It's Only Make Believe Read online

  Michele made a half-hearted attempt to pull away. Repulsive, yeah right, that’s the last thing she found him. In fact the attraction she experienced overwhelmed her. She enjoyed being in his arms, liked his kisses. Giving in, she laid her head on his shoulder and relaxed for the first time in days. She sighed at the sudden contentment that rushed through her.

  All too soon, the fence that surrounded the two acres of the beautiful brick mansion, their parents purchased for them, came into view. An electric wrought iron gate opened from a remote by the chauffeur, and they drove through the tree-lined drive. Although the picture of elegance, Michele hadn’t wanted a home like this. She hated it. She’d always dreamed of a long ranch in the country with horses and dogs and eventually children, but most importantly with a man she loved.

  With a man who loved her. Would she ever find that man? Could it be Brad? Not that she stood a chance with him. Ruby made that all too clear earlier that evening. Michele pulled away. What was she thinking relaxing like this? She was going to have to bring Ruby up eventually, but how? Could she just ask him outright? He’d certainly been an attentive bridegroom and except for that one occasion, he hadn’t gone near Ruby the rest of the evening. In fact, several times it looked like he avoided her. How to bring it up? Not now surely, at least not within earshot of the chauffer. She closed her eyes and leaned back on the seat. Somehow or other, they’d get through this year.

  ***

  Brad relished the feel of Michele as she snuggled against him, her head on his shoulder. Play-acting, ha, he didn’t even know what came over him. But he liked it. Whatever caused the sudden attraction was going to make married life all the more pleasant. He stared out the window as they drove past the tree-lined drive and their house came into view. He hated this house, hated everything about it. It was the type of house they both grew up in. But certainly not one he’d have chosen for himself. Why did his parents think he shared their same tastes? Of course, Michele probably liked it, and he did have to compromise. Besides, the amount of time he spent traveling, he may as well live in a hotel room. Suddenly, Michele pulled away. Now what came over her? He had to admit she puzzled him One minute giving in and the next withdrawing. The chauffer pulled into the circular drive in front of the mansion.

  He helped Michele out of the car and led her into the house. Once inside he took her into his arms, his body smoldered with desire.

  “Not now, Brad, I’m tired and our flight leaves early in the morning.” Michele backed away and turned her head, but not before Brad saw the desire her eyes. “Not that I’d mind missing the flight. I have no desire to go to Cancun.”

  Disappointed and frustrated, he released her. He didn’t want to push her, she’d come to him willingly later. He sensed the desire in her, and she probably was tired. It had been a long day. He was tired himself.

  He dropped his hands, backed away and went to fix himself a drink. “Would you like a nightcap?”

  ***

  “No, thank you.” Disappointed, Michele shivered as he moved his warm body away from her. She hurried upstairs to their room, looked around, and found the décor not to her liking. Too tired to worry about it now, she got out of her dress, slipped into bed, fluffed up the pillow and fell instantly asleep.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Michele woke before the alarm. Brad lay on the far side of the king-size-bed, his muscular arms and chest uncovered and bare. She longed to reach out to smooth the disarray of his wavy black hair, mussed from what looked like a restless night. It begged her to run her fingers through it. She wanted to touch his cheek, run her fingers across his lips. Lips that had tantalized hers from the slightest pressure to those hard demanding kisses. Who was this man? What made him tick?

  She thought back to when they were children.

  Remembered him, playful and teasing. Now he moved in different circles than her, with a much faster crowd. She smiled, remembering the crush she had on him - a silly school-girl crush - which ended when he went to high school. After that she seldom saw him, having her own group of friends. So how, she wondered, as she lay next to him, had she allowed them to talk her into marrying him?

