But it was more than wanting to sleep with her. Coming home to Callie after a long shift at the hospital was the best thing, reminding him of the old days. He looked forward to curling up on the couch with her, a bottle of wine and a movie on TV, being so absorbed with conversation they had no clue how the movie turned out.
The nights in bed resembled purgatory, but he was willing to suffer through it just to have her near. He’d done the right thing, asking her to marry him. The six months after her engagement to Matthew, when their interactions reduced to occasional text messages and one-minute phone calls, that had put a strain on their relationship. Her in another country would make it worse.
He couldn’t have that. No way in hell. Callie meant too much to him.
“You’re doing the right thing. Just be careful.” Nicholas handed him his jacket, giving him an admonishing stare. “I’d hate for you to lose Callie.”
“That’ll never happen,” he replied, easing into the jacket with more force than necessary. He didn’t want to think about losing her at all. A major reason he decided to marry her.
“All I’m saying is, don’t cross the line. If this is purely for business, as you say, then keep it that way.”
“I told you, that’s what it is.” He tried to summon a convincing look, but he wasn’t sure if he achieved it.
From the skepticism on Nicholas’ face, it seemed he hadn’t. “You’re a piece of work, you know that? Callie’s free. Free dude. Don’t you think it’s time to man up and tell her you’re in love with her?”
“No.” Using a brush, he smoothed the sides of his head, careful not to disturb the hair that was styled up and off his forehead. Usually, his curls would frame his face, but today called for a special haircut. He wanted to look good for Callie.
“‘Course not. It means ditching the wild life, which is about time, anyway. You’re pushing on forty, bro.”
“Don’t remind me.” Almost forty, no wife or kids. A superb career, yes. Enough money to live comfortably, check. But those weren’t enough. And no, keeping his feelings a secret wasn’t just about not wanting to settle down. It was the fear of swinging and missing. He had one shot to express his love to Callie; what if he struck out? What if she judged his past—well current too—and found him wanting? Worse, what if she didn’t feel the same?
“I’m doing what’s best for Callie, keeping her here. My feelings for her aren’t important.”
“I hope you don’t regret it, that’s all.” Nicholas checked his watch and grimaced. “We’re running close. We need to go.”
On the way to the wedding venue, with his nerves building, he thought of his conversation with Nicholas. He decided to marry Callie so she wouldn’t have to worry about living off a work permit. Strictly business. His emotions had to take the back burner. After what she went through with Matthew, she deserved a new lease on life, not another complication.
He curled his fists on his lap as fury rose within him. Just thinking about Matthew’s hands on her made him want to pound that son-of-a-bitch to the ground. Fucking coward, beating a woman. He’d love to go a couple rounds with him. Yes, he promised Callie he wouldn’t retaliate. But promises were made to be broken. If he ever lay his eyes on him…
“Last chance to run,” Nicholas said, a gleam in his eyes as he reversed in the parking lot. He parked, pulling up the handbrake before looking to Gabriel. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” he replied, taking a deep breath before opening the door. He’d been ready the moment he ‘proposed’ to Callie. Even more ready when she moved her stuff in. A significant change was on the way, and he wanted it. Seeing Callie happy was his biggest priority.
With Nicholas by his side, he entered the venue and walked down the cobblestoned pathway that led to the hall where they’d meet for the vows. The day was perfect; for the first time in weeks the temperature had risen to a warm level. The sun shone bright overhead. He even swore he heard a bird chirp.
Maybe it was a good omen, that something greater than business would emerge from their arrangement. He didn’t want to hope, but a part of him couldn’t help it.
The ceremony hall was a small room with a high ceiling and glass doors that stretched around. Simple, but nice enough for what they had planned. But though the whole affair was unorthodox, he decided Callie deserved more. He wasn’t the man of her dreams, but it was within his power to give her a wedding ceremony she would never forget.
