Page 24 of Made For You
“I’m not discussing my relationship status with you.”
I could almost sense his sneer on the other end of the line. My grandfather did not take kindly to those that talked back to him.
“You will if you want my company.”
“You mean the company that should have gone to my mother?” I argued back. I was done playing these stupid games with the old man. He knew where I stood on the subject of the hotels and who should have inherited them.
“Watch your tone, boy,” he growled and then body numbing coughs wracked his body. I wanted to feel sorry for himand his declining health, but a twisted part of me blamed him for my mother’s death. He and his stupid rules were the reason she left and felt isolated. He could barely look at me growing up and I ended up losing the only connection I had to my mother. If it hadn’t been for Gigi, I probably would have left the family when I turned eighteen and cut all ties.
“What is it you want? Some of us are working to keep these hotels afloat, you know?”
“Is there a girl?” he repeated.
“Have I attended any events with a woman in the last year?”
He hesitated and then replied, “Not that I can recall.”
“Have I been photographed with anyone recently?”
“Nothing that I’ve witnessed,” he said solemnly.
“So, what’s your conclusion?”
“That you have a woman in your life.”
He couldn’t see my eyes gleam that he played right into my hand. Convincing him that I was happily married was going to be easier than I thought.
“Maybe you’re right and it’s serious. No need to feed the gossip rags. Or maybe you're wrong.”
“Do we know her?” he questioned, assuming the answer was yes. Gigi must have sat him down with a checklist.
“Maybe.”
“Does she come from a good family?” Just from what I knew about Aurora and her sister, I would mark that checkbox as yes.
“Maybe.”
“Boy….” He snarled, and I wondered if his face turned as ruddy as a tomato. It probably wasn’t good for his heart, not that I cared.
“Make sure to send my regards to Gigi.”
I quickly ended the call and asked Olive to block all my calls from him for the rest of the day. I had a woman I hoped to see soon, and I didn’t want to be interrupted.
Dean and I waited on the dock that jutted out into Biscayne Bay. I’d chartered a small boat in case Aurora agreed to a ride. I wasn’t sure if she was a fan of the ocean. Most of the women I’d been with would only step foot on a boat that was larger than most people’s homes.
I’d left a message with a concierge desk to request Aurora’s presence tonight. She’s eluded me all day, which left me… restless. I’d been hoping that she would have sought me out earlier, eager to agree to my arrangement, but as the evening grew closer, I feared she was truly going to turn me down. Dean didn’t agree.
He hovered close by, waiting impatiently for this one woman to put me out of my misery. With a quick glance at my watch, something that I had purchased the first day I turned eighteen and had gained half of the access to my trust fund, I noticed Aurora was a minute late. Looking up, my eyes connected with Dean’s, and he shook his head once.
She wasn’t going to show up. With that premonition, my hopes dwindled.
I didn’t need her to want to marry me. Hell, she didn’t even have to like me. Most people didn’t. I just needed her to help me get what should have been handed to my mother. She could have wiped her hands clean of me when we were done.She’d never have to see me again, as far as I was concerned. I ignored the ache in my chest at that thought.
I took a step toward Dean, wondering how we were going to start over. He had mentioned the bridal show happening next weekend. It wasn’t ideal, but I could make it work. Someone there was likely to want one-million dollars to pretend to be my wife.
“Hey!” I heard a breathy voice shout from behind me.
Turning around, I watched with wide eyes as Aurora skipped down the steps, waving at a few smiling passersby as she made her toward me. An orange-colored sundress swirled around her ankles, and her hair hung loosely around her shoulders. She reminded me of the early dawn. Bright and alluring. Her name suited her perfectly.
