The Billionaire's Convenient Bride: A BWWM Billionaire Love Story (6 page)

     She took his hand in hers. “Yes, sir, I do.”

     He nodded. “Alright then, Tristan, the building is yours. I’ll be here tomorrow and you can drop the payment off and I’ll give you the keys.”

     Tristan blinked in surprise. “Well, certainly! I’ll be sure to be here early tomorrow morning. Thank you, Mr. Turner!” They shook hands and as Tristan was walking Emmaline away, Mr. Turner called out, “Tell your grandfather I’ll be by to see him in a few days! We’ll go fishing!”

     “Yes, sir, Mr. Turner!” she called back with a wave, turning to Tristan with a smile.

     Tristan placed his hand over hers and held it snugly. “I am just so impressed with you! I can’t believe how easy that was! I’ve never had a business transaction go that smoothly before! Thank you so much Miss Emmaline!” He grinned at her and they laughed as they strolled down the street.

     He had her back at Peter’s house a little later that afternoon, and he thanked her wholeheartedly again when he dropped her off. He honked and waved good-bye and she went inside the house, happy as she could be.

     She was curled up outside in the garden, swinging on the hanging bench with a book in her hands, enjoying a cool breeze just as the last light of afternoon was beginning to wane when Peter came out to her and, by the look of his walk, she could tell right away that he had been drinking some.

     Emmaline looked up at him and saw right away that he was in a foul mood. She set her book down and stood up, facing him, but she didn’t say anything. She knew what was coming, and she had to mentally prepare.

     “Well, well, well, there she is, folks. The wonder woman who saved the day,” he said sarcastically as he tipped his glass back and swallowed what was left of the contents of it. Then he looked at her and raised his eyebrows in mock surprise.

     “I guess our dinner date was off too, then. You never said anything about that. You must really be put out with me for insulting you with the truth today,” he snapped at her and took a step toward her.

     “Guess what,” he said, setting his empty glass on the little table near the swing. “I just got off of the phone with Tristan. He can’t stop going on and on about you. He was just soooooo impressed with you today, and do you know what he told me?” He took another step toward her and laughed sarcastically. “He told me that the two of you went to lunch together. Yeah. The two of you, all alone at lunch. Then he said that you walked him over to that building you were talking about this morning and in the snap of finger, you had the owner eating out of your hand and he just gave the building to Tristan for six months so we could move everyone into it like you said this morning.”

     She moved to take a step back to walk away before she said something stupid, but he reached for her and slid his hand around her waist and pulled her toward him. “Do you know what else he told me? He told me how beautiful you are, and how fascinating you are. What did you two do today, anyway? Huh? Did you tell him that you are my fiancée? Did you? No. You want to know how I know that? Because I thanked him for complimenting me on my fiancée, and he had no idea we were engaged. He congratulated me, and told me what a lucky sonofabitch I am to have you.” He looked down at her beautiful face, her dark eyes, her little rounded nose, and then his gaze fell on her full lips. “But I don’t have you, do I, Emmaline, because you are out running around with my business partner on a lunch date. I wanted to come out here and remind you that you are
mine
, Emmaline, you are going to be
my
wife and you are not going to go date other men, especially business associates of mine.”

     She furrowed her brow at him. “It wasn’t a date, Peter. I didn’t do anything wrong today, and as a matter of fact, I saved your butt in that office today, even after you insulted me, and yes, it was an insult, you said it in a mean way and you hurt me, Peter.” She looked at him angrily and he blinked at her for a moment.

     “I hurt
you
, today? Well, let me make it up to you, baby,” he pulled her to him suddenly, holding her firmly and grasping her face in his other hand as planted his mouth on hers, kissing her hard and hungrily. Her mouth was soft and sweet, and as soon as he did it, he regretted it. He knew he never should have done it. Hers was a mouth that his had no business tasting; his mouth was for women who partied, who drank and lied and kissed many men, women whose mouths were not tender and precious like hers was. He found himself lost in it for an eternal moment, deeply regretting ever having touched his lips to hers, but knowing that they had never tasted anything like the ambrosia of her lips, he knew that he would probably never taste them again, and for that reason, he lingered through the regret for as long as the moment lasted, until the kiss was broken.

     Emmaline was too shocked to move at first, and her heart seemed to stop right then. She had been hurt but that had given way to anger and just as she was going to push him away, she felt his kiss change from one of possessive ownership to the gentleness of a boy’s very first kiss, and it caught her off guard. His mouth then simply caressed hers, as though he was drinking her in, and she could not move for a moment, though his grip on her lightened to a feather touch.

