Baby Fever Bride: A Billionaire Romance Read online

  He's not kidding. He stands up straight, and I get a full view of his magnificent chest. I can't tell where the creases in his muscles end, and where ink begins. It's like someone painted a regal looking lion on a mountain.

  Fierceness and strength beautifully brought together, mingling on his kissable skin. Sex incarnate for any woman drawn by this masculine siren disguised as a businessman.

  “Have you thought about what we discussed last night?” He looks at me while he grabs a towel, wiping himself off.

  God. This man doesn't waste much breath on small talk, does he?

  “I didn't know I only had like twelve hours to mull it over.” I'm going to be honest.

  Truth has to be the beginning and the end. Nothing else is happening here today if I can't do that.

  “I'm an early riser, and late to bed,” he says, giving his incredible body one more run with the towel. “I'm very lucky that way. Did you know about five percent of the population can get by just fine on only four to six hours of sleep?”

  I shake my head. Honestly, maybe I'd read it somewhere before, but it's hard to talk about medical facts when Hayden Shaw is standing in front of me half-naked, well worked, and imposing as any man with his money and his looks ought to be.

  “Consider it one more perk of our arrangement. Our baby will probably get the gene that allows him to run circles around anyone who needs a full eight hours to feel rested.”

  I crack, forming a smile. “Well, I see what you've decided.”

  He quirks an eyebrow. “Love, you wouldn't be standing here in front of me if I hadn't decided to give you a resounding yes. Now, what are you going to give me?”

  He's coming toward me. My heartbeat quickens, faster and faster every second I'm drinking him in with my eyes. It's obvious he wants our little arrangement to become more than strictly professional.

  When the bastard talks about baby making, I look him in the eyes, knowing he intends to do it the old fashioned way. If we're going through with this, for real, then I can't let that happen.

  Look at anything, Penny, I tell myself. Anything that isn't his insanely wealthy, perfectly sculpted, lion loving highness.

  My eyes dart to the corner. Well, so much for the lion loving part.

  There's another statue of a lion in the corner, life-sized, sitting regally. More than just a lion, actually. It's flanked by several other big stone cats of all stripes. Pun intended. Jaguars, tigers, lions, and cougars stand in a neat, imposing row against the wall.

  “If it's a no, let's just get on with it,” he says, finally next to me. “I'm not always a patient man, Ms. Silvers. If you aren't going to help me with my problem, and you aren't interested in having my help with yours, then I think we'd best get it out there so we can move on. Why won't you look at me?”

  Damn it, you know why. Even the stone cattery he has in his gym won't distract me forever. I can't look anywhere except those deep, infinite blue eyes when he cups my chin, turning my face to his.

  “Maybe I need to ask you one more time, is that it? Fine. Penny Silvers, do you want to marry me, and make a baby?”

  There it is. Point blank, sultry, and ridiculous as it sounds when it leaves his lips.

  He's put me on the spot. For a second, I close my eyes, looking deep inside myself to bring what I want, and what seems fucking impossible together. The thin barrier between them melts when I consider the non-existent alternatives.

  He's my last, best shot at a healthy, beautiful, successful baby, before Zeno leaves me barren. I just might save his empire.

  “One condition,” I say, opening my eyes again. His gaze hasn't left my face, intense and steely as the eyes of his big cats lined up against the wall. “I get my own room. I'm not kidding about keeping this professional, Hayden. I'll act however you want me to when we're in front of the cameras, as long as it stops short of sex. And I want my donations done right, managed by a doctor. Whatever we need to make it happen without making this thing between us a hundred times more complicated.”

  His mask breaks. He's grinning – beaming – staring down at me with amusement and disbelief written all over his gorgeous face.

  “What?” It comes out of my mouth like a yelp while I'm watching him shaking his head.

  “You're afraid we'll fall in love. That's fair.”

  He's joking. “Um, are you sure you didn't accidentally whack yourself in the head before I came in here? Love isn't anywhere on the agenda. I want this to work for both of us, Hayden. That's it. The beginning and the end.”

