but instead she just blinked. Hopefully he got the hint. People bustled around her. They took some x-rays then they unstrapped her from the board.

  “No signs of spinal or neck injury so we can take you off of this.”

  She was happy to be free and tried to sit up.

  “No, Violet. Let me raise the bed a little. The doctor will be in to examine you.”

  “Amedeo.”

  “The man is right outside. He refused to wait in the waiting room. He’s very concerned about you,” the nurse said.

  “Yes,” was all Violet managed.

  She’d bet that Amedeo was giving everyone who walked out of the room an interrogation. He wouldn’t take easily to being out of control. He’d want answers and action. That was Amedeo.

  Finally the doctor came in. He examined her. “I think you have a slight concussion. Your husband said that you were pregnant.”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s no bleeding so the baby is fine. I’ll have them do an ultrasound just in case. Okay?”

  “Fine.”

  That was what mattered.

  “I’ll need you to stay in bed for a few days.”

  Crap. Bed rest again. She’d go out of her mind, but right now it sounded good. “Okay.”

  “Good.” The doctor raised the bed up a little so she could sit up. “The nurse will bring you some paperwork to sign and I’ll let your husband in.”

  He wasn’t her husband, b
ut she wasn’t going to argue. Her head hurt too much.

  ***

  Amedeo strode into Violet’s room. The doctor had finally come out and told him that she was fine. The baby was fine and that Violet would need to rest for a few days. It was Friday so he could be home with her for the next two days.

  She looked so small and ashy sitting in that hospital bed. She was bruised and battered and he’d made her mad enough to walk out. He must make this up to her. No two ways about it.

  “Hi,” he said.

  He took her hand. Her eyes were half-mast and she looked like she could fall asleep.

  “Hi.”

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Tired and achy.”

  “I’m sure that will pass.”

  “I hope so,” she said.

  “I can take you home as soon as the papers get signed,’ he said.

  “You going back to work?”

  “No, it’s Friday. I’ll knock off for the week. You won’t have to go home alone.”

  “Thanks,” she said.

  It was the least he could do for her. He’d made her so upset that she walked in front of a moving car. He thought the plan was still solid, but obviously she didn’t. They’d have to talk about it.

  A nurse bustled in. “Okay. The doc thinks you have a slight concussion. He wants you to rest for the next few days. It may take longer for the headache to go away. As soon as that is gone, you can drive and go back to work. Until then take it easy. Bed rest for two days. Rest until the headache is gone.”

  “Okay,” Violet said.

  “She’ll do what you say. I’ll make sure of it,” Amedeo said.

  The nurse smiled at him. “Good. Now sign here and we can let you loose in your husband’s capable hands.”

  He decided not to correct her misconception that he was Violet’s husband. It didn’t matter in his situation. He would take care of her and that is all that mattered.

  Violet signed the papers then sat up slowly, her legs over the side of the bed. The nurse had left. Amedeo sat on the bed next to her. “Take your time, Violet. We’ve got all day.”

  “My head hurts.”

  “I know, but you can’t take anything for it.”

  “I know. I can’t really sleep much either.”

  “How’s your vision?” he said.

  “Fine. I’ll just watch some more movies,” Violet said.

  “We’ll watch them together.”

  He couldn’t remember the last time he watched a movie the whole way through. Certainly never on a Friday afternoon. He didn’t know how long he would be able to sit there, but he’d try. He needed to make this up to Violet.

  She was carrying his baby for goodness’ sake. The least he could do was dote on her for a few days while she recovered.

  “Okay,” she said without a lot of enthusiasm.

  He held out his hand. “You ready?”

  “I think so.”

  He stood and helped her to her feet. She stood for a minute, taking in a few breaths. With his help, she walked to the car. He’d texted his driver to be at the door so she didn’t have to walk far. He settled her in the back next to him and they drove home.

  She leaned on him the whole trip.

  He felt guilty about upsetting her, but he didn’t seem to want to talk. He helped her up the steps when they arrived at his house. Once she was settled into bed, he changed e his clothing then snuggled next to her.

  He was supposed to make sure she was okay if she fell asleep. Would he have the heart to wake her up? He didn’t know, but he was given strict instructions.

  “Do you need anything before the movie starts?”

  “I think I need some lunch.”

  “I’ll make us some sandwiches.”

  He went to the kitchen then returned with food for both of them. Violet ate slowly, taking careful bites. She must really be in pain.

  “Violet?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry that I upset you. My plan seemed obvious to me, but I guess you weren’t in favor of it. The offer to marry you still stands, but I won’t insist,” he said.

  Her gaze took a minute to travel up to his face. “Okay. Thanks, I guess.”

  “We don’t need to talk about it now, but if you want to we can.”

  “I don’t want to marry you, Amedeo. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  He wasn’t hurt by her words, but they did take him back a little. Maybe he was jaded from so many gold diggers on his doorstep. Violet wasn’t like that. She wanted to stand on her own, but could admit, at least a little bit, when she needed help.