     She felt her heart begin to beat again and she opened her eyes and instinctively shoved him away from her. He didn’t fight her and when her hand flew up and slapped his face, she felt the sting of it in her own heart, just as much as he did on his cheek. He looked away from her and said quietly, “I’m so sorry. I never should have yelled at you this morning, and I had no business kissing you just now.”

     Emmaline’s heart began to race and frustration flooded through her. The pain she had felt that morning returned and the indignation of him forcing a drunken kiss on her was more than she was willing to put up with from him.

     “You disgust me,” she said quietly, and then she turned and walked from the garden and locked herself in her bedroom.

     It was three days before she agreed to see him, and when she did he was sober, clean shaven, and extremely polite. He talked with her in the sitting room and they sat opposite each other in an awkward silence as he raked his hand through his golden hair and she twitched her foot anxiously.

     “I owe you far more than an apology, Emmaline. I’m so very sorry for the disrespect I’ve shown you today and any other day. I never meant to do anything of the kind. I hold you in such high regard, not that you’d know that from the way I’ve behaved, but I’ve come to see you as a friend, and I don’t have many friends, as I’ve said, so I’m not willing to lose this bond we have built. It means too much to me. Please accept my apology.” He looked at her earnestly and she felt all the irritation and frustration in her dissolve.

     “Don’t ever treat me like that again,” she said resolutely.

     “You have my word,” he said quietly, “and as a way of making it up to you, I bought you your engagement ring.” He pulled a box from a little blue bag beside his feet and opened it for her. Inside was a stunning diamond ring set in platinum.

     She gasped and took the box from his hands, looking at it with wide eyes. “Peter, you didn’t need to do this!” she said in shock.

     He smiled at her. “I did need to do that. It’s the least I can do to make up for being a class-A jerk to you. Also, our wedding needs to be believable, and no one is going to believe that someone as flashy as me is going to put a chip of a diamond on my fiancée’s hand.”

     She laughed at him and it felt good to have the tension between them gone. Her friend was back and they were alright again. She pulled the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. “It fits!” she beamed at him.

     “Well, yes. I think there is not one piece of information that Nelson didn’t get about you. I have a complete dossier. Ask me what bus you rode in elementary school.”

     She laughed again, and then he handed the little blue bag to her. “There’s a wedding gift from me to you in there as well.” He said quietly and smiled at her.

     She lowered her eyebrow at him and opened the bag. Inside she found a delicate diamond necklace with a heart on it, and a matching bracelet. “This is so sweet, Peter, thank you!” She moved over to sit beside him and give him a big hug. It was the first time she had ever hugged him and at first he was very careful with her, but then he felt the goodness of it, and he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

     “You are so welcome. You’ve definitely earned it. By the way,” he said, letting her go and leaning back into the sofa, “you can keep the ring when we get divorced. It looks good on your hand.”

     She laughed at him again and held her hand up so they could both get a good look at it. “You know,” he said with a slight frown, “I’ve never liked a girl enough to give her diamonds before.”

     “Well, consider them part of my retirement plan as your dedicated employee. How about that?” she teased him.

     He smiled. “That works.”

Chapter3

With the dust from their fight settled, Emmaline and Peter began dating again and made their engagement public. The newspapers and magazines, both in print and online, had a field day with the news, and though they originally started reporting it as a gamble of a marriage, it wasn’t long before so many images and stories of them around town together started producing new articles that were written with more of a love theme than a gambling joke theme. By the time the day of the wedding rolled around, everyone in the community was excited for it and looking forward to the big event. They were the “It Couple” of the year.

     Peter’s indiscretion had been all but forgotten and he knew that he owed all of it to the beautiful woman who was always by his side in public. He took her to a wedding breakfast feast at a special restaurant the morning of their wedding and on their way to the restaurant, he sat beside her in the car and watched her. She seemed to be glowing with happiness, as though she was radiating sunshine.

     “You look wonderful today, Emma. I’m relieved to see you so happy today. It makes me think this won’t be the worst day of your life.”

     “Of course it isn’t the worst day of my life, why would you say that?” she asked giving him a look as though he were ridiculous.

     “Well, I remember what you said about wanting your grandfather to walk you down the aisle when you married for love. I know how important that is to you. Today isn’t about love, today is a lie to trick the public and make them think I’m not a complete jerk.”

     She shot him a low brow look and said, “You are being completely ridiculous. You aren’t a complete jerk, and it’s time the rest of the world knew it. I wish you liked yourself better. You’re not nearly as bad as you think you are.” She fluffed her dress and looked at him kindly. “Besides, today isn’t a complete lie. I’m marrying a really good friend, and in three years when we get divorced, I’ll be divorcing a really good friend, so it’s not as cold and heartless as you make it out to be. Now, enjoy it and have fun.”

