My mother answered, “We heard from Ms. Sullivan.”
That was the last nanny. I squared my shoulders and sat up. “I don’t care. She wasn’t good to Bradley.”
“She has stellar references and convinced us that public school you’d put our only grandson in was acceptable.”
At least it wasn’t a business call, as my father normally lectured, but I sat back and said, “He was kicked out of three private schools in kindergarten, and he thrived in that school.”
She let out a small sigh like she was disappointed in me, then my father said, “We both feel you need to settle down, son, so you aren’t always so boring and out of touch.”
Settle down? That meant marriage. My father had someone in mind. I took a deep breath and shook my head. “Not this.”
My dad said, “We sent Brittney Wolfe to your house. We feel she’ll be an excellent wife.”
Once again, my wedded state was to be for the good of the billion-dollar business and not my happiness. At the hospital, no one used my family connection to build a wing. I was respected as a doctor, and people listened to my opinion. I swallowed and ignored the tension building in my neck. What Bradley had told me about Olivia floated in my mind, and I said, “Mom. Dad. What do you know about the Kingdom of Norden?”
My father said, “Excellent trading.”
My mother added, “That’s the country where the American blogger married the prince.”
Good. There were connections for business. Olivia had a reason to be acceptable in my parents’ world. I ignored the adrenaline in my bloodstream and sat up. “Yes. The new princess.”
Mom coughed, though I could imagine her squeezing my father’s hand. “I suppose they’re happy. Why?”
No beating around the bush. They intended to send a woman to me, and I hoped to cut off their plan. My heart raced. “Because I’m interested in marrying her sister Olivia.”
My mother’s voice rose. “The upstart has a sister? Is that right?”
The drawing Bradley had done crinkled in my pocket. I grabbed one of my water bottles from a drawer and said, “Yes. Olivia’s her name. Bradley adores her.”
For a moment, no one said anything, then my father broke the silence. “It would be good for business if there is a familial relationship to a trading country.”
“Right.” I massaged the back of my head as I thought, then I scooted forward in my chair. “Yes. I’m sure you and my brothers can figure out how to profit off another marriage for me that way.”
My mother asked, “So you’re serious?”
I heard someone at my office door, so I covered my mouth to say quietly, “I’ll call you with news soon once the engagement is official.”
First, I needed to talk Olivia into the plan. I stood as my mother said, “Very well. At least she might be good for the bottom line, I suppose.”
“Goodbye,” I said then hung up and swung open the door. I hadn’t expected Dr. Munz to be here.
I waved for him to come in, and he asked, “Sorry, Dr. Dawes, but did I hear you’re engaged?”
Fuck. This isn’t good. Everyone would assume the same thing. I would have to find out Olivia’s price that night to get her to agree. Tension rose up my neck as I pressed my lips together. “No. She hasn’t… I haven’t asked yet.”
He slapped his knee excitedly, as if I’d just told him he was a grandfather—or how I hoped my own dad would react to anything I ever did. “The nurses will be upset, but if that’s true, then we can green-light your application for chief and proceed.”
Being a doctor meant I was in control of any decisions that didn’t include my father or brothers, who all worked with my father’s holdings. And being chief proved I was capable of more without using my family influence.
Dr. Munz held out his hand to congratulate me.
I shook it and said, “I’ll let you know soon.”
His phone beeped, so I knew he had to go. Paperwork could wait until later. I headed out to finish giving the next-shift doctors my recommendations, walk a little, then come back to type up everything.
The rest of the day flew by, and at five, I checked out. My life at home needed me.
Olivia’s kisses earlier flooded back to my brain as I hopped into my car.
Soon, I would have the right to have all of her. I would have to find out her price and meet it. Everyone, even I, had a number. I’d learned that about myself when I’d been sold into marriage for daring to go to medical school.
When I pulled into the driveway, a silver Mercedes I didn’t recognize was there. I parked in front, as my staff would move my car to the garage, and headed inside.
