by Rachel Lyndhurst; Carmen Falcone; Ros Clarke; Annie Seaton; Christine Bell
The irony of being a guest at her own wedding made her eyes moist. This wedding wasn’t her. And that certainty should have brought her relief, yet it filled her with sadness because the man she was supposed to marry no longer lived.
She caught herself gripping the long stems of her bouquet of mixed calla lilies and French tulips. As she marched on the starched, flawless white carpet, her gaze focused on the small silver baskets filled with white lilies and gerberas outlining the altar.
She forced her trembling lips into what she hoped was the dignified hint of a smile and stared at the sheer cloth descending from the altar. Were those Swarovski crystals? They glowed against the starry night. What also glowed were Bruno’s eyes.
Standing next to his father, who looked tired but happy to be there in his wheelchair, Bruno Duarte was too damn handsome in his white suit. She was no fan of men wearing white suits—or suits at all, for that matter—but what did she know about fashion? Bottom line was, he pulled it off. Oh, did he pull it off.
The suit was tailored to his large frame, enhancing his broad shoulders and long legs. There was something regal about the pristine white jacket, the silk tie, and the white trousers that went with it. The light color emphasized his olive skin.
When she got to his side, her pulse quickened.
The priest began the ceremony, and there were times she caught Bruno turning to gape at her. A nice touch for the photographers hovering by.
“Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?” the priest asked her.
I’m not really taking him… It’s more like a loan. “Yes.” She pressed her lips together. The priest proceeded to ask Bruno the same question and got the answer quickly.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Bruno had promised not to kiss her. Would he break that promise? If he didn’t kiss her, people would suspect something was amiss.
“Make it quick,” she whispered.
He leaned down, and she shifted her weight closer to him. Part of her dreaded his kiss. The other part of her sizzled with raw anticipation. This kiss would not count as part of his promise not to touch her again unless she asked. This kiss was mandatory, complying with what the occasion demanded. No more, no less.
When he dipped his head, a shot of adrenaline coursed through her. She had no option but to stand perfectly still as more than one hundred guests watched them.
His lips brushed her forehead long enough for her to inhale his woodsy scent. The light touch seared her skin.
The guests clapped, and his lips descended to her ear.
“If you want more, you’ll have to ask.” His voice dropped an octave. Was it a threat or an invitation?
She raised her fingers to her lips and touched them. Where she longed to be kissed. Why didn’t this matter until now? Out of all the men who could have wakened her sexual side, why the hell did it have to be her temporary husband?
“Bruno, you have a special guest,” Leonardo announced.
Addie’s cheeks were cramped from smiling, and her neck ached from nodding at the guests that surrounded them for most of the reception that followed. Nevertheless, she preferred to mingle with them—Bruno’s distant family members, up-and-coming Rio business men and women, and what appeared to be traditional, settled families from the upper crust of society—than being alone with Bruno, which, thank heavens, hadn’t happened since that mocking kiss on her forehead.
“Silas Lancaster,” Leonardo continued, and Addie snapped out of observational mode, her smile fading. She spun on her heels, and there he was, Silas Lancaster, with his salt-and-pepper gray hair and the imposing posture of a man taller than his five foot eight.
“Silas. What a surprise,” Bruno said.
“Surprise is an understatement. I’ve been coming to Rio twice a month to oversee an investment. I thought I’d surprise you, but, when I called, your sister picked up and told me about the wedding.”
Addie clenched her teeth. Whatever reason brought Silas over couldn’t be a happy one. She touched her belly, willing the queasy sensation away. What if Silas hoped to reunite his daughter and Bruno? No. She glanced down at her gorgeous green diamond and rubbed the ring. Too late for that.
What if…the real goal was to pressure Bruno to sell the land quicker?
“The more the merrier, right?” Leonardo shot Silas a smile and toasted with his champagne flute.
Oh no. Bruno’s brother had no idea about the marriage deal. Obviously. In fact, standing there among the four of them, amid occupied tables on the gorgeous garden, Leonardo was the picture of innocence.
