She was right he realized, they had both moved on and whether or not it was her mother’s fault that he left. Too much time had passed for them to just pick up where they left off. The only way forward was to continue with this arranged marriage, get the deal and then go their separate ways and at least come to some visitation arrangement so that he can also get to see his son grow up.
Chapter 8
Paige sat at the dinner table with Hunter on her left, and Gregory Johnson on the right. She had to give it to Hunter; he knew how to sell a convincing story. While he so casually told the Johnsons about how the two star crossed lovers met and how they refused to let anything stand in their way of happiness, the Johnsons were sucking up every last bit of detail like fudge at a fair.
In the four weeks that passed since her arrival, Paige and Hunter somehow managed to be civil and ignore the obvious sexual tension that seemed to grow between them each and every day, and considering the fact that they weren’t complete strangers, this dinner date was going to be a breeze.
“So tell me Paige, Hunter told me you studied journalism?” Anne, Gregory’s wife asked curiously as she picked the olives from her plate.
At least Hunter remembered what she studied, but was he aware she never finished, she wondered.
“Yes, I did, but I am yet to complete my studies,” she said and smiled at Anne ‘having a child made it slightly more difficult to focus on college.”
“I can imagine, it must have been difficult raising him all on your own,” the statement hung heavily in the air, and suddenly Paige wanted to get away. Regardless of the fact that she is soon to be Hunter’s wife for a while, his circle of so-called friends would always look down at her. Feeling sorry for the poor mother with an illegitimate child, if only they knew that the Joshua was Hunter’s.
She smiled and politely excused herself then headed upstairs to where Joshua was busy playing video games, she could hardly believe that the next day was her final dress fitting, and in less than three days she would be married. But she had to constantly remind herself that this was only a temporary arrangement. Although they shared that kiss in the study and they both felt the obvious physical pull, there could never be anything more between them.
Hunter was spending more time with Joshua and building a relationship with his son, they looked like a genuine happy family in the making. But Paige knew better, and with the approach of the wedding she felt more and more as if she was drowning in misery.
Eventually her castle of dreams would be tumbling down and she would undoubtedly be left to fend for herself and her son, all on her own – again.
Chapter 9
Hunter soon excused himself form the dinner table to go check on Paige, over the past few weeks, he started to get to know her on a different level, and instead of his preconceived notion that she was a gold digger seeking the easy way out by marrying a rich man, he saw a refined woman, who despite her challenges in life, managed to not only get by, but raise a very clever young man.
As expected he found her in the study, paging through a book.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m fine,” she replied without turning around.
“Paige, you can tell me what’s on your mind,” he insisted.
After a moment she turned around, “I don’t fit into your world Hunter, neither does Joshua,” she said solemnly, wrapping her arms around her.
“What are you talking about, you fit in perfectly.”
“No I don’t, your friends look down on me, they expected you to be with a like-minded woman who fits into their world of glamor and riches, did you see the look on their faces when I told them I never completed my studies?” she asked him accusingly.
“They are not my friends and their expectations are of no relevance,” he said stepping closer to her, “and the sooner this deal is through, the sooner they will be out of our lives.”
Hunter could detect the inner conflict that looted her mind, and although he could hardly relate, he wanted her to feel more at ease, feel confident and undeterred by what others think.
She sighed and shook her head, “The thing is, I’m worried that Joshua will grow accustomed to this lifestyle, and the longer we stay, the more he slips into the hope that this is what he’ll have for the rest of his life, and it’s all a lie, Hunter,” she said pleadingly.
Hunter regarded her thoughtfully, realizing that she’s looking for an excuse to get out of this temporary arrangement, and although this deal meant everything to him, his priorities had started to shift ever so slightly.
“Why can’t this be the life for Joshua?” he asked.
“Because the day I walk away from here, all this will be nothing but a memory,” she said dejectedly.
The thought about her leaving did not sit well with him and although he refused to admit it to himself he was growing more and more accustomed to this small family circle even though it was all a sham.
Paige sighed softly and closed her eyes, she had this constant reminder like a dark cloud hanging overhead, that this was only a temporary arrangement, and what scared her most was that her little boy loved it here. Her motherly instincts were to protect him, but also to see him happy, and if being here made him this happy, then maybe was time she considered her options. There was always the option of shared custody, she thought, but first she was going to have to tell him that Hunter was his dad.
Lost in her own train of thought, she didn’t notice it when Hunter closed the study door, but the single click of the lock drew her attention and when she looked at him she felt a shiver of anticipation run through her.
“Paige,” he started towards her, “we can work this out.”
He stood so close to her she could feel the heat of his body radiate and incinerate her, and as his strong hands framed her face he looked into her eyes, and dropped his head, pressing his lips almost desperately against hers.
His lips were warm and she willingly parted hers, allowing him to explore her mouth, it was a hot devastating kiss that caused her to lose all common sense, and instead of fighting the obvious desire she felt deep within her, she returned his kiss with the longing that had been haunting her since the day she arrived realizing her mystery groom was her long lost love.
