Big Bad Fake Groom: A Billionaire's Virgin Romance

by Tia Siren

  “Do you really care about the flight? That seems like needless small talk,” I replied with a cocked eye.

  “Well, can’t blame a girl for trying,” she said with a shrug.

  I sat my things on a nearby bench and looked her square in the eye.

  “Can we just talk about the elephant in the room and get this over with?” I asked in a pleading manner.

  She swept over and took the seat by my bags, plopping down loudly on the wooden bench.

  “Oh fine,” she started, “but let me say a couple of things quick before you start storming your mouth off at your mother.”

  I let out a drawn-out sigh and took a seat beside her on the bench.

  “Duke isn’t like your father. He’s straightforward and loud, and I like that. Your father was too timid and always too busy for us. Secondly, Duke knows what it means to be a father; he has a son, and his son turned out all right, just like you.”

  “Are you telling me I’m going to have a stepbrother?” I asked.

  “Why yes, and he’s just a little older than you,” she replied with a smile.

  I rested my head in my hands and massaged my temples to ease the headache that was beginning to form.

  “Don’t you think a stepbrother is something you could have told me about over the phone before ambushing me with it in person?”

  She laughed, and it only served to make my head pound even harder.

  “I don’t see why it would really matter.”

  “Mom, I don’t know how to tell you, but this all sounds ridiculous. I’m going to be related to two people I haven’t even met, and didn’t know existed more than a month ago. Don’t you think you’re getting married just a little too quickly?”

  She calmed herself and embraced me as she always had in the past to comfort me. I missed her warm hugs; I didn’t get enough of them when I was living almost an entire country away.

  “I’m at a point where life doesn’t give you anything; all it does is start taking away. So, I scrape and claw to hold on to anything that feels right. This feels right, and I don’t have all the time in the world to be dating. I need someone who’ll take care of me when I’m sick, someone I can depend on.”

  She held me for a few minutes, and I didn’t want it to end. This felt like the end of our simple little family. I was regretting my inability to visit her when she was lonely, and to make it home for all the holidays. She was always my rock when I needed to feel grounded, my wings when I needed to fly. She deserved something real that she could hold on to, and I felt like a jerk for having thought of denying her that satisfaction.

  “I love you, Mom. Whatever crazy decisions you decide to make, I’ll support you.”

  I stood up and wiped the tears that were beginning to form from the corners of my eyes.

  “Let’s meet the man who managed to sweep you off your feet.”

  She clapped her hands and stood up as I snatched my things from the bench. Arm and arm, we strolled from the tiny municipal airport to the old familiar truck she had always driven.

  3.

  To say Otto’s Pub was a popular place would be like comparing it to an oasis. People really only went there because it was the only watering hole in the tiny city that mattered.

  Sure, there were a couple of other bars in the area, but none of them were manned by the famous Otto, who could down a beer in less time than it took you to snap your fingers.

  Our truck sidled into a spot surrounded by several motorcycles.

  “Umm, are you sure this is a good time to be visiting the bar, Mom?” I asked nervously.

  “Trust me, Hel, this is the best time,” she replied with a smile.

  I palmed a small can of mace I kept in my purse, hoping I wouldn’t have to use it.

  She pushed her way through the assembled bikers as though she were a queen, and they parted as such. I felt more than a little embarrassed, and with my head down I followed her inside.

  The old diner was packed. Every plush and colorful booth was overstuffed with men and women of all different sizes and shapes. Through all this, my mother trotted along like this was normal, and I continued to shuffle along behind her.

  We came to a halt in front of a booth that rested against the back wall of the pub, where two men were already sitting with beers that were half drunk.

  “Duke, I’d like to introduce you to my daughter, Hellen,” said my mom, whom promptly pushed me to the forefront to put me on display.

  I felt incredibly uncomfortable with being gawked at by two men I hadn’t previously met. One of them was large, burly, and much older, while the second was tall and muscular with tattoos that ran the length of his arm.

  The younger of the two held my gaze for more than a moment before turning his head away.

  The older of them, who I believed might just be Duke, pried himself from the booth and wrapped his big oafish arms around me in a hug that easily lifted me from the floor.

  “Hellen, your mother, has said some of the sweetest things about you!” he shouted with excitement.

  I smiled awkwardly but couldn’t help but giggle at his silliness.

  “Nice to meet you, Duke,” I said, trying to find my breath in the midst of his tight embrace.

  He returned me to my feet and pulled my mom in close and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.

  “As you can tell, your ma is a real gem.”

  They stared at each other for a time before a look of sudden realization came over Duke.

  “Right! This here is my son, Axel. I think he’s a couple of years older than you, but all things considered, I think you two might just get along.”

  I turned my attention to the man still sitting at the booth. He gave a customary wave before pulling himself to his feet. It seemed he couldn’t quite decide whether to shake my hand or give me a hug, as he held his gloved hand out only to retract it and offer me a hug.

  He was warm as he held me. His skin felt like rough leather, a welcome change when compared to the many soft men I had held over the years. He smelled of grease and oil, and unapologetically so.

  “Ahem,” I heard my mother cough behind me.

