SALVATORE
He checked his watch and contemplated calling it off. Sure, this had sounded like a great idea last night when he couldn’t sleep, but today, it just seemed insane. He’d wavered back and forth all day trying to decide if he should call her. She would laugh, and she certainly wouldn’t take him seriously anymore.
The cool September breeze was strong coming off the lake, and he considered waiting inside the café. He was early, and she might not arrive for another ten minutes.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind Alexa walked through the parking lot tugging her long, charcoal-gray coat around her middle.
When she reached him, her nose was pink, and her eyes were sparkling in the midday sun. “Hey, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Actually, you’re early. Did you walk?”
“Yes, this is my favorite park. I walk here every weekend.”
There were so many things he didn’t know about her, and she kept surprising him. “Let’s get you something warm to drink.”
They stood in the short line at the café just inside the museum in the park. She was quiet while they waited, and he wasn’t ready to start the conversation. His nerves were still shot just thinking about it.
When they stepped back outside, the wind had died down, and the sun cast a bit of warmth over the beautiful bay. They walked slowly, sipping their scalding coffee.
“So, how long are you going to keep me in suspense?” She held her warm cup in both hands and looked up at him as they walked.
His tension had eased considerably since she’d arrived, and he wondered why he’d even worried. Alexa was easy to be around, and she would see his intentions.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what you told me last night.”
Alexa tucked her chin to her chest and turned her attention to the path at her feet.
Salvatore continued, “You see, your father’s decision is important to me too. Our partnership could suffer if the wrong successor were to be appointed.”
“I understand. I probably shouldn’t have told you something so private about my company, but you’re right, it does affect you too.”
“I’ve also been facing another problem in my personal life. Ever since Vanessa made our relationship a public spectacle, my life has consisted of sneaking around to avoid the press. They’ve painted me in a bad light, and I don’t much care, except it’s rather frustrating having to hide all the time.”
“That sounds awful.”
Salvatore huffed and his grin lifted on one side. “You have no idea. I had to change cars twice on the way here.”
“You’re kidding. Your building isn’t that far.”
“Yes, but I wanted to make sure we could have this conversation in private.”
She studied him but didn’t press.
He spotted a bench and directed her to it. The briny air held a chill and the seagulls squawked above them. When they sat, he took a moment to compose his thoughts before beginning again.
“I have a proposition for you—a proposal, if you will.”
She stared at him expectantly with those captivating eyes, and he lost his train of thought for a moment.
When the fog lifted from his mind, he continued, “I… I would like to propose a marriage.”
She blinked and cocked her head as if she didn’t understand him.
“I would like to marry you, Alexa.”
After a pause, she narrowed her eyes. “You… what? Why? Why would you want to do that?”
“I know it sounds crazy. We aren’t dating, and we aren’t in love, but we’ve both found ourselves in some unpleasant situations lately.” Salvatore cleared his throat and continued through the panic he felt at the words. “I believe that if you were married to the co-owner and CEO of Caliber’s top distributor that your father would see that you’re putting the company first, like a business alliance, while still maintaining a healthy personal life. You’re not going anywhere. And what’s better is that, if you’re my wife, your brother wouldn’t be able to fire you without upsetting his biggest customer if he were to be chosen for the position.”
She was looking at him with a blank expression, and her mouth hung slightly open in shock.
“Then there’s my dilemma,” Salvatore continued. “I’ve been painted a pitiful fool in the press lately, and it’s not something that I care too much about, but it’s not pleasant. If we were to marry, I have no doubt you and I would be happy together.”
He could see that clearly. Alexa wasn’t vindictive or spiteful like some of the other women he’d dated. He knew that she was different… in a good way.
Salvatore placed his coffee on the bench beside him, and she did the same as he moved an inch closer to her. “You and I are compatible, and those photographers who follow me around wouldn’t be the mobs that want to catch me looking lovesick and distraught. I was followed by photographers before Vanessa came into my life because I’m a billionaire, but those people would only see me in a happy relationship and move on to some new drama.”
Alexaa’s gloved hand rose to her neck, and she looked out at the boats anchored in the bay before turning back to him. “Wow, this is a shock. I’ve been wallowing in my sorrow while you’ve been forming a solution.” She pushed her blonde hair out of her face and continued, “We’ve never touched on the subject of dating.”
He reached for her hand and cradled it in both of his own. “That doesn’t mean it hasn’t crossed my mind.”
Crossing his mind was an understatement at this point. He hadn’t been able to think of anything clearly since the thought of marrying her had entered his mind.
Alexa sucked in a breath and stilled. “But our companies. What if we have a falling out and it damages our business partnership?”
“I would never let that happen. We’re adults, and we’re both mature enough to separate our personal lives from business.”
She gave him a mischievous look. “Are we really? You just made a marriage proposal as part of a business move. A business proposal.”
Salvatore gave a deep chuckle and rubbed the back of her hand. “I did, didn’t I? I just thought maybe this arrangement could work for us in more ways than one.” He rubbed his chin and turned to her with raised brows. “I’m not getting any younger.”