  Michele had gone to the best schools, the most expensive summer camps and took the usual tour of Europe. She had conformed, always doing what her parents expected. At least she had until she opened her Interior Design business. Her parents, mostly her mother, had tried to arrange her life. Mother didn’t like the idea that her daughter started her own business, no matter how successful. After all, “Markey” women got married and had families, not careers. Her parents had expected her to marry the right man and for years she dated men they expected her to date. But she ignored all the prospects and had gotten away with it until they suggested she marry Brad. More of a demand than a suggestion.

  She had laughed at the idea. She and Brad had nothing in common. Yet somehow, all of a sudden their parents managed to bring them together at various events. Brad appeared polite but disinterested, which was fine with her. She had no desire to marry anyone. Her career had just gotten underway.

  Since their parents and grandparents had grown up together, they had always assumed she and Brad would marry. And pressure mounted from them until suddenly she and Brad found themselves thrown together and left alone to “get to know each other better.” Brad became an attentive date. Six months later, their parents laid out their plan. In order to inherit the vast fortunes each family had amassed, Brad and Michele had to marry. “To keep the money in the family, so to speak,” Brad’s grandfather said.

  Brad’s grandfather usually intimidated Michele, but not this time. This time she couldn’t help it. She laughed at him. Loud and hard. At least, she laughed until she realized her grandparents and parents agreed with him and seriously expected the union. A little over a year ago, Brad approached her with a proposition of his own.

  “I’m getting a lot of pressure about this marriage thing,” he said. “So, what I’m proposing,” he raised his hand to silence her protest, “is we marry for one year to satisfy them and to save the family business. After the year we can get a divorce. We’ll say we gave it our best shot and it didn’t work out.”

  Was he crazy? “A sham marriage, somehow that’s too dishonest.” Besides, Michele didn’t care about the money. She had her career and with time she’d make it a success.

  “Just give it some thought.”

  “The idea’s insane, what’s to think about?” But something in his eyes made her agree to at least think about it. In a few days she’d tell him to take a hike. The whole idea of marriage appalled her.

  Her parents and grandparents continued to pressure her. She hadn’t realized how important it was to them. They seemed to think she and Brad made the perfect couple and a union between them benefited the company. Always the company.

  “We built this business up from scratch. I’d sure hate to lose it to a stranger.” Grandpa told her

  “But it won’t go to a stranger, Grandpa – it’ll go to Brad.”

  “No, it’ll all be lost. Your father and I worked too hard to let that happen. And you have no interest in working there so it’ll dissolve. If you marry Brad, you’ll be part owner.”

  “But won’t I still be part owner even if I don’t marry him. I mean won’t I hold fifty percent of the stock?” Michele argued with him.

  “No, the agreement was to remain part owner you either had to work at the company or marry into it. There’s a clause that in order to keep the company going both families have to own it jointly. Otherwise we dissolve it. Jacobson will see to it.”

  “What does Mr. Jacobson have to do with it?”

  “More than you know. He’ll take over the business if you and Brad don’t work in it or marry.”

  “Change it. Surely it isn’t ironclad.”

  Grandpa shook his head. “I’m afraid it is.”

  That absolutely made no sense to her. Granted, she wasn’t a lawyer, but surely if the owners could change anything they want
ed. Something seemed awfully fishy about this whole deal.

  “Okay, then I’ll work there. I’m just not ready to get married. Especially to a man I don’t love. Who doesn’t love me.”

  He shook his head. “You wouldn’t like it. Besides, you have your own business.” Grandpa wasn’t someone who took no for an answer. Besides he’d always been her confidante, even when she was very young, she went to him with her problems, and he always helped solve them. He’d always been there for her when everyone else was too busy. How could she refuse him now? The very look in his blue-green eyes pleaded with her. Somehow this meant the world to him. But marriage, Michele thought, that was a bit much to ask.

  “But, Grandpa, marriage is supposed to be special. I’m not ready. And I want to marry someone I love.” Michele tried one last argument.

  “Love is highly over-rated, my dear. Friendship – that’s what counts. And you and Brad grew up together, you’ve been friends forever.”

