Cocky M.D.: Single Dad Fake Fiancee Romance (Steel Series Book 5)

by Victoria Pinder

  “How did you—”

  “Do you talk to me about anything other than my marriage and how it helps with your business?”

  That was always what I was to him and my family—a tool for trade but not valued. In most families, being accepted to medical school was a celebration. In mine, it was like I’d asked for a divorce. In the end, moving across the country had saved me from constant reminders of how I’d failed my family.

  “You’d have been more helpful working for me.”

  “I’m a doctor. I’m sorry that makes you feel like I betrayed the billionaire club.”

  “Your trust fund would be more if you invested—”

  “I can’t do this anymore.” I waved my badge to get into the parking lot. “Look, tomorrow, Olivia will be my wife. We’re having a small backyard wedding—”

  “Backyard?” he interrupted, sounding like I’d caused a heart attack. He must have been shocked that she didn’t want something elaborate. I’d learned from him that people were always after money.

  I drove into my spot and said, “Yes, backyard. It’s what she wants.”

  I didn’t move at all as he said, “Your mother insists you send Bradley to us for two weeks and enjoy your honeymoon.”

  So he would be brainwashed, too, into not feeling anything and believing that money made us entitled. The thought that I was pushing Olivia way because I didn’t deserve her raced through my mind. My throat constricted. “Look, Dad, I have to go.”

  “Let us know soon.”

  That meant he had a business deal, and my happiness no longer mattered. And I’d treated Olivia the same way. Half of what I’d done that day was because I’d never had a heart to give to anyone. I walked into the hospital, knowing I had no way to ever be like the people I worked with or the ideals I saw in movies.

  I had all the money one man might ever need, but I would never have love or whatever that feeling was that Olivia hoped we would have. That was a luxury that had been traded away from me when I’d been in the crib. Ruby had scoffed at the notion of love, and our ease was the closest I had to the feeling. Maybe my parents had been right, and I’d been wrong to let Bradley believe in some idealized version of his mother. No one truly loved anyone.

  As I slipped into my office to check my work chart, I quickly took out my phone and decided that after what I’d done, Olivia deserved another gift, so I called my family’s secretary.

  “I’d like for you to book two weeks in Hawaii and have the jet fueled for a stopover at my parents’.”

  “Excellent, sir,” he said.

  I hung up the phone and made my rounds. Testing Olivia had been wrong. Helping my patients made me realize that they all had someone there to hold their hands. The calmest ones were the married couples when they were easy together.

  As I left the sixth patient, sending the man to the cardiac floor, the chief came out and stopped me, holding his own charts. “Can’t wait to meet the future missus.”

  “Checking up on me, Dr. Munz?”

  His gaze narrowed, and he shook his head. “No. I wanted to congratulate you personally.”

  Right. His interest in my life caught me off guard. His stethoscope didn’t peer into my soul. I sighed and hoped he would never know I was such a jerk. “For?”

  “If you show up married, it’s guaranteed from human resources that you’ll be the next chief.”

  Right. I was marrying Olivia for that promotion, because she had my parents’ contract connections, and because my son loved her. She didn’t need my heart, too. I curled my lips into a smile and said, “Excellent. We’ll stop off at the picnic before we take off on our honeymoon.”

  His eyes widened, and his voice grew louder as he said, “You’re getting married that fast? I was hoping I was invited. My wife and I enjoy seeing young lovers start on their adventure together.”

  Nurses clapped their congratulations for me from the station down the hall, but I said quickly, “I wanted to show you I was ready in case you needed proof I was in a stable relationship.”

  He laughed and slapped me on the back. “I’m happy for you. We all are. It’s great to be in love and find the one that makes you happy. I’d never retire if I didn’t have my Evelyn to go home to.”

  I’d just finished my first round when my phone rang again. I quickly returned to my office and saw that the person I’d spoken to earlier was calling me back.