  “Sure, sure.” His smug smile settles on his face, receding when he grabs my hand. “I think you'll agree we're both concerned about the emotional implications. You're not wrong. There are serious consequences that could ruin an excellent working relationship. I'm glad you're up front with your weaknesses.”

  My weaknesses? Like the look he's giving me doesn't say, I want to throw you down, hike up your skirt, and see how many times it takes to get you pregnant.

  I stop just short of rolling my eyes. His smile fades, back to the polite, serene calm I'm starting to recognize as the norm when Hayden Shaw isn't either deeply amused or hellbent on getting his way.

  He's all business again. I'm not sure why I'm upset. Isn't this what I want?

  It certainly shouldn't bother me when he's holding my hand. That's what this is about, after all, the service I'm performing on my end. Starting now.

  I'm about to be Chicago's best paid actress, playing a billionaire's wife, with no training in charades whatsoever.

  “What about your weaknesses?” I ask, tightening my fingers around his. For once, I want to rip them off, just to see his thin smile disappear.

  “I'm very generous, Penny. Perhaps too generous with the people who are close to me. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you're taken care of, from the time you start wearing my ring to the day we're divorced and you're paid up, a happy new bundle of joy cooing in your arms. Unfortunately, if you're telling me you're concerned about getting attached, my kindness needs to be recognized for what it is, and nothing more, before mistakes are made on both sides.”

  “Come on! I know you wouldn't buy that for any employee in a job interview. I'm not going to either.”

  His eyebrows quirk up again. Damn, I'm only playing his game, showing my feisty side, and giving him more enjoyment than he needs out of this arrangement. The one, I realize, I've just agreed to without even saying it.

  “Fair enough.” His face darkens. He turns, looking back toward the giant cats I'd noticed just minutes ago. “If you want to know the truth, I can be single-minded.”

  He keeps my hand in his as he walks, leading us toward the huge window. This side gives us a perfect view of Lake Michigan, blue and choppy beneath the November wind.

  “Dozens of men and women in this city fear me. Ten times as many respect me, and sometimes the lines blur. When it comes to business, I always try to make friends first, but when that doesn't happen, when I run into sabotage or competition or stubborn sons of bitches who should know when to take a good deal and walk away...I always get my way, Penny. Always.”

  The laughter goes out of his eyes. His blue irises are rings of ice, glaciers long since smothered.

  A chill sweeps up my back, and it's got nothing to do with my free hand pressed gently against the cold glass. I'm looking at someone so driven, so intense, and so alien to everything I've ever known, it dawns on me everything had better go perfectly if we're going to do this.

  Because if it doesn't, and there are complications, or I let him down...

  “What's wrong?” he cocks his head, as if he's reading my mind. “You're having second thoughts, aren't you?”

  I need to swallow the heavy lump building in my throat before I speak. “You're scaring me a little, Hayden, if you want to know the truth. What happens if I slip up, if I can't do the job you're expecting, lying to the entire world, pretending to love you, when I don't? Will I be one of those people you run over?
”

  He stares at me for several seconds. The anger in his face smooths into a sadness, and he turns away from me, peering down at the incredible city view we're sharing.

  “I'll never hurt you. I'll make you that promise right now, and I never go back on my word. While we're here, spilling our hearts, let me be frank – you're my last hope, Penny. Last and only. There's no backup plan, short of a scorched earth war in the courts I'll ultimately lose. It's Kayla I'm talking about when I'm telling you, I'll either have my way, or be destroyed. I won't let her strip away everything my family's worked generations to build. If you let me down, or I fail you, it's not your fault. It just means my last line of defense wasn't strong enough.”

  I don't say anything for about a minute. I'm mulling everything, wondering if he's giving me a sob story to pull me in deeper, before any serious doubts take over. But no, the look on his face is too serious for that. He's practically asking for my help.

  That shows an unexpected vulnerability I never expected to find in the man who has everything. My shoulders are heavy, realizing I'm the only thing between him and disaster, but my heart hums with a strange new pride, too.

