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

by Susan Westwood

  “Okay. Suit yourself.”

  He patted her tummy as he went by her out the office door. She smiled at that. He did that often. As if he were marking his territory. For some reason, it didn’t bother her. He was marking the baby, not her.

  She followed him back to his office, settling on a chair with a view. Someone knocked on Amedeo’s door fifteen minutes later.

  “Come in.”

  An older man with blue pants and a blue shirt on, came into the office. His shirt said “Bob” on it. He was clearly terrified.

  “You aren’t in any trouble, Bob,” Amedeo said.

  The man relaxed. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Miss Taylor here received flowers earlier. Did you bring them up to her office?” Amedeo said.

  The man licked his lips. “Yes, I did. Was I not supposed to? It’s standard procedure.”

  “No, bringing them up is fine. There was no card in it and we’re trying to track down who sent them to her,” Amedeo said.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I wasn’t there when they were delivered. Fanny at the front desk called me to bring them up.”

  “You didn’t see any card?”

  “I didn’t really look other than wonder what kind of flowers they were. I like to surprise my wife and I know she’d like that kind,” said Bob.

  Amedeo nodded. “Okay, thanks Bob. You can go back to work.”

  The man couldn’t have gotten out of the office fast enough. Poor guy. He probably had a stroke when he got the call.

  “He was so scared,” Violet said.

  “People have strange ideas about how I am. I treat everyone the same.”

  She nodded. “What’s next?”

  He already had the phone in his hand. “I call Fanny.”

  He made the same order as before and Fanny was in his office looking at nervous as Bob had. Amedeo didn’t bite. Fanny told the same story except that she didn’t know what florist delivered it.

  Amedeo sighed when she left. “Well, I’ll have Madge call around to see if anyone delivered them.”

  Violet looked at her phone. She’d received a message. “Hope you enjoy the flowers.”

  She couldn’t trace the email.

  “Has to be Juliano warning you again. Shit.”

  ***

  It took a few months, but Amedeo finally convinced Violet to marry him. He drove her to his lawyer’s office to sign the prenuptial agreement, then they were going to the courthouse. Salvatore was his witness. Violet’s friend Kalia was hers.

  He wanted to take Violet home afterwards, but she insisted they should at least take their witnesses out to lunch. He’d agreed.

  She wore a pale pink maternity dress as her stomach was showing even more. The baby moved now and he loved to feel him or her. Next week she’d have the ultrasound that could tell him if he was having a son or daughter. He couldn’t wait.

  He parked the car then helped Violet out. “You ready?”

  She smiled. “As I’ll ever be. You don’t want to reconsider?”

  “No. Take as long as you want to read the contract. You can still have your own lawyer look at it. I don’t mind. We can postpone the wedding.”

  She looked up at him as he held his hand. “I’ll read it thoroughly. Don’t worry. I trust you.”

  “Thanks.”

  He settled her on the nicer chair in his lawyer’s office. She set her purse on the floor. She looked nervous so he squeezed her hand. “It’ll be okay.”

  She nodded. His lawyer pulled the sheaves of paper out of a folder. “I need you to read these then initial on the side of each page. Then sign the last page.”

  Violet took the pages and read them. She asked his lawyer a few questions.

  “You understand it all?” Amedeo said.

  “Yes. I do. It’s what we talked about. No surprises,” she said.

  She put a hand out. Amedeo handed her a pen. She initialed and signed the papers. Handing them back to the lawyer, she smiled. “Let’s do this.”

  Amedeo drove her to the court house. Kalia and Salvatore met them on the steps. Salvatore must have been there for a while because he was chatting with Kalia. Of course he was charming her. He was a Killiano.

  Amedeo hugged his brother. Then Salvatore kissed Violet. His brother patted her tummy. “You look beautiful, Violet.”

  Amedeo gave her a look as if to say, “See?” He wasn’t the only one who thought that pregnancy agreed with her. She rolled her eyes.