  I shouldn’t have done this. If she left me, it was my fault. I ignored the tingles in my spine and answered.

  The clerk said, “Mr. Dawes, she’s left.”

  She’d been efficient. Perhaps she knew her style. I let out a breath and said, “Excellent. What happened?”

  “She didn’t buy a dress.”

  So she’d not spent her own money. I glanced at the white ceiling, my gut twisting. She didn’t really love me, which I already knew, but that proved it. “She didn’t?” Adrenaline rushed through my veins.

  “She asked for the price and bolted.”

  I sighed and said quickly, “Send the one she liked to my house and charge it.”

  I gave her my card number and hung up the phone. At least I knew for sure. Love was a lie, and she was with me for my money. I knew better than to believe in her and her declarations of love.

  And I would have to teach Bradley to protect his heart, too, as women were notorious, and it was better to see their predatory hearts. That included Olivia’s.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Olivia

  I’d left the too-expensive bridal shop he’d sent me to in the morning and decided the outlet was good enough for a backyard wedding. If Johnny had intended to prove to me that I wasn’t in his class, he’d succeeded.

  My heart raced, but I ignored it. I’d driven Bradley to my favorite coffee shop and grabbed a donut for him and a tea for me, then we headed to the mall. Some of my friends had bought their wedding dresses there and not had sticker shock.

  I wasn’t allowed to bring in the tea, so we sat on the sidewalk and talked. When my phone rang, I answered and put it on speaker so that I couldn’t ignore Bradley.

  Indigo was the alpha sister. She wasn’t the oldest but the bossiest. “My husband is here with me. You’re getting married. Who is he?”

  My stomach twisted. If I hadn’t told my sisters, then I wouldn’t have anyone to answer to. “Johnny Dawes.”

  After a muffled conversation on the other end, Indigo said, “Jacob says he knows his family.”

  I tugged my ear and smiled at Bradley. He was one of the best reasons to stay. “Yeah, he said he knew Jacob and Carter’s names, though he’s a doctor here in Pittsburgh.”

  “We’ll fly out for the wedding.”

  My entire body stilled at the idea of my sisters seeing me. It could be a huge mistake. I swallowed and wished panic weren’t racing through me. “No. Don’t.”

  “Why?”

  I closed my eyes and wished Bradley couldn’t hear our conversation. His father had set me up, but I would not tell my sisters on the phone. I chose my words carefully and said, “Because I need some space to settle.”

  “Settle what? We’re family, and we’re flying in on our private jet. Georgie will be at her house first, so give her a call. We’ll all be in tonight for you to tell us all about your upcoming wedding.”

  The rally to help Olivia was about to begin. I cringed as I glanced at Bradley, whose eyes were wide. “Don’t.”

  “We’re sisters, Olivia. Even Stephanie’s catching a flight.”

  So the complete circle of everyone who ever tried to “help” me but never listened would all see me. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Right, and if you’re in need, we’ll help you with whatever you intend to do next.”

  That was the good part of having sisters. I loved them, and they loved me. I’d flown to their weddings and shed tears of joy for most of them.

  I hung up, and Bradley said, “Your sisters love you.”

  We stood up, and I brushed off any d
irt that might be on my old jeans. “Family loves each other, and it’s like I’m their baby. I’d hoped when they became moms, they’d ease up, but I guess not.”

  He took my hand and said, “I’m glad you’re marrying my dad and staying, Olivia.”

  “Bradley, you’re a great kid,” I said and wished it was enough to be his stepmother.

  It was his father that had decided to prove I wasn’t worthy of him, which was sad. I’d thought I was opening up to him and speaking more freely, but I guessed it was all a big lie.

  We went down the aisles of the store. Bradley had a picture of the dress I’d liked, so we both searched for a similar style.

  He found one first. Sure, it had fewer lace details, but I would still look like a princess worthy of love.

  We headed to the dressing room to be sure, and when I paraded down the small catwalk, I nodded, and he rang the bell that told the salesclerk that I’d chosen a gown.

