Seducing the Billionaire's Brother

by Marquita Valentine

  Engaged to him. Secretly married. “If either one of those two things were true, would they stop talking about you?”

  “Probably not, but I think they’d stop ignoring me because of my last name... or potential last name,” she said slowly. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I think if someone wants to blow smoke my way, then I should provide them the fire.”

  “I’m not following.”

  He smiled. “We’re getting married... only I don’t feel like we should keep it a secret.”

  16

  FAITH

  “YOU’RE RIDICULOUS.” Faith laughed in his face. She had to because otherwise, she’d cry even harder at her situation—broke, jobless, and owing two hundred thousand to the mob, most likely. “We can’t just get married, and I do not want some weird contract with a ton of dos and don’ts either like your brother did with his wife.”

  “That’s because you’re sane and so am I,” he said, flashing another sexy smile.

  “You don’t sound very sane right now.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Listen, what’s important is that you pay off the gambling debt, have work friends, find the missing design book so we can tell my brother to shove your termination up his ass at the next family dinner, and live happily ever after. Marrying me will achieve all of that.”

  “Did one of the romance novels hit you on the head by accident while you were shelving them?” she asked slowly.

  “You have to admit my idea is a good one.”

  “Uhhh...no I don’t.”

  “Do I have to remind you that you ordered me to ask you to marry me when I was sober?”

  She gaped at him. “That was six years ago! Plus, you were joking. Maybe. I mean...how in the world do you remember that? You were out of your mind, literally, over your momma’s death.”

  His lips thinned. “I remember a lot of things, like when you ogled me instead of helping me get dressed.”

  Her cheeks heated. “Not Colorado again. Your penis was practically wagging in my face, like a flagpole in a tornado. I couldn’t get your britches on fast enough.”

  “Britches?”

  “Pants. You know what I mean.” She narrowed her eyes again. “You are so maddening. I liked your other proposal better, by the way, out of your mind or not.”

  “Only because we weren’t talking about my penis, which I should thank you for comparing to a flag pole in terms of length... only I’m not sure if that’s a compliment since many of them aren’t thick. Girthwise, I’m—”

  She slammed her hand over his mouth. “Stop talking about your penis. It’s enormous in every way possible. So awesome, too. Better?”

  “Much.” He licked her hand and she snatched it away. “Ah, the memories of prom.”

  “We’re weren’t talking about your penis then either.”

  “No, we were talking about the trouble my mouth got into.”

  “In what world is this a real marriage proposal?” she muttered.

  “Our world, I guess.” He braced his hand on the wall behind her. “Marry me, Faith. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  You’ll find out that I’ve loved you for years and I’ll find out you don’t feel the same way. “People would talk.”

  “At least it would be true.”

  “You’re not banging me in the library every time you visit.”

  He cocked a brow. “I could make that a true statement.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “I prefer Connor.” He smirked at her, this lazy, sexy smile that made her pulse race and heat pool between her thighs. “I guess I wouldn’t care if you confused the two.”

  “I don’t even know you right now.” She waved a hand in front of her face, trying to cool her cheeks. “Is this how you talk to your potential... lady friends.”

  “This is how I tease you.” He cupped one of her cheeks. “You are so damn pretty when you blush. I don’t know any women who do that.”

  “So you were teasing me about marrying you?” Her heart sank. She didn’t want it to, but it felt as confused as the rest of her right now.

  “No. We’re getting married, lass.” He moved his hand from her cheek to her right hand. “You’re already wearing my ring.”

  “But that’s the wrong hand.”

  He slipped the ring off and placed it on her ring finger. “Problem solved. Do you have any other objections to taking my last name, lass?”

  “What will this accomplish?”

  “Loads of things—you’ll have the protection of my last name. The money that comes with it and best of all, my brother’s security team can’t refuse to let you board any of our jets.”

  “It sounds like you’re more interested in besting your brother.”

  “I consider it a wedding present from my bride.” His accent was thicker than it had ever been, except when he was truly tired or really excited about something.

  “Well, I don’t think saying that I’m your bride actually makes me your bride.”

  “Chris, get in here,” he suddenly yelled, scaring the crap out of her.

  “Sir?”

  “Find a preacher who can be in my office, ready to marry Ms. Holt and me, in the next ten minutes.”

  “Right away.”

  “What about—don’t you need to file paperwork or something?” Faith asked, trying to stall for time, for sanity... for someone to come in and say: just kidding.

  “Ye of little faith in my hacking skills.” He left her, moving to sit behind his desk. She watched as he powered up the computer and moved his fingers over the keyboard.

  Less than two minutes later, Chris entered the office. “Pastor Rigby will be here any minute. And these are for you. Hilda and I have already signed as witnesses.”

  Connor flashed him a smile. “And here’s your raise.” He tapped the enter key. “Leave those on my desk.”

  Chris’s face didn’t change expression. “Happy to assist you and you too, Mrs. Montgomery.”

  Faith started when she realized the he meant her. “Uh, thank you.”

  “Be sure to spread the word that Faith and I are really married. I finally convinced her after years and years of begging.”