  He cleared away the plates.

  “If you change your mind, let me know. I want to make sure that you and this baby are taken care of.”

  “I get that. I just don’t agree how it should be done.”

  “Then come up with a plan.”

  “Not sure I can do that at this moment.”

  “I’m sorry. Not right now. I get it. Your head hurts. We don’t have to talk about this now,” he said.

  He shifted on the bed, propping a pillow behind him. They could just watch the movie and not talk. That would be better. He wouldn’t say something stupid then.

  “Thanks, Amedeo. I know you mean well. I overreacted.”

  “No, you didn’t. It was what you felt. That’s always genuine.”

  She nodded then winced. “Ouch.”

  “Oh, honey. Don’t do that. Let’s watch a movie.”

  He turned on the television while Violet settled on the bed. He’d watch over her today. He guessed this was kind of like being a parent, but Violet wouldn’t be as needy as a baby would be. He sighed, marveling at how much his life had changed in a short time.

  *

  Amedeo had made her get into bed the moment they came home from the hospital. He was heating up some soup for her since she didn’t have lunch. She should be flattered. She should probably sit back and enjoy all of this attention, but this wasn’t her life. This wouldn’t be her life when the baby arrived.

  She didn’t want to get used to it. She didn’t want to be spoiled. A yawn stopped her thoughts. She did feel tired, but she was hungrier than anything.

  “Here’s your soup.”

  Violet sat up. “Thanks.”

  He put a tray on her lap.

  “Can I eat this downstairs?” she said.

  “The doctor said bed rest for two days. You aren’t getting up.”

  “I’m going to be climbing the walls. Can you bring me my laptop? That way I can try to get some work done.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head. “No, Violet. I need you to rest. Besides, it’s Saturday. I’m not even working.”

  “Don’t you have things to do?”

  “I have laundry and I can do yours.”

  “You do your own laundry?”

  He laughed. “Yes I do. I don’t pay people to do everything. I find doing laundry therapeutic.”

  She smiled. “Okay. I have some dirty clothing.”

  “Then I’ll wash it. Then what do you want to do?”

  “You don’t have to entertain me.”

  He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m not leaving you alone today. I have somewhere to be tomorrow, but today I’m all yours.”

  That sounded wonderful. She’d have his attention, but she couldn’t get used to it. He was here because of the baby. That was it. It wasn’t affection for her. She ate her soup as he sorted the laundry. He left her then came back with a deck of cards. He cleared her empty bowl then sat on the edge of the bed “Cards?”

  “I’m not a big card player.”

  “Me either. I’ve only used them to play strip poker, but I don’t think that’s appropriate today.”

  He was being a gentleman. She’d never let a man treat her like less ever again. In that sense, this was good to be around Amedeo. She’d miss it all when she was gone. She sighed.

  “What’s wrong?” he said. “Does your head
still hurt?”

  “It does, but it’s a low throbbing. I’m okay, really. Let’s play cards.”

  “You sure? You want to nap? You yawned before.”

  “I guess I could nap, but you’ll have to wake me at some point?”

  He nodded. “The discharge papers said to wake you after an hour of sleep.”

  “Then maybe I don’t want to sleep. That would be annoying.”

  “Up to you, Violet.”

  He shuffled the cards. “I don’t have any other games, but I do have some on my tablet.”

  “No, thanks. It hurts to look at a screen. I haven’t even looked at my phone because it hurts my eyes,” she said.

  She couldn’t look at a screen, but she’d hoped to get some work done. Maybe tomorrow. Amedeo had been right to refuse to get her laptop. She’d make her headache worse.

  “And you wanted your laptop?”

  “I know,” she said, then groaned. “I was trying to be optimistic, but one glance at my phone and I knew I couldn’t stare at a screen all day. Not even sure I want to watch television.”

  “Then cards it is.”

  He climbed over her to lean against the headboard. She crossed her legs. He lounged as he shuffled the cards. “I only know poker.”

  “I can play poker. What will we bet with?”

  “I have pretzels.”

  “That’ll do.”

  He bounced off the bed and she cringed from the pain. “I’m sorry, Violet. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s okay.”

  He didn’t do it on purpose. She knew that. It hurt just the same.

  “I’ll go get the pretzels.”

  He came back with a bag of pretzel sticks.

  “You’re going to have to change your sheets before bed tonight.”

  “It’s fine, Violet. I’m doing laundry anyway,” he said.

  “I’m making more work for you.”

  He waved his hand. “Stop. It’s fine. I should probably change the sheets anyway.”

  She frowned, but let it drop. He shuffled the cards some more then dealt them. “Aces are high. Deuces are wild.”

  “What is each pretzel worth?”

  “Does it really matter?”

  She laughed. “No, I guess not.”

  She eyed her cards, thinking they were pretty good. A game of strip poker would be fun, but she wasn’t up for sex at the moment. She wished she were. A whole day of lounging in bed with a naked Amedeo sounded pretty good. Another day. She’d bet he’d be up for it.