The Suspicious Proposal (11 page)

Chapter Three

“Have you lost your mind?” Nikki yelled through the cellphone at Andrea. “What do you mean you got married?”

“I got married two weeks ago.” Andrea didn’t know what else to say.

“To who?” Nikki asked.

“His name is David. I’ve known him for some time.” Andrea hated to lie but she knew it was needed in order for to adhere to her side of the contract.

“How come I’ve never heard about him? How come you didn’t tell me about the wedding until now? You’ve never mentioned him before and now you call me after I have been trying to get a hold of you and you announce you’re married to some strange man I’ve never even heard of?”

“I text you every day and told you that I was fine. Look, I don’t expect you to understand. I know it sounds crazy, but trust me it’s perfectly fine. David is a wonderful man.” Andrea had no idea if that was a lie or not. David and Andrea had bedrooms on opposite ends of the house and they only saw each other when they bumped into one another in the kitchen or, occasionally, during the evenings.

David was a workaholic and a huge business tycoon. He spent most of his time at his office or in business meetings. When he was at home, he was in his bedroom avoiding her. She didn’t bother him. She just watched movies on the huge TV projector in the theater room or swam in the pool out back. Living in the house was like being on vacation in her very own dream home, except that she was mostly alone. She wanted to have her friends over but she wasn’t ready to bring them into this part of her life just yet.

“Okay, even if I can get past the fact that you married a man I’ve never heard of before, why didn’t you invite me to the wedding?” Nikki sounded hurt.

“It wasn’t a big wedding, we went to the justice of peace and had a quick legal marriage.” That part was true and Andrea was glad she was able to get through the conversation without completely lying.

Despite their marriage being at the justice of peace, David’s team insisted she still have an expensive dress and her makeup and hair done; they wanted professional pictures outside of the home in the garden for publicity. She and David posed like a loving couple for a picture perfect moment to be printed in the newspaper. As soon as the photographer left, David went to his bedroom and she went to unpack in her own. She didn’t see him after that for two days.

“It happened so fast, I didn’t get a chance to tell you. I’m sorry you feel left out but I promise you can come to our house and meet him soon,” Andrea told Nikki. “You won’t believe how beautiful this place is.”

“This is so weird Andrea. You know I’m just blown away right now,” Nikki said, then a moment later she said hurriedly, “I have to go. I need to get to work.”

Nikki hung up the phone before Andrea could say anything else. Andrea knew how confused Nikki was and she wished she could explain everything to her, but this was for the best.

A knock sounded from her bedroom door.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to check on you. Are you doing okay, Andrea?” David peeked his head through the door.

“Yes, I am doing just fine.” She smiled politely at him.

“I was wondering if maybe you would like to join me tonight? I have a dinner and art gallery event to attend. I mean, I get it if you don’t want to go but I thought that maybe we could spend some time together.” He seemed awkward but she supposed he felt as odd as she did with the situation.

“Yeah, I’ll go with you. I think we should probably get to know each other since we’re now husband and wife.” The words sounded insane coming out of her mouth but she knew if she was going to live with this man, she needed to begin getting to know him better. He was also going to be the father of her baby and she wanted to know him for their child’s sake.

“Okay, sounds great. We’ll leave here at seven,” he announced.

“See you then.” She sighed as he walked away from her room. If she’d met him in any other situation, she would’ve loved to date him. He was good-looking, stylish and obviously successful. It just seemed unfair she would have to marry a man like him for business and not love.

*

It was seven o’clock. David waited nervously at the bottom of the staircase for Andrea. He wasn’t sure why she made his nerves rattle. He could face a thousand angry businessmen, but being around her was intimidating. Her beauty was overwhelming and he feared he would be captured by her eyes and unable to break free. It was why he had stayed at work late and kept closed up in his room for the last two weeks.

“Sorry if I kept you waiting.” Andrea came walking down the steps.

David turned to face her and was blown away by what he saw. She looked more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen. Her tight red dress gripped her curvy body and her hair was pulled back away from her face so that you could see every detail of her fascinating face. Her cheekbones were fierce and her full lips looked delicious.

“You look beautiful,” he said, not realizing the words had slipped from his lips before they were out in the open.

“Thank you, David.” She smiled. “You look handsome yourself.”

The limo was waiting for them outside as they made their way out front. Andrea ducked inside and sat back in the leather seats. David sat inside across from her, fearing if he sat too close, he might fall even more under her charm.

“What’s your favorite color?” Andrea asked him.

“What?” He chuckled.

“Your favorite color?” she asked again.

“Orange.”

“Mine’s purple. What about your favorite food?” Andrea scooted closer to him.

“Prime rib, I guess. Why are you asking?” He looked at her oddly.

“Mine’s pizza. I love pizza with barbeque sauce, onions and banana peppers.” She smiled and he noticed the dimples in her cheeks for the first time. “Look, we should get to know each. We are married, right? I’m Mrs. David Lewis but if someone asked me simple questions about you right now, I would be left blank.”

“Barbeque sauce on your pizza?” he asked.

“Hey, don’t knock it till you try it.” Andrea raised an eyebrow jokingly at him.

“I like my pizza with nothing but sauce and cheese.”

“Boring.” She teased.

The rest of the limo ride was filled with conversation and laughter as they talked. David was impressed by how witty and personable she was. She was more than just a pretty face with a sense of style; she was intelligent and hard working. Her words were a breath of fresh air to his normally dull life.