  “Years?” Chris gave Faith an ‘are you crazy look’.

  “So many nights she tortured me in my dreams.” Connor exhaled, looking for all the world like a man denied the very thing he needed to exist. “She wouldn’t take my money. Wouldn’t accept my gifts—except on birthdays, you understand.”

  “Perfectly.”

  “It wasn’t until I tattooed her name on my heart that she could see how serious I was. I’d sworn off women for years.”

  “Mmm-hmm,” Faith said. He was really laying it on thick and lying. He only had one tattoo and that was on his back.

  “Two years, to be honest.”

  “Really?” Chris said.

  Faith coughed. “Bullcrap.”

  “Fine.” He leveled her with a look. “It was after you helped me out in Colorado.”

  “But the press said you were dating—”

  Chris leaned over. “I don’t think you should argue with him. It’s clear he’s insane.”

  “Clearly,” Faith agreed.

  “Insanely in love with this woman, absolutely,” Connor countered and Faith glared at him.

  “Yeah, awesome. I’ll spread the news. Preacher’s here. I’ll show him up.” Chris left the office.

  “Brilliant.” Connor clapped his hands, rubbing them together. “I only have two rules I’d like in place in our marriage.”

  Gone was the teasing man she knew and in his place was one she barely recognized.

  “And those are?”

  “You’re not, under any circumstances, allowed to give your dad money. I’ll be handling his financial needs from now on. But I won’t forbid you from seeing him.”

  Like he could do that. “And the other?”

  “First, do you agree?”

  “Sure. Why not? Maybe he’ll actually
listen to you.” The past few days had been nothing short of crazy, so why wouldn’t her best friend act the same way. “What’s next?”

  “Monogamy.”

  She recoiled from him. “I’m not the type to cheat—”

  “It’s not a rule for you. It’s one I want you to give me.”

  Her heart slammed against her chest. “But you—you’ve never been monogamous. Like, ever. I mean, I know this and I always try to avoid anything that has to do with your hook-ups.”

  “I’ve never been married before.” He cleared his throat. “Tell me your rule for me, Faith. Make me swear it.”

  “I don’t.... Connor, please.” She wasn’t sure what she was pleading. All she knew was that she felt like everything was changing between them and had been ever since she’d taken a job here.

  “You’re wearing my ring, lass. Make me worthy of claiming you. Put us both out of our lonely existence.”

  His words filled her soul, filled her heart in the empty places that had formed over the years. “Swear to be faithful to me,” she whispered hoarsely.

  “Until the day I die.”

  She licked her lips. “Then I’ll marry you.”

  “I’ll take care of everything.” He stood, crossing the small distance between them and taking her in his arms. “We don’t need a prenup. I refuse to sign a contract that treats our marriage like a business arrangement.”

  Faith started to argue with him, then stopped when she realized that he wouldn’t be swayed. “Whatever you want, Connor.”

  He smirked. “My favorite four words.

  17

  CONNOR + DREW

  SUBJECT: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMNED MIND

  -D

  SUBJECT: OUT OF OFFICE MESSAGE

  I will be out of my office until further notice while I honeymoon with my new bride. If this is an emergency, please call Chris at ext 76453

  -Connor

  SUBJECT: CALL ME

  You are not authorized for vacation at this time.

  -Drew

  SUBJECT: BITE ME

  I am authorized to act on your behalf during the meeting with the London execs... unless you want to explain the flaws in the Sentinel program to them. Oh, and how to fix it.

  -Connor

  18

  FAITH

  THEY WERE MARRIED—REALLY and truly married by a rather confused-looking preacher, but he’d done his job and now it was official. They were an official couple.

  Honestly, she expected his brother to show up, cause a scene and maybe even try to get her kicked off the plane at any moment. Most likely, his opinion of her wasn’t any different from his employees.

  “We can board now,” Connor said, taking her by the hand and leading up the flight of stairs. “Apparently, my brother decided that we could use the company jet for our honeymoon. I think that’s a good cover while we search for the design book. Plus, I had to remind him of the meeting I’m attending in his place, in London, with the board.”

  “It’s an excellent disguise... I think,” she replied, her emotions whirling.

  “I need to speak with the pilot.” He kissed her slowly, taking her breath away until she realized that he was most likely doing it for show. “I’ll be back.”

  “I’ll be here.” She touched the tips of her fingers to her lips, trying to keep the warmth of his mouth from escaping for as long as possible.

  “Welcome aboard, Mrs. Montgomery. May I offer you a beverage?

  “Yes. Coke and ice if you have it.”

  Immediately, a glass was pressed into her hand. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m Jennifer and it’s my pleasure to give you a tour of the plane before we takeoff this evening.”

  “So nice to meet you. I’m Faith. I’ve never been on a private jet before—well not one quite so large.” Connor’s jet was sleek and compact, and their flights had been confined to the US and Mexico. “I assume the rules are the same.” She took a sip of her drink, hoping she didn’t sound unsophisticated. She could only imagine the people who’d flown on this jet—royalty, dignitaries, actors, senators... basically the who’s who of the western world.