     Enjoy it and have fun, he thought to himself, looking at her as she emerged from the car into the bright early summer sun in her stunning wedding gown. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline that clung to her curves and flared out at the knee in dazzling waves. He tried to stop himself from thinking that he wouldn’t be unzipping her out of that dress later that night, and having a real honeymoon. He had had to stop those thoughts more than once in the last few weeks before the wedding. It always made him feel ashamed when they crossed his mind, and he did his best to ignore them when they came, but then she leaned over and hugged him, kissing his cheek as cameras flashed around them and as his face neared the curve where her neck met her shoulder, he breathed in her scent and felt the soft warmth of her skin, and it mesmerized him for a moment.

Go on, he thought to himself, go with your friend and have breakfast.

     They sat down with their wedding party and her grandfather at the breakfast feast and enjoyed themselves as they laughed and ate, toasted each other with champagne and then headed toward the massive church at Jackson Square. Tourists and locals alike packed around them and cheered as they entered the church together and before he let go of her, Peter looked down and said, “Emma, you look absolutely stunning, and I am one lucky man. Also, I just want to warn you ahead of time, I’m going to kiss you when the preacher tells me to, so please don’t slap me this time.” He winked at her and she gasped at him in mock shock, then he hugged her and kissed her cheek and walked down the aisle, leaving her at the front of the church with her grandfather.

     Henri placed his hands on his granddaughter’s face and said softly, “I wish that this was your real wedding day my little one. You look so beautiful and so happy. I only want a love for you that will last all of your days, and someday, I hope you find the right man to share that love with, but until then, I think you have found a friend that will take good care of you, and that’s enough for now. I don’t think this is a mistake, my Emma, I think you made the right choice to do this. I love you, my girl.” A few tears fell from his face and she wiped them away. “I just wish your grandmother could have lived to see you today, she would be so proud of you, all grown up like you are. I know she’s watching over you from heaven, though, so if you feel a raindrop on your cheek, I’m sure it’s from her.”  He smiled broadly at her and she hugged him tightly.

     The music began to play and her eyes widened, and a feeling of unease hit her right in her stomach and zoomed through her. Her grandfather patted her hand. “That’s alright, Emma, that’ll go away soon enough.” He winked at her and they started down the long aisle together, passing friends they had known all their lives, who all smiled at her and wiped tears of joy from their cheeks. Partway down the aisle she passed Tristan, who winked at her and her heart gave a little flutter. She took a deep breath and smiled back at him, and then she reached the front of the church where Peter was waiting breathlessly for her.

     He had watched her walking down the aisle to him and with every step, he could only tell himself how lucky he was to have her in his life in any capacity that she was willing to be with him in. Her dark caramel skin glowed warmly against the bright white dress that hugged her body as she moved toward him, and her veil could not quite hide her eyes and smile as she reached him and he lifted it over her head. The music stilled and an excited hush fell over the church.

     “Who gives this woman to be wed?” the preacher asked.

     Henri lifted Emmaline’s hand and placed it delicately into Peter’s, looking from her to him in all seriousness. “Her grandmother and I do,” he said as firmly as he could, and then he kissed her cheek and as he turned away from her to sit down, he wiped another tear from his eye.

     The pastor read through the vows, and they repeated promises of everlasting love and devotion to each other, no matter the circumstances, trials or tribulations, and after the promises were made, they both slid rings onto each other’s fingers. Even though she knew it wasn’t a real wedding, even though she knew they would be getting divorced in three years’ time, she could not stop the swell of emotion that rose up in her and spilled lightly down her cheeks.

     Peter touched her tears away gently with his fingertips and smiled at her, gazing down at her with his brilliant dark green eyes, and she lost herself in them for a moment before returning her attention to the pastor and his sermon about the importance of keeping their promise and loving one’s partner, no matter what, for all the days of one’s life.

     After what seemed like a surreal length of time, the pastor smiled at them both, pronounced them man and wife, and then told Peter that he could kiss his bride. He had been waiting for the moment. He had wanted it, and he had dreaded it. He knew that it would only happen once, for many reasons. He was only going to marry once, because after their marriage ended, he would never marry another woman again, and also because this kiss would be the only one of its kind in that he had the freedom to kiss her any way he liked for as long as he liked, because they had to sell it to the public.

     He felt like it was a second chance at a first kiss, a way to make it up to her that he had fouled up their first kiss in the garden. This was his chance to get it right and make it count, and the pressure of this moment that he knew was coming had been weighing on him heavily.

     Peter looked down at her as she smiled up at him, her dark brown eyes alight with happiness, her scintillating smile reflecting all the happiness within her, her soft full lips colored in warm rose red tones, and he promised himself that he would always remember every single part of this moment. There was a hush in the room, and the ceiling fans whirred above them, everyone was watching and waiting as he placed his hands carefully on her cheeks and lifted her face to meet his. He had wondered if he would close his eyes or not, and he was torn between watching this moment so that he never forgot what it looked like when he kissed her, and closing his eyes so he could feel it in all its beauty and wonder. It might be his last chance.

