The Billionaire's Proposition (The Romero Brothers, Book 4)

by Richards, Shadonna

  If only Venus could have been a proverbial fly on the wall at that time. Carl insisted that everything was still a go and that all was well with Grandpa Romero. He left the conversation at that. There was no room for questions when he had told her. Instead, Carl had immediately turned to his phone at that time which annoyed the heck out of Venus.

  But having thought about that, she wasn’t exactly open about every aspect of her own life with him, either, was she? That was one heck of a way for a couple to start off a fake relationship, Venus mused, mentally shaking her head at the irony of the whole situation.

  Next, Carl and Venus went to the Clark County Building to obtain their marriage license. They had already sped up the process by filling out the online marriage license pre-application form in advance. Since the state of Nevada had no waiting period for couples eager to tie the knot, spur-of-the-moment weddings were as common as playing slots. Nevada was known as a state where weddings happened quickly. Venus’s mind was still reeling from this whirlwind pretence romance with her boss. But her mind was still spinning, her heart still galloped hard and fast in her chest. She still couldn’t process all that was happening.

  It was no secret why it was one of the world’s most popular hot spots to tie the knot. Pamela had already given them information about the legalities on getting married in Vegas so that the marriage would be validated once they returned to Canada. The last thing they would need was to have their marriage not recognized—which was rare, after getting married in Vegas.

  Talk about a fast-and-easy way to get hitched!

  After they left the Clark County Building, Carl glanced in Venus’s direction as they sat beside each other in the super stretch Hummer limo heading back to the hotel. Jules had travelled separately with Pamela.

  “You seem nervous,” Carl commented, his dark, chocolate gaze capturing Venus.

  Butterflies fluttered inside her belly again. His voice, his smooth tone always had that effect on her.

  “I’m good,” she lied, sounding as calm as her voice would allow. The truth was, she was going crazy inside—in a good way. She was just nervous as hell. What was she getting herself into? Good heavens! What was she doing? Getting married to a high-profile mayoral candidate?

  Breathe deeply, Venus. Take a deep breath. Everything will work out fine. It has to work out fine.

  Long before Venus knew that she could never really get married and have a happily ever after like most women dream about, she had never in her life thought that if she did tie the knot it would be in the famous Sin City! She felt like an A-list celebrity, hiding from the paparazzi and doing a spur of the moment quickie nuptial to escape a possibly media frenzy. This was somebody else’s life, Venus thought to herself, not hers. Nothing seemed real about the day—except for the fierce beating of her heart and spine-tingling sensation she was having being near to Carl, knowing that by the end of the day, she would be his lawfully wedded wife.

  My goodness!

  Her body perspired at the thought. Her sex throbbed just thinking about him. She was having trouble breathing without trembling. Why did the air around her seem too thick to breathe all of a sudden?

  Venus was about to become Mrs. Carl Romero. Have mercy!

  “You sure now?” he asked, raising a brow. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

  “Well, the only thing I’m not sure about is finding a wedding dress with only a few hours notice. I’m not exactly a supermodel thin type.”

  “No. You’re not,” he agreed. “You’re so much more beautiful, more shapely.” His silky gaze captured hers.

  Her stomach flip-flopped. Her heart squeezed. Wow! What a thing for Carl to say. How was it that this man always knew the right words to speak to make a person feel…so good? So appreciated?

  “Th-thank you,” she said softly, almost breathless, “for the compliment.”

  “It’s the truth,” he affirmed, his eyes still engaged with hers.

  Venus drew in a deep breath. He wasn’t making her nerves any easier to manage, she mused with delight. Carl was so charming, so good in every way.

  “I’m sure we’ll find something in due time,” he continued, turning his attention to his jacket, whipping out his smartphone. The partition of the limo was closed.

  Venus didn’t know if he was calling the chauffeur, or Pamela, who had taken up a duel role of assistant in addition to being the family’s personal press secretary. She was now their official go-to girl and executive assistant whenever they needed. And Pamela was such a darling sweetheart and seemed to enjoy working for the Romeros as much as Venus did.

