The King's Surprise Bride: A Royal Wedding Novella (Royal Weddings Book 2)

by Vivien Vale

  So can you blame me?

  Didn’t think so.

  And even crazier? I can even see that perfect little picture I’ve held in my mind for so long. The one where it’s Ben and me—with a woman who can love us both. I’ve got to be out of my mind to want that woman to be Chloe.

  But there it is.

  That’s what I want.

  I just have no fucking clue how to get it.

  ***

  Chloe comes out of the bathroom looking so damn fine, it kills me. I know she’s just done her hair, put on makeup, and shimmied into her sexy little outfit, but all I can think of is how bad I want to mess that hair up, make that makeup, and tear those fucking clothes right off of her.

  The day at the spa has made her even more beautiful, if that’s even possible. It makes me want to pamper her like this for every day of the rest of her life. Let’s see how she glows after a year of luxury.

  Hell, at this rate, after a week of pampering, she’ll probably be so hot, my fucking cock will explode.

  Actually, I’m not going to take my cock exploding quite off the table yet for tonight. After we get dinner and this Mr. BadBoy thing sorted, I think Chloe’s excellent evening look deserves a good, hard, post-dinner fuck. If I’m destined to explode, it might as well be balls-deep in Chloe’s tight cunt.

  “You ready, babe?” she asks me.

  Babe. I’ve never liked it when a girl has called me that before, but out of Chloe’s sexy lips, I couldn’t imagine anything I’d like to hear more. Except for maybe, Oh, Aaron! Fuck me already. Take me now, right here on the floor! Dinner be damned…babe.

  “Aaron? Helloooo.” Chloe waves her hand in front of my face, and I turn to her with a charming smile.

  “Sorry. You just look so damn good in that dress I’m imagining how I’m going to get you out of it.”

  “Dinner first.” Chloe giggles. “Let me get a bite to eat, and then you’re welcome to whatever you like for dessert.”

  I lick my lips, tucking my phone back into my pocket. I reach over to the nightstand by the bed and order a limo to whisk us away to our evening feast.

  “Is it always limos with you?” Chloe asks.

  “Don’t act like you’re not impressed.” I laugh, leaping up from the bed.

  Then my phone beeps again. I think it’s going to be Mr. BadBoy, possibly canceling on me again. But I’m surprised to see it’s a message from Ben.

  I just stand there and stare at it.

  “Everything okay?” Chloe asks, coming up beside me. Then: “Who’s Ben, and why does he love you?” There’s humor in her voice, but also confusion.

  It’s as if fate is telling me now’s the time. I haven’t told her anything about him yet. What will she think? Will it scare her off?

  But she’s standing there waiting expectantly, and I realize it’s now or never.

  “Ben’s my son,” I say quietly, watching closely for her reaction. For any sign of what the fuck or oh hell no.

  None of that is there. A little surprise, sure, because I know I just threw her for a total fucking loop. But there’s also a softness in her eyes mixed with curiosity.

  “Tell me about him,” she says. “I know we’re supposed to be at dinner soon, but I want to know if you want to talk about it.”

  I find that I do. So I tell her all about it. About my wife that passed away, how I was a single dad struggling to run a business and play the role of both mother and father, how he’s away at boarding school, but that I look forward to the time when he can be back with me all the time.

  I stop just short of telling her that won’t be until the right woman comes along and can love him like she loves me.

  Then she surprises the fuck out of me by taking my face tenderly in her hands and giving me a slow, gentle kiss.

  “What was that for?” I ask.

  She shrugs and gives me a small smile. “Just for proving you are real after all.”

  I laugh lightly. “What does that mean?”

  “Just that you have this air of mystery about you. You don’t let me in on everything. But this? It just proves to me that you’re as incredible of a man as I suspected.”

  I’m totally fucking stunned. This woman is the one who’s incredible. And I know right now that I can’t let this one get away. There’s something about Chloe Colburn that screams out that she’s the one.

  My entire business is built around helping people find their perfect match. And out of nowhere, this woman walked into my life, and it’s evident that she is. If I can’t recognize that, I’m a total fucking idiot.

  And we all know that isn’t true.

