Page 65 of Recruited By the Billionaire

Frankie melted in his arms, but then quickly, like a kid in a candy store, pulled her finger back to take another look at that monster diamond. It was like a dream!

But Robert realized it wasn’t all peaches and cream. “What did you have to tell me?” he asked her nervously.

Frankie almost forgot. But then her look turned serious too. “I went to the doctor yesterday,” she said.

Robert’s heart dropped. Was she ill? Oh God, please don’t let her be ill! “What did she say?” he asked her.

Frankie smiled. “I’m pregnant, Robert. She said I’m pregnant!”

Robert’s heart soared. “You mean . . . Are you saying we’re going to have a baby?”

She nodded happily. “And I didn’t even have to ask you to marry me,” she said. “You asked me before you even knew!”

It was that innocence that kept him madly in love with Frankie. There was no guile, no hidden agendas, anywhere in her body. She was honest and decent and good. She just told it like it was. And he pulled her into his arms again. And then escorted her, his brand-new fiancé, the soon-to-be mother of his child, below deck.

But just as he was about to open the door, he looked at her again. “Ah man,” he said, “I forgot to mention the other part!”

How could there be another part? “What other part?” Frankie asked.

“Now,” he said.

“Now what?” asked Frankie.

“Will you marry me now?” he asked her.

Frankie was confused. “Now?” she said.

“You told me you didn’t want an elaborate, big wedding. Didn’t you tell me that?”

“Yes. Because it’s true. I did that already. I don’t need that anymore. But you want to marry me now?”

“Right now,” he said. “Right on this boat.”

“But . . . who will officiate?”

Robert opened the huge double doors that led to his reception hall below deck. And Frankie’s pastor, along with the pastor’s wife, and Royce, Taymar, and Jerry, along with some of their other friends and co-workers, were waiting. There was also a live band with a singer ready to go too. And as soon as they stepped inside, the band playedHere Comes the Brideand the guests yelled congratulations and tossed colorful confetti at the couple and up in the air.

“All this for an engagement,” Royce yelled out in her New York accent. “Must be nice, Frankie! Must be nice!” And Frankie laughed. She could hardly believe how happy she was.

Robert leaned against her. “Is now a good time?” he asked her.

Frankie looked at him and nodded her head. “Now is the best time ever,” she said.

And they did it. Right then and there. With Frankie’s pastor officiating, and Frankie and Robert’s dearest friends at their side, Robert and Frankie were joined together in holy matrimony and officially became husband and wife.

And then Robert made the announcement all the guests were expecting, but had to hear it from the man himself. “Now that we’re stuck on this boat,” he announced, “let’s say we take a trip to my villa in Saint Kitts and party like it’s way hipper than 1999?”

They all laughed. And started partying hard.

Robert and Frankie partied too, and danced to every song, until they finally sat one out. They were overwhelmed and exhausted. And happy fools.

But as the singer slowed it all down and began to sing the Alex North/Hyman Zaret-pennedUnchained Melody, and Robert heard those words, “Whoa my love, my darling, I hungered for your touch,” he was deeply touched. So touched that he couldn’t help himself. He leaned against his bride. “Mrs. Marris?” he said to her. He felt proud to have a woman of such integrity and loyalty as his wife.

Frankie looked at him when he said those words and smiled. She was, in fact, Mrs. Marris now. And she could not have felt prouder. “Yes, Mr. Marris?” she said.

Robert had to steady himself. Because he was not a man given to confessions. But he felt he had to make this one. “This day,” he said, “and being married to you, and learning that I am to be the father of your child, is the happiest day of my life.”

Frankie had to fight back tears. And she nodded her head. “Mine too,” she said heartfelt, and they clasped hands with what felt like a death grip. Like it was them against the world, and they knew they would be just fine.

And they sat back and listened to the haunting song. And watched their loved ones dance. Until the singer began singing an upbeat Lizzo tune, and they were back on the dance floor too.

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