  “Right,” he said, after finishing his brief conversation. “There’s a wedding boutique off the strip. Pamela will assist you in picking out a gown.”

  “Wow, thank you. It all seems so…official.”

  “Well, we need to do this right, don’t we? Besides, we need to have official wedding photos up on our mantelpiece of our big day to make it look authentic.”

  Official wedding photos? Look authentic?

  Her head was spinning. She was in a daze again—and this time, not in a good way. Why had her mood just slipped down into oblivion?

  Crap!

  Just when Venus started to feel so good about herself again, the thought of not having Carl forever, just bumped her right back into reality. Look authentic? That was what this was all about after all, wasn’t it? Nothing more. Nothing less. This was all just for show. And what better place to have their wedding than in one of the world’s top entertainment districts? The dazzling show-girl city. Las Vegas, Nevada!

  “Yes,” she agreed quietly. “It has to look authentic.” Venus swallowed a hard lump in her throat that took forever to go down. Much like the bitter pill of reality. She could never really have Carl to herself—forever. That was her reality and she just had to get used to it. No matter what. She could do this. She could pretend to be his wife. She could pretend that it would mean nothing more. She could pretend…

  This was going to be a lot harder than she thought it would be.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The next day, Venus’s heart fluttered in her chest, skipping a beat and thrashing about madly. She was going to implode. This was the day. It was finally happening. She stood in her hotel room on the Vegas strip, sucking in a deep breath while Pamela helped her with last minute finishing touches. As if this were real. As if she would stay married

  “You look so beautiful, Venus,” Pamela said, gushing over Venus’s wedding gown.

  “Thank you, Pamela. Thanks for spotting the dress in the boutique. I didn’t think I could possibly find something so beautiful that would actually fit on such short notice.” She swirled in her silky white floor-length gown.

  Her heart was filled with panic. She was revealing an awful lot of herself in this dress.

  It was an elegant A-line strapless dress with a plunging sweetheart neckline. Oh, heavens! Her cleavage was certainly prominent. The fabric was an organza flange with a wedding gown skirt that she admired the moment her eyes caught it at the store. The back was laced up intricately. The dress also had a natural waist that accentuated her curves. She was nervous thinking about what Carl would think when he first saw her in it.

  Still, the gown was perfect for the Vegas summer heat, too. She’d read somewhere that getting dressed in a heavy gown in Vegas was probably not the best thing to do since it made the bride uncomfortable at best. That was the last thing she needed right now, to feel or look uncomfortable.

  “Hey, no problem. That’s what I’m here for.” Pamela paused, looking awkward. “You know, I really do hope this works out for both of you,” she said, handing Venus the silk posy bouquet.

  Venus took the fragrant arrangement from her and held it in her hand, trembling. The natural stems of her bouquet were wrapped in beautiful satin and embellished in pearl pins and beaded trims. Her mother had held a similar bouquet, she remembered from seeing wedding photos of her now deceased parents. She wishe
d to God she still had them with her. Right now, Venus had the traditional something borrowed—a piece of jewellery from Pamela. Something blue—an aqua-colored broach. Something new—a ribbon from the boutique store. And of course, something old—a beautiful pearl necklace that was her mother’s. Her heart ached that her mother would never get to experience being the mother of the bride—even if Venus was only going to be bride for a year! Yet still wearing something that her mother once treasured brought her feeling closer to her mom—wherever her mother was in the spiritual sense.

  “Thanks,” Venus said. “I hope it works out for Carl, too. He would make the city’s best mayor. He’s so dedicated to helping the people.”

  “I know he’s wonderful,” Pamela said, looking down slightly. “But…I…I also hope it works out for both of you. I mean, after the agreed year together. I know it’s not my place to say this but…you two really do make a cute couple. I see the way you look at each other.” Pamela had a spark of hope in her eyes. Venus thought she could see a bit of moisture in them, too.

  Oh, Lordie. The last thing Venus needed was to get emotional herself. She tried hard not to allow her nerves get the best of her. She was feeling anxious as it was. She drew in a deep breath.