So, he went overboard, incorporating the things Callie liked. Golden Chiavari chairs, though there were no butts to fill them. Pedestal and floating candles graced the aisle, along with a gorgeous runner. At the head, where the justice the peace stood, was an asymmetrical wedding arch draped with greenery, garden roses and stargazer lilies—her favorite.
He loved how it all turned out, although it triggered a slither of regret. It wasn’t a usual wedding, with the bliss and tears. Still, he wished his family could have made it. His mom, Viola, sister Valentina and his brother Gian Mário. But it was too short notice for them to leave SoCal. They all knew Callie, and they understood the urgency. Gino, on the other hand, wouldn’t have made it if he’d gotten a year’s notice. The old man kick-started his retirement with a new—young love in Greece. From the weekly globe-trotting pics on social media, it seemed he had no intention of returning to the US anytime soon.
It is what it is. Another time, maybe…
“She’s waiting,” the JP said, as Gabriel shook his hand. He took his place beside him while Nicholas brought up the rear. A tall woman with a pixie cut stuck her head in before making her way to a piano that stood in the corner. As she began playing, the doors opened and Dana sauntered in, all smiles, with a tiny bouquet. He gave her a smile, grateful she’d agreed to stand in as Callie’s witness. Callie had never been one for female friendship, but she and Dana hit it off the moment they got together.
Dana smiled back at him then turned her eyes on Nicholas. Gabriel took in their exchange for a moment before turning his attention to the door. As it opened again, his heart skipped a beat before taking pause.
Callie…damn.
Gabriel didn’t know what he expected. A simple dress, probably, but nothing this exquisite, a cap-sleeved white dress with a scalloped keyhole and a length that ended just below her knees. It shaped her body, enhancing every single curve, front and back. She had her hair done up in a twisted low bun, with soft tendrils framing her face.
He was in awe. In love. His eyes never left her as she made her way to him, with a grin that confirmed her peace of mind. Great. She had no doubts. That sealed it all for him.
“You look amazing,” he whispered as she stood before him. Her blushing beam came in reply.
The ceremony was short and spicy, the vows quick. He held Callie’s hand and met her smile with one of his own, bracing for the climax neither of them could escape. He sure didn’t want to. Business or not, he couldn’t wait to taste her.
When the JP said, “you may kiss the bride,” he didn’t hesitate, just dipped his head and took her mouth for a quick kiss.
Well, it should have been quick.
The instant Callie curled her lips around his, he was done for. There was no holding back. Every pent-up emotion rose to the surface, overwhelming him—in a good way. Palming her cheeks, he lost himself in her, probing, licking, tasting every inch of her sweet mouth.
What he didn’t expect was her response, the soft moan that only he heard, her tongue jousting with his, her body pressing against him. His thoughts went awry then. The room faded. Nothing else mattered but the woman in his arms, killing him softly with each stroke.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was just a kiss, Callie. It meant nothing.
Callie groaned and pulled the covers over her head. It was almost two in the morning and sleep remained at bay. Wherever it was, it had no intention of visiting tonight. She wished it would, though. She needed to sink into oblivion and erase this throbbing need for the man lying in the next
bedroom, no doubt asleep, undisturbed by the thoughts that kept her up.
It was pure agony, being so close to him, with the raw tension between her thighs that begged for a touch… his touch. She wanted him so bad, could almost feel his hands on her, his lips setting her on fire, his cock—
God…
She moaned, curling into a fetal position, begging for unconsciousness. As she pulled a pillow towards her chest, the diamond ring on her wedding finger glinted and she raised her left hand to examine it. Mrs. Gabriel DeLuca. Unbelievable. A reality she never saw coming.
The ceremony today went beyond her imagination. She didn’t know what to expect after Gabriel insisted that he plan the private affair. He had been so into it, she gave him the reins without an argument. After all, it wasn’t an actual wedding. But he went the extra mile with the elaborate décor that screamed romance and left a twinge of sadness on her heart.