  I kiss her back, and before long, a call interrupts us to let us know the limo has arrived. We ride to the restaurant, and it’s like I can feel the change. We’ve entered new territory. And I really fucking like and want to explore it more.

  At the restaurant, we order fish on Ethan’s suggestion. It flakes off at the tip of my fork gorgeously, buttery and smooth, cooked in good oil and fresh herbs.

  I watch as Cassie laughs at some ridiculous joke Chloe’s just made. The conversation is all around me, and I’m wading in it, interjecting in when it’s appropriate, but for the moment, I feel a little like my head is underwater.

  I’m on a fucking cloud, aware of my feelings for Chloe, but there’s also another thing I have to deal with. Something I now wish wasn’t on tonight’s agenda.

  I need to figure out how I’m going to meet Mr. BadBoy without him knowing it’s me, and fast. There’s always, I guess, a wig and some lipstick as a last resort, but I have a funny feeling that I’m not exactly Mr. BadBoy’s type.

  I need someone classy, beautiful, and most importantly, female.

  Someone sexy and believable, like Chloe.

  Or...like Chloe’s twin. Yes. Oh my fucking God, yes, that’s it.

  When Ethan gets up to talk to the manager about the wine list and Chloe slips away to the bathroom to touch up her lipstick, I see my chance and jump on it.

  “Cassie,” I say, scooting my chair over next to her and glancing around to make sure we’re not overheard. “How would you feel about doing me a…very small favor?”

  “A hundred bucks,” Cassie says.

  “What?” I raise an eyebrow. “Do you want to know…what the favor is, or anything?”

  “Sure.” Cassie nods amicably. “But it’ll cost you a hundred bucks.”

  “You’re dating a billionaire.” I laugh, slipping the money out of my wallet.

  “Yeah, but it amuses me to take your money,” Cassie says, smug as she tucks the hundred into her top. “So, what’s the deal?”

  “I’m investigating a…client,” I explain, doing my best to leave details vague.

  “Is this where you tell me what you do for a living?”

  “He goes by the name ‘Mr. BadBoy.’”

  Cassie wrinkles her nose in delight.

  “Oh my God. I knew you were into some weird shit.”

  “You have no idea.” I laugh, shaking my head.

  Sending Cassie in place of Ms. Winters is a perfect idea. Mr. BadBoy will be expecting a girl, after all, and Cassie is a hell of a girl.

  Plus, she’s almost as good-looking as Chloe is. And Chloe is pretty fucking fine. I know that if sexy-ass Chloe came up to me introducing herself as the saucy, irresistible Ms. Winters, I wouldn’t think twice.

  And neither will he.

  Chloe

  My lipstick now looks like a hundred fucking bucks. And since it’s Givenchy La Rouge, it might as well be.

  Am I high maintenance for reapplying lipstick between courses? Maybe, bitches, maybe, but I have an irrepressible fear of being that ho sitting at the table with her lip liner standing out like a neon bar open sign. So fucking sue me, ya hear?

  “What are you two conspiring about?” I ask, watching Aaron scoot his chair away from Cassie while I slide back into my own seat.

  “Birthday surprise,” says Cassie, just as Aaron says, with the exact
same confidence:

  “Politics.”

  “Uh-huh,” I say with a suspicious little smile. “Okay, spill. What are you two planning?”

  “Aaron was just saying that your suite has the best view of the northern lights,” Cassie says quickly.

  Aaron opens his mouth to talk and closes it again like a fish sucking in water. Finally, he opts for a charming smile.

  Smooth move. He’s got a great fucking smile. It melts hearts and panties alike.

  I feel so much closer to him now that he’s let me in on his life. I still don’t really know anything about his business. But this is a big step. One I feel like will lead to even bigger ones before long. The thought warms my heart.

  “So I’ve heard,” I agree. “I think we’ll see them tonight, even. You and Ethan should come up later. We can all lie in bed and watch them together.”

  Cassie snorts, then she nods toward Ethan, who is now being introduced to the restaurant’s head chef. “You must be joking. At this rate, he’ll be here all night. We’ll end up leaving at midnight after he’s learned every dishwasher’s name and gotten us invited to not less than twelve home-cooked meals.”