  “Well, you know, I like Carl.” Like was an understatement. “But, I’ll let the chips fall where they may,” Venus continued, using a bit of Vegas casino talk. “Whatever’s meant to be…will be.” She hoped.

  The ladies grinned and prepared to leave the suite for the chapel in the hotel. So this was it. No wedding rehearsal. No six-month planning. No massive guest list. Just the quick and done deal. She was going to begin her duties as Carl’s loving bride. It was show time!

  My God! Carl looks…wow! Just…wow!

  Venus stood at the tastefully decorated chapel in the hotel with Carl at her side at the altar. The minister had already begun the brief service. Pamela and Jules were, of course, witnesses and the couple’s two guests. Everything seemed to be going fine so far.

  But Venus was so captivated by Carl. Her eyes kept drifting to her groom. A longing so painful stabbed at her heart. She’d never wanted someone so badly as she wanted Carl Romero. Yet, she was going to be his wife soon, in every sense of the word, for only one year! That was the only catch.

  He stood towering over the minister in his six-foot, four-inch frame. His broad shoulders filled out nicely in his gorgeous white tuxedo. He no longer sported his stubble; he had apparently shaved for the ceremony—she guessed for the wedding photos, too.

  Hot damn! She was on fire for sweet, sexy Carl. He was devilishly handsome, dripping with charm and sensuality. His dark features, smooth black cropped hair, dark defined eyebrows and beautiful brown eyes framed by long lashes. His lips were so well shaped, enticing. Kissable. Oh, he was so good with his soft, sexually potent lips. She couldn’t wait to taste him again. She wished the ceremony would speed up. Yet inside she was a bungle of zigzagging nerves—all over the place. Her legs felt weak as the minister officiated. And Carl could not keep his eyes off her. She ran over the events of the past couple of days in her mind, since Carl’s surprise proposal. She was nervous as sin and had her legs waxed, bikini line waxed and even did the American wax thingy before their arrival in Vegas.

  Venus, more than ever, really wanted to make sure that she was as groomed underneath her lingerie as she could be. It dawned on her that Carl had been with some top models and rich socialites, none of whom were anything like her. She had a tough competition to follow. Would he be pleased with her in bed? She’d even taken the time to do a bit of Cosmo research on how to please her man in bed. Oh, heaven help her! What had she gotten into? If Carl’s sexually-charged, erotic kiss was any indication of his lovemaking, oh, Lord, she didn’t know if she would be able to manage him, or die of orgasmic overdose!

  Keep your mind clear, Venus. You’re in a wedding chapel.

  Was she the only bride in the world who thought about what their upcoming honeymoon would be like making love to her groom, and what it would be like if it was to be their first time intimate with each other?

  Her mind was spinning.

  “Do you, Carl Vincent Romero,” the minister said to Carl, “take this woman, whose hand you now hold, to be your true and wedded wife; and do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses to love, cherish, honor and protect her: to forsake all others for her sake; to cleave unto her, and her only, until death shall part you?”

  Carl’s blood pumped in his body. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. Damn! What was he doing? He’d never desired a woman as much as he craved sweet Venus Jackson, but hot damn! Till death does he or shall he, or whatever the minister just said, part? That’s one heck of a long time to be bound to a woman if he ever lived to be as old or older than dear old Grandpa.

  Wait a minute!

  Carl yanked himself back to reality and remembered their agreement. It was only for one year. Nothing more. But who the heck told Carl to make Jules arrange and book the wedding ceremony on his behalf? Why couldn’t Jules have chosen an atheist style wedding or something to that effect? At least then he wouldn’t feel so damn guilty taking this “holy” vows under God. He was sinning like hell and was going to go there real fast now. Not to mention that deep down Carl felt terrible for having to resort to getting married to improve his public persona as he entered politics. He kept reminding himself that he really did care for Venus and he knew his heart was in the right place in wanting to help taxpayers.

  Carl drew in a powerful breath.

