Page 42 of Business Temptations

Bailey blinked back tears. “ You’re brilliant, Tim,” she told him firmly.

He shrugged her statement away. “I just know how to mix stuff together to make something useful.”

They laughed, considering that his “mixing stuff up” had created their entire empire. She hugged him again, then the police arrived. After that, it was chaos as several detectives showed up and took statements, Ricardo was taken to the hospital with two police officers escorting him. The whole time, he kept demanding that Matteo stop the “nonsense” and that he was merely there as a friend to help them with their “failing” business.

However, the district attorney was already involved, plus, there were reporters outside of the building, recording the ignominious transport of a “powerful” Spanish marquess being carted off with a scalpel still sticking out of his cheek. None of the paramedics wanted to take the scalpel out, just in case it was holding back the blood flow.

The story made international headlines, which Bailey and Matteo snickered at in Bailey’s penthouse condominium. Matteo cooked dinner, then took her to bed, making love to her until she was screaming his name. Only after that did he give her the release she craved. Only when he was assured that there wasn’t a scrape or bruise anywhere on her beautiful body, did he let her collapse on top of him. And even then, he still needed to touch her, to stroke her soft skin to keep assuring himself that she was unharmed.

“You’re going to have to marry me,” he announced as their breathing finally slowed.

They were surrounded by darkness, but neither could tell what time it was. It could be eight o’clock in the evening, or it could be just before dawn. They were too focused on each other to care about silly things such as time.

However, his words caused her heart, which had been relaxing just a moment ago, to speed up to its previous rapid rate.

“Excuse me?” she whispered, turning her head so she could look at him. Since she was draped over the top of him, she was able to look right down into his handsome features.

“Marry me, Bailey.” His fingers dove into her hair as he cradled her head with his big strong hands. “Marry me and let’s make a family together.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Under a few conditions.”

“What’s that?” he asked, sitting up and shifting so that she was underneath him.

“If our children get into trouble, you won’t ever put them in an attic.”

He froze, then kissed her lightly. “Never. No attics!”

“And they will always get a meal.”

“Every meal. I will cook for you, and our children, every night. We will become fat with the amount of food I will prepare every night. And no matter what they do, no matter how naughty they act, I will never deny them a meal,” he vowed.

“Thank you!” she whispered. “I didn’t think you would, but I needed to make that clear.”

“Anything else?”

She considered her next request for a moment, and then just blurted it out. “I want to get to know your half-brother.”

Matteo stilled, his hands freezing on the small of her back. He looked at her, his mind going in a thousand different directions. Then he nodded. “Si. This will happen,” he promised.

Bailey grinned. “Good. Then yes. Let’s get married and have a dozen children!”

She laughed as he kissed her again, her laughter muffled by his lips. When he lifted his mouth this time, he said, “I love you, Bailey.”

Her heart melted with his words. “I love you, too.”

Epilogue

Bailey watched as Kennedi, Clarissa, Mandy, and Emily walked down the center aisle of the beautiful church. The sun shimmered through the stained glass windows and she peered around the ladies to catch a glimpse of Matteo. When she spotted his tall, handsome form standing impatiently at the front of the church, her heart melted for the man who had been her friend for so long.

“Your turn,” the wedding coordinator whispered.

Bailey stepped out and beamed as the congregation stood. She couldn’t see the others now, but knew that Matteo was standing at the front with Levi, Sean, Tim, and Antonio by his side. Even Zahir had flown in for the ceremony, although he was in the congregation. Bailey noted that the immaculately dressed sheik wasn’t watching her as so many of the others were. Instead, he was staring at one of Bailey’s attendants. Which one? Was he interested in Mandy or Emily? She wasn’t sure, but she lost track of the thought as she stepped up to Matteo. When he took her hands and gazed down at her with the scorching heat in his eyes, she couldn’t think about anything other than this man.

They’d been friends for so long, but now…now he was her lover. And her fiancé.

“I love you,” she whispered to him.

He squeezed her hands and they moved closer. The minister hesitated, then proceeded with the ceremony.

Bailey didn’t hear much of the words, too fascinated with this man. But when the minister finally said, “You may kiss the bride,” she didn’t hesitate. Stepping forward, she lifted her face to him. Moments later, she was lifted into Matteo’s arms. Gone was the formidable and formal man she’d known forever. In his place was a voracious lover who didn’t care that he was wrinkling her silk dress.

Nor did she. This was her husband now! Her husband!

“Finally,” he groaned as he slowly released her, letting her feet touch the floor.

Bailey laughed and turned her beaming face to the cheering crowd.

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