  “That bastard is too charming for his own good.” Aaron laughs, shaking his head and reaching for his drink.

  “Yeah,” Cassie says. She rests her chin in her hand and sighs a dreamy sigh. “Like a drunk golden retriever. You kids will have fun without us, though. Maybe we’ll take you up on it some other time.”

  Is something going on? Oh, fucking totally. I’m not dumb, or at least, not until I’m a few bottles of wine deeper into the night.

  But what the hell, I guess. If my sister doesn’t want to tell me something, it’s probably for a reason. As long as Aaron isn’t planning on proposing or any of that dumb shit, I’m happy to just haul him off to the room after dinner and have my way with him, as promised.

  “I’m really enjoying it here, you know,” I say, smiling at Aaron. “Hotel Gimsteinn with you was a good choice.”

  Aaron smiles back at me, and yeah, there they go. My panties. Melting right off of me.

  “Finally, right?” Cassie interjects. “That tacky double date I wanted. You guys really pulled through on this one.”

  She sounds so impressed with us that I can’t help but laugh. Cassie and Aaron are quick to join in.

  To my surprise, Ethan returns to the table with a smile on his face and, as far as I can tell, only three or four new friends.

  “You guys ready to go?” he asks, tucking the chef’s business card in his pocket.

  “I think Chloe and I are,” Aaron says, getting up and squeezing my hand. “When we get back to the hotel, though, mind if branch off for a bit? Alone time.”

  He winks at Cassie while she gives Ethan a look that I don’t quite understand, which is saying something, since we spoke our own made-up language together until we were nine.

  “Uh, yeah, sure!” Ethan says with a smile.

  “I’ll go tell the valet we’re ready.” Aaron nearly fucking jogs over to ask for our limo.

  So, yeah. Something’s going on here. But like, whatever.

  If Ethan isn’t going to be schmoozing with the wait staff and scoring us free dessert, I actually have something more important to talk to him about.

  “Cass,” I say, motioning to my lips. “You’ve got a lip liner emergency, babe.”

  “Aw, fucksticks,” Cassie says.

  She practically jogs to the bathroom. What the hell is up with everyone tonight?

  “Ethan,” I say, taking my chance while I’ve got it. I dive across the table and grab his sleeve before he can jog away himself. “I need a favor.”

  “Hundred bucks,” Ethan says without missing a beat.

  I pull a stink face. “You’re a billionaire!”

  “Yeah,” Ethan agrees, “but Cassie thinks it’s funny to demand money for, uh, ‘favors’ too. Which is kind of cute and kind of hot, if I’m being honest…which I don’t need to be,” he says, blushing. “But look, I wanna get blown tonight, and I don’t want to have to go back to the ATM.”

  “I’ll remember this the next time I see you choking on shrimp scampi,” I say with a scowl.

  I pull a hundred out of my purse and hand it over. Ethan looks like he’s just seen Santa for the first time.

  “That only happened once,” he reminds me. “And they were damn good shrimp scampi.”

  “Whatever.” Cue eye roll. “I need you to pretend to be, um, a guy named Mr. Bad Boy. One of my work personas. I pretend to be him online, pick up women for a, uh, work clients. I kiiiiinda based this persona off of you anyway.”

  “He chokes on shrimp scampi too?”

  “No, Ethan, he chokes on pussy. On account of he gets so much of it.”

  “Yeah,” Ethan says, nodding. “Fair. So what do I do?”

  “I agreed to meet this woman, Ms. Winters, back at the hotel bar. She’s…fascinating.”

  “Wait. You’re ditching Aaron for a girl?”

  Okay, I’m not gonna lie. I’m not proud of this, only actually, yes I am.

  I smack him. Oh, I smack him hard.

  But look, he was asking for it. Begging for it, practically!

  “She’s expecting a guy,” I explain as Ethan snickers. “A handsome, wealthy billionaire. And since he’s, y’know, based on your slutty ass, you’re a perfect stand-in.”

  I can see the wheels turning in Ethan’s head as he mulls over the situation. Which honestly ought to be moot, because I’ve already forked over his dirty blowjob money, and he’s already revealed to me way too much about my twin sister’s sex life for me to be comfortable with.