  “You do look pretty, Violet,” Kalia said.

  “Oh, Amedeo, this is Kalia. She’s my best friend.”

  Amedeo kissed Kalia’s cheek.

  “Nice to meet you, Kalia.”

  They walked into the courthouse. Fifteen minutes later, Amedeo was a husband. He took Violet’s hand. “Hello Mrs. Killiano.”

  “Right. That would take some getting used to, but I’m not taking your name.”

  He nodded. “I get it. It’s fine.”

  They found a restaurant down the street. Violet headed for the bathroom after they were seated. That gave Amedeo a chance to talk to Kalia.

  “I never pegged Violet as someone overly worried about her appearance, but she really is having trouble with gaining weight,” Kalia said.

  Amedeo knew that Violet was unhappy about it, but he hadn’t realized that it was that bad. “She’s said some things to me about it, but I do hate to see her so unhappy. She won’t take my word for it that she’s beautiful.”

  Salvatore piped in. “I told her today.”

  “I appreciate that,” Amedeo said.

  “No problem, bro,” Salvatore said.

  Kalia nodded. “She is having trouble. I think it’s just the hormones.”

  “I have an idea. What are you doing for the rest of the day?” Amedeo said.

  “Not anything. I don’t have to work until tomorrow,” Kalia said.

  “How about I send you two to a spa?”

  Kalia’s face lit up. “You’d do that?”

  “To make Violet happy? Of course. You’d go with her?”

  “Yes. I’ve never been to a spa,” she said.

  “Then it’s settled. There’s one not so far out of town and I hear it’s nice. Let me look it up and book appointments for you. Massage? Facial? What do you want?”

  “I’d be happy with a massage with a manicure and a pedicure,” Kalia said.

  “That’s it?”

  “I don’t need much.”

  “We’ll see what they have available.”

  He took his phone and walked away from the table. He set up the appointments and returned Violet was back and the waitress was taking their orders. When she left he leaned over to Violet. “I have a surprise.”

  “Oh?”

  She didn’t impressed. She’d been working hard and feeling down and he wanted to erase the frown from her face. “You and Kalia are going to a spa this afternoon.”

  She blinked, but didn’t react. “A spa?”

  “Yes. Both of you will get pampered and spend the afternoon in luxury,” he said.

  A lot of women would squeal. A lot of women would have hugged him. Some women would have promised him a blowjob.

  Violet did none of those. “I’ve never been to a spa.”

  “Then it’s time you went.”

  Kalia patted Violet on the shoulder. “It’ll be fun.”

  Violet frowned. “Okay.”

  Amedeo kissed her cheek. “You’ll love it. When you get home I’ll make whatever dinner you want. Even macaroni and cheese.”

  She smiled a little at that. “Okay. I want macaroni and cheese. With stewed tomatoes.”

  “Then I’ll figure out how to make stewed tomatoes.”

  She squeezed his hands. “Thank you, Amedeo.”

  “You’re welcome, Violet. Now let’s get some champagne and some sparkling cider for you and celebrate.”

  Violet leaned into him. “But it isn’t a real marriage.”

  Was that what h
er problem was? He put a hand on her face. “For the time we are married I’m going to do my best to make you happy. That’s as real as it gets.”

  She licked her lips. “I guess it is.”

  The waitress came back and Amedeo ordered the champagne and the cider.

  “No honeymoon?” Salvatore said.

  “Violet’s having it at the spa,” Amedeo said.

  They laughed. He watched Violet for a moment, but the sadness wasn’t gone from her eyes. He hoped it was just hormones.

  ***

  Violet didn’t really know what to think when Amedeo dropped her and Kalia at the spa. It was located downstairs in a fancy hotel. Violet looked around as if she was sure someone was going to tell her she wasn’t welcome here.

  Instead, the young girl behind the counter greeted them with a smile. “Hello ladies. Welcome. Do you have appointments?”

  Violet glanced at Kalia then back to the girl. “We do, but I don’t know what for. My, uh, husband made the appointments.”

