by Angelo, Judy
ROME FOR ALWAYS
JUDY ANGELO
The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series
Volume 14
Copyright © 2014 Judy Angelo
Phoenix Publishing Limited
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or otherwise (mechanical, photocopying, recording or stored in a retrieval system) without the prior written consent of the Publisher. Such action is an infringement of the copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Cover Artist: Alchemy Book Covers
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES
Judy Angelo
Volume 1 - Tamed by the Billionaire
Volume 2 - Maid in the USA
Volume 3 - Billionaire's Island Bride
Volume 4 - Dangerous Deception
Volume 5 - To Tame a Tycoon
Volume 6 - Sweet Seduction
Volume 7 - Daddy by December
Volume 8 - To Catch a Man (in 30 Days or Less)
Volume 9 – Bedding Her Billionaire Boss
Volume 10 - Her Indecent Proposal
Volume 11 - So Much Trouble When She Walked In
Volume 12 – Married by Midnight
Volume 13 - The Billionaire Next Door
Volume 14 - Rome for Always
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. I - Vols. 1 - 4
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. II - Vols. 5 - 8
BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES, Coll. III - Vols. 9 - 12
*Purchase collections and save*
The NAUGHTY AND NICE Series
Volume 1 - Naughty by Nature
COMING SOON
Volume 15 - Billionaire's Blackmail Bride
ROME FOR ALWAYS
Sequel to the novella, Rome for the Holidays, in the collection, 'Hot, Sexy & Bad'
SHE HAD ROME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, BUT WILL SHE HAVE HIM FOR ALWAYS?
Arie Angelis is on top of the world. She's engaged to the man of her dreams, the super-handsome and successful CEO of Belitalia, Rome Milano. She could not believe it when he proposed on Christmas Day. Of course, she said yes! But then, only a month into their engagement there's a turn of events that threatens to steal her newfound happiness. In the past she'd made a life-altering choice. Now it's time to stand by that decision. The only question is, will Rome stand with her or will it send him running?
Rome Milano knows a good thing when he sees it and when he meets Arie he has no doubt that she's the one for him. He falls so swiftly in love with her that within weeks of meeting her he's proposing. He can't be any happier when she accepts.
But there's just one problem - how to convince the important people in his life that this is for real. Now that he's found happiness will he be forced to choose between love and loyalty?
It's decision time on both sides. Through it all, will love prevail?
CHAPTER ONE
It was one of those picture-perfect days in New Orleans, a brilliantly beautiful January day with the sun shining super-bright and the clouds racing one another across a radiant blue sky. It was a postcard-pretty day…and Arie was miserable.
She could not believe what she’d done. Seriously, what kind of fool had she been to think this would work? A marriage proposal from super-handsome billionaire, Rome Milano? She’d been over the moon. But now, one month into their engagement, she was having second thoughts.
And, unfortunately, it was for good reason because when Rome found out she’d kept something this serious from him she didn’t know if he would ever forgive her.
She shook her head, trying desperately to clear her mind of a thought that was both depressing and exciting at the same time. Goodness, she felt like she was being torn in two. With a hiss of frustration she hopped up off the concrete bench and pulled her jacket closer around her. She’d had enough of gazing into the murky waters of her backyard pond. If she sat there one minute longer she’d go mad.
She was heading back toward the house when her cell phone rang. She dug it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen. Lena. Arie almost sighed. She wasn’t in the mood for a chat but when her business partner called she knew she’d better answer. This could be important.
“Hey, Lena. What’s up?” She forced a note of cheerfulness into her voice even though she was feeling anything but.
“Hey, girl,” Lena said, sounding cheery enough for both of them. “What are you doing on this beautiful Sunday morning?”
Arie grimaced. As she’d told herself earlier, she wasn’t in the mood for chit-chat. Apparently, Lena was. Still, this was her long-time partner and friend. She had to at least try. “Oh, nothing,” she said. “I’ll probably just catch up on my reading.”
“What? On a lovely day like this?” Lena sounded appalled. “I thought for sure you and Rome would be doing something special. Or is he away? Off to Italy, is he?”
“No, he’s in Sydney right now. Remember I told you about the launch of his men’s formal wear line?”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot it was this weekend.” Lena clucked her tongue. “Now don’t you be sitting there, moping around the house, missing him. Do you want me to come over?”
“No, it’s okay.” Arie was quick to respond. The last thing she needed was to have to put on a happy face when all she wanted to do was cry. “I’ll be all right. I’ll call him later. He’ll be back in a few days, anyway.”
“Well, all right. If you’re sure.” Lena sounded doubtful, almost like she could sense that all was not well on the other end of the line. “I’ll give you a buzz later, okay?”
“Okay,” Arie said meekly, knowing that her friend would do as she’d promised no matter what reassurance she tried to give her. No-nonsense and stubborn, that was Lena.