  “Okay,” Ethan says finally. “But I’m not sleeping with her. Cassie would kill me.”

  And look, I’m not gonna lie.

  I smack him again—so hard that he’s still holding his cheek in stunned agony when Cassie returns from the bathroom, lipstick freshly applied. Aaron follows her over, tilting his head toward the door.

  Limo’s ready.

  Time for action.

  “You gonna fill me in on all of that nodding and winking and giving each other meaningful looks earlier?” I ask Aaron as he offers me his arm.

  “Huh?” To Aaron’s credit, when he’s trying to seem oblivious, he almost gets there. But there’s a reason he’s a…whatever he is, and not an actor.

  Unless he is an actor, I guess. That would explain why he doesn’t want anyone to know about it: he’s fucking terrible.

  “There’s something going on, Aaron. Smart girlfriend, remember?”

  “Maybe I’m just trying to get you alone for a little bit,” he says, lowering his hand from the small of my back to the curve of my ass.

  He cups my ass cheek and squeezes it, and I nearly yelp in delight.

  “Are you trying to distract me with your sexuality?” I ask, giggling in accusation.

  “Is it working?” Aaron shoots back with a dirty grin.

  “Might be,” I admit, grabbing him by his tie.

  I drag him back to the limo like that, leading him by his tie like it’s a leash.

  “I’m not your golden retriever, you know, Chloe,” Aaron growls in my ear as we get into the limo. “But when we get back to that room, I might just make you my bitch.”

  Chloe

  “Thank you.” I nod at the cocktail waitress as she hands me my cosmopolitan that I ordered a few minutes ago at the bar.

  “You’re welcome, miss.” She gives me a cheery smile and scurries away.

  I take a nervous sip, drawing the flavor to my lips and tongue but I’m too anxious to actually enjoy and savor the drink.

  I’m parked in a booth as far away from Ethan’s reserved table as I can possibly get, yet still close enough that I’m able to observe their actions and get a decent look at Ms. Winters. I can’t wait to push this through and finally get to meet her—indirectly.

  I drum my manicured nail tips on the booth top, impatiently fidgeting while I glance on Ethan’s
side of the room. He has yet to arrive at his previously reserved table.

  Fuck, I hope he doesn’t bail on me.

  No, he won’t. He’s a great guy and always keeps his promises.

  Great, so apparently my mind is opting to go with the total basket case tonight as I fret and worry over something that hasn’t even happened yet. I can’t help it. If it isn’t happening according to plan, then something could still come up and make it all go wrong.

  I love it when my mind loves to play tricks on me and mix up little imaginary yet substantially nightmare-scale scenarios.

  Of course, I’m being sarcastic. Whoever wants that feeling? I hate it when my mind gets in that mode, but yet here we are.

  Kidding aside, I totally trust Ethan. He’s going to be a great stand in for me. I even think he has a background in theater…Although don’t quote me on that. I could be wrong.

  Either way, he’s taking one for the team like a champ, and I know after tonight, I’ll owe him big even if I don’t necessarily want to do him any more favors. I’m especially grateful that he agrees to help me with my plotting, scheming and devising of my plan.

  I should do an evil laugh in this moment as I visualize everything coming together, but I’m totally not going to. I’m trying to mask myself and be concealed in the dark, remember?

  I probably look like a freak recluse to people who come back here. They’ll probably take one glance at me and wonder why the hell I’m all by myself tucked away into a corner.

  Oh well, I don’t have time to worry myself and care what other people think of me right now. I have a job to do, and that’s to finally reveal the true identity of the elusive and mysterious Ms. Winters.

  Maybe I’ll even find out her first name after tonight, I wonder as I chuckle on the inside. Imagine that. The mystery woman that every man on Thebadboys.net wanted to have, but never got is finally revealing herself to another woman. The woman outsmarting her.

  I’m completely in the clear with Aaron right now too, so it works out perfectly. When we arrive back at the hotel from dinner, I told him that I wanted to check out the hotel spa to determine if it’s worthy of us trying out tomorrow.