“Right. It wasn’t so long ago, my daughter dated your brother. And now, a couple days after she explained to me they were over, here he is, marrying—”
“Addison.” Bruno stepped forward and stretched to his full height. “I trust Erika told you the real version of facts.”
Silas gave them a dismissive wave. “Doesn’t matter now, does it? I’m a man who knows how to separate work from personal affairs. Although at times, the union of both can be lucrative.”
Leonardo shook his head. “I’m not following. You told us, Bruno, that—”
“Erika is a dear friend,” Bruno interrupted. “And Addie is my wife. That’s all that matters.”
Silas lifted his finger, and a passing waiter slid by and poured him whiskey. “That said, I wish happiness to the new couple. I’m also here to deliver a personal wedding gift. To sweeten the deal over Toca do Tigre, I’m offering you thirty percent over the value we discussed.”
“Wow.” Leonardo forked his hair with his fingers. “That’s amazing.”
Addie took a step forward and slid her hands into Bruno’s, prompting him to focus on her. She squeezed his hand, her palms clammy. “Bruno?” she demanded with caution.
“My only request is to forgo that silly time-frame clause.” Silas enjoyed his whiskey and raised his brow, his attention fixed on Bruno.
Addie let go of Bruno’s hand and shook her head. “That’s not happening. Tell him, Bruno,” she said before she could think. There was no way in hell she’d allow Bruno to change his mind, and the fact her now-husband stared back at her with a blank expression drove her up the wall.
“What clause?” Leonardo asked, leaning forward. Sweetness gone from his face, his lips thinned and his eyes darted between Bruno and her. Wasn’t it fantastic? The ink on their marriage papers was still wet, and her brother-in-law already suspected something.
Silas turned to Leonardo and said, “Your brother here insisted we wait ten months to build, but my investors aren’t having any of that.”
“Why is that, Bruno?”
“I’m not discussing this right now. It’s not the time or the place,” Bruno said, his voice cold as the Alaskan winter.
Silas set his whiskey on a nearby table. “Then take me somewhere quiet. It’s the least you can do, after dumping my daughter and moving on so fast.”
“Fine,” Bruno said between his teeth. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered to Addie.
“Oh no. I’m coming with you,” she said in a rush. “Honey,” she added.
“Baby, this is business.” Bruno shot her a warning look. “I would hate to bore you with practicalities.”
She stroked his cheek. “Always thinking of me. That’s why I married you.” She injected so much sweetness in her voice, she wouldn’t be surprised if she got a cavity. “And I can’t stand being apart from you even for a minute.”
Bruno exhaled and inhaled faster than a blink. “Of course. Let’s do this, shall we?”
Chapter Six
On his way to the library, Bruno spared Addie but a glance. She grasped the sides of her dress and kept up with his long strides. Who cared? The sooner he solved this, the better.
Silas followed them with a condescending smirk hanging on his face. A couple people waved at them and murmured congratulations or complimented her on her dress, but Bruno dodged them with a close-lipped smile. He needed to focus on the con
versation about to take place.
Addie had jeopardized their secret deal by insisting on coming to the meeting. What happy newlywed in her sane mind would snoop in her husband’s business plans, unless she was either a gold digger or had a hidden agenda? The shifting expressions on Leonardo’s face had hinted he suspected something was up. Although Leonardo hadn’t insisted in coming with them, Bruno knew his brother would investigate later. That was the lawyer in him.
“That was uncalled for, Silas.” Bruno said after he closed the door behind the three of them. “Our business dealings are confidential.”
Silas skimmed the large room, wrinkling his nose at the citrusy colors blending with the countless shelves filled with books. The atmosphere between them was as stuffy as a dust-covered leather-bound book. Bruno gestured for them to sit, while he himself stood behind the desk. With a shrug, Silas sat across from him, and Addie stood a few feet behind Silas, her arms crossed and her back leaning on a crowded shelf.