  “What a lucky gal you are,” the girl said. “Name?”

  Violet gave the girl their names.

  Her nametag said Heidi. What else would a perky little white girl be called? The girl clicked some keys on her computer then turned an even brighter smile to Violet. “You are scheduled for foot reflexology, a pedicure and a manicure. Kalia, you are schedule for a full massage with a pedicure and manicure.”

  “That sounds great,” Kalia said.

  At least Kalia was into this. Violet wasn’t so sure. She really had to get into the spirit of this because it had been sweet of Amedeo to do this. Especially including Kalia. Violet might not have ever made it down the steps to the spa if Kalia hadn’t been with her.

  Heidi led them to a locker room. “Inside the locker is a robe and flip flops. Take your key with you. Through that door is waiting room. We have teas and water for your enjoyment.”

  Heidi left them.

  Kalia started to undress.

  “Do I really need to wear the robe? I might not fit.”

  “You’re not that big Violet. Besides, it’s pretty fluffy and looks comfortable,” Kalia said.

  Violet eyed the stuff in her locker, but chose to get into the spirit of it. In minutes they were in robes and giggling in the waiting room. Maybe this would be okay. A woman in a smock poked her head into the room. “Kalia?”

  “That’s me,” Kalia said.

  “I’m your masseuse.”

  Kalia waved to Violet then followed the woman out. A skinny man came into the room, in a robe. With his knees wide, as if Violet wanted to see his junk. She managed to look at everything but the man. At least he didn’t want to talk.

  Finally someone named Kendra came out and led her to a room.

  “Hop onto the table and lay back. Get comfortable. I’ll be rubbing your feet today. Are you ticklish?”

  “No,” Violet said as she struggled a little to get on the massage table. She finally did get up, but she was sure she wasn’t graceful. She laid back, making sure she wasn’t flashing the woman any of her parts.

  “I’m going to put a warm blanket on you then I’ll do the foot rub. If anything hurts while I’m doing it, please let me know.”

  Violet was so comfortable with the blanket on her she thought she’d fall asleep.

  Hour later, she felt so loved by Amedeo that she couldn’t wait to get home to him. That man was going to get laid. Or a blow job or both if he was up to it. She sat in the lounge waiting for Kalia.

  Finally she arrived. She looked as relaxed as Violet felt.

  “That man of yours is a keeper.”

  Violet laughed. She wasn’t keeping him, but it was a thought. “I feel marvelous.”

  They sipped lemon water.

  “Do we have to leave?” Kalia said.

  “Eventually. I’m getting hungry,” Violet said.

  “Of course.” Her friend laughed. “Just give me a few minutes to enjoy the afterglow of it all.”

  Violet laughed. Her toes and fingers were painted a deep red. Kalia had chosen pink for her nails.

  They dressed a half an hour later. Amedeo sent the car for them. Violet lounged in the back seat, ready to thank her man. She thanked her driver then sent him off to drop Kalia home. The women hugged.

  “Enjoy the rest of your day,” Violet said.

  Kalia just laughed. Amedeo was waiting on the porch. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  “You look so much happier than when I last saw you last.”

  “I feel wonderful.” She put her arms around him. “You are an amazing man.”

  He chuckled. “I have your dinner ready.”

  “I’m hungry, but not for that.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”

  “Yes.”

  In this moment, she felt something for him. Affection? Caring? Appreciation. She didn’t think it was love.

  “Maybe we should eat first. I don’t need you passing out.”

  “I don’t want to eat first,” she said.

  She wanted this man naked. It was that simple. She was feeling lust. That would describe the feeling in her loins. Lust. He’d done something nice and she wanted to thank him. The best way she knew how.

  He nudged her away from him. “I insist.”

  “Then I’m eating naked so you have to see what you’re missing,” she said.

  “Let’s just go eat. No need to get naked. We’ll do that afterwards.”

  “You’re a guy, don’t you want to have sex?”