  “You would be correct.” Jennifer moved to a large, leather recliner with the Montgomery crest sewn into the headrest. “But as a friendly reminder, you’ll need to wear a seatbelt during takeoff and right before we land. Otherwise, you’re free to roam about the cabin. Emergency exits are here and there.”

  “Do I sit here, or can I sit in the living room for takeoff?” Honestly, she was shocked at how much it looked like a high end, albeit high-tech living room, complete with coffee table in front of a sofa that faced a large flat screen TV.

  “We have several recliners for you to choose from. The sofas in the living room are for in-flight use only, or if we’re waiting on the runway. When you’re not required to be belted in, you have free rein of upper floor as well.”

  She blinked at the woman a couple of times, unsure if she heard Jennifer correctly. “There’s a second floor?”

  “We’ll get there, eventually.” Jennifer smiled. “First, I’ll show you one of the four most important rooms on the plane. At least to me.”

  Faith laughed. “Bathroom?”

  “You got it and even better—”

  “How can there be an even better?” Faith asked, her curiosity at an all-time high.

  Jennifer opened the door, revealing a room done in white with gold accents. “It’s a full sized bathroom, complete with a shower and tub. There is another one in the master bedroom and then a third for the two guest rooms to share. The fourth is a powder room.”

  “I’m pretty sure I saw this on Instagram as hashtag bathroom goals,” Faith said faintly.

  “That would be my doing.”

  Faith almost jumped out of her skin. She slapped her hand against her chest, whirling on Connor. “You scared me.”

  “My apologies.” He leaned against the wall, nodding at Jennifer who made herself scarce. “I’ll conduct the rest of the tour.”

  As he held out his arm to her, she wondered what he was up to because Connor was always up to something. “Hello, wife.”

  “Hello, husband.”

  “Refill?” another crew member asked.

  “I think I’ll wait until after takeoff,” she replied and the man took her mostly empty glass.

  “You don’t have to, you know. You can have anything you want, anytime you want it. Just like before... only this time, you’ll be taken care of as my wife.”

  This close she couldn’t keep her gaze off his full lips. This close she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the way they moved to form words. This close, her body was dangerously aware of the tall, leanly muscled man who stood mere inches away and was now more than just her best friend.

  “I don’t want to be a diva.”

  He arched a brow. “That could never happen.”

  “Please find your seats. We’ve been cleared for departure.”

  Connor took her hand. “Are you nervous? We haven’t flown so far before and you tend to woozy.”

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, butterflies multiplying in her tummy as he escorted her to a seat and took the one beside it.

  “You don’t look fine.” He led her to a row of seats and made her sit before doing the same in the chair beside hers. “Whatever you need, I bet it’s on here or I can have someone get it for you. ”

  She fought against the urge to cry and to throw herself in his arms. “It’s been a long day and I’m hungry.”

  His mouth lifted into a lop-sided grin. “Don’t worry, I’ll feed you. It’s top on my list.”

  Faith smiled in return. “There was never a doubt...but uh, when do you think we can actually eat?”

  Connor threw his head back and laughed. “There’s my girl.”

  “WHEN YOU SAID LET’S eat dinner while we watch a movie, I thought you meant in the living room.” She took in the fifteen-seat movie theater with its retro interior and gia
nt screen. The seats looked even more comfortable in here and when she ran a hand over the closest one, feeling only the softest of material, she whimpered a little. “The seats are made of velvet?”

  Connor smiled one of his devastatingly handsome smiles and put his hand on her lower back. “I assume that meets your approval.”

  Faith wanted to touch him back, explore the width of his shoulders and feel how hard and fast she could get his heart to beat. Moreover, she wanted to encourage him to touch her anytime he felt the need.

  But this was new territory for her. For them. Friends didn’t touch one another in intimate areas reserved for lovers.

  “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” he asked, and her legs suddenly became jelly.

  “I’m... actually, I don’t know.” She whirled her hand in the air. “This seems like a fantasy to me.”

  “While it feels very real to me.” His hand splayed wider, fingers almost touching the top of her ass.

  If he moved his hand lower, he could cup a cheek. Pull her closer and she’d rub against him shamelessly. Her nipples hardened at the thought.

  “Tell me what to do to make your fantasy reality.”

  She sucked in a breath and turned her attention to his sexy face, the words kiss me lodge in her throat. But his hand didn’t move another inch and his face—his beautifully planed face was emotionless... except for his simmering eyes.

  “Chocolate covered pineapple,” she said finally, chickening out.

  His lips quirked and finally, finally the rest of him became the Connor she knew since childhood. “I’ll make sure that they don’t contaminate it with strawberries. Can’t have an allergic reaction on your very first trip to London.”

  “Tell them no pine nuts for you, or you’ll end up looking like Will Smith in Hitch, wandering around in the pharmacy looking for Benadryl,” she replied. “Pharmacy Will Smith is not pretty.”

  “Consider it done.” His hand fell away as he moved to the other side of the room, picking up a sleek phone. “We’re ready for our dinner and a movie.”