  Yeah right, friends. She didn’t even know Brad anymore. It had been ages since they hung out together. Sure he seemed attentive on their dates and treated her well, but his reputation as a lady’s man – wasn’t that enough to make her refuse?

  “You’ll see, Michele. Look at your grandmother and me. And your parents. Do you think we could have made such a success of our marriage if we hadn’t been best friends?”

  “Ah, but see, Grandpa, Brad and I aren’t best friends. Until lately we hadn’t seen each other in years. I hardly know him anymore.”

  “But you knew each other from way back. Don’t you remember how you used to tag along after him? You followed him around like a little puppy dog?”

  Michele smiled at the memory. Oh yeah she had followed Brad, even had that horrible crush on him, but he hadn’t even given her the time of day. Michele shook her head. She couldn’t marry a man she knew nothing about?

  Her grandfather didn’t quit – he had an answer for every argument. Eventually she ran out of reasons. She couldn’t refuse him, she loved him too much and this seemed so important to him. Arguing was senseless Never being one for confrontation, she finally she gave in, as usual, and did what they expected. After all Brad had said only for a year. She supposed she could handle a year with him. Besides, he traveled a lot for business, chances were they wouldn’t have to spend all that much time together.

  “Okay, I agree to your proposition but on one condition,” she had told Brad later, “that you promised to remain faithful.”

  “I will if you will.” Brad shook her hand and just like that they became engaged. A handshake, no kiss, no romantic gestures – what a deal. He pulled a ring out of his pocket. The size of it almost knocked her socks off. A one carat emerald cut solitaire. The sparkle almost blinded her.

  How did he know she’d agree to this charade? She almost changed her mind and gave it back, but something stopped her.

  “I know this looks presumptuous of me,” he said as if he read her mind. “But honest it wasn’t my idea. My parents insisted I buy it. Somehow they knew you wouldn’t refuse. If you don’t like it we can exchange it for something more to your liking.”

  She stared at the ring on her hand. Like it, she’d have to be a fool not to. The very simplicity of it appealed to her. And the size, well that could have been smaller. She’d never been one for expensive jewelry. Michele looked at the ring. Next to it was a plain gold wedding band. Anything more would have taken away from the beauty of the diamond. She closed her eyes.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Movement in bed brought Michele back to reality. She crawled out of bed, careful not to wake Brad, and went to take a shower. How she’d get through this next week was beyond her, let alone a whole year. She wanted to get back to her business, “The Designer’s Edge”. She stood in the shower letting the water rush over her body when noise came from the other room. She turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around her. Brad knocked and opened the door without waiting for a response. He greeted her with an enticing grin.

  “Morning, Star-shine, sleep well?” He reached out and rubbed her wet head.

  Michele tried to side-step him. She moved away, dodged his hand. The attraction between them exploded inside her. Her stomach muscles tightened, causing a fluttering and rising tension. She tried to move past him, but he pulled her close. His lips hovered over hers, smoky eyes filled with desire. She turned away before his lips met hers, and they landed on her cheek. He held her in his arms while his lips moved from her cheek to nuzzle her neck. Flickers of electricity jolted her body. Her heart throbbed so loud he had to hear it. Moving his lips to her mouth, they captured and held, starting out fierce, demanding, and then easing into tenderness.

  She kissed him back, her mouth and body betraying her, giving in to their desires. The towel fell away. His hands caressed her bare skin creating waves of fiery passion in her. Her naked body thrust itself against him, as if it belonged there. Moans escaped from deep within her throat.

  Something in the back of her mind told her to stop, but she ignored it, wanting only to be loved by this man. This man she grew up with, yet knew nothing about. His hands moved freely over her body, exploring. Strange sensations that she never experienced before trembled through her. She wrapped her arms around him tighter, pulling him closer, wanting to become part of him. He backed her into the bedroom, holding her close, kissing her, driving her wild with desire. They reached the bed. He eased her down and took her, mumbling words she couldn’t quite hear.