He hadn’t been looking for marriage, but something told him now was the time to act. He didn’t subscribe to the notion that marriage had to happen at a certain point in your life between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-eight. It wasn’t something to be forced. His parents’ relationship had been a model to strive for, and they’d always made it seem effortless, while he’d never been able to make all the parts of a relationship work cohesively.
Alexa was smiling. That was a good sign for him, right? “You’re maybe thirty-one at most, and you’re one of the most handsome and charming bachelors in the country. You’re a long way from ancient.”
“You think I’m handsome and charming?” Now he was getting somewhere.
She rolled her eyes and smirked. “I’m not the only one.”
“But you’re the only one I’m asking to marry me. I’ve made my billions. Now, I want to make a family.”
Her eyes widened and she edged back, pulling her hand away in the process. “Easy, tiger. You just jumped from marriage to babies in sixty seconds flat. Don’t you think we should take some time to talk this through?”
“Of course, that’s why I asked you to meet me.”
She laughed loud and uninhibited. “I mean, I think we both need more than a few minutes to think about it. This is the last thing I expected when you asked to meet today.”
“Of course, I understand.” He tried to mask the uneasiness he felt at her lack of a resounding yes.
“It’s just that dating hasn’t been easy for me.” She picked at her fingernails in her lap and kept her head down. “You know what it’s like being wealthy. It’s hard to know if someone wants to be with you for the right reasons.”
“I certainly understand your concern. The good news is that you and I are in the same boat. You know I’m not using you for your money.”
She nodded. “That’s true. For once, I know for certain that isn’t an issue, but I also haven’t made it very far in any relationship before because of this problem. No one has ever tried to get to know the real me, and I’ve never really opened up to someone. I never had a chance.”
He thought it was terrible that no one had taken the time to know her. Alexa was incredibly interesting and intelligent. Not to mention she was gorgeous in a classic, Alexa sticated way. She carried herself with grace and poise, and lately, he’d found himself thinking about her more often.
“We can change that. I’d love to get to know you. I already admire and respect you. I’m eager to know more about you.”
The wind lifted her hair in strands around her face, and he reached to tuck one back, but ended up stroking her temple. The urge to touch her was growing stronger with every encounter, and now he knew this was a good idea. If only she would see it too. He’d prayed for hours last night, and now, he felt a surety he couldn’t explain.
Her lips turned up in a hesitant smile. “I’d like to spend more time with you too. Let me think about it, please. I like your idea, but this is a big decision.”
“Of course. Could I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”
Her melodious laugh twined around them again. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”
“I know this would be good for us. Please give me a chance.” He clenched his teeth as he waited for her answer.
“Okay, I’ll meet you for dinner tomorrow.”
“No, I want to pick you up. Give me your address and cell number.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, ignoring the seventeen messages as he stored her contact information.
She laughed but rattled off her number and address. “I can’t believe I’m actually considering this.”
“I pray you’ll do more than consider.”
She rolled her eyes, and he noticed her dimples as she smiled. “You’re certainly a charmer, Mr. Bradford.”
“I’ve only just begun. I believe Mrs. Alexa Bradford has a nice ring to it.”
“Speaking of rings, shouldn’t you have one of those? This is a poor proposal without one.” She shook her head in mock disappointment.
“Don’t you worry about that. I’ll have one before our dinner tomorrow night.” They stood and he reached for her hand as they walked. She didn’t resist, and her hand felt right resting with his.
“But I haven’t said yes.”
He smirked and squeezed her hand. “But I’m hoping that you will.”