His mouth shifted and he deepened the kiss drawing her closer against him, his arousal evident and her need for him escalated. Against all odds, she still loved him, and if this was all she would take with her when she left, then so be it.
She untucked his shirt, and slid her hands inside, and with trembling fingers she mapped the planes of his stomach and slid her fingers further up his chest, as he sucked in a breath she smiled against his lips and then withdrew her hands only to move to the buttons, but as she started to unbutton his shirt, he caught her hands. But it was too late to stop now, and she simply swatted his hands away and undid his shirt.
“Paige, we have guests?” he objected breathlessly.
“And what of it, they can enjoy the dessert,” she countered and pressed her lips against his left pectoral, inhaling his scent.
Hunter’s body was fighting his logical thought process, he couldn’t remember when last he was so reckless but as Paige pressed her lips against his heated skin his control slipped. He bent his knees and tucked his hands under her thighs, and in one swift motion he lifted her and she wound her legs around his waist. He took two quick strides and plunged her down on the large sofa, nestling himself between her legs. He eagerly slid his one hand down from her knee to her bottom shifting her dress further up. She felt much softer than she did all those years ago, her curves were more accentuated and in place of the scrawny young girl he met six years ago, she was now a full bodied sensual woman that constricted the blood flow to his rational brain. As much as he would rather take his time exploring every inch of this new woman, time and patience was not on his side. His body had been burning like a simmering volcano waiting to erupt since that brief kiss a few weeks ago. Refusing waste
another second he sat back on his knees, reaching for her panties then dragged them down over her legs. They hooked on the dainty buckle of her high heeled sandal, which he quickly freed and then tossed them on the floor.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said as he fumbled with his belt, not once taking his eyes off of her. Where she lay waiting, reminded him of the Venus of Urbino painting and although she was clothed, he knew exactly what was hidden beneath the layers of clothes.
Her only response was to smile and bite her lip, while she shyly reached to shove her dress between her legs, which drove Hunter even more insane. He leaned over her and pressed his lips against hers while he slid his hand under the dress to where her hands were clutched between her legs. He gently nudged them away and teasingly dragged his finger over her sex; her sudden intake of breath was just what he needed to know that she was not going to stop him now.
He could hear the commotion outside the study door, and let out a whispered curse, and as he met Paige’s eyes, expecting to see panic, he only saw desire and that familiar defiant streak, challenging him again. He smirked and bent down his head, capturing her lips, which was an attempt to silence her moans as much as it was one filled with passion and desire. And as she pulled her knees up invitingly, he ground his hips forward and thrusted deep into her hot molten core, drawing out a gasp of pure pleasure, which he breathed in.
He eased in and out of her in a slow rhythm which quickly escalated, and as he thrusted relentlessly into her, he felt his heart swell with emotion.
As he moved faster and deeper, he could feel her body respond to him, and when she dragged her nails along his shoulders, he felt her body tremble beneath him and as he felt her climax, his own impending release came crashing down on him.
A few minutes later, they stood at the locked door, Paige making sure his shirt is tucked in, and Hunter making sure she looked respectable. He brought her hand up to his lips and then unlocked the study door.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding,” Gregory said where he stood with his wife in the passage, “I was about to send out a search party.”
Hunter smiled and stepped forward extending his hand, “I apologize for leaving you earlier, but Paige was not feeling too well.”
Gregory smiled at him then at Paige and it was a knowing smile, before he handed his wife her coat and left the house.
Chapter 10
Paige stood in front of the antique floor mirror, admiring her wedding dress, and although it was supposed to be her special day there was a hollow feeling deep down in her stomach. It wasn’t nerves, it was an empty feeling. At this stage, brides usually felt anxious wondering if they made the right choice, or wondering if the caterers did what was expected, but none of that mattered much. She felt almost mechanically driven, like a wound up doll, being left to march down the aisle.
A light knock on the door pulled her out of her reverie, and the dress maker went to open the door and her best friend Jess came walking in with Joshua.
“Mommy!” Joshua cried as he came running towards her wearing a grand little tuxedo, with a bow tie.
“Just look at you sweetheart, you look so handsome,” she said smiling as she bowed down, tucking his fringe back, “you make me so proud.”
“I know, Hunter said I can keep the clothes and then I can be like James Bond,” he said excitedly.
“Oh now that’s a great idea,” she said and straightened up.
“Who’s James Bond mommy?” he asked curiously.
“A very famous spy,” she said and smiled at her son.
She could still pull out of this, there’s no law on this planet that would force her to get married, she thought somberly. And although she shared something really special with Hunter a few nights ago, there was still no declaration of love and commitment; this was still only a means to an end for him.
“Are you ready Paige?” Jess asked.