But the house was quiet. I put the keys down on the foyer table near the door and called, “Olivia? Bradley?”
Someone with a high-pitched female voice I didn’t recognize said, “Finally.” A woman dressed all in pink and white floated toward the door. “Johnny Dawes.”
I swallowed and squeezed the hand she put in mine. “Are you Britney Wolfe?” I dropped her hand quickly. The hairs on my arms stood on end. Olivia was close. I could feel her. I turned around and saw Bradley, who was holding Olivia’s hand. My heart jumped.
I walked to their side and put my arms around them. “Olivia. Bradley. There you are.”
“We’re here,” Olivia said, and though she didn’t move away, she didn’t seem exactly warm to my holding her. She motioned toward the blond woman. “Britney was just telling us how you two might be getting engaged soon.”
“Right. No.” I answered quickly and squeezed her side. I led them all into the living area as I said, “I called my parents, who sent her.”
Britney pivoted and followed us. “Your parents spoke to mine, which is why I’m here.”
My shoulders felt tight as I let Olivia and Bradley go. “Miss Wolfe, it’s impossible for us to ever be engaged.”
She narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms. “Why?”
I motioned behind me and said, “Because I will be asking Olivia soon, and I want her to say yes.”
Bradley yelped. I turned around and saw that Olivia had her palm toward the wall like she needed extra support to stand.
“Seriously? Miss Steel can be my stepmother?”
Brittney pointed toward Olivia and said, “You can’t be serious. She’s the staff.”
Olivia’s face went white. I blocked her from Britney and any more insults. “No. She’s not.”
Britney tilted her head at me and said, “Your son called her Miss. If she was your girlfriend, he’d call her by name.”
Bradley said, “No.” When I turned toward him, he was holding Olivia’s hand again. She reddened. “I love… Olivia. I was just giving her a hard time. Isn’t that right?”
She went down to her knees and hugged him.
I didn’t need Britney reporting how my son was coddled to my mother, so I said, “Right. It’s a bit of a joke.”
I walked forward and gently nudged her arm to turn her around. “Well, thank you for coming, Miss Wolfe, but our parents will be ending all negotiations.”
She flipped her hair like we were still teenagers and she was some beauty queen and said, “Very well. It was nice meeting you.”
I waited near the door until she headed toward her Mercedes, then I closed it. For a moment, I didn’t move. Somehow, I needed to make my choice become real. If not, Britney was the kind of woman I would have in my life, and living on the other side of the country no longer mattered. I would have a constant reminder that I was a Dawes, even in my own house.
Olivia and Bradley were whispering, and I headed back into the living area.
She stood and hugged her waist. “You were serious that your parents intended to pick out your wife.”
I nodded. “I didn’t know they’d strike today.”
She played with her necklace as I came closer. Her lips made me ache, and I knew she must feel something, as she was blushing. “Bradley said you’re the heir to an agricultural and energy compan
y.”
I waved for them to join me. It was a nice night, and the patio showed off my large garden nicely. She stayed beside me but didn’t let me hold her hand.
“Yes, but I’m the expendable son, which means I get to be a doctor, but I do get saddled with wives that might help the company.”
Bradley asked, “Was Mom?”
Yes, but she and I became friends, not that my son needed to know any of that. I’d sworn I would never let Bradley have the same pressures I did, so I ignored how my pulse spiked and repeated what I’d told him whenever he asked about her. “Your mother was great, Bradley.”
I opened the doors, and we stepped out onto the white marble balcony.
Olivia said, “I thought you became a doctor because you wanted to help people.”
Bradley went off the steps, and I stopped Olivia from following. He usually enjoyed the playground, not adult conversation, and I needed to be alone with her. “That’s true. It’s also about having control of my own family. Marriage was why I was finally given permission to not be in a job I hated, like my brothers.”
“How many brothers do you have?”
