Page 35 of The Billionaire's Pact

“Yes, ma’am. I know when I’m not wanted.” Rocco scoffed, and they laughed. “Where’s the little terror?”

“Miles is with his grandparents,” she said and turned to me, tilting her head. “If he was here, you’d never get a moment of peace.”

“Yep. That’s why I’m a no-kids kind of a guy,” Rocco said.

Nadia swiped his arm. “He’s joking, Adelina. You will have kids.”

“Not anytime soon,” Rocco seemed to vow.

I plastered on a smile as nerves danced in my stomach. Is he?

Rocco came close and kissed my cheek. “See you soon.”

I stared after him, touching my cheek.

“I know that look,” Nadia said, and I turned to her, grinning.

“What look?” I asked.

“It’s the one I wore when Paul and I first got together. Every touch had me overwhelmed… It was so intense. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with him either.” She touched her throat.

Love. I was so glad Nadia had found love, as she seemed to be a romantic. But that wasn’t me. I didn’t want her to think poorly of me though, so I said, “I don’t know. We’re very new.”

“Some things in life happen beyond time,” she said.

Some things did in fact happen beyond time, but Nadia Crane was completely wrong about Rocco and me. Rocco and I would probably become lovers…that was clearer to me now. But love? Our commitment to each other, to the purpose of our union, would never knock on love’s door.

The home’s styling was similar to an architecture’s digest set, with custom couches, decorative cushions, and art accents. There was a grand piano on a platform in a bi-level living room with staff setting up enough instruments to form a band. Even caterers were busy setting up, and Nadia had to leave to direct them, but she quickly returned. “We’re having a small gathering tonight for dinner and music.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt,” I said.

She grinned. “You’re not interrupting; you’re invited. It’s just a big jam session we started. Guests perform for their supper. It’ll be fun.”

Rocco had mentioned a gathering, but I hadn’t expected to be around his celebrity friends so soon. I felt at a great disadvantage. However, Nadia gestured for me to follow her, and we walked up the staircase.

“How long have you known Rocco?” I asked.

“A few years now, but Paul’s known Rocco all his life. They sometimes work together. Recently, Rocco was a producer on a movie project Paul composed the music for. They also worked together on his The World is Our Family project. Are you familiar with it?”

“Yes,” I said. “Rocco told me about it.”

“Paul wrote the promotional song, “Love is an Open Heart?”

I bobbed my head. “Oh, I love that song, it’s very moving.”

“Thank you,” she said. “It’s one of my favorites, but I have so many.”

We reached the landing, and she opened a large factory door, revealing a studio. It looked like an office with workstations, sewing machines, and a built-in kitchen with steel appliances. There were quite a few mannequins, as well as a rack full of beautiful clothes and shoes. I went over and stared at them admiringly.

“Some of those could be yours,” she said, following my focus. She opened a drawer and pulled out a measuring tape, then bent to open another with a row of bodysuits. She handed it to me. And because of my possibly perplexed expression, she said, “We use bodysuits so you don’t have to strip down to your underwear in front of a stranger. It’s okay. They’re all washed between wears, I assure you.”

“Oh, God. No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t questioning that. It’s just that this feels so surreal. I admire your work so much and here I am, changing into a bodysuit for you.”

She chuckled. “I get that. But it’s my privilege to dress you. So you have it the other way around. I love what I do.”

At her smile and soft shrug, I went to the bathroom to change into the bodysuit. I shook and tried to calm my nerves, taking a few moments to comprehend how I’d ended up in a celebrity’s bathroom to try on custom clothes that she’d designed for me to wear. How could any of this be true? But I was indeed there. Nadia Crane was somehow my stylist, and would design my wedding dress!

Nadia was so down-to-earth and contrasted with her extravagant home. Her home life in Cudahy, Wisconsin portrayed in their television movie had made me think of her as a kindred spirit. But she was now married to a famous billionaire and looked so stylish and chic. She was also very kind and welcoming.

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