  Axel released me, and I realized it had been a little longer than a welcome embrace should have been. I straightened my skirt and hair, returning quickly to my mother’s side.

  “The wedding is on Sunday, so it’s a party tonight. Then Saturday we’ll be going for a fitting. So, don’t drink too much tonight, okay, sweetie?”

  I nodded. My head was loopy from the strain of meeting my new stepfamily so quickly. It was a lot to take in, and I really just wanted to get some sleep. The jet lag wasn’t helping much either.

  “Can I just get some sleep in my room, Mom?” I asked.

  The beer she thrust into my open hand answered that question.

  “Dear, you’re young. Just have some fun tonight and sleep later.” She smiled that naïve smile I had come to recognize as uniquely hers, and I relented with a sip of the cool, frothy beverage in my hand.

  The music grew louder as the night continued. I wanted to be social, but at the same time I didn’t want to get to know a bunch of people I wouldn’t stay in contact with.

  That didn’t mean they wouldn’t try, though.

  I was a petite piece of meat, and I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before one of them decided I was ready for tasting. More than a few men were watching me out of the corner of their eye. They probably didn’t think I noticed, but they were terrible at hiding their lust. It was an odd thing to see, but several of these guys had more than their fair share of bruises and bandages. These were ruffians anyway, so it was to be expected.

  Still, I was used to men ogling me. I liked to stay fit, and in my profession I was always running around, which helped me stay in shape. My measurements weren’t anything to gawk at, but they were plenty enough to attract onlookers and the lustful gazes of men.

  “Hey there, cutie,” said a bald man who walked up to me later in the evenin
g. He had a gap between his teeth that seemed very unbecoming and a smile that made me think he had more on his mind than just conversation.

  “Not interested,” I replied, half tired and half drunk, and not in any mood to flirt.

  He continued toward me, and I thrust my hand into my pocket for my mace.

  “I wasn’t asking,” he replied suggestively.

  A blur streaked by in the corner of my vision, and before I even realized what had happened, the bald man was sprawled out on the floor of the bar.

  Standing over his conquest was Axel, looking at the rest of the bikers with a stern gaze. I could feel the intensity in his eyes without even seeing them. Even Duke gave him a nod.

  “There’s that right hook. I taught him that you know,” shouted Duke from the back.

  I would have laughed at his boast if I weren’t still in shock from the surprise of it all. Axel turned back to me and cracked his knuckles.

  “You okay?” he asked simply.

  I nodded and gestured toward the seat across from me.

  He eased himself into the booth and ordered another drink.

  “Looks like you have experience,” I said with a nervous laugh.

  “If I didn’t keep them in line, they would run wild,” he said.

  “Are you some kind of leader?” I asked.

  “I will be,” he replied.

  “So Duke is the man in charge then,” I said.

  He nodded.

  “You’re not one for talking, are you?”

  He nodded, and I felt a little frustrated by his stoicism.

  “Can we go somewhere you’d be more interested in talking? We’re going to be step-siblings soon, and it might be a good idea to get to know each other a little better before then,” I said.

  He sighed, and by now his drink had arrived, which he took a large gulp from before setting the glass down.

  “Look, you’re a pretty city girl. More than a few of the boys here wouldn’t mind a night with you, and that’s a fact. But I don’t think you’ll be here long enough for it to matter.”

  I took another sip of my drink in an attempt to buy time while I figured out what he meant.

  “So you don’t want to know me because I’ll be leaving soon?” I asked.

  “Exactly,” he replied.

  I leaned back in my seat and could feel the bar spinning around me. It was probably best for me to stop drinking, but I was past the point of realizing that I should stop.

  “You might not want to get to know me, but I want to get to know you. We’re going to be siblings, and that’s at least a little important to me. So, just humor me for a bit, will you?” I pleaded.

  He crossed his arms and scrunched up his face in a look of frustration.

  “Okay, fine,” he said, sighing. “What do you want to know?”

  I leaned forward in the booth again. My curiosity about this enigmatic biker was palpable. He threw punches and smelled like engines. He was a different breed of man, and I was intrigued.

  “What do you do for a living?” I asked.

  “Mechanic,” he replied straightaway. “Next question.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “This isn’t an interrogation,” I said.

  “Next question, please,” he added.

  I giggled, but I didn’t think he understood the humor.

  “What made you want to be a mechanic?” I asked.

  “I know engines, been tuning them since I was five, or at least that’s the earliest I can remember,” he replied.

  “When did a mechanic learn how to throw a punch like that?” I asked.

  “I’ve been fighting since before I was five,” he said.

  I stared at him, doing my best to keep my eyes focused through my drunken haze.

  “So you’ve been working on cars and fighting since you were a kid?”

  He just nodded at my question. He really wasn’t one for many words, and I had no idea how to coax a conversation out of him.

  “All right, I gotta get out of here. I can’t do this tonight. Maybe you’ll be more talkative some other—”

  “What do you do?” he asked, cutting me off.

  He startled me for a second, and for some reason I couldn’t think of the obvious response.

  “I’m a nurse,” I finally managed to say.