     His eyes stayed open until his lips touched hers, and at the first touch, he closed them. He wanted to lose himself in her kiss again, for as long as he could. Peter pressed his lips against her gently, softly, as he breathed in the scent of her and felt the smooth warmth of her dark skin beneath his fingers. He felt her fingers touching his as she rested her hands on his; they were cool and light. The taste of her lips was sweet and as intoxicating to him as the fragrance of a rose. He cared not what anyone else thought, as this was his only chance. He opened her mouth with his and as their tongues met for the first time, he felt a surge of electricity move through him and touch every part of his body, stealing away his breath and pulling him to her as though she was the center of gravity for the whole universe.

     Peter’s hands moved from her face and slid around her waist, pulling her to him as his kiss deepened, and his entire world began to feel as though it was spinning, and to his amazement, she kissed him back. She kissed him with every bit of passion that he gave her, and she never showed any sign of surprise at his boldness with her. As his mouth moved over hers and he held her tightly to him, he slowly became aware that there was cheering around them, and it seemed to grow louder as he came back to the reality that was his.

     He didn’t want to let go of her, to stop his kiss, but he knew that it was time to, and as their kiss came to a close, he opened his eyes and saw her lovely face, and he leaned down to kiss her one last time, gently and sweetly before he let her go and she opened her eyes and blinked at him, breathing in deeply and holding his arms. It was then that he realized he had taken her breath away and she was holding on to him to steady herself. He touched her cheek with his hand, and smiled at her, and then he took a deep breath himself and they turned to face the thunderous applause and cheers of their guests.

     They walked hand in hand down the aisle and as they exited the church, their guests all followed them out, each one taking a white handkerchief and following them as the jazz band stepped in line behind them and Emmaline lifted her white parasol high over her head, and Peter donned his top hat. They marched through the French Quarter, the band and the guests trailing along behind them in their own parade of happiness.

     When the sunshine touched Peter at the doors of the church, it seemed to him like the spell that had taken hold of him in the church was broken and he was somehow released, feeling more himself than he had during the ceremony, but the power of the kiss they shared haunted the edges of his mind all day as their guests enjoyed a luncheon with them, and a dancing party that lasted long into the night.

     At some point near the wee hours between yesterday and tomorrow, Peter stole his new wife away in a car and they left their guests with waves and kisses blown into the wind. The car took them to a yacht that was waiting on the great Mississippi River. They boarded it and the Captain began to sail it to the Bahamas where they were going to honeymoon, or at least have a nice vacation together.

     They changed out of their wedding clothes and Peter relaxed on the deck, watching the stars as they shone more and more brightly the further out to sea they sailed. Emmaline joined him after a while and sat beside him, enjoying the feel of the cool air on her skin.

     They were silent for a bit, and then she looked at him and said, “Well, it’s official.”

     He nodded and laughed a little. “It is. You’re chained to me for three years, and then you get parole.” He winked at her and she nudged him with a chastising smile.

“We were convincing,” she said, looking away from him as she spoke. “I nearly fell for it myself!” she said in a teasing voice.

     He looked, but he couldn’t see her face for the dark night around them, and he wished desperately that he could. “Well, I had to make it real. I had to make it count,” he said, wondering what she was really thinking.

     “It counted,” was all she said in reply.

      He sat there a moment longer with her in silence and then found the courage to say, “Emma, I really appreciate what you did for me today. I realize what a huge sacrifice it is for you, and I want you to know that it isn’t going unnoticed.”

     “You’re making a sacrifice as well. No more women for you for a while unless you go out of state to find them. All for the sake of the project you want to do in the city. That’s a big sacrifice, too,” she stated, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

     “That’s true, that is a sacrifice.” He laughed at her, but then his tone quieted some and he said, “Yours though, seems bigger. I’m sacrificing regular intercourse with women I care nothing about. That’s not a big deal. You, you’re sacrificing the next three years of your life to live with me as my wife. That’s three years that you won’t be able to find your own Mr. Right, whoever he might be, and maybe get your own serious relationship going, maybe get engaged for real and get married for love. Perhaps have some children. You’re waiting for all of that just to help me out, and that’s huge. That’s the rest of your life on hold just for me.”

     “That’s a very thoughtful observation, Peter,” she said, looking at him in surprise. “I guess it is a big sacrifice when you look at it that way.”

     He looked over at her nonchalantly and hoped that his question sounded as nonchalant as he wanted it to. “What would your perfect guy be like?”