  “Yes, but I want you to have food in you. It’s important for you and my child.”

  She sighed. “Okay.”

  She followed him into the dining room where he’d set the table with fine china and candles. She stared at it all for a moment, her heart ready to burst. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never eaten macaroni and cheese on the good plates. I’ve never had a good plate.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Nothing but the best for my wife.”

  She laughed. “I’m not really your wife.”

  “Let’s just pretend for now.”

  He pulled out a chair for her. She sat. He served the food with a flourish. She thought it was the best macaroni and cheese with stewed tomatoes she’d ever eaten. He was certainly the best company. He asked all the right questions about her afternoon.

  She had never felt more cared for in her life. She knew this was temporary, but she wanted to enjoy this. Even if it was just for today. Amedeo had seen that she was upset and did his best to make it all better.

  He was a great man and would make someone a great husband someday.

  Too bad it wouldn’t be her.

  The Final Chapter

  Amedeo left a sleeping Violet in bed. He had some work to catch up on since he’d taken the day off. He played with the ring on his finger. He’d insisted that they do it all. Even if he wasn’t inviting his mother, he wanted it all to seem real to Violet.

  He still hadn’t told his mother that he was marrying her. What would she say? He’d have to deal with that at the next dinner. Well, he’d tell the truth. This wasn’t the real marriage. This wasn’t for forever.

  Still. For the duration of the marriage, he was going to be as real a husband to Violet as he could be. He wanted her to know that there are trustworthy men in the world. That she should open her heart again and learn how to pick a good guy. Her future husband will thank him even if he doesn’t know why.

  Even with losing his father, Amedeo’s life had been a fairytale. He missed having a father around, but Dante had stepped in at some point and been the man of the house. He would be forever grateful to his brother for that.

  His mother had been a rock and they’d all grown up to be successful. She’d taught them to work hard and to reach for their dreams.

  He leaned back in his chair, still swirling the ring around his finger. He decided maybe he could entertain getting married again, but he’d be sure of what he was getting into this time. No Tory. No one who was high
maintenance. Someone who appreciated what he did.

  “You look like you’re solving the world’s problems,” Violet said from the doorway. She leaned against the doorjamb, a fluffy robe wrapped around her.

  He smiled at his pregnant wife. The sight of her, carrying his child inside of her, filled him with joy. He was going to be a father. He was going to make his father proud. “I’m not.”

  She pushed off the door then came to sit the chair opposite him. “Then what?”

  He shook his head. “I need to have some secrets.”

  She laughed. “You have as many as you want. I just hate to see you so concerned.”

  “I’m not, really. Just reflecting on the day. How are you feeling?”

  “Still pretty boneless from the spa. Thank you again for that. The whole situation was made better by Kalia being there.”

  “I’m glad you two had a good time. Not to be a buzzkill, but any more messages from your stalker?” he said.

  She shook her head. “Nothing since the flowers. The length of time in between the threats is making me a little crazy. I’m not sure if I should be worried or not.”

  “Not worried. Cautious.”

  She nodded. “Right.”

  She rubbed her tummy absentmindedly. His eyes were drawn to her burgeoning belly. His child. Inside of her. He’d been a little fascinated when Gwen had started showing. This time it was more personal. This was his child. Half his DNA.

  He pondered what the child will look like. He will love it no matter what, he was sure.

  “I’m going to ask Salvatore to look into the message and the florist. He can track down who did it so we know for sure who the threat is.”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  He waved a hand. “It’s done, Violet. You’re not a child who has to be scolded. We all make mistakes.”

  She snorted then looked down at her stomach.

  “This baby is not a mistake. It’s a surprise, yes, Violet, but please don’t refer to our child as a mistake.”

  She nodded. Her hand stilled in one spot on her abdomen. She got a faraway look.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He stood, striding over to her. Was she in pain? She grabbed his hand then put it on her stomach. He felt something underneath his palm.

  “The baby’s moving,” Violet said.