  Afterwards, he moved to her side, still holding her close. An overwhelming feeling of comfort, security, and satisfaction filled her before the realization of what just happened hit her. Afraid to open her eyes, she lay still as his hand caressed and soothed her.

  ***

  Brad relished the way her skin felt. Appreciated the way she reacted to his touch. Even now she shivered, her body trembled. The softness of her skin was like fine silk under his hand. Her body molded into him. He couldn’t remember desiring a woman this much.

  Suddenly she stiffened. Tension replaced her relaxed body as she lay next to him. Why the sudden change?

  “Michele?” His soft seductive voice questioned, while his lips feathered across her cheek.

  “Michele.” Brad leaned over her, resting his head on his hand. “Open your eyes. Look at me.” He needed to know what caused the sudden change. Color slipped into her face. She’s embarrassed. His stubborn, temperamental wife was embarrassed. He almost laughed. Instead he lay back and closed his eyes, giving her a minute to compose herself. Never in his life had he met anyone like her. Obviously under that confident exterior was an unexpectedly shy woman when it came to the bedroom. Or was it just with him?

  ***

  Michele shook her head, her face flamed, her body stiffened. What had just happened here, how could she have allowed herself to give in so easily?

  “Michele.” He leaned up on his elbow and caressed her cheek with his thumb.

  Her eyes squeezed tighter. She couldn’t bear to look at him. Embarrassment flooded through her, the heat on her face almost as hot as Brad’s lips had been.

  “Michele, look at me.” His stern voice demanded.

  She opened her eyes and looked at him, then focused on a lamp in the corner of the room.

  He leaned down, brushed his lips across hers, igniting sparks. “A year’s a long time. I promised to be faithful, but for God’s sakes I’m not a saint, and I won’t remain celibate.” He took her chin in his hand and turned her head so her eyes gazed into his. “We are married, it’s legal.”

  The sound of Ruby’s voice rang through her mind. The picture of their heads locked together eased its way into her thoughts. Would he be faithful? Not if she acted like a frigid prude. He desired her, they just made incredible love, why not relax and enjoy it? He said he wouldn’t remain celibate. Not that she blamed him and damn if she’d send him into Ruby’s arms.

  “Brad, I...” his lips lowered on hers, quieting any protest. De
sire flooded through her again as his hands wandered over her body. Giving in to the physical need, something inside told her she could learn to love this man.

  The phone rang, interrupting the taste of his delicious lips as his teeth nibbled her lower lip.

  “Damn.” He started to edge away to answer it.

  “Ignore it,” she mumbled, her husky voice sounded strange even to her. She pulled him to her, returning the fiery kisses, exploring his body, finding the need to touch him as strong as the need to be touched.

  The phone continued to ring and then the alarm clock sounded.

  “Damn.” He sat up, moved away, hit the alarm to silence it, and answered the phone.

  She sat up next to him. His muscles tensed as he spoke. “Let Jackson handle it.” He paused while the person on the other end answered. A woman’s voice. Ruby’s voice. She eased herself out of bed and once again went to take a shower. Hot water washed over her. But she couldn’t wash the feel of Brad’s hands from her body.

  ***

  Brad sat on the bed, phone in hand when she returned. He hung up, looked at her fully dressed, a flicker of disappointment flowed through his body.

  “Looks like you’re ready for the day.”

  “We have a plane to catch, remember?”

  He looked at the bedside clock. “Guess I better get a move on then.” He stood up not bothering to cover his nakedness, wishing they could just stay here. He wanted to take her to bed again. The call from Ruby had been about routine business. She could have handled it herself. Something told him they were going to be disturbed a lot this week. Edgehurst, one of the firms most important and demanding, clients wanted his ad campaign done last week, even though the proposal wouldn’t be presented to him until Brad got back from his honeymoon. He went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for their flight.