“Bruno, we had an agreement. I thought you were a man of your word. Then, out of the blue, you expect me to explain to my investors that you want me to delay building for almost a year?”
Bruno ran his fingers through his hair. “I told you I thought it through, and the Kwanis need more time to relocate.”
“Who the fuck cares about them?” Silas snarled.
“I do.” Addie raised her voice and stepped forward.
Silas shifted in his chair to face her, then asked Bruno, “Is that why you had a change of heart?”
A change of heart? That was rich. “The reason doesn’t concern you. If you don’t want to do business with me—”
“Stop right there, young man.” Silas waved his hand and stood up. “You can’t be that dumb to think you’ll find someone else able to pay you what the land is worth, let alone double the offer.”
Addie uncrossed her arms. “It’s not just about money.”
“Oh, young lady, it is. Maybe not in the unicorn land where you live, but if you want to talk fair, think of the hundreds of people who will be impacted when building starts. Our development will give them jobs, unlike the freeloaders on the land right now, who aren’t contributing to society in the slightest,” Silas said, his face shifting to a pink coloration. The vein in his large forehead pulsed. The man was losing his composure.
“Are you serious?” Addie gave a sarcastic laugh, shrinking the gap between her and Silas. “They are their own society. They occupied this land before any of you. They had their rights yanked from them, they suffered genocide, and you think you’ll make it right because you’ll offer some locals a handful of menial, underpaid jobs?”
“Enough!” Bruno shouted, hammering his fist on the desk. “I’m not going to host a political debate in the middle of my wedding. Silas, I haven’t changed my position.”
Silas shook his head. “We’ll talk again.”
Bruno clenched his teeth and watched Silas disappear out of sight. The person who could put his orchestrated farewell to his father at risk was a couple feet away. Seeing red at the corners of his eyes, he had to take a deep breath before talking to her.
Addie wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe he came over here to discuss this. You must have not been clear about your intentions in the first place.”
“Are you kidding me?” He snorted.
She held the sides of her dress and paced in a small circle, restless. “What am I supposed to think? He’s not giving up.”
“I am handling this.” He stalked toward her, and she stopped in her tracks, eyes widened. “Do you understand?” he pronounced every word. It was clear she didn’t trust him to handle the situation, so she’d ensured she’d be a part of the conversation. Of course. And now, by having been outspoken, she probably sparked Silas’s interest. What if he dug around and learned who she was?
“Why are you being such a jerk?” she asked.
“A jerk? Don’t you see what just happened? Our entire deal is compromised. My brother is not an idiot; he’ll do the math and realize what’s going on here. You didn’t have to come along, Addie. I told you I could handle it.”
“You expect me to sit at the kiddie’s table while you make the decisions that landed me in your life? Think again, buddy,” she said, the sarcasm dripping from her voice. “Oh, I’m so sick of this crap. I wish I could just…” She slammed her fingers on his chest. “I wish…”
“What?” His heart galloped. “What do you wish?”
She tried to slam him again, and he laughed at her feeble attempt. Which, of course, only irritated her, and Addie jerked back. Curling her hands into fists, she pushed him against the wall, and this time he almost lost balance. Not because of her slight weight on his, but because the nearness of her body against his made him dizzy. She got on her toes and claimed his lips with hers.
He crushed her so tightly against him, she gasped—but didn’t retreat. No… Addie opened her mouth and teased his tongue with hers, touching his chest. Dipping his head down, he left her lips for a moment to nip her neck, and she whimpered. His cock jumped, and his entire body throbbed. When was the last time his nerve endings burned this way?
She retaliated and nibbled his chin, his lips, her heavy breathing louder than the beating of his heart. Her exploring hands slid down, and the moment her fingers cupped his length through his pants, he thought he’d come right there. He inhaled all the oxygen he could manage, control about to burst.
“Addie,” he whispered and pulled her hair.
“Yes.” She moaned. “Yes.”