“Eleven. My dad thought it would be fun to start a tribe, but then he sent us all to boarding school or gave us nannies. And I was always the odd fish in the stream.”
A servant walked past, and I requested for them to bring a bottle of wine.
“You’re full of surprises, Johnny,” Olivia said.
I folded my hands on the railing and waited for her to join me. We looked out onto the backyard, where I had an in-ground pool on one side and a jogging path on the other.
As our elbows brushed, I said, “I need to figure out what I can do to get you to marry me.”
She snorted and said, “You can get a ring and ask properly.”
Something must have changed. I squeezed her hand. “Wait here.”
She nodded, and I strode inside. My mother and father had worked on Britney together, which meant Mom had intended for us to close the deal that day. She would have thought of details, and an engagement ring was likely in an envelope in my office.
My heart raced as I ran. When I got to my office, I found a manila envelope with my name on it.
Perfect. I’d never even seen the ring, and some jeweler had sent it because it met the monetary offering my parents had settled on, but it should suffice. The diamond was a simple large circle that had all of the five C’s. I shoved the black jewelry box into my pocket and returned to the patio.
Staff had set up the white wine, my preference, while I was gone. Bradley was still playing on the swings, and Olivia made the garden seem boring in comparison. Her simple brown hair in a ponytail and clear complexion made me hard. I needed her like I’d never needed another woman.
Without waiting for her to say anything, I went down on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me, Olivia Steel?”
She pressed her hand to her heart, and her eyes were wide as she opened the ring box. “Where did you get this so fast?”
I stood and waited with my heart practically in the palm of her hands. “My mom sent it with a note to ask. She probably meant Britney, but I want you as my wife.”
Her gaze narrowed as she sized me up. “You’re serious?”
I bounced on my feet. I hadn’t been so nervous since I waited for my father’s permission to go to medical school. “I can buy you a new one if you want, but I’d like for you to be my bride, Olivia Steel.”
She curled her hands around the ring but didn’t say anything.
I leaned in, and her sugary scent that made my mouth water made Little Johnny stand at attention. “Say yes.”
She put a hand over her lips, but it seemed like her eyes had a glimmer in them. Then she nodded and said, “Okay, yes. I’ll marry you, Johnny.”
Huh? I blinked. I’d been sure I would have to cajole her. “You will?”
She slipped the ring on then showed me. “It even fits.”
Somehow, I was disappointed. I’d been waiting for negotiations and to talk her into the plan. I’d even imagined a night of nonstop sex. But then I swallowed my disappointment and instead reached for her hand. “Good. Let’s get the staff and order a celebration.”
Olivia laughed, but that only made me glance at her pinkish lips. I tugged her toward me and pressed my lips to hers.
She tasted sweeter than candy and made me ache to have her. When I married for the second time, I needed passion, and somehow Olivia sent that through me.
Chapter Five
Olivia
The air grew cooler and slightly moist. Soon it would storm, and it was best to be inside, safe and warm. But I wasn’t ready to move yet. I needed a second.
The ring on my finger was heavy. Damn. He’d gone down on one knee, and my heart swelled, and the world dissipated.
I’d said yes because, in that dream state I’d entered, we were perfect together and in love. Reality had crept in when he stood, and his face tensed.
I’d blocked from my memory that when his lips pressed against mine, his kiss set me on fire. I needed him like I needed water, but then he let me go, and I needed to hold on to the rail to stand up, because my legs were suddenly shaky.
Johnny’s hard body turned me on, and the image of that moment between yes and the kiss steamed even my toes.
I played with my necklace and motioned with my head. “Let’s get Bradley in and ready for dinner. It’s going to rain.”
He glanced up and nodded. “I’ll grab the wine for us to talk inside.”
“Sounds good.” Though wine might addle my brain, and maybe that would push the fear out of me. However, I went to the stairs of the balcony and called, “Bradley, let’s go.”
