The Unexpected Husband (Captured by Love Book 8)

by Miranda P. Charles

  “Why is their family problem of any concern to you?” Carter said, narrowing his eyes at him.

  Tristan scrunched his face in frustration. “I don’t know. But what do I do with Paige? She’s the mother of my child.”

  “You could still give her your full support even if her parents lose their business, couldn’t you?” Gavin asked. “Refusing to be part of their fake marriage plan doesn’t change the fact that you’ll still be honouring your responsibilities towards your child. Unless, of course…”

  “Unless what?”

  Gavin shrugged, but his eyes were watching him intently. “Unless it’s your heart and not your brain you’re listening to.”

  “Of course I’m listening to my heart. I love my baby!”

  “And Paige?”

  “She’s the mother of my child!”

  Gavin and Carter exchanged knowing glances.

  “What?”

  “Will you be keeping your hands off her when you’re in your fake marriage?” Carter asked.

  Tristan reddened so deeply that he could almost see the heat coming off his face.

  Gavin sighed. “We’re not against you falling for Paige, Tristan. I actually think it’s cool since you guys are having a baby. We’re just worried about what it might mean for you down the track—if things become more complicated than any of us expected.”

  Tristan stood up from his seat and paced the room. He got where his buddies were coming from. Was he letting his attraction to Paige stand in the way of good sense?

  It would serve him better if held a higher level of suspicion against Paige. But for the life of him, he couldn’t muster enough of it.

  As for love…

  Yes, he was falling for her.

  Fuck. Now that the L word was out in the open, he was starting to get scared. Hadn’t people walked to their ruin because their feelings had blinded them to the truth? Was this happening to him right now?

  He stared out the window and a young couple with a baby attracted his attention. The man was pushing the pram, and his wife or girlfriend linked her arm with his as they chatted merrily.

  Tristan smiled. He and Paige would need to get a baby stroller soon, and only the best would do.

  Damn it, he wanted to play happy family with Paige and his baby. That would never happen if he rescinded his agreement with Paige.

  He turned to his buddies. “Please focus your investigations on why Larry and Debbie insist I was too late in purchasing the club when I know the timeline doesn’t support that claim. I want to know what they’re hiding or protecting. As for marrying Paige, I’m going ahead with it. I just can’t leave her in the lurch. My lawyers are already working on the prenup and making sure it’s airtight, so that’s one less thing for me to worry about.”

  “Okay,” Gavin said. “For your sake, I hope we find nothing against Paige.”

  “Thanks. I’m pretty sure you won’t. But if you do, then that’s when I’d start worrying about that part.”

  “So now let’s move on to more important things,” Carter said. “When will we receive our invite to your wedding?”

  Tristan chuckled. “We’re eloping! I don’t even know where. I do feel sorry for Paige that she has to organise a secret wedding with all the drama happening with her parents. She’s so stressed right now.”

  “Hey, I’m sure our wives will be happy to help if you ask them,” Gavin said.

  Tristan brightened. “Hey, that’s an idea!” He trusted Natasha and Cassie like he trusted Gavin and Carter. Since Paige couldn’t afford to tell anyone on her side about her upcoming wedding, it might be up to him to arrange one that would look like a proper event well planned by a couple in love, not some kind of hurried celebrations that would raise the trustees’ suspicions.

  It could even be a surprise for Paige. Wouldn’t that be good?

  Loud sighs from his buddies interrupted him. He found them shaking their heads at him, albeit with understanding smiles on their faces.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing, dude,” Gavin said with a smirk. “We just hope everything works out for you because you’re a lost cause already.”

  “Hey!” he protested.

  “I suppose you can always reconcile with your in-laws, go into a business partnership with them, and all of you can live happily ever after,” Carter said.

  Tristan smirked. Seriously, he might just do that to end all the drama—as long as Larry and Debbie agreed to stop their slanderous accusations.

