by J. P. Comeau
Fake Bride’s First Love
A Friends to Lovers Romance
J.P. Comeau
Copyright © 2020 by J.P. Comeau
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Fake Bride’s First Love is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and occurrences are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to a person, living or deceased, events, or locations is purely coincidental.
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
1
Ginger
The long, emerald dress with a crystal halter-neck strap was too pricey. I should have known better than to visit the most expensive retail store in all of Miami Beach. Everyone knew they only sold high-end, designer clothing. I told myself that I deserved it after all of my hard work. Plus, it was for a special occasion: a party celebrating both my promotion at Lavender Dreams Spa and my earning my MBA.
The second I put it back onto the rack, Guadalupe picked it up and insisted on purchasing it. Not only did she buy that dress, but she also got one for my best friend, Eva.
It was impossible not to give into Guadalupe’s natural, maternal ways. Since she and Yuslan had never been able to have children of their own, they often treated us like their daughters. I had no problem with it, either. While I was fairly close to my family, there was something about the way Guadalupe treated her employees that made work more enjoyable. And the fact that she often fed us her amazing Cuban cooking was a bonus.
And that afternoon, both Eva and I were excited to have her cook us lunch. It was a nice change from our standard sushi or pizza takeout. Plus, we had taken the day off of work, so it would just be the three of us instead of chatting in the crowded break room down at the spa. Not that we didn’t love our coworkers, but the three of us felt more like a family. If only Margo could have been with us that day too.
Guadalupe let out an audible sigh from behind me as I looked at myself in her full-length mirror. “For the millionth time, Ginger, that will look perfect on you Friday night. That’s why I purchased both of your outfits because neither of you could decide on one! Now put it back on the hanger—you’re not eating my ajiaco in that thing.”
I slid out of the dress and tossed it onto the oversized chair in her dining room.
Eva emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later in her rose-gold dress, which was almost identical to mine except it was covered in sequins.
“Are you sure you don’t want this dress, Ginger? We’re the same size, and I saw you eyeing it in the store.”
I ran my hands up and down the material, remembering how much it stood out on the rack.
“No, Eva. This complements the peachy undertones in your skin, and I think emerald goes better with my auburn hair. You’re sweet to ask me, though.”
Eva and I had met in college, and her natural, sweet disposition was what had drawn me to her. She was one of the few people who could calm me down using only a few words. She continued to study herself in the mirror, putting her hand on her stomach as Guadalupe reemerged from the kitchen.
“Please don't tell me that you’re rethinking your dress, too, Eva! I love you girls, but you drive me crazy sometimes.”
The two of us giggled as Guadalupe stood there with her hands on her hips. She owned the spa we worked at but had treated us like her daughters from the day we were hired.
Eva made her way back into Guadalupe’s bathroom while I took a seat at the dining room table and started sampling all the makeup.
“The fall line of colors is amazing, Guadalupe. I’m sure the clients will love these at the spa!” I heard her clacking away in the kitchen as she prepared her chicken and potato soup.
“Most of those were picked out by Margo.”
“But she’s still on maternity leave.”
As I swiped a shade of lipstick called Pumpkin Spice onto the back of my hand, Guadalupe came out with two bowls of ajiaco.
“You know how Margo is, Ginger. She’s always down at the spa with Joanna.”
After placing our lunch down onto her dining room table, she clasped her hands together as she thought about my one-year-old niece. Margo was living with my big brother, Chase, and lived only a few minutes away. She was also my other best friend.
Eva sat down in front of her bowl of ajiaco, eyeing both the soup and the selection of makeup samples with pleasure.
“That color is perfect with your skin tone, Ginger.”
I nodded while pushing the makeup off to the side, then digging into Guadalupe’s soup. “I think I’ll wear it to the party. Guadalupe, this soup is delicious!”
Eva nodded as she dug into her soup too. “I still can’t believe you booked the Miami Paramount for the party, Guadalupe. I’m sure nothing from the catering company will be anywhere near as delicious as your cooking.”
Guadalupe blushed while sitting down next to Eva at the table with a bowl of soup for herself. “It’s the least I could do now that Ginger will be the new accountant at the spa.”
“Are you kidding me, Guadalupe? It’s my dream job! I get to work with numbers from the beautiful oasis that the spa provides.”
Eva giggled while devouring her soup. “Just think about all of the award show after-parties that have been there too.”
My body instantly tensed up at the words “award show,” but I tried keeping it to myself.
Unfortunately, nothing slipped past Guadalupe. “Spill it, Ginger. What’s his name?”