  I had my dress and a great future, but my heart kept pounding. It could all be a mistake.

  I packed the dress in the car, and we stopped for pizza. I hoped everything was fine, but I kept wondering why Johnny was pushing me away.

  We drove back to their home, and his Mercedes was parked out front. I steeled my back and left the dress in the car for the staff.

  Bradley held me like he didn’t want me to go anywhere as we crossed the threshold.

  With wet hair and wearing shorts and a green T-shirt, Johnny came down the stairs toward us. Bradley stayed beside me like he was my soldier.

  “You were gone awhile.”

  I uncurled our hands and hugged the boy. I would never hurt their family, and they loved each other. He’d already heard too much, so I said, “Bradley, go to your room.”

  He didn’t hug his father and instead said, “Be nice to Olivia, Dad.”

  Johnny’s shoulders seemed tense. Neither of us said a word or moved until Bradley was out of sight.

  Then he asked, “What happened?”

  I motioned toward the balcony, then once we were outside and he’d closed the doors, I hugged my waist and said, “I’m not stupid, y’know.”

  His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  Yeah, right. My stomach was knotted, and I felt jumpy. I lowered my hands to my side to speak my truth. “You sent me to a store I’d couldn’t afford to buy a shoe from to test me.”

  “Test you?” he asked.

  Once, I’d been afraid to speak up too much. But I squared my shoulders and said, “You think my wish for love is unbelievable, and you’ve made it clear that you want our relationship to be sex only while I spend time with Bradley.”

  He enunciated every syllable. “It is stupid.”

  My spine tingled. At least I knew the truth. I lowered my head and tried to get my heart to stop racing. “I’m asking you to stop if you want to marry me for real.”

  He tilted his head like I was speaking a different language. “What do you mean?”

  There was a major difference between my future husband and my sisters’ devoted spouses. I stood straighter and said, “You want to prove to me my life will be better with your money, but my sisters’ husbands never once humiliated them like you want to do to me, sending me to outrageous places.”

  He didn’t even blink as he asked, “So you didn’t get a dress?”

  Fuck. So that was part of his judgment about me. I lifted my chin and said, “Oh, I have a dress. I bought it from the outlet store I know near my old house.”

  His eyes widened. “Wedding dress outlet?”

  I flinched. It was another reminder that we were from different worlds. My sisters might have crossed over, but me… no way. Johnny was pushing me away. I ignored the knot in my chest and said, “You are so out of touch. If you want to marry me, for real, though, I need you to be prepared.”

  He widened his stance, defensive. “For?”

  I looked him up and down. I crossed my hands like I would do with a student who’d spoken when he wasn’t supposed to. It was overdramatic but well practiced. “For me to look exactly as I always have. If I think my clothes aren’t fitting me anymore, then I’ll go get something of my choosing.”

  He scratched his head. “What?”

  If he wanted to show me that I couldn’t afford his life, then he would deal with a woman who refused to dress the part.

  I walked away. My heart raced as I went to my bedroom. I heard Bradley in his room. Fire coursed through my blood, and he didn’t need to see me like that.

  I glanced at the shopping bags that Johnny’d had delivered. I would never wear any of it, so I wrote a note and called for a maid. I read it one more time. Here are the bags you had delivered to my room. I wore the skirt outfit, so please send the bill so we can settle up.

  Yes, those were fighting words. I handed the note and the bags over and closed the door. It was time to go. All of my things were still in boxes. I put them near the door and started packing the few outfits that I’d taken out.

  The adjoining-room door opened, and Johnny stormed in. He waved the paper in his hand, and he was holding the bags. “What is this?”

  I stuffed a shirt into my backpack and said, “What you bought me.”

  He dropped them onto the floor and asked, “Why?”

  The hairs on my arms stood on end, and every cell in my body tingled. I lifted my nose in the air. “Because these are too expensive for me. I’ll feel more like myself in my own clothes.”

