by Schultz, JT
Toni sniffled and her smile broadened. She reached for his hand. “Antonia Louisa Deluca. It’s nice to meet you, Richard.”
Heat penetrated his hand from the simplest touch and heated the skin over his entire body. He couldn’t control his grin. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
Chapter Three
Let the clock start and the tables turn…
Richard was glad to be in his office after the morning in court and the lunch meeting from hell. Toni had surprised him by wearing a black suit with a black silk blouse. She had dressed as if going to a funeral—technically, she was. No doubt, she was mourning life as she knew it. At least, for the moment, they had a truce going on, which he hoped would last for a bit—like a year or so. The hardest part of the whole situation for him was that he wasn’t used to being with one woman. He had always dated a couple at a time and true—he hadn’t dated since his girlfriend Valerie had gone to Paris. Not that he’d been serious about the model. He hadn’t been serious about any one woman in about seven years—back when he was young and stupid. Marriage was going to be hard on him, especially since he was going to have a pretty wife with a great body and sex wasn’t an option.
He thought of his mother’s threats that they had to make this marriage believable. Right—they barely knew each other. How were the two of them ever going to make this believable? She pretty much thought he was an uptight jerk. However, a couple times last night he got the impression she was attracted to him as well. His brow furrowed as he remembered how his body had heated just by shaking her hand.
He shook his head; he had to get his mind off his future wife and think about the disastrous lunch meeting with the Singh Capital Trust representative. Singh Capital had billions of dollars and was searching for a group to invest in and for possible joint ventures. Too bad Stewart Locke Investments was the fifth one the representative had met with. Apparently the owners, a husband and wife, were extremely picky and not only noted for ripping companies apart, but the people who worked for them as well. If they caught wind that Richard’s marriage wasn’t real—it would be game over. Mrs. Singh had referred to one company’s owners as soulless rats with no moral character.
His door whooshed open and his longtime friend and partner, Hank Stewart, blew into his office and tossed himself onto the black leather sofa. “Life sucks so bad. Why the hell did I ever get married?”
“Hi, Hank.” Richard had enough problems. Hanks were the last thing he needed. Especially since he knew Mrs. Singh would question Hank’s moral character—Richard sure as hell did.
“You should see the Hollywood Barbie in the lobby. I would have her eight ways from Sunday—then go for nine and ten if I knew for sure Patricia wouldn’t find out.” He scrubbed his face. “Why did I get married?”
And today was one of the days he questioned Hank’s character. “You love her.”
“I do, but man. This is horrible. I love filet mignon as well and I didn’t marry it. Marriage starts out great then its little league and ballet lessons and “honey I’m too tired for sex, I had my Pilates class today”. Patricia is always tired and expects me to help with the kids. Let me tell you I barely have sex these days.”
Richard blinked. “You had sex twice last week.” Oh yeah, Hank being one of the partners who was going in the soulless rat category.
“Deb in the mailroom doesn’t count—neither does Trixie.”
“Was that the name of stripper?” Richard couldn’t believe they were holding this conversation. Not that it was a foreign topic, considering they’d known each other their whole lives and even went to university together.
“Yeah, one of them. I tell you man, Hollywood Barbie out there—is an entirely different breed. She’s in this short, checkered, designer suit, and has these long legs. She is built for…I’m telling you I would do her.”
“Wonderful. Your father got a new secretary. If you’re going to have sex with her—you might want to do it before she becomes stepmother number six.”
Richard’s day had gone from okay, to bad and now officially worse. The Stewarts in the Stewart Locke name were complete disasters. He might as well kiss Singh Capital Trust good-bye. Pressure built at his temples and he would no doubt have a migraine in record time.
“Oh, no she’s not a secretary—she smells like money. Possibly a new client.”
Richard frowned. “Why do you think that?”
Hank laughed and nodded. “Because she’s with your mother.”