“Nobody, Guadalupe. I’m just enjoying my lunch.”
She and Eva smirked at each other and then turned back to me.
“Fine,” I said while reluctantly putting down my spoon. “I was just thinking about how Jorge’s friend Gavin has been there a few times for those parties.”
Of course, Eva’s eyes lit up. She was obsessed with movies.
“Isn’t that exciting, Ginger? Your boyfriend is friends with a movie star!” Eva had a big mouth.
Guadalupe nearly fell out of her chair, but not because she heard the phrase “movie star.” “Boyfriend? Ginger Bowers, why didn’t you tell me you were seeing someone? What does he do? Is he alto, oscuro y guapo?”
But before I could correct both of them, Eva—as usual—went off about her love of movies.
“Have either of you seen House Pharao
h? It takes place in 19th-century England, and it’s about a homeless man who falls in love with a high-class socialite. Oh, it’s so romantic!”
I folded both of my hands over my chest and then corrected both of them before they got carried away. “For the record, I am a single, independent woman who doesn’t have time for a relationship. Jorge is nothing more than a friend. We talk on the phone every Tuesday night, and that’s literally all there is to it.”
Guadalupe looked suspiciously at me. “Isn’t that the guy you danced with at Paris’s wedding last year?”
“Yes,” I said while staring into my soup.
“And isn’t he alto, oscuro y guapo?”
Eva was now giggling to herself, knowing she had gotten under my skin. Ever since I had struck up a friendship with Jorge, she always wanted to believe that we were more than just friends.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “But it’s possible to just be friends with a tall, dark, and handsome man.”
“Speak for yourself,” Guadalupe giggled. “As much as I love Yuslan, I can’t control myself whenever I see an alto, oscuro y guapo man.” Seeing Guadalupe clutch her heart while reminiscing about all of the handsome men who frequented the spa caused me to relax a bit.
I wasted no time reassuring her that no funny business was going on between Jorge and me. “He’s just a friend, you guys. Besides, Jorge lives in Belgium and is sleeping with his business partner, Ria. Does that sound like the kind of guy I want to get mixed up with?”
Eva’s right eyebrow turned into a hook. “If he’s just a friend, Ginger, then why did you practically hiss Ria’s name?”
Even though I had become jealous of Ria, I was dead set on not getting involved with Jorge. Between his history with women and how great my life was going, why would I take that chance? “If either of you thinks that I’m going to pursue a relationship after busting my ass for this MBA and getting the promotion of my dreams simultaneously, then you’re crazy. I’m a different woman than I was when I met him.”
After we finished our lunch, Guadalupe brought out a tray of miniature cakes that she had baked. My eyes lit up once I saw a passionfruit-flavored one, and my fingers instantly reached for it.
Eva, on the other hand, refused to move her hand. “No, thank you, Guadalupe. I need to lose a few more pounds.”
“Like hell you do,” she said while sitting down next to her. “Where is this coming from?”
Eva looked at me and then back at Guadalupe. “Anthony dumped me for a supermodel, remember? That never would have happened if I didn’t have such wide hips.”
Guadalupe leaned forward on the table, a gesture she made whenever she was about to give us some motherly wisdom. “First of all, Eva, I would kill for a body like yours. It’s called an hourglass figure, and those hips you’re complaining about will attract a fine man just when you least expect it! Second of all, as one of my favorite employees, I will not tolerate you reminiscing about some rat bastard who wasn’t worth a second of your time!” And just like that, Guadalupe shoved a miniature purple cake into her mouth, causing Eva to laugh.
As I focused on my miniature peach-colored cake, Eva started talking about how horrible the break-up had been. I knew what Eva was going through all too well. Which was precisely why I didn’t want to get sucked down that rabbit hole again. Not after being dumped on Paris’s wedding day last year.
Guadalupe was doing her best to cheer up Eva. “Do you think you’re ready to date again, Eva? Because there are plenty of hot, single guys in Miami who would trip over their own two feet to have a woman like you!”
Eva just shrugged and looked down at the table. “I’m not sure, to be honest. But maybe Anthony will see me tagged in pictures online of me dancing with a guy. I might be heartbroken, but I still want to get revenge.”
While the two discussed getting back at Anthony, I focused on the makeup, pretending to decide on an eyeshadow color. I was really thinking about Jorge, though. He hadn’t been too exciting at Paris’s wedding last year, but the two of us had struck up a long-distance friendship after Chase gave me his number. As he told me all about his diamond business from his luxury apartment in Antwerp’s Diamond District, I had started to grow quite fond of him.