Alexa didn’t go back to the office after her meeting with Salvatore. She’d texted James, her driver, whom she only used if it was raining or freezing. Walking the twenty minutes to her condo would have been difficult. Her legs and arms hadn’t stopped shaking since Salvatore had proposed. Plus, Salvatore’s mention of paparazzi had her paranoid. She found herself giving everyone who turned her way a second look, hoping she wasn’t being followed.Of all the things she could have imagined, she’d never expected a proposal! She had to admit, his idea had merit. An alliance of sorts would secure her position in the company.She tried not to focus on the other more dangerous side of the coin. Could she lie to everyone? Could they pull off this elaborate scheme? Did she even want to if the cost of the company was compromising her morals?She’d carried the desire for a family for years now, but she never thought it would happen like this. She was a hopeless romantic in every sense of the word,
Alexa smoothed her sandy-blonde hair and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She’d chosen to let her hair hang in beachy waves tonight. When Salvatore had touched the stray wisps of her hair at the park before grazing his fingers down the side of her face, she’d almost said yes to his proposal. The dynamic between them had changed. They’d gone from a professional working relationship to possibly engaged in just a few days, and she wasn’t sure how to process the shift in her emotions. She certainly didn’t want to shun the idea of a romantic relationship with him. He was a good man, and she’d worked hard to keep any feelings for him at bay over the years. Any woman who met him was enthralled from the beginning, and she wasn’t exempt. Always early, the intercom buzzed at ten minutes before seven. It was James. “Miss Black, Mr. Bradford has arrived.” James was an American military veteran, and he’d been a part of her security team since she was sixteen. “Thank you. Please tell him
Salvatore. Salvatore watched Alexa as Roman rattled off a description of every single ingredient that went into the first course of the evening, and none of it made a bit of sense to him. The only thing that made sense was how close he’d been to kissing Alexa. His traitorous friend had almost ratted him out for bringing up Alexa in conversation over the years. Sure, he’d spoken of her before, maybe mentioned she was beautiful and intelligent, but Roman didn’t have to tell her about it. He’d been a bit uneasy about the night’s activities when he’d seen Alexa’s reaction to Roman’s name at her condo. His friend was wildly popular with women, but he’d never looked at his friend as competition until that moment. A sickening thought rolled its way down Salvatore’s spine. What if Alexa wanted to marry someone else—someone like Roman? Salvatore was forcing her hand, even if it wasn’t his intention. This marriage would benefit them both, but would he have been her first choice if she’d mad
Dried leaves scraped across the concrete as Alexa stepped from the church into the late-September wind. She could handle a little wind, as long as the sky stayed clear and blue. James was waiting for her with a car on the curb. She preferred to walk home from church if possible, and today would be a beautiful day for a stroll, but she needed to change clothes before Salvatore picked her up for their date. Stepping into the black sedan, she made herself comfortable before checking her cell. She had a missed call from Salvatore five minutes ago. He answered on the second ring, and she smiled when he spoke. “Good morning, Miss Black.” “Good morning, Mr. Bradford.” She adored his playful use of their surnames. Knowing she should temper her excitement, she asked, “How can I help you?” “Are you out of church?” “Yes, I attend the early service.” “As do I.” She detected an obvious note of happiness in his voice but forced herself to ignore it. Sure, they shared many compatible qualit
It felt like no time had passed before the crew was getting ready to dock at Tillicum Village on Blake Island, a small marine state park accessible only by tour or private boat. Salvatore held her hand securely as they disembarked with a blanket and a picnic basket. It was just past noon, and her stomach would be growling soon. “The beach I want to show you is about a fifteen-minute walk down the eastern side of the island. Are you okay with that?” “Of course.” The trail offered lots of natural sights, and she stopped a few times to observe the view. She spotted a few picnic tables ahead and Mount Rainier just over the water. “This is a gorgeous view,” she remarked. Salvatore turned back to her and smiled. “I thought you’d like it.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery long enough to be much help unpacking their lunch. When she looked at the table, it was full of foods and drinks. “Goodness, Salvatore, did you think we were camping out?” He chuckled. “No, but my persona
Alexa turned off her Google alerts the evening after their date. Her personal e-mail inbox was full of intimate photos of her first kiss with Salvatore. The news of their relationship had reached the mainland before they had last weekend, and she’d stepped back into reality with a host of missed calls and messages.Nothing from her parents, who didn’t put stock in media news, no less than ten missed calls and texts from Lorie, and one text from Aiden that had her lungs constricting as she read it.You can’t be serious. What a spectacle.It was a good thing she’d waited until after her good-byes with Salvatore to check her phone because the text had put a rain cloud over the once-perfect day.Later that evening, she’d heard from Salvatore that his parents were thrilled to be hosting a dinner with her family. She’d ended the call with Salvatore and called her family to tell them about her relationship and invite them to the dinner.Both parents had been thrilled, and her father was happ
Salvatore.The night had gone better than he could’ve hoped. His parents had gotten along well with Alexa’s family, and everyone had been delighted to meet Nancy.His parents’ relationship was an anomaly in today’s society. His father was a billionaire who worked hard between the hours of eight in the morning and five in the evening, with the only exception being business trips.Salvatore had carefully observed his father’s success and mirrored it in his own life. He gave the company his entire attention in its time and place, but anything outside of its labeled hours could wait for him until the next day. A balance of work and play was the only way to stay happy while the weight of a Fortune 500 company sat on your shoulders.Thankfully, he and his father shared that burden now, and they each held their respective positions well within the company.Salvatore sipped his tonic water and observed his father and Martin as they recounted various experiences with shared business acquaintan
Salvatore. Salvatore stepped onto the covered balcony to find Henry propped against the railing. One hand held an empty tumbler and the other was shoved into his coat pocket as his father stared into the darkness around them. The balcony was brightly lit, and Salvatore detected a tired smile on his father’s lips as he approached. “You know, I’ve been waiting for this night for a long time, son.” Salvatore clapped a heavy hand on his father’s back as he joined him by the railing. So close to the edge, the wind blew a faint misting of rain toward them. “I know. I’m happy to let you know your wait is over.” “I hope you’ll be happy this time.” Henry studied the vacant bottom of his crystal glass. “I knew you weren’t happy with Vanessa, and I’d hoped you’d come around eventually.” His father paused, but Salvatore didn’t dare interrupt. “You were avoiding commitment, and she was the easiest way to do just that.” His father didn’t look at him, but Salvatore nodded his agreement anywa