Jennifer Probst - The Marriage Merger

The vulnerability of exposing himself made him want to bolt for the door, but he forced himself to stand still. The shock on Wolfe’s face was almost worth it. His mouth hung open in an almost comical way before he realized it and snapped his lips closed. “But—but you’re getting married.”

Sawyer shrugged. “So what? Julietta wants you to come live with us, too. We got a big-assed mansion where you can have plenty of space and privacy. Plus Julietta cooks.

And we get to go to Mama Conte’s house on Sundays if we want. No maid, though, and I have a feeling women get pissy about that sort of thing, so you’ll need to be neater.”

The boy bit at his cuticle in the nervous gesture Sawyer noted meant he was thinking hard. “I don’t want to get in the way. Don’t want to be a charity case.”

His voice flicked like a lash. “Don’t say that. you’re no charity case to me, damnit. I care about you. I think you’re an awesome kid, and I want you to stay.” He paused.

“Please.”

Sawyer caught the gleam of delight in the boy’s bright blue eyes at the admission. Finally, he had done something right. “okay.”

Sawyer grinned. He had won. “Get your crap packed, because it has to be done by Saturday. And you’re coming to the wedding. We’ll have dinner afterward and then go to the new digs.”

“No honeymoon?”

“Nah, too much work. Are we good?”

Joy bloomed when Wolfe slowly nodded. A banked relief carved out the features of his face. For a crazy moment, he ached to give the boy a hug, but he kept his reaction muted, sensing it would be too much emotion for both of them to handle at the moment.

“okay. We’re good.”

“Cool.” Sawyer walked out of the room, shut the door, and leaned against it in relief. once again, his ice queen had been right. He hadn’t wanted to delve into the snake pit with Wolfe, but it had been worth it. He wanted him in his life for the long term and if Julietta hadn’t challenged him, the boy would be walking away and leaving them both unhappy.

He wondered what other type of surprises his wife-to-be had in store for him.

The dominant part of his makeup roared to shove past both of their barriers and take her to bed. once he put his hands on her, she would melt and allow herself to give up control. But after only two nights, he already craved more.

Going into a marriage with a woman who threatened his sanity wasn’t smart. How would he handle the intimacy of seeing her on a daily basis? Sharing meals? evenings? He needed time to find his balance, and that meant no sex. For now. Companionship. Work. Simple rules. Simple emotions.

As long as she never wanted more from him.

Two years. He needed to bear down and last two years before he’d be able to walk away, knowing his promise was technically fulfilled. He wondered what it would be like to be a real husband to her, to build a life with children and family and fullness. But the empty place inside him was too cold, an endless landscape of Arctic ice.

yes. It was too late for him.

He accepted the fact and trudged into his bedroom.

Julietta gazed down at the diamond on her finger. Three carats, princess cut, flawless in clarity. The setting was platinum gold with no other diamonds fighting to compete.

Her husband knew her taste well—simplicity and elegance.

Too bad he wasn’t real.

The ceremony was exactly what she’d wanted. Thank goodness Venezia and Dominick were in London for business. She wanted no family members there to witness the sham occurring before a Catholic priest. She’d always dreamed of getting married in Colleoni Chapel with its famous rose window showing off the flanked carved medal-lions of Caesar and Trajan. The intricate detail and intimacy of the small church in Bergamo provided the perfect back-drop. Her elegant Rivini wedding dress was exquisite with detail, from the tightly fitted strapless bodice to the spill of chiffon of the fuller skirt, fluid with movement in a deep creamy white color. The diamond combs held her hair up in a classic upsweep and flashed bright within her dark hair.

Her shoes were custom-made, with encrusted diamonds over the four-inches heel and toe, playing a game of hide-and-go-peek as she walked down the aisle.

When she moved to the high altar, the rich murals and frescoes etched on the walls exploded with images of color and sacredness. Her mother and Wolfe