I heard small footsteps and waited. Johnny had the wine and the glasses in his hands while he held the door. Once Bradley came to the top step, I placed my hand on his back to lead him in.
He jumped and asked, “So did you say yes?”
I nodded. “I did.”
He jumped again then hugged me as he said, “I’m happy.”
Thunder boomed. I hugged him but directed him toward his father, who said as we passed him, “Let’s get ready for dinner.”
He held up the wine to me.
I let out a small breath and said, “Set it on the table.”
Bradley and Johnny headed toward the dining room, but I paused and stared at my student who was about to be my stepson. I tapped on my cheek and said, “Hmm. At school, we wash our hands before lunch.”
Bradley stopped and stared at me. For a moment, his bright-green eyes didn’t blink, but then he nodded and said, “Yes, Miss Steel.”
He headed into the small bathroom in the hall.
Johnny stopped in the kitchen and washed his hands. “We need to talk about why you said yes.”
I went beside him and nodded. “Of course.”
He handed me the soap and asked, “So?”
I scrubbed like I’d touched something dirty and disgusting. Then I turned off the water, let out a deep breath, and said, “First, I was jealous when Britney showed up. It was like I’d lost an opportunity.”
He squeezed my arm, and a thrill raced through my veins as he said, “Then I’m happy she came. I thought I’d have to talk you into it more, as marriage is binding.”
I cocked my head and said, “Also, I don’t want to be the only Steel woman who never marries, and that’s probably a horrible answer, but that’s part of it.”
He came toward me, and my lips puckered as I closed my eyes. My heart fluttered, but then a moment of sanity hit me as the water turned off in the bathroom, and I stepped back and said, “Here comes Bradley.”
Bradley didn’t even blink, but Johnny took my hand in his and led me into the dining room. “Let’s eat.”
Another buffet was set. I’d met Lola, the cook, briefly when she’d been preparing, but I hadn’t thought I would taste her lemon chicken piccata. We filled our plates, and we all took our seats, Johnny and Bradley on
either side of me.
Bradley reached for his fork.
I stopped him and said, “No, let’s give thanks first.”
Johnny tugged his ear and asked, “Are you always so grateful for everything you can stuff into your mouth?”
I almost choked, and I was quite sure we weren’t discussing dinner. I glanced up at him and swallowed, as I wasn’t always quick with wit.
But then Bradley said, “Be quiet, Dad.”
Right. I needed to keep it simple for them and ease them in. I closed my eyes and said, “Thank you for this delicious meal and for helping us all find each other, and please bless us with love, prosperity, and health all the days of our lives.”
As the moment ended, Bradley picked up his fork, and Johnny asked, “Do you say that every night?”
Maybe he didn’t want all parts of my life to meld with his. I held my necklace, my cheeks aflame, and said, “I edited myself, as I wasn’t sure how you two give thanks for what you have.”
Johnny picked up his fork and said, “I typically don’t.”
“Thank you for indulging me, then.”
We ate in silence. The lemon chicken piccata was delicious. I finished my plate and sipped the wine Johnny had poured for me, leaning back.
Bradley asked, “So does this mean you can take me to Norden for real now?”
In class, he’d asked me about Norden pretty much weekly after I told them I’d gone to my sister’s wedding. I glanced at Johnny and said, “It’s up to your father whether he wants to go to meet my sister and Prince Ryder.”
He shrugged, sipped his wine, and said, “We can plan that, for sure. Is that where you want to go for the vacation?”
So many decisions. My heart fluttered, but I took another small sip and said, “I haven’t decided. I went from teaching to being a nanny to being a fiancée in twenty-four hours. I need a little time to decompress and make another decision.”
“We’re glad you’re here.”
I folded my hands on the table then remembered my manners. I lowered my hands to my lap and asked, “How many people do you have on staff in this house?”
Cocky M.D.: Single Dad Fake Fiancee Romance (Steel Series Book 5) Page 4