Arie did spend the rest of the morning moping around the house, the very thing Lena had warned her not to do. And she was missing Rome. Terribly. But on top of all that she was consumed with guilt for what she’d done and for what she was about to do.
The really sad thing was, she didn’t want to lose what she and Rome had. It was too precious, too perfect. How could she give up on the love she’d found? How could she say goodbye to Rome?
As her thoughts homed in on the man who filled her every waking thought Arie’s mind went back to the first day she saw him, so commanding and so sinfully sexy she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Then when he’d practically commanded her to his office the following week she’d gone, never once imagining that a little over a month later she would be accepting his proposal to become his wife.
But not anymore. Today that would all come to an end because of the biggest dilemma of all.
How could she suddenly bring a baby into his life, one that wasn’t even his?
***
“Rome, this is wonderful. It’s the best show I’ve ever seen.” Of anyone watching the grand finale, Iyana was clapping loudest of all. “Thanks for inviting me.”
Rome smiled, pleased that his personal assistant was having so much fun. “My pleasure,” he said with a nod and he meant it.
In the year and a half she’d been working for him Iyana had been a hard worker, efficient and organized, one of the best he’d had. It hadn’t been a hard decision to surprise her with a trip to Sydney to accompany him to the Australia launch of his men’s formal line. These past few months she’
d been busy with the behind-the-scenes preparation for the launch so why not reward her by letting her see it all come to life on the runway?
“You deserve it,” he said honestly and when she turned and gave him a huge smile of gratitude, he laughed. He’d certainly made the right decision when he’d invited her to come along.
But even as he stared into the wide brown-eyed gaze of the woman sitting beside him, the sounds of applause faded away and the brown eyes morphed into brilliant blue ones, the eyes of the woman who had the power to dominate his thoughts and transport him away, no matter where he was or what he was doing.
Arie Angelis, the love of his life…what was she doing now? Was she consumed with thoughts of him as he was with thoughts of her? Did everything remind her of him like they reminded him of her? His lovely little Arie had turned him into a love-sick sap and he didn’t give a damn.
As Rome sat there in the middle of a crowd of thousands his thoughts flew back to the first time he’d laid eyes on Arie, a petite blonde with brilliant blue eyes that drew you in, wrapped you in a web of intrigue and never let you go. He’d come up with a ruse to get her to come to his office but it was only because he’d been dying to see her again and then, before he knew what was happening, he’d fallen in love with the enchanting little pixie. By the time Christmas came around he was professing his love and asking her to marry him.
That Christmas day had been the best he’d ever had. To his relief she’d said yes and they’d spent a wonderful Christmas together, knowing that they’d be together at Christmas for the rest of their lives.
And then it was time to think about the wedding. For him, the ideal would be an escape to an island resort where they’d tie the knot in front of a local official. She wasn't as enthusiastic about the island escape but, thankfully, she was on board with the idea of a small wedding. She wasn't fussy, she told him. As long as, at the end of the day she was his wife, she was happy.
“They’re calling you on stage.”
Rome snapped back to the present when he felt Iyana’s hand on his arm. He nodded and rose then headed for the stage. This was the part he could do without. Somehow he never got used to being in the spotlight. As owner and CEO of Belitalia it was part of what he had to do, part of who he was. Nobody cared that he’d much rather sit in the shadows and let his second-in-command take the stage. No, the audience was waiting and he was the one they wanted to see.
As Rome climbed the steps by the runway the crowd erupted in applause. Damn, it was like he was a celebrity. Not that he felt like one.
As he walked to the middle of the stage he raised his hand, silencing the whoops and cheers. “Thank you, everyone,” he said, his voice booming around the hall as the stage director pinned a microphone to his lapel. “You are the ones who have made the launch of the Belitalia men’s collection a resounding success. I had nothing to do with it.” The fans, reporters and well wishers burst into laughter. “I’m dead serious about that,” he said, “and that’s why I’ve arranged for every one of you to receive a signature silk tie, compliments of Belitalia. Don’t worry. It’s nothing gaudy. Perfect for that power meeting when you want to dress to impress.”
He had to raise his hands again when the audience broke out in appreciative applause. “And ladies,” he said with a smile, “you’ll get your ties, too. Just don’t tell me what you plan to do with them.” That got him more laughter and more than a few whoops and catcalls. Some of the women in the audience even called out his name, making him laugh. They'd have some explaining to do when they got home.
“Now I wish you all a good night and safe travel home,” he said, “and when you think of men’s formal wear in Australia, think Belitalia.”
He’d thought that would be the end of it. He would exit the stage and make his way back to his hotel suite where he would sleep off the jetlag he’d been fighting all day. Unfortunately for him, he had no such luck. It was another hour before he was able to extricate himself from reporters and the clinging hands of ladies who seemed to have decided he wasn’t going to leave the place that night.