Get your head out of your ass, woman. Why wouldn’t he be like every other guy, who’s only interested in sex and the fact that you don’t need their money?
Sensing that Guadalupe would pick up on my obvious bow-out of their conversation, I swathed several shades of blush onto my hand.
Nothing romantic had ever happened with Jorge, but secretly I hated that he was sleeping with Ria. What bothered me even more, however, was that she was his business partner. So even if they ever stopped hooking up, she’d always be in his life. Plus, it was only a matter of time before I’d meet her now that he was back in Miami for a while…and living in his penthouse, which was part of the set of condos where I had recently moved after I got my raise from Guadalupe and Yuslan. Of course, that bitch would fly back to check up on him, wouldn’t she?
That’s what I would do if I were in her shoes.
Guadalupe saw me staring at the eyeshadow samples a little too intensely. “You’re thinking about Jorge, aren’t you?”
“What? No, I’m just deciding on eyeshadow.”
Guadalupe and Eva continued to stare at me, though.
“Are you upset about not having a boyfriend to bring to the party?”
“No, Eva. I don’t care about those sorts of things.”
Both of them burst out laughing.
Guadalupe was quick to remind me about last year. “I don’t think any of us will forget your temper tantrum over not having a date to Paris’s wedding and how mean you were to Margo.”
I hung my head in shame while thinking about that night and the months that followed. “Yeah, I have some regrets. But I’ve matured. I’m just really focused on cosmetics right now, you guys. I’ve never been happier.”
Guadalupe cupped my hands with hers. “If you’re happy, dear, then why do you look so worried?”
Because I can’t stop thinking about Jorge’s hooking up with Ria, and I’m worried he won’t show up to my party. And I wish I didn’t have such jealous tendencies.
“I’m just worried about my dress not zipping up after eating all of these cakes,” I said while reaching for another one.
Guadalupe knew I was lying, though. “The universe has a way of working itself out, dear, but just know that there are plenty of alto, oscuro y guapo men who would bend over backward to be with a woman like you. And while you should take this time to focus on your career, remember there will always be something going on in your life that could stop you from falling in love. Don’t let that happen, all right?”
I rested my forehead on her hand, thankful to have someone like her in my life.
As the two of them put the soup bowls into the sink, I casually checked my cell phone for Jorge's text messages. We’d spoken on the phone last night, and he reassured me that he’d attend my party. I was secretly hoping for an “I can’t wait to see you” message, or maybe a missed phone call.
Nothing.
Please don’t stand me up, Jorge.
2
Jorge
As soon as my conference call was finished, I shut down my computer, grabbed my briefcase, and made a beeline for the front door. I had tried to end the call much sooner, but as usual, everyone had a million and one questions. Working in the diamond industry was both enjoyable and incredibly stressful. Some people assumed it was all about the shiny gemstones, but behind the scenes, it was much less glamorous.
The average person walks into a jewelry store, sees a diamond, and gets excited. Someone like myself—a billionaire diamond broker—checks it over to make sure that it’s real, asks where it was mined, and asks even more questions that most people wouldn’t even think of. But that’s why I was so good at my job.
My cell phone went off with several notifications as soon as my hand grabbed th
e doorknob too.
Can’t you people do your job without my having to hold your hand?
Well, they’d have to wait until after I left my trendy apartment in Antwerp’s Diamond District and was on my way back to Miami, Florida. Which was, thankfully, thousands of miles away from Ria.
My driver held open the door to the limo, and I wasted no time, sliding inside and closing my eyes. In less than half an hour, I would be flying away from my luxurious but stressful life in Belgium, where I had spent the past year working upward of sixteen hours a day…and sleeping with my business partner on the side. Not that my life in Miami wasn’t just as opulent, but there was something mystical about Antwerp’s Diamond District.
I poured myself a glass of champagne and allowed the crisp, refreshing bubbles to calm me down. And just as I was settling into my happy place, my cell phone rang.
Nope, let it go to voicemail.
It rang again less than a minute later.
Why can’t I get five minutes of peace and quiet?
When it started ringing again, I instantly knew who was calling.
“Yes, Ria?”
“What’s with the urgency? Why didn’t you tell me that you were flying back to the States?” Her voice was clipped and full of her usual stuck-up, pretentious attitude.
“We talked about me going to Miami last week. I just hadn’t set a date. Do you need something that wasn’t covered in our conference call just now? Is that it?”
There was a long pause on her end, and I pictured her long, red nails tapping away on her desk. “Don’t bullshit me, Jorge. You stood me up last night too. Do you know how stupid I looked waiting for you in that bar with a bottle of wine and two glasses?”