  I've never had this before. This sense of greater purpose, beckoning me into an adventure I can hardly imagine. Maybe it'll be the greatest mistake of my life, but I'd be a fool to say no.

  “You're honest, and I appreciate that,” I say, reaching for his hand, waiting for his beautiful blue eyes to devour me again. They do a second later. “As long as we're up front with each other, this just might work.”

  He smiles sadly, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me into his strong embrace. I'd better get used to it without getting too turned on. There's going to be a lot more of this in the weeks to come, and it's going to be public.

  I smile, resting my chin on his shoulder. My happiness here isn't acting. I'm not sure whether to be relieved, or terrified.

  You can do this, I tell myself.

  “Thank you,” he whispers, bringing his lips to my neck as he pulls away.

  Fire arcs through my veins. It's good practice, even if it's a horrific temptation. I refuse to push him away, knowing I need to get used to this if we're going to survive this facade.

  “One more request,” I say, looking over my shoulder. “I see you're into big, exotic cats. Will you mind if I bring a real one here, my five year old tabby, Murphy?”

  He smiles. “You're in luck. I happen to love cats of all sizes. He'll have free reign of our personal floors in the tower.”

  “Wonderful.” My heart flutters, one more confirmation this might actually work out after all. “So, when did you want to get started?”

  “Tonight. I already have a priest lined up for our ceremony, and then we can figure out your movers over champagne.”

  Tonight?! As in...after sunset?

  My knees buckle. A little too fast, threatening to take the ground out from under me. I can't catch myself, but Hayden is behind me the instant I start to wobble, holding me up in his powerful grasp.

  “What? What is it?” He's alarmed, demanding answers I can't force myself to bring while everything is spinning, blurring, shifting in front of me.

  I didn't know he'd move so fast, but I guess I should have figured as much.

  It's not like it matters. I need to get used to this, keep up with his pace, or we're going to lose before we've tried.

  When I wake up tomorrow, I'm going to be a billionaire's wife, and the handsomest man in the city is going to be arranging my first donation. It's not a dream, or a nightmare, or anything except real life.

  “It's nothing. I'll be ready, Hayden.” I'm not sure whether I'm mouthing the words or actually vocalizing them. Whatever, I don't want him carting me off to a doctor, so I have to say something.

  There's no going back. We'll do this wedding, just as soon as I catch my breath.

  As soon as I can move again, I'm whisked away by Reed to a downtown bridal shop. He waits outside while I spend the afternoon trying on dresses. The woman who helps me, Audrey, refuses to answer any questions about the price tags attached, telling me instead, “Money is no object for a Shaw. Just sit back, and enjoy the ride.”

  It takes us about an hour to pin down a dress that's hot, suitable, and not totally stifling. It's sleek, modern, and it's going to be a perfect fit with only a few quick adjustments.

  I'm working on the shoes while she stands behind me, giving input. “Hmmm. Too reminiscent of the last Shaw wedding. Please, let's try a few other options. Hayden won't want any bad memories.”

  I suppress a sigh. Never thought I'd want to fly through my own wedding plans, though of course this isn't how I ever imagined it.

  I'm also curious. “Last Shaw wedding? You mean you did the arrangements for Hayden's father??”

  She comes to a dead stop behind me in the mirror, holding a new pair of lily white heels with gold trim along the sides. Her short black curly hair bobs as she tips her head to the side, wondering if she's said too much. “None of our concern, darling. I'm here to do my job, Ms. Silvers, not spill family secrets.”

  Arms folded, I turn to face her, ready to make her job a whole lot harder if she's going to clam up over a few simple questions. “You mentioned it first. Come on, what really happened? I think I'm entitled to a few secrets when I'm about to be part of the family.”

  “Ha!” Audrey's ruby lips open, revealing a huge, off white grin. “Mr. Shaw's staff hasn't told me every detail, but I know enough to understand this is going to be another hasty affair. The first I ever heard of Hayden having a fiancee was when he called me a few hours ago. If you want to know the family details, my dear, I think you should ask your new husband. Not me.”