Finally Iyana – who’d been waiting with the patience of Job although he’d told her she could leave – stepped forward and hooked her arm in his. “That’s it, folks,” she said, putting on her ‘woman-in-charge’ face. “Rome is exhausted and if you don’t want to see him pass out in front of you, I suggest you let him go.” It was only then that the tightly packed crowd circling him began to thin and then a path cleared and they were able to slip away.
In the limo Rome and Iyana had a good laugh. “I should hire you as my bodyguard,” he said with a grin.
She smiled back. “Any time.”
As soon as they got back to the Park Hyatt Sydney, he said his goodnight and headed for the penthouse suite. All he wanted to do just then was crash for the night. Of course, not before he called Arie. There was nothing that made him sleep better than to hear her voice just before his head touched the pillow.
After a warm bath in the circular tub, wearing nothing but his boxers, Rome sank with a sigh into the plush comfort of the king-sized bed. He relaxed for a minute in the softness of the bedclothes but he was soon reaching for the phone, intent on talking to his ladylove. At forty-five minutes after midnight it would only be five forty-five in New Orleans. Perfect timing. Arie should be home and able to talk.
He was reaching for the hotel phone when he noticed the blinking light. How could he have missed that? He had a message. He picked up the receiver and dialed into the voicemail box. Arie. Rome sat up straight. She'd called an hour before and she wanted him to call her right back.
For some reason a sense of dread, like a gray shroud, wrapped itself around him. Maybe it was the restlessness in her voice, maybe it was her tone. He couldn’t put his finger on it but something was seriously wrong. His heart tightening in his chest, he began to dial the number.
“Hello? Rome?” Arie picked up on the second ring like she’d been waiting by the phone. She sounded all right and he almost sagged into the pillows in relief. But not yet. There was that unfamiliar tone in her voice, almost like she was unsure of herself. Or maybe of him. He didn’t know which.
“Yes, it’s me,” he said, wanting to get straight to the point. “Are you all right? Is everything okay over there?”
“Everything’s…fine,” she said and there was that hesitation again, almost like she didn’t know what to say next.
“No, everything’s not fine, Arie. What’s going on?” His voice was brusque, the tension building inside him, putting him on edge. Why the heck didn’t she come out and tell him what was wrong?
For a moment there was only silence then she sighed, and it was a deep, dismal sound, so dismal it was scary.
“Rome,” she said, her voice low and almost hoarse, “I don’t know how to tell you this but…the wedding is off.”
CHAPTER TWO
Rome’s heart leaped into his throat. Had he heard right? “What…did you say?” The words almost couldn’t come out, his throat was so tight.
“I’m...sorry,” Arie said, sounding like she, too, was struggling with the words. “I said the wedding’s off.”
That hit him hard. “What do you mean, the wedding’s off? What are you talking about?” His voice was louder now, the shock of what she was saying almost making him lose it. “Are you serious?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry…but…but…I can’t go through with it. I’m sorry, Rome, but I can’t marry you.” And then she was sobbing into the phone, crying softly, the sound so full of pain that he felt like she was ripping his heart out.
“But why?” he asked, not understanding at all. “Why can’t you marry me? What happened?” As he clutched the receiver to his ear his thoughts raced like wild horses through his head. He couldn’t think straight. His world was crashing down around his ears and he didn’t know where to turn. “Arie, please,” he said, sounding desperate and not caring a hoot, “don’t you love me anymore?”
The answer to that was full-fledged bawling on the other end of the line and it was all Rome could do to stay still. His darling was in distress but she was on the other side of the world and he couldn’t reach her. He couldn’t touch her, he couldn’t hold her in his arms. “Arie, please answer me,” he begged. “As long as you still love me, whatever it is, we’ll work it out. Please. Just tell me what’s wrong.”
“It’s…it’s…” She broke down again, alternating between sobbing and crying out loud, and he couldn’t make head or tail of what she was trying to say through the tears. “It’s a baby.”
Now she really wasn’t making any sense. “It’s a baby? What’s a baby? What are you talking about, Arie?”
“I…I’m getting a baby. Please.” She was sobbing again. “Please forgive me. No, I know you can’t forgive me. It’s too much.”
“Holy shit.” Rome breathed the words as he stared, unseeing, out the huge bay windows of his hotel suite. Arie was pregnant.
It was weird because they’d used protection every time. Weird but not impossible. They were going to have a baby.
“You silly goose,” he said, laughing into the phone. “What are you crying about? Did you think I’d be angry? You’re getting a head start on our family. I love it.” He was still laughing even as the sobs continued, unabated. If anything, they were getting louder.
“Arie, stop that.” It was time to put his foot down. She was getting emotional and that could not be good for the baby. “Listen to me,” he said. “Take a slow, deep breath and calm down. No more crying, okay?”
“O…okay,” she said on a hiccup. “I’ll…I’ll try.”
“Good. Just keep taking deep breaths and when you’re calm you can tell me all about it.” Arie couldn’t see him but Rome was grinning ear-to-ear. He was going to be a father.