  Chapter 10

  Paige was putting on her earrings when her phone rang. Darn it. What did her father want? Tristan would be arriving soon to pick her up for dinner, and she didn’t want any interruptions while she was getting ready and daydreaming about him.

  “Hi, Dad.”

  “Hello, Paige. How are you feeling?”

  “Good, thanks.”

  “Come and have dinner with me and your mother.”

  “Oh, I can’t. I’m going out.”

  “With whom?”

  “Bernadette,” she lied.

  “Cancel it, please? We need to talk about a few things.”

  “I can’t, Dad. This is important for Bernadette.”

  “But your mother and I are going on a golfing weekend with some friends, including Curtis’s parents. We’d like to be able to discuss your wedding with them over the next couple of days.”

  “Dad, I’m telling you that marrying Curtis won’t work. Tristan won’t agree to anyone else being known as the father of his baby.”

  “Let your mother and me worry about Tristan. Just focus on what you have to do so the trustees will release your money.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously. “Do you plan to talk to Tristan? What are you gonna say to him?”

  “Paige,” Larry said patiently. “We’re already asking too much of you. I don’t want you worrying about Tristan too. Just avoid him and don’t talk to him. We’ll get our problems with him sorted out.”

  “Are you going to settle your dispute with him? It’s a good idea, you know. That’ll be one less problem for you.”

  “I said don’t worry about it. Leave Tristan to us.”

  “I can’t leave it alone, though, Dad. I was the one who told him about my pregnancy.”

  “And there’s still no paternity test to confirm that. Look, I bet Tristan’s hoping you’re wrong. I think if we tell him you made a mistake, he’ll be relieved.”

  She suppressed a sigh. What would her dad say if he knew they’d already received the results of the test? But she wasn’t prepared to let him in on her own little secret.

  “I really can’t have dinner with you tonight, Dad,” she said. “Bernadette’s expecting me and I’m not cancelling on her.”

  Larry let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. We’ll talk on Monday, then.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  She let out a heavy breath as she put the phone down. What a downer. And she still had four weeks to fob her parents off. She had no idea how she’d manage that.

  She guessed she’d just have to take it day by day. Otherwise, she’d cave from the pressure.

  Bzzzzz.

  Her heart jumped at the sound of her security intercom and she hurried to answer it. “Tristan?”

  “Yep!”

  Paige let him in the building and smoothed her skirt. Crazy how fast her heart was racing all of a sudden. She went back to her room to recheck herself in the mirror.

  This was really happening. She and Tristan were actually dating.

  He knocked on her door and she excitedly went to open it. Lord, Tristan looked good enough to eat in dark jeans and blue slim-fit sweater.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Tristan said, his gaze on her soft as he closed the door behind him. “I missed you.”

  Every cell in her body melted at his declaration. Before she totally swooned, she lunged herself at him.

  Tristan caught her, chuckling, then kissed her so thoroughly it took her breath away.<
br />
  She was panting hard when they came up for air. “Wow,” she breathed.

  “Yeah,” Tristan said, keeping her close within the circle of his arms. “Best hello kiss I’ve ever had.”

  She giggled. “Are you trying to flatter me?”

  “Excuse me,” Tristan said with feigned indignation. “I was honestly complimenting my future bride.”

  Oh God, if he continued in that vein, she’d dissolve into a puddle at his feet. Emboldened, she tightened her arms around his neck, letting the length of her body feel him. “So am I technically your girlfriend or your fiancée?”

  Tristan frowned in thought, as if something had just occurred to him. “You don’t have an engagement ring.”

  She blushed. “I hope you don’t think I was angling for one. I have a solitaire diamond ring that my grandmother left me, which I never wear because it looks so much like an engagement ring. I’ll use that. Even my friends won’t know it’s always been mine. But we do need to get wedding rings before the wedding—which I haven’t had the chance to book yet.” She sighed, the thought overwhelming her.