  He didn’t say a word as he stared at me.

  Curling my lip, I said, “Oh, and one more thing.”

  I quit. The words were on the tip of my tongue. I should just walk out the door and never come back. I’d packed my bags, but my heart whispered to calm down. Bradley was great, and Johnny had only made one mistake. I squared my shoulders and decided to give it one more chance. “We’ve agreed to two nights a week, and this week is done. From here on out, I’ll sleep in my own room.”

  I then walked toward him and motioned for him to go to his room. He didn’t move. The air near him smelled like his aftershave. I asked, “Why do you want me to hate you, Johnny?”

  He put his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want that.”

  I winced and stepped back. I didn’t need to be near him. “Then why are you trying to find ways to push me away?”

  His eyebrows rose. “I was a jerk. Money has always been the reason I have no heart to give you.”

  My shoulders slumped. I had no more fight in me. Tears formed in my eyes, though I wouldn’t let them fall. “Well, I bought a dress, but I asked you if your heart might be open one day, and all you’re doing is showing and telling me it’s not.”

  His voice was low when he said, “I can’t give what I don’t have.”

  I stepped back again and pressed my hands on my heart. “Money is so important to you that it keeps you warm at night?”

  “No.”

  I let out a breath and returned to my packed bag then picked it up and said, “That’s too bad, really. I was seriously falling in love with you, but you don’t feel the same.”

  “It’s impossible.”

  The crack in his voice made my muscles quiver. “Impossible?”

  “Yes.”

  One of the tears rushed down my cheek. I wiped it away. I’d made a mistake in giving him another chance to rip my heart out of my chest. “I’m going to go tell Bradley goodbye and go home.”

  His face went white. “Don’t. I still want to marry you.”

  No. I picked up my keys. I’d been honest since the beginning. I wasn’t a bad person, and he had no right to test me. I shook my head and said, “You want a nanny you can be fuck buddies with, but that can’t be the status of my relationship.”

  As I opened the door to leave, he said, “Wait.”

  “No. We’re done now. Please have my things sent back to my home.”

  I glanced down the hall at Bradley’s room. I wanted to hug him goodbye, but I went to my car first to drop off my bag.


  It was time to stop pretending. Johnny would never love me. I’d been a fool since I met him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Johnny

  The crescent moon was high in the sky, and darkness had entirely overtaken the light. Olivia’s laughter was nowhere in the house.

  I just had her memory. I strolled through my bedroom, remembering how she’d lain beside me, naked and warm.

  So I went to the balcony, but there I could hear her laugh in the back of my mind. I jogged down the stairs, and Bradley was on his swing. It was past his bedtime.

  I walked to the edge of the play area and called, “Hey.”

  He glanced up at me, and I saw dried tears on his face. “Don’t talk to me.”

  I’d pushed her too far and wished for something else. I said quickly, “I’m sorry, kid.”

  He held the chains of his seat but shook his head. “No, you’re not. I heard Olivia and her sister talking.”

  I stepped forward, but he jumped, so I stopped and asked, “About what?”

  He resettled on his seat and said, “About how you sent her to the store with the mean woman, and you sent us in that old car after you left. Olivia didn’t say anything to me, but she might change her mind because of you, and I’ll hate you forever.”

  Mean? Hopefully that was my son’s overreaction. I’d never intended that. I’d suspected she would call me about paying, but she hadn’t. My heart rate sped up. I needed to mend things with my son. “She told you?”

  He didn’t look at me when he said, “She told her sister she might not marry you, because you were mean, and now, she’s gone. And I’m alone.”

  “She did?”

  “No, but I know her faces.”

  I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I kicked the sand and said, “I’m here.”

  He bolted out of his seat and said, “You don’t ever play. I’m going in… to take a shower.” He headed toward the stairs.

  I called, “Bradley!” but then my phone rang.