  “I do,” Carl responded, his voice deep and strong. He gazed into Venus’s eyes and something weird and strange happened inside his body. He couldn’t describe it. The energy he felt was incredible, her hand in his.

  Desire burned through his body when his eyes captured his stunning bride. His wife-to-be. But only for one year! God, she was gorgeous. And her breasts practically bulging from her pretty gown with the low neckline. He could think of nothing else but nestling his lips between her bosom, and heck, between her thighs. His lips twitched just thinking about being inside his fascinating woman later. Mind out of the gutter, Carl!

  Yet, heated anticipation rushed through his body. All this time that he’d known Venus, she’d been as beautiful as she was elusive. A mystery. Always keeping her distance from him, from everyone. Yet she was so loving, kind, graceful, and attractive in every way. He loved the way he felt around her, whether at work or on family occasions. And now. Tonight. He would finally get to be intimate with her. Heat rushed to his loins at the mere thought of taking her, making her his. Finally.

  The minister turned to Venus.

  “Do you, Venus Marie Jackson, take this man, who holds your hand, to be your true and wedded husband, and do you solemnly promise before God and these witnesses to love, cherish, honor and protect him, to forsake all others for his sake; to cleave unto him and him only…until death shall part you?”

  Venus looked uncomfortable for a moment. Damn! That wasn’t a good sign. She looked too stunned to speak. She seemed dazed. The minister, an older gentleman with white hair and pale skin that looked even paler against his black gown, looked concerned, too.

  “I…” Venus said, swallowing a lump. She seemed to have difficulty speaking. Carl instinctively held her hand firmly, tighter with love.

  “It’s okay, Venus,” he whispered to her. “You don’t have to…”

  He stopped himself but he was willing to forgo the charade. If she wasn’t comfortable doing the whole wedding vows thing, that was okay with him. Maybe getting married was a bad idea after all. What the hell was he thinking that they could pull this off?

  He’d just have to win the election on his own merits—as a single guy with a dream, nothing more. The last thing he wanted was for Venus to do something she was not comfortable with.

  “Hey, it’s okay, sir. The wedding’s off,” Carl ordered the minister, whose eyes now bulged out of his head.

  “No!” Venus shouted.
/>   Wow, what a voice. That really caught Carl and everyone in the chapel off guard.

  “I…I’m sorry. I…I…I do,” she said more confidently. “I do. I do take Carl to be my husband.” Tears moistened her eyes.

  The minister seemed as if he was going to have a heart attack. One would think that performing weddings in Vegas that he must have seen all kinds of weird stuff happening in his ceremonies. But Carl guessed not.

  Venus squeezed Carl’s hand. “Please. I want to do this. I want to,” she said to him, her dark beautiful brown eyes pleaded with him.

  “Okay,” Carl said softly. He took his free hand and stroked the side of her cheek. “You’re so beautiful, you know that?”

  The minister cleared his throat. Jules and Pamela seemed to let out a collective sigh of relief. Or maybe that was just Carl’s overactive imagination in the moment.

  Why did he feel as if his world ended when he thought Venus was going to change her mind about marrying him? Heck, she was just doing it for a year contract. A job. Not the real thing.

  Yeah, but this whole fake marriage thing might have been the original agenda but there sure as hell wasn’t anything fake about the way his body was reacting to his beautiful assistant. Nothing at all. His feelings for her were anything but feigned. His whole body pulsed uncontrollably. Heat rushed through his loins, his veins.

  This woman had captivated him … completely. She had his heart in her hands and she didn’t even know it. Was he really falling for Venus?

  “Okay then, we shall continue,” the minister said.

  The minister then wrapped up with the wedding vows, and they recited a prayer and did the ring exchange where they pledged their love for one another.

  The minister then sealed the rings with a prayer and pronouncement. “In consideration of these pledges, I am authorized by the laws of the state of Nevada in your marriage license to pronounce you husband and wife. As I do this, let me remind you that henceforth, you are one, one in interest, and in reputation, and above all in affection. What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”