His heart slammed to a stop. What were the chances? His mind flipped back to Toni saying she was meeting Kayla for lunch and then had a two o’clock meeting. He glanced at his watch. Two-thirty.
Oh God! It couldn’t be.
“Richard, there you are.” His mother purred and walked into the office.
Immediately he stood so she could give him her usual high society semi-hug. “Mom what are you doing here?”
In answer to his question long tanned legs in a designer suit fit to every round curve of her body stepped over the threshold. Toni’s hair fell in thick ringlets at the bottom ends giving her a vintage look. Vintage and stunning. The pink lipstick only accented her full lips and matched the top beneath the suit, which revealed the perfect amount of cleavage.
His mouth curved into a grin. “Hello there.”
Her cheeks tinted slightly—undoubtedly from his appreciative stare and her smile stole his breath. “Hi. Your mom was showing me around the offices.” Toni stepped deeper into the room.
Hank jumped up and stood a little closer to her than was called for. “I’m Hank Stewart, just like the Stewart in the name of the company.”
The smile vanished from Toni’s face and her body stiffened. She shifted on her heels putting some distance between her and his friend. “Good to meet you.”
“And you would be?” Hank’s tone and expression sounded like something he’d use in a nightclub.
Toni glanced at Richard. His mother shot him a warning look, which Toni caught. If she’d been uncomfortable before—the pressure from his mother hadn’t helped. A small, unsure smile dusted her lips. “Honey, you didn’t tell me Hank was so friendly and outgoing.”
Honey? I’m not sure if I should cane her or kiss her.
Definitely the last one. He grinned broadly. “Sweetheart, forgive my manners,” he apologized as he stepped close to Toni and placed a hand at her lower back. Instantly, her body reacted and she relaxed a bit. He turned back to Hank who was suddenly wearing a shocked expression. “Hank, this is Antonia Deluca” he reveled as Hank glanced to where Richard’s hand sat. “She’s my fiancée.”
Hank stumbled back, open mouthed. “You’re getting married?” He darted a glance at Toni and shook his head; then turned back to Richard. “You’re a dog. But congratulations.” He extended his hand, which meant Richard had to remove his from Toni’s back—which he did grudgingly.
Toni turned to him, dismissing Hank with the slight tilt of her chin. She met his gaze then placed a hand on his chest. “Kayla and Andrew are swinging by tonight for a barbeque around five.”
For some strange reason he could feel the heat from her hand through the layers of his clothes. He also noted that in her high heels, she stood only a couple inches shorter than his six three. “I’ll be on time.” He winked. “Go have fun with mom.”
His mother cast him a level look. “Toni has had her overseas engagements canceled and I all but begged her to come and see if she could modernize things around here.”
She nodded and turned to his mother. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
His mom sighed then grinned. “Fabulous. Now I can show you what I have always hated about the waiting area.”
Toni lifted her hand from his chest and stepped away. Immediately, he missed her touch as she walked toward the threshold and followed his mom out the door.
It is going to be a long year.
“You’re marrying Hollywood Barbie?” Hank still had issues wrapping his brain around the tho
ught.
Toni completely saved the moment. I might actually have to live with the word honey.
“That I am.” No girlfriend he’d ever had used an endearment. Then again, Toni wasn’t a girlfriend—she was going to be his wife—one he hadn’t counted on. “Now if you don’t mind, I have work to do since I have a barbeque to get to.”
“Unbelievable.” Hank walked over to the office door, shaking his head. “Well, good luck man.”
“Thanks.” He thought a moment. “Hank, there’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
Richard grinned and debated before he flexed his jaw. There was one thing he couldn’t live with. “If you ever refer to Toni as Hollywood Barbie again—I’ll knock your ass out and make sure your teeth go down your throat.”
“I can’t believe you said that.” His friend wore a surprised expression, then walked out of the room.
Richard chuckled, and then tried to remember the last time he’d gone to a barbeque. The sad part was he couldn’t remember. He better call his sister Piper and figure out what to wear. He somehow doubted his Armani suit was the answer.