Then her eyes fell on him and the scene melted.
He was all she saw, in the dark suit that fit his carved body to the T. That, and his gorgeous, sexy smile took her breath away. She couldn’t take her eyes off him on her way down the aisle, and throughout their vows she had to remind herself that it wasn’t a real thing.
If only it was…
But she began the journey with a logical mind. This was an arrangement between friends, nothing more. They would co-exist for a year, then she’d get her papers and move out. Simple, right?
It should have been. But the kiss changed everything. All this time, she imagined what Gabriel’s kiss was like, but the reality surpassed her fantasy by far. It should have been a short one, a quick peck maybe, but she melted the minute his lips touched hers. Soft and smooth, it was, perfect, their lips fitting like two puzzle pieces, his sweet, spearmint taste filling her senses.
When they broke apart, she remained in a daze, surrounded by every emotion she’d buried before. Everything she’d kept hidden since college. Every ounce of love, longing, ache… they clung to her like a long-lost lover, following her home. And she hadn’t been able to shake them.
A part of her—most of her—didn’t want to.
She wanted Gabriel. Wanted more than this whirlwind, short term fake marriage. She wanted him to love her as more than a friend. Was it too much to ask?
It probably was. He’d done enough for her. Maybe this was the furthest fate meant them to go. Just friends, nothing else. Besides, his wild days seemed far from over.
Callie rolled to her back and brought the covers down, staring at the ceiling. She had no emotional hold on him. He had freedom do whatever he wanted, with whoever he wanted. How would she survive living here, knowing he was with another woman? Worse, could she be so close, needing him every night?
Sleep… where the hell are you?
***
“You look as exhausted as I feel. Gabriel kept you up all night, didn’t he?” Dana gave her a sneaky grin and a nudge as she joined her at the restaurant table. After the ceremony, the two women had set a date for lunch to get to know each other. Callie had never been a fan of female friends, but Dana seemed like the real deal. Plus, she’d been kind enough to stand in as a witness for their wedding.
Callie shook her head in response to Dana’s question with a “I wish,” that she wished she could take back at once. She had never expressed her feelings for Gabriel out loud. As much as she liked Dana, this wasn’t the time to confess her love for her best friend.
Dana’s brows raised and the grin disappeared. “For real?”
“No, no.” She tried to raise a casual laugh, but it came out dry and unconvincing. “That was a joke.”
But Dana shook her head. “No, it wasn’t.” She paused as the server came to take their orders, her sly smile resuming. “I saw the way you looked at him after that kiss.”
“What do you mean?” Warmth filled her face. From Dana’s chuckle, her new friend had noticed her blush.
“Come on, Callie. It’s just you and me. Fess up. You like Gabriel.”
“’Course I do. He’s my best friend.”
Dana gave her a dry stare. “You know what I mean.”
“Fine.” She threw her hands up. Maybe it was time to talk to someone about it, get some perspective, some advice on how to respond. “I’m in love with him.” Saying the words out loud made it so real. I’m in love with Gabriel. God damn.
“I knew it.” Dana relaxed with a satisfied smile. “So, what are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean? You’re not some rando off the street. You are his wife.”
“Not for real. You know it’s a temporary thing, right?”
Dana fanned Callie’s statement away. “Oh, whatever. It is whatever you want it to be.”
“Right. And I’m fine with how things are between us. Even if I wasn’t, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Why not?”
“I’m sure Nicholas must have told you about Gabriel’s way with women. He’s not even close to settling down. Plus, I’m not his type.”
Dana scoffed. “Says who? Girl, get out of here. You weren’t the only one with googly eyes yesterday.”
Callie stomach flipped. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve already said too much. Just… tell him how you feel. You never know.”