  Grudgingly, I kick off the reject shoes, and sit down on the bench while she works the new ones onto my feet. “Kayla was married with just as little notice as this, then?”

  She looks up, glaring before she lets out a defeated sigh. “I wish. I had the unhappy honor of working with her for a month to select a wedding outfit. Honestly, she's a hideous, demanding woman. I'll never understand why Frank married her.”

  “Looks? Money? Age?” I mentally tick off all the reasons a man would choose a loveless marriage.

  “Worse. I believe he married her for bragging rights. He practically ran the poor thing ragged at his corporate balls and art charity nights. A trophy wife in the highest sense. Believe me, I have a hard time calling Kayla a poor anything, too. He wanted a hot young wife to make all the old men in his circle jealous. I think she was more than happy to play the part, and he compensated her handsomely. Please, Ms. Silvers, if you'll lift your right leg one more time...”

  I oblige. I've decided not to twist my mind in the ironies here. If Hayden's father brought this mess on the family with a make believe marriage, and now his son thinks marrying me on a whim is another way out...

  No. I can't let uncomfortable questions take over. If I want my baby, I need to get through this, look pretty, act loyal, and keep my mouth shut.

  I'm a glorified actress. Not his therapist, or his friend. Not even his girlfriend, or a lover.

  We settle on the heels with the gold trim. To call my selections stylish would be a mad understatement. I'm wearing more money than my grandfather brought to Vegas for retirement, and my family always said he liquidated a small fortune gambling away his golden years.

  Ugh, my family. I hadn't even thought of them until now.

  There's obviously no time to invite mom, or Katie and Will, much less anybody else. I don't know that I'd want them there, anyway. They'll probably find out about my abrupt marriage to a Chicago titan sooner or later, when they catch me on the wrong day when I'm tied up with Hayden, or else glance at the TV or the newspaper when we're the main feature.

  I can't worry about pacifying them with answers right now. I'm a hundred times more interested in buying time. Time is the glue that gives this thing any sense, ever since I found out I have two years before my ovaries burn out.


  Audrey leaves me alone when we've finished. I take my time slipping back into my work clothes, so dull compared to the immaculate dress I'll be wearing this evening, it's like they're separated by a universe.

  When I come back to the front, Reed stands and walks over, laying a freshly written check on the counter. I don't see the amount, except for all the zeroes. I wonder how much the clothes and their rush fees cost versus how much they're paying to keep the owner mum.

  “Do you have a preferred salon, Ms. Silvers?” Reed asks, as numb as if he's curious about my favorite breakfast sandwich. “We'll be taking care of your hair next.”

  I shake my head. He smiles, leading me out to his car along the curb. “We have a few hours, and I know just the place to get your hair done right. Let's keep moving. We'll have this all wrapped up by nine or ten tonight, if we're lucky.”

  I follow along, sliding into his car limply. If this were a normal Saturday, I'd be curled up in a blanket with Murphy laying on my legs, napping and reading through the evening.

  Something dark and tense in the pit of my gut tells me the lazy days are over.

  Will every day forward be this exhausting? I don't know, but I try to accept it as the new normal. I'll assume the worst. If the days to come aren't this frantic, at least I'll be pleasantly surprised.

  I'm done with the salon by seven. It's time.

  Reed takes us to a beautiful cathedral downtown and leads me into the back, where Audrey waits to help me get dressed.

  Everything fits perfectly. The enormity of what I'm taking on doesn't fully hit me until I'm led to the altar less than an hour later.

  It's eerie, surreal, and beautiful. Candles glow around the empty pews. Saints watch from their stained glass perches in the windows, and where they're painted in the dome above us. It looks like it reaches halfway to heaven.

  Reed walks in a few minutes later, ushering in several men armed with cameras. Then there's a gaggle of well dressed people who look like they're trying way too hard to look happy. I flash Hayden's aide a confused look. He gets up a second later and shuffles over to me, whispering in my ear through the veil covering my hair.