Toni turned to Kayla. “It was a nightmare. Really and truly. If you think my mom is out of control, Mona Bryson takes things to an entirely new level. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has Christmas dinner catered.”
Her friend giggled. “On the bright side, you know the best in Beverly Hills.”
She paused and smiled. “Don’t kid yourself; I know a few in New York and Vegas too.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Toni studied the other woman a moment. “Because your my best friend and you know me.”
Kayla walked over to where Toni was cutting vegetables for the salad. “I also know something else is bugging you. I think it’s because we’ve been best friends since we were fourteen and freshman.” She shook her head. “What is going on with you?”
Toni had no clue where to begin so went with the easiest answer. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’re such a liar and a bad one at that.” She grinned. “Pause.” Toni stopped cutting and Kayla swiped green pepper and some mushroom slices. “Resume and tell me what has you out of sorts.”
“Richard.” His name fell of her tongue in a tone similar to a whisper. She lifted her gaze from the green pepper on the cutting board and stared at her friend. “Richard is driving me crazy. I know it’s been forever since I’ve dated.”
Her friend’s expression lost its luster and she sighed. “Okay, so no man makes it past date two. You officially took yourself off the market after that jackass Donavon and devoted all your time to your charities. I got sick and you went out even less. “
“You had breast cancer and I just knew if you died you were taking Andrew with you. He was so scared. I was too; I love you so much and I didn’t know how I would go on without you. You were the only thing normal in my world, always—you’ve met my parents.” Toni struggled not to cry. Tears showed weakness and she had shed enough in Kayla’s kitchen on Thursday night to last a lifetime.
“You gave up so much for me,” her friend scolded, though she knew Kayla was grateful.
“As I recall, your mom couldn’t handle the stress and jumped into a bottle.” She wasn’t a fan of Kayla’s mom—but despite all, it was her best friend’s mom.
“That’s my mom.”
“You had stage four—I didn’t know anyone who has survived something so severe. It was the scariest time of my entire life.” She hung her head, hiked up her big girl panties within her mind and slowly exhaled while she found her inner Zen. “It’s over, you’re better, you’re married to the love of your life and you’re happy. I’m happy.”
“Something is wrong.” Kayla covered Toni’s hand still holding the knife. “This can’t be easy; getting married to a man you don’t know; you’ve already had to re-arrange your life for the year.” She gave the hand a squeeze. “Please tell me, don’t shut me out.”
She sighed heavy. “I am attracted to my husband-to-be.”
“Imagine that.” Kayla burst out laughing and stole another couple pieces of green pepper. “I think anything with a pulse would be attracted. I’m quite sure the majority of straight women would be attracted to your future husband—only it wouldn’t surprise me if a few batting for the other team crossed the line—if you get my meaning.”
Toni set the knife down. “Joke all you want, really I can take it. Seriously though. He’s more than that. I mean, he didn’t get into law either and you’ve met his dad—just like mine, you know damn well Judge Bryson took it personally.” She shook her head and sighed, then met her friend’s gaze.
“I’m coming to terms with the fact I’m going to be his wife. I get it. What I am seriously wondering, though, is how I’m going to survive the next year wondering if his body under the suit is as hard and defined as I think it is.” She waved her hands. “And those dimples—I swear when he smiles they have the same effect as a stun gun…or an exclamation mark in punctuation.”
A strange look crossed Kayla’s face.
Toni frowned at her friend. “Unless you’re choking on that green pepper, know that I’m serious. I mean we’re supposed to have this fake—but perfect marriage so we don’t embarrass our families. In the meantime, I’m standing in a kitchen planning the ultimate barbeque to impress this guy. I’m even dressed preppy so he finds me attractive. I broke down and actually have eyeliner on.”
Kayla made a strange muffled sound. “Oh boy!”