He took her mouth once again, savoring the sweet taste of her tongue. She squirmed against him, sensual and hot, and continued to cup him, her touch more demanding. He lifted her from the floor and placed her on the desk, shoving the contents on the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist and linked her arms around his neck. Never, in his life—
“Bruno.”
Bruno froze. He lifted his head and sighed. In the history of bad timing, this one took the cake. Although Leonardo walked into the library unfazed, posture erect and hands on his pocket, he stood assessing them.
Addie gasped and shoved Bruno away, avoiding eye contact and smoothing her hand over her dress, now a tad creased. “Right. I’m going to freshen up.” She lifted her chin to Leonardo, a cute attempt to maintain her dignity. Her flushed cheeks gave her away, and a shiver went through him.
Leonardo locked the door behind her and turned to his brother. “What the hell is going on?”
Bruno shrugged. “You could have knocked.”
“I did.”
Bruno sat down, leaning back in the chair. “You could have called us.”
“You responded on my third try. Next time, I’ll try a fireman-strength water hose.” Leonardo plopped on the seat in front of him. He stared at the floor for seconds before hitting him with the question. “What’s keeping you from letting Silas build right away?”
Bruno picked a miniature globe from the desk drawer and palmed it. “I’ve learned the Kwanis need more time to relocate. I’m not kicking them out without a solid plan.”
“That doesn’t sound like you. Did Addie have anything to do with this change?”
“It’s my land, meu irmão. Thanks for your concern, but I know what I’m doing.” Did he? He toyed with the globe, his fingers sliding over the smooth surface.
“Something is not right, Bruno.” Leonardo leaned closer, his voice lowered.
“Yes, you’re right.” Bruno threw him the small globe, which Leonardo caught. “I should be enjoying the wedding with my wife instead of discussing professional affairs with you.”
“If you say so.”
Moments later, the photographer and guests stopped him on his path to the gardens, where the party continued in full swing. The band played a luscious bossa nova song, and people mingled and enjoyed themselves. Where was she?
He scanned the stage and the tables and the dance floor. His heart raced when he found her chatting in Portuguese with a
few of Camila’s friends, over by the huge cake table.
“Hey.” He whispered, and she upped her brow.
“Hi.”
The next few minutes stretched into a couple of eternities. They small talked, and having her next to him was like dangling a tender piece of filet mignon at a starved man. The lurking doubts wrestled his hormones, and he feared the prospect of taking their sexual connection to the next level. Was sleeping with her worth risking his plan?
“I will get us something to drink,” she rushed to say when they were alone.
He nudged her elbow and brought her to a halt. “Is that your usual line after arousing me like that? You have to work on your bedside manners. Although…I suppose I can help.” Just sex. It was just sex.
She held her breath, and he followed the rising of her chest, the tightening of her stomach through the dress. His fingers tingled with an urgency to outline her curves, to fondle her. “I was torn between slapping your face or kissing you. I went with kissing because, you know, I’m a pacifist.”
“Make love and not war is always a good motto.” He planted a kiss on the top of her head, but she resisted his embrace and drew back.
“Bruno, I needed to blow off some steam. We both did. Now, it’s back to not touching again. This is getting more complicated, and sex isn’t the solution.”
“Sex doesn’t have to be a solution, my green temptation. Sometimes, it’s a necessity.”
“I’m not about to lose what I’ve been fighting for because my hormones need a leash.”
He chuckled. “Okay. Back to not touching unless you ask.” Or throw yourself at me.
She nodded, and the flicker in her eyes sent a tremor through him. Was this just a game? Was she leveraging their sexual attraction to see him through the deal, despite the obstacles in the way? She offered him a lopsided smile, and his cock jumped. If he weren’t careful, he would be the one screwed at the end—sex or no sex.
…
Why would she ever ask him to touch her?
She was at war with him because of the place she loved, and the people she loved. Addie worried her lip, and it was still tender and bruised from their forbidden make-out session. Addie, get a grip.