But Callie shook her head. She didn’t know what Dana saw yesterday—chances were, she mistook an innocent look from Gabriel for something more—but it didn’t matter. Her and Gabriel could never be more than friends. Aside from his womanizing ways, she’d seen the women he dated. Beautiful, gazelle-like women with porn star bodies. Physically, she held her own. But she was nothing compared to them. Plus, Gabriel had never shown a remote interest in her. If there was anything of substance inside, she would have seen it by now.
“I think I’ll pass. I’d hate to test the waters and drown.”
Dana shrugged. “If you think that’s best…”
“It is.” But she didn’t want it to be. She longed to bare her soul to him, to get his love in return. Needing to change the subject, she locked her fingers and rested her chin on top. “So, you and Nicholas…”
***
Callie left the restaurant with a contented smile. Putting their discussion of Gabriel to the side, lunch had been awesome, and she’d made a new friend. Finally, she found a member of the same sex she gelled with in a way she and Gabriel never could. And right on time. Dana seemed like a great listening ear, and she was going to need a helluva lot of that in the months to come.
She turned to cross the street and ran into a man with a grocery bag, staring open-mouthed as the contents spilled on the sidewalk. “My god, I’m so sorry!”
The man gave her a slight smile. “It’s fine. Happens to the best of us.” Together they retrieved the spilled goods and Callie apologized again before taking off, passing a woman who gave her a keen stare before pulling her cell phone and dialing a number.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I think your hands are clean enough, Dr. DeLuca.”
Gabriel raised his eyes from the running pipe to meet the mocking gleam on his resident’s face, then returned his gaze to his hands. “Yeah, I think they are.” He pulled two sheets of hand towels for drying. “That ten-hour surgery’s got me totally wiped.”
Lies. It wasn’t his job that caused the distraction just now. The source lay half an hour away, in his home. Five inches of pure temptation, dripping with sexiness, enough to drive him crazy. He didn’t know how much more to take.
It didn’t help, kissing Callie like he did on their wedding day. Tasting her made him want more. For years he’d basked in the unknown, imagining it and holding his own because it never happened. But now he knew. Now he remembered. Every bit of her soft lips, the stroke of her tongue, the way her body pressed against his. It made his dilemma much worse, weakened his self-control.
So many times, the urge to knock on her door gained superb strength, and he would rise from bed in the midd
le of the night and make his way down the hall. He’d stand at the door, his hand at the ready. But his willpower came to his rescue each time.
The thought of going home tonight carried no appeal. Not that he didn’t want to be around Callie. Quite the opposite. There was no one else he’d rather hang with after a long shift in a cold operating room with someone’s life in his hands. She was the best pick-me-upper a man could ask for.
But his sanity was on the line. He needed distraction, tonight.
After changing in his street clothes, he scrolled through his cell phone for a suitable candidate for the night. Adrienne was away on a company retreat in the Philippines. Not that he minded. They had talked little since the night he blew her off. He was already reevaluating their relationship. At the simplest, they needed to have a good, hard talk when she returned.
He ran through the contact list four times before deciding on Amber, an executive from the stockbrokerage firm that held his investments. She was a guaranteed fun time. With her, there was none of the jealous streak that Adrienne displayed.
He made the call to Amber, but there was no excitement, nothing that made him want to go through with the date. All he wanted was to head home to Callie.
***
Another freaking sleepless night. Damn it.
Night two as Gabriel’s wife. The second night in bed with her hormones raging. The battery-operated boyfriend in her top drawer and the multiple orgasms that it gave, did nothing to help. Her sex still pulsed like a beating heart.
She writhed in bed, clutching the sheet, moaning like a wounded animal. Her body burned from an imaginary fire. She needed it to end, this torture. But deep inside she knew there was only one way out.
God, I need him… I shouldn’t, but I do…
She clutched her sex, willing it to be still. She prayed the tension would go away. Nothing helped. Her arousal kept climbing and climbing…
My Fake Wedding: A Best Friends to Lovers Romance: A Soulmate Romance Novel (Medical Heart Throb Series Book 4) Page 4