“I know right—who knew I’d rock khaki shorts with a button down blouse for a guy?” She whimpered and stared at the array of vegetables. “I have 300 salad recipes from casual to high end cuisine and I’m standing here stressing out over a salad to go with steak? What if I make something he doesn’t like?”
“We should change the subject,” Kayla encouraged.
Toni released an exasperated sigh. “You wanted me to talk. I’m talking. My husband-to-be is hotter than Hell—in summer!”
She was losing her mind and her calm. Time to focus. This was a prison sentence, not a judicial dating site. She was screwed and considering the circumstances—not literally.
“I never thought I’d actually be attracted to him—now I’m terrified he has allergies and I’ll send him into anaphylactic shock and kill him—and because Judge Masters is as much of an ass as our fathers, he might actually nail me on murder one.”
Kayla covered her mouth and shook her head. “Toni! Shut up! Now—no more talking.”
“I maybe could, but I don’t even know if he likes pecans or almonds—or has an allergy to nuts in general.” She whimpered and remembered the sparkle in his blue eyes when they stood in his office. “I’m so afraid of falling for him.”
Kayla shook her hands out in front of her. “Shut-up, pretend you’re mute.”
Toni didn’t understand Kayla’s behavior. “For Christ sake, is he standing behind me or something?”
Kayla closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. This was bad. She’d always wondered what the seventh layer of hell felt like—something told her—she was about to find out.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m home.”
She knew the sexy baritone better than her own heartbeat, the one that currently beat rapidly out of control. “Oh! Hell, no!”
Kayla peered over her fingertips. “Most definitely.”
A strange whimpering sound filled the room and it took about thirty seconds too to realize the sound had come from her. “Love a duck!”
Richard rounded the island across from where she stood. “Considering the circumstances, I’m letting that one go.”
“Good idea or I’ll be late to your family dinner due to quality time with father Giordano.”
She darted a quick look to Andrew who grinned and shook his head. “I let him in since I knew you and Kayla were busy.”
“Oh,” Toni smiled and focused her attention on Richard. “Well, welcome.” Her stomach fluttered with bu
tterflies.
“Uhhh, Kayla.” Andrew hesitated. “I packed those boxes in the SUV. You should look. You’re the better packer than me…maybe we can get more stuff in.”
“Sounds great! I can offer suggestions,” her best friend in the world exclaimed and practically ran out of the kitchen.
“Ah, bless the rats,” Toni mumbled. She was now officially alone with Richard.
“Let me guess, the rollercoaster you’re on is called sinking ship?”
Toni met Richard’s sapphire gaze. “Would I be horrific if I said yes?”
“Definitely human and blatantly honest.” Richard studied the beauty before him. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head indicating she wasn’t.
He wrapped his hands around her bare wrists gently. “I don’t have allergies. None food related.” He already felt heat transferring between them and cascading over his flesh. He glanced at the two bags of nuts sitting on the counter of the island. “Are those salted or candied pecans?”
Toni met his gaze. “I am serving the salad with raspberry vinaigrette, so candied of course—unless you don’t like raspberry vinaigrette.”
“I do actually, but use the almonds on the salad.” He flashed the beauty before him a grin and swiped the bag of pecans, reluctantly letting her go. “Because God knows I’m having them with my beer. Andrew said it was in the fridge?” He opened the bag and reached in for some of the pecans.
She smiled and nodded. “Top shelf. Other than Andrew, you’re the only beer drinker I now officially know.”
“I drink scotch and bourbon too.”
“I’ll make a mental note. It’s so weird that we are being forced into this and we don’t know anything about each other.” She started cutting vegetables again and Richard had to admit she was right.
He stepped over to the fridge. Richard withdrew a beer and glanced at her. Her hair was in a clip and off her face, giving him a great view of her pretty features and long lashes. Relief washed over him. They were actually getting along. However, hearing her blatant admission of her attraction to him had kicked his libido completely out of whack. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances.”