As they approached the dinner table to meet David’s potential business clients, Andrea held tight onto his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was for show or because she was nervous, but either way, he enjoyed having her arm around his.

“Everyone, this is my wife Andrea.” The men and women greeted her politely.

“David, I heard you got married but no one told me she was this beautiful.” A red haired woman said. “How did you two meet?”

David began to freak out inside when he realized they had not discussed a plausible story with Andrea. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“It is actually a sweet story.” Andrea spoke up just as he was about to stumble over his words. “David and I met at a pet rescue. I was looking at the cutest puppy there when David walked up. We struck up a conversation and one thing led to the next, an hour later, David bought me the puppy and we have all three been inseparable since.”

“Aw.” The red haired woman said.

The table smiled and nodded. David pulled out the chair for Andrea and then sat down next to her. After he was settled into his seat, she leaned in close to his ear and whispered.

“Now you have to get me a puppy.” He chuckled and shook his head, admiring the spunk in the woman he had chosen to be his contracted wife.

*

“Your wife is the loveliest of women,” Andrea heard one of the men at the table, Donald, tell David. “You are a very lucky man.”

David nodded in agreement as the man continued.

“Andrea, dear, can I ask where you got that dress? I love it,” Donald’s wife Becky asked. Becky was an older woman around sixty-five and had a classic ageless beauty.

“I made it myself,” Andrea told Becky.

“No way!” Becky looked over the dress. “You made that?”

“Yes, I have my own fashion company. Here’s my card if you ever need something custom made.” She handed Becky the card.

“That’s amazing. You’re one talented young lady.” Becky took the card and put it in her purse. “You’ll be hearing from me, Andrea.”

“Andrea,” David stood up and offered his hand to her, “would you like to go look at the art gallery upstairs?”

“Of course.” She took his hand, his skin was surprising warm against her own.

As they walked to the elevator he didn’t let go of her hand. She felt a sensual sensation burn through her body before realizing that this was all for show. He was only holding her hand so they would seem like a happy newlywed couple. She had signed up for this, she knew what would come, but she hadn’t imagined actually wanting him to want her.

“Are you having fun?” he asked.

“Yeah, it beats sitting around the house all the time,” she told him.

“You can go anywhere you’d like. You don’t have to stay there all day.”

“I don’t really have anywhere to go. Maybe the material store but I don’t have any new orders to fill anyway.” She shrugged.

“Well, if you change your mind, I bought you a new car. It will be delivered to the house Monday.” He said it as though he had ordered pizza or had a new shirt shipped from Amazon.

“Are you serious?” Andrea looked in his eyes, the icy blue shades shining like a perfect sky above her. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes I did. Hopefully, you’ll have the baby not long from now; it’s a safe, reliable SUV.”

The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. They were alone in the elevator but it felt crowded with just the two of them.

“You really do look beautiful tonight,” He told her again. “And that dress is amazing. You should be proud of your work.”

“Thank you.” She realized he was still holding her hand even though no one was there to see.

She turned to face him and they locked eyes. There was something there; she could feel it. It was begging to come out. They both felt more than what was on paper. He leaned towards her just as the doors opened. Turning away from him, she led the way out of the elevator and to the artwork on the walls.

He had let go of her hand now.

“I like these pieces,” he told her as they stared at the black and white framed photographs.

“They’re so raw and real.” She got closer to the picture, which was of a naked woman.

“I’d like to have a photograph of you like this, in my bedroom,” David said to her.

Andrea turned quickly to him, her eyes searching for a truth in his words.

“Let’s go home.” She hadn’t meant to whisper, but her voice came out raspy and sexual. It was most likely because the way he was looking at her was turning her on more than any other man had ever done before.

They practically ran to the elevator, both determined to get quickly undressed and in bed with each other. Both David and Andrea had tried to fight their sexual desires, but they had lost the battle. The contract between them may have set the terms for marriage but the chemistry between them had set the terms for sex. They wanted each other bad, and the wait was over.

As they jumped into the limo, Andrea ripped her dress on the door, but she couldn’t care less, she was only worried about the taste of David’s mouth and she wouldn’t have to wait long because as he followed her into the limo, he slammed the door and came close to her.

His lips found hers and they kissed. It was a strong passionate kiss, as their tongues swirled around and tasted every built up desire they had hidden for too long.

“Andrea,” David stopped to speak, “you know this is not part of the contract, you don’t have to do this.”

“I know,” she told him. “I want this, I want you.”

He pulled her to him and kissed her again. His lips were soft but powerful at the same time. She wanted more of him and needed to touch every inch of his body. Andrea felt like a wild beast as she ripped open his button up shirt and exposed his muscular chest. David must have been turned on by her untamed actions because she could feel him hardening below his pants.

“I don’t want to wait until we get home,” she told him. “I can’t wait any longer, David.”

“Then you won’t.” He flipped her onto her back on the leather seat.

Dropping to his knees on the floor, he spread her legs and kissed softly down her thighs. She exhaled loudly, waiting for what was sure to come next. He did not disappoint her, as his tongue found her opening and flicked inside her. David sucked and lapped, devouring her like a hungry animal. She welcomed his unruly mouth and ground her hips against his face.

For two weeks she had hoped to see more of David, any glimpse of his sexy body or gorgeous face, but he was never around. Now, she was finally with him and he was giving her more than what she expected, and she still wanted more of him.