Page 12 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 2

“I’ll head to my apartment and call Bianca to see if we can meet there.”

“Ask her for proof of the pregnancy including the name of her obstetrician. We want to know exactly how far along she claims to be, and what is the soonest we can get a paternity test to confirm. As a matter of fact, do you want me to come with you to meet with her?”

I grinned, instantly imagining how badly that would go. Bringing my new wife to see my ex-fiancée who’d betrayed me. Not even including the connection to Brenden, it was a bad idea all around.

A gruff laugh escaped me at the visual. “I’m thinking having you and Bianca in the same place right now would be a recipe for disaster.”

Julianne smiled coyly. “On second thought, I think you’re right. I’d probably scratch her eyes out the moment she opened her mouth. And if she is pregnant, hurting her would make me feel guilty, even though I want to do more than scratch that bitch’s face.”

I chuckled and held her close, enjoying that we could talk so freely after all we’d been through. It had been the worst three months of both of our lives and the drama only seemed to be getting started now that we had this potential pregnancy concern to deal with.

“You going to be okay while I head to my place?”

“Will you be here to sleep next to me tonight?” she asked flatly.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

A sweet, relieved expression slipped across her face. “Then yes, I’m happy to do some work and follow-up with my lawyers regarding the contesting of my parents’ will. Also, I need to notify the PR department about our marriage so they can issue a press release. Is there anything you do or do not want me to say? If we don’t announce first, you know the media will have a field day with their speculations.”

“True. I can’t think of anything. Just run it past Muriel if you could. She’s excellent at reading between the lines of things and can ensure the information comes across as we want it to.”

“Good idea. I’ll do that. I’m going to take a shower and take a nap. You kept me up all night, mister.” She prodded my chest with a jaunty finger. “But first, I’ll walk you out.”

I took her hand and she led me into the kitchen where she opened a drawer and pulled out a square keycard like the room keys at a hotel. “Use this to bypass the front desk,” she offered.

I pocketed the keycard and at the elevator, turned to her. “You know, you’re an amazing woman, Julianne. I don’t know a single person that would take on all of this as gracefully as you have.” I threaded my fingers through her hair, gripping the bulk and hefting it in my fist so I could tip her head back and kiss her deeply.

She mewled and sighed, resting her hands against my chest and leaning in.

I took her mouth in a way that was possessive as fuck, and I didn’t care. I wanted her to know exactly how she made me feel, sticking by my side, trusting me to talk to Bianca alone, and welcoming me into her home so completely.

When I reached my fill of her mouth and she’d relaxed fully against me, I pulled slowly away. She nipped and pecked at my lips, gifting me a needy groan. “Are you sure you have to go now?” Her suggestive smile left no doubt about her desire.

“If we want to get the answers we need as soon as possible, then yes.”

She pouted obstinately, and it was adorable coming from the normally intense, hard-ass, take-no-prisoners woman I knew her to be.

“Fiiiiiiiinnne,” she dragged out the single word right as the elevator whirred into motion.

I frowned. “Who has full access to your home?” I barked, pulling her away from the double metal doors while stepping in front of her, putting myself between her and the elevator in the event she needed to be defended from an unwanted presence.

“Uh, no one… Shit! Except…” There was a subtle ding that announced the elevator had arrived on her floor.

“Brenden,” I growled as the doors opened and my ex-best friend appeared, disheveled, and wearing a suit that looked like he hadn’t changed clothes in at least two days. His brownish redhair was all over the place, and there were dark smudges under his eyes.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he bit out when he saw me.

“Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing,” Julianne sneered.

“I came here to see you! Apologize for what happened at work. I didn’t intend for things to get so heated.” His gaze took in our stance and how I was holding onto Julianne protectively. He spoke through gritted teeth. “What’s he doing here?”

I smiled deviously. “I live here now.” I cuddled Julianne close. “You should probably tell him before the announcement goes out,” I encouraged.

“What do you mean, you live here now? And what announcement?” Brenden snarled, his entire body a riot of buzzing negative energy.

Jules glanced at me and cocked a brow, smirking like the sexy little vixen I now knew she was, inside and outside the bedroom.

“Gio and I got married this weekend. Surprise!”

---