  “Need my help with wedding stuff?”

  “Yes, please! I don’t see how I can make the necessary arrangements when people at work can hear my phone conversations. My dad’s also pressuring me to discuss my wedding to Curtis that they have no idea is never gonna happen. I honestly don’t know how I can hold them off for one whole month. Hey, maybe we can fly to Vegas and get married there next week!”

  Tristan laughed.

  “I’m only half-joking, you know. I wish there was a way of shortening that Notice of Intended Marriage requirement.”

  “Why don’t you leave it with me?”

  “The wedding?” she asked in surprise.

  “Yeah. I know you can’t ask your friends or family to help because of the situation, but I can.”

  She gazed at him warily. “This is such a sensitive secret, Tristan.”

  “I know. You don’t have anything to worry about. I guarantee you they can keep secrets. I trust them one hundred percent.”

  She bit her lip, uncertain.

  Tristan cupped her face. “Please don’t worry. I promise you your parents won’t know until it’s all done, and the trustees will buy it hook, line and sinker.”

  Ah, he could be so persuasive. “Okay, thank you.”

  “So you’re okay for some of my family and friends to help?”

  She nodded, hoping this decision wouldn’t come back to haunt her.

  “And if I can manage a wedding in less than a month, you’re okay with that too?”

  “How would you do that? They’d only agree to shorten the notice in extraordinary circumstances.”

  “I think we can try. My grandmother is going to live with my sister’s family in the US for a year so she can also spend some time with my grandfather’s relatives who live there. She’s leaving in less than three weeks. I’ll see if she wouldn’t mind us using her trip as an excuse to shorten the notice so we can get married before she leaves the country.”

  “That’ll be great,” she said hopefully.

  “I’ll see what I can do. Ready for dinner?”

  “Yes.”

  In fact, she was ready for more than dinner.

  Paige inspected the contents of her small suitcase, ensuring she hadn’t forgotten anything she might need for the next few days. Her attention was caught by the simple but beautiful white dress hanging outside her wardrobe. She’d only bought it yesterday, and she was so relieved to have found something so perfect at the last minute.

  She still couldn’t believe it. She was getting married to Tristan. Today. He was able to pull off a wedding with only two weeks’ notice.

  She had to admit to being surprised that his grandmother had readily agreed to help Tristan out. Unfortunately, Tristan’s nan believed that her grandson was getting married for real.

  Gosh, that was wreaking havoc with Paige’s nervous system. They were no longer eloping. They were having a full-on wedding with real guests!

  It was turning out to be a blessing in disguise, though. Tristan was going to hire a photographer and publicist so they could attract the attention of the trustees through the media. Hopefully, that would give the trustees cause to start the ball rolling with the release of her trust money.

  She shivered as she thought of her parents. They’d be livid. They thought she’d taken the week off work to get herself used to the idea of marrying Curtis.

  She still couldn’t believe they’d bought the lie, and she still felt uncomfortable at tricking her folks. But this was a case of the end justifying the means. That was what she’d told herself to lessen her guilt.

  “Paige, you ready?” Bernadette asked.

  She smiled at her maid of honour. Out of all her friends, only Bernadette knew what was going on, and she was the only “guest” from her side to attend the wedding. Paige’s eyes watered.

  “Hey, none of that!” Bernadette ordered. “You’ll ruin my beautiful handiwork.”

  She chuckled as Bernadette dabbed a tissue on the corners of her eyes, careful not to ruin her makeup. “I don’t know why I’m being so emotional. It’s only a fake wedding!”

  “A real wedding, but a fake marriage,” Bernadette corrected. “And you have every right to be emotional. You’re putting a shitload of responsibility on your shoulders, not to mention marrying the hunk who got you pregnant—who also happened to be your parents’ Public Enemy Number One.”

  “Why, thanks so much for a such a precise summary of the situation,” she said sarcastically.

  “On top of that,” Bernadette said pointedly, “said hunk has enthusiastically done all the wedding prep, which shows just how eager he is to marry you.”

  Paige laughed dryly. “Not for the reasons people would think. As you know, he’s doing this for the baby. He’s read about high levels of stress affecting a baby’s development in the womb.”

  Bernadette snickered. “Honey, if the man weren’t sleeping with you, I’d be inclined to buy that line. But since you’ve recently been going for a ride on his hot rod, that excuse sounds so poor.”

  She widened her eyes at her best friend. “How do you know I’ve been sleeping with him?”

  “You’ve stopped complaining about how horny you always are, and you always look… satisfied.” Bernadette waved a hand over her face.

  Paige laughed. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m that transparent.”

  “You’ve always had the worst poker face in the world. That’s why I’m sure the trustees would never suspect all this is being done to fool them. One look at your face and they’ll know you’re in love with your groom.”

  Paige gasped.

  “Don’t worry. You’re supposed to look in love anyway.” Bernadette linked her arm with hers and led her towards the living room.

  “I have another job for you today,” Paige said.

  “What?”

  “Check out Tristan. See if you can tell how he really feels about me. Me. Not the baby. And I’m not talking about physical chemistry, because I already know the answer to that. I want to know if there’s any chance we can make a go of this marriage thing.”

  “Gosh, you’re such a demanding bride,” Bernadette teased. “But okay, I’ll try my best to use my extrasensory powers to read his heart.”

  A knock on the door interrupted their laughter, and Bernadette answered it. The driver Tristan had hired to take them to their secret wedding location had arrived. He introduced himself as Drew.

  “Here’s all our stuff,” Bernadette said, showing Drew their suitcases.

  Drew took all their things. “I’ll wait for you ladies downstairs,” he said.

  “Okay,” Paige said.

  Bernadette opened her handbag to inspect it. “Wallet, keys, phone and makeup. I don’t think I’ve left anything behind.”

  Paige reached for her friend and gave her a tight hug. “Thank you, Bernie. I don’t know what I’ll do witho
ut you.”

  “Hey, you’re more than welcome,” Bernadette answered. “Thank you for trusting me.”

  “Always. Now let’s go to my secret wedding venue before I pass out from the suspense.”

  “I can’t wait to see where we’re going,” Bernadette said as they got into the elevator.

  “Me too. I don’t know why Tristan thinks it’s better to surprise me. I’m already so nervous, knowing that several of his family and friends will be in attendance.”

  “Do they all think this is real?”

  Paige shook her head. “Tristan said his parents and some of his best friends know the truth. But the other guests don’t, including the photographer, his publicist, and his grandmother, who helped with shortening the wait for this wedding. We have to put on a show for them too. At least it’s easy to explain why I don’t have anyone else but you attending my wedding. They’re all aware of Tristan’s dispute with my parents, and were told that I don’t want any drama on my big day. But I’m so scared of how my parents will react once they find out. I bet my dad will be worse than an erupting volcano.”

  Bernadette squeezed her hand. “They’ll get over it once you have the millions to lend them.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I wonder if there’ll be good-looking single guys there.”

  Paige chuckled. “I do know that Tristan’s best man—Derek McCarthy—is single.”

  Bernadette gasped. “You didn’t tell me that. So he’s a looker?”

  “Yup. I caught a glimpse of him that night I went to Tristan’s club to tell him about my pregnancy.”

  “Good! Can’t wait.”

  Paige laughed. “I wonder if we can get our driver to tell us where we’re going before we get there. What’s his name again? Drew?”

  “Yeah, Drew,” Bernadette answered as they stepped out into a cool but gorgeous sunshiny day.

  Drew stood next to the open passenger door of a black limousine, smiling at them.

  Paige and Bernadette got in the car, chuckling that they had this enormous vehicle all to themselves.

  “Would you ladies care for a glass of champagne?” Drew asked.