  “Why?”

  “I like to help people,” I said.

  “Do you like it?” he asked.

  I wanted to say that I did, but I really didn’t know. It was becoming more of a chore to wake up every day and go to work. The wide-eyed look I had once had was diminishing every year that I continued my work.

  “I do,” I sighed.

  “It doesn’t sound like it,” he said coldly.

  “Whatever I might feel about the work now, it’s what I chose to do.”

  “Why don’t you find something else that you want to do?” he asked.

  “Because all my training is in medicine; what else could I do?”

  “Anything,” he replied.

  I picked up the remaining half of my beer and guzzled it down. He continued to stare at me with that intense look in his eye. I didn’t have any idea what he wanted me to say.

  “I should get some sleep,” I said, excusing myself from the table. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Axel.”

  I offered a hand, and he stood up to accept it, but instead of shaking it he kissed the back. I deigned to say that I felt more than a little flush at this behavior. Perhaps the alcohol was finally taking its due, or perhaps the travel was making me more lightheaded than I thought. Either way there was no way I was attracted to Axel—I thought.

  I pulled myself away and sidled up behind my mom.

  “I need to sleep,” I said.

  She just nodded and pointed to the motel just up the road.

  “I’d offer you your old room, but I’ve since turned it into my craft room. I hope you’re okay in the motel. Here’s the key.”

  She shoved a small hunk of metal and plastic into my hand and then turned back to her company.

  I grabbed my bag from the back of the truck before finding my way to the room I’d be staying in. The entire walk had my head going in circles. I knew that some of it was due to the large amount of alcohol, but I was also still reeling from the kiss I’d received.

  There was nothing wrong with Axel. In fact, there was a lot that I found more than attractive. But I knew that by Sunday he would be my stepbrother, and that would be the end of it all. With that clearly being taken care of, my head cleared a bit.

  4.

  I didn’t remember falling asleep at all, but I must have done it quickly, as I wasn’t under any blankets and I was still wearing my clothes from the previous night.

  My phone woke me up, flashing the big word “mom” across the front.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Hey, sweetie. Hope you didn’t drink too much last night. The fitting is in two hours for your dress. I’ll be by to pick you up.”

  Then the line went dead. At least she’d been brief. Still, I had a lot to get ready for and not a lot of time. First things first: A shower was in order.

  The water worked wonders for waking me up, and I took my sweet time. My mind still lingered on Axel. His powerful build was a sight to behold. He made Mark look like a marshmallow in comparison.

  I giggled when I thought about Mark as a marshmallow. Then the thought of Axel joining me in the shower popped into my head. I wondered what he would really feel like against my skin. Would he be gentle when he held me, or would he take the lead and show me what to do?

  I tried to suppress the thought of it, but like any thought you tried to deny, it just came back stronger. I ran my hands along my soapy skin, lightly caressing the curves of my body.

  I paused and smacked my cheeks a couple of times in an effort to stop myself before I went too far. This was wrong, and I knew better than to let myself get wrapped up in my own fantasies. I quickly finished my shower and to
weled off.

  A knock rang out in the small room, and with the towel still wrapped around me, I glanced out the window to see my mother waiting, so I let her in.

  “I’ll just be a minute. I just need to get dressed,” I said.

  She nodded and took a seat in the one available chair in the room.

  “What do you think of Duke?” she asked.

  I continued to towel off my hair, but the question had caught me by surprise.

  “He is different, but he seems like a good guy. You seem happier when you’re with him. I’m glad there’s someone who can make you that happy, Mom.”

  She smiled from ear to ear. I thought she’d been hoping to get my approval before Sunday, and hearing my positive praise must have set her mind at ease.

  “I’ll go one further. What do you think of his son, Axel?” she asked.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn’t have the words. My head was still wrapped up in my thoughts from the shower, and I knew that if I spoke now the words wouldn’t be so honest.

  “Give me a minute,” I said, buying some time to think of an adequate response.

  “He runs the local auto shop. He’s quite good, I hear,” she said.

  “Mom, whether he’s a good mechanic or not shouldn’t affect my opinion of him,” I said.

  “I know, but he’s a pretty quiet guy. I think I saw him talk more to you last night than I’ve seen him talk to anyone.”

  I set about putting on my underwear.

  “He seems all right,” I said, just looking for something to say.

  “All right?” she asked.

  “What are you expecting me to say? He’s going to be my new stepbrother. Should I say that I think he’s attractive, or that I want him to fix my car?”

  She laughed.

  “I just wanted you to say that you think I’m making the right choice. Your approval means a lot to this old woman. And, while I’d still probably get married without it, you’re the only one I can count on right now. I love you, sweetie,” she said.

  I slipped on a pair of leggings and a comfy shirt.

  “I love you too, Mom. Let’s get out of here,” I said.

  She led me out to the truck, and the two of us set upon the road. We didn’t travel extremely far, and we continued to chat like we had when I was still living at home. She grilled me on my situation with Mark and discussed what a creep he was. I assured her that his chance was over and I had no interested in returning. I was glad my mom always had my back when it came to matters of the heart.