She gave herself another once over and then nodded, “Yes, I am”
Hunters stood at the Wedding Arch, with no best man flanking his side. This was meant to be an informal, last minute wedding to show the important people that he was too in love to wait. The tranquil setting in the large garden on the ranch was perfect, with nothing but close friends and family from his side, which was convenient. From Paige’s side she only had one guest, her best friend Jess.
Until this point, the plan was in full swing, he was going to get married, seal the deal for Old Stone Ranch and once the dust had settled file for an annulment, but that thought alone left him with an uneasy feeling. He wasn’t quite sure if he would want to let her go at all.
Just then Gregory Johnson appeared next to him.
“You’re missing your best man, so I reckon I can stand in,” he said behind a fake smile.
“How generous of you, but both Paige and I decided on a small wedding,” he said looking out over the small crowd of people.
“I know you did,” Gregory said and paused for a second, “I changed the terms of our agreement by the way.”
“Why are we discussing business now?”
“Because I’m covering my basis, I will sign the sales agreement for Old Stone after six months from today, just to make sure there’s no false pretenses, this marriage was rather sudden,” he said with a sardonic smile on his face.
Hunter cursed inwardly, and smiled, “If you feel the need to do that, then that’s your choice,” he said coolly.
Saved by the bell, or rather the wedding march, he turned to face the aisle and as Paige made her way past the white flower decorated chairs and down the rose-petal strewn path, he felt his heart contract and realized there and then that he could not go through with this lie. From where he stood he could see the smile on her lips, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and behind her was his son Joshua beaming from ear to ear.
He shifted his weight from one leg to the other uncomfortably, and as she reached him he looked at her, and it was then when he realized she was worth more than this, he didn’t deserve her one bit.
The priest cleared his throat and they both turned to face him, but even as the priest started the formalities, Hunter’s mind was racing and his conscience was fighting him.
“Wait,” he said stopping the priest, then looking at Paige, who tilted her head questioningly at him.
“We can’t go ahead with this,” he said only for her to hear, and by the look in her eyes, he knew she agreed, and then he turned to the guests.
“Friends, and guests I have a confession to make,” he started feeling Gregory’s uneasy stare burn into his back.
“This wedding is a farce, It’s been one since the start when I acquired a willing woman to marry me and stay married to me for a period of time, just so that I could sign a business deal,” there were a few gasps and whispers in the small crowd and for a moment he searched for words, but just then he felt Paige lace her fingers I his and he found a new breath of confidence.
“You see, Paige and I do go back many years, and I was told that I could not purchase Old Stone unless I was a family man, I made a very bad choice. I managed to find her and with deceitful promises, I convinced her to marry me,” he continued without a breath, “the problem is that her son Joshua is in fact my own flesh and blood, believe it or not, we were in love once a very long time ago. And just like the fool I am now, thinking I can con Gregory Johnson into selling his land to me by marrying the first available woman, I was a fool back then. I left Paige without even a goodbye and although I never knew she was pregnant, I never bothered to contact her for reasons I will only explain to her later,” here and here guests started getting up and leaving, but that did not stop Hunter.
“The problem is that if I marry Paige like this today, it would be a lie, because I don’t want an arranged marriage bound to a business deal, I want the real thing, and…” he started, then turned to Paige, “you deserves the real deal. A marriage to man you love,” he said as he looked into her tear-filled eyes. “I’m so sorry Paige,
but I love you too much to continue with this deceit.”
Paige was a mess, her mascara was most certainly streaked down over her cheeks, but what was worse was the feeling of utter relief she felt as she heard Hunter declare his love for her, she turned to him and smiled through the tears.
“And I love you too much to let you go again,” she said quietly trying to hide the trembling in her voice.
She felt Joshua cling to her dress and she looked down at him where he stood with eyes wide, and she bent down to his level, then looked up at Hunter, “Joshua, Hunter is your real daddy,” she said, knowing that this must have come as a shock to him, but instead, Joshua flung his arms around Hunter’s’ one leg and hugged him.
Hunter bowed down next them and slid his hand around the back of her neck pulling her forehead against his, “I would like a second chance to redeem myself, and prove to you that I am worthy to be your husband,” he said as he held unto Joshua and Paige.
“I would like that,” she said softly, and midst this emotional reunion of souls, the few guests that were left rose to their feet and applauded them, whilst Gregory Johnson and his wife stood by the love struck couple.
“Well we have a priest, and you two are in love, so why wait?” he said sternly but with a smile tucking at the corner of his lips.
Hunter stood up and pulled Paige into his arms, “I loved you from the start, Paige,” he said smiling as he framed her face in his hands.
“And I have loved you, since forever,” Paige said and turned her face to kiss the inside of his palm.
“I love you too!” the little voice from below cried out, and they all laughed.
Epilogue
Hunter and Paige married on the same day, and although Gregory Johnson was more than willing to sign over his land, Hunter no longer wanted it. Instead of a businessman with need and greed for greater things, he now had a family and everything he ever wanted.
Seal'd to Her: A Billionaire Second Chance Romance Page 22