Page 64 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 1

He curled his fingers around mine. “How’s about we get to know one another over dinner? Alana is going to secure a room for you in the same resort where I am staying. As you know, I have a teen daughter. I’m not going to bring you back to my suite until the two of us have figured out more of the future. How’s that work for you?”

For the first time today, I smiled.

“That works perfectly.“ I squeezed his hand to emphasize my relief and appreciation.

“All right then. Let’s get you fed, and then we’ll talk.” His smile, and the way he kept hold of my hand as we exited the room, made me feel cherished.

My intuition told me that Rhodes Davenport, my future husband, would keep me safe.

I could only hope I was right, because Lord knows I’ve been wrong about men before.

Episode 24

My Life in Shambles

JULIANNE

“Say you’ll work with me on getting revenge against Brenden and Bianca,” I pleaded and held out my hand, hoping against all odds that Gio would agree. “Say yes to marrying me,” I whispered, my heart in my throat, my entire plan depending on his answer.

Gio closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “Fuck me.” he rumbled.

“I plan to. But only once we’re married, old friend,” I chuckled dryly. The situation wasn’t funny at all. It was fuckingtragic, but I didn’t see any other way around Bianca and Brenden’s betrayal. They couldn’t get away with kicking me to the curb of my own family’s company. Besides, Giovanni was the standard I compared all other men against. He was the most handsome man I’d ever met. He had a great sense of humor, cared deeply about those he loved, and was a genius in business. I’d learned a lot from him while working at FM Enterprises, and knew I could teach him a few things as well. He’d also been an incredibly attentive and giving lover the one time we’d had sex—a fact he’d forgotten after he passed out in bed beside me all those years ago.

Gio rubbed his face with both hands and slumped over, his elbows resting on his knees as he hung his head.

“Our parents would have a field day with this plan, Jules.” He sighed so deeply I could feel the weight in the air pressing against my body like two metal plates squashing me from either side.

I shrugged and pressed my lips together as the reminder of what I’d lost came racing back to the surface. Even thinking of my parents for a moment too long would bring on the waterworks, and I’d already cried a river of tears since their unexpected death. Now I was just so angry.

Angry at my brother.

Angry at Bianca.

Angry at God for taking my parents away.

And frankly, I was angry atGiovannifor running away from it all to lick his wounds, leaving me behind. And here I was, my entire plan depending on him.

My life in shambles.

“Look, the parents I knew wouldn’t have allowed any of this to happen. I’d still be living my best life at FM Enterprises. You’d still be marrying a backstabbing, unfaithful bitch, and loyal to a friend who clearly wasn’t giving the same in return. Perhaps this was meant to show us Brenden and Bianca’s true colors. Though I have no clue what it means about my parents and them not leaving me equal shares. That’s still something I can’t wrap my mind around, no matter how often I run through every possible scenario.”

Giovanni nodded. “It doesn’t make sense. They loved you deeply, Jules. I find it all hard to believe as well, but marriage…between you and me?” He swallowed, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob deliciously along his tanned throat.

“A marriage between you and me would be filled with trust, respect, hot sex if that kiss was anything to go by, and a whole lot of success in business. And if our marriage has the added bonusof making Brenden and Bianca go nuts?” I grinned wickedly. “All the better.”

Giovanni crossed his arms over his chest, his legs spread out wide as he tapped a foot. He looked large and in charge, a king on his throne, ready to crush the enemy.

“Aren’t you angry?” I prodded at the simmering beast.

Gio’s gaze flashed to mine. “Of course, I’m angry. Brenden betrayed me. I called that man brother.”

I nodded. “Yeah, and Bianca. You gave that twat all of your love, time, and planned to give her an amazing life by your side. She not only spat on that gift, she got your best friend to be an accomplice. I know that hurt, Gio, because they both did the very same to me.” I scrambled over to him, fell to my knees and rested my hands over the center of his strong quads. I lifted my chin and stared straight into his eyes. “These two people did the unthinkable. I need your help and you need mine. Together we can be such a force.”

He reached out and cupped my jaw tenderly. I rubbed my cheek into his palm like a content kitten.

“If we come together, Julianne, and it goes bad, it could break our families’ bond forever.”

I cupped his hand over where he held my face. “And if what’s between us is good, we could be the legacy our parents always wanted for us.” I let go and put both of my hands to his thighs again, then ran them up and down the long, muscular length, my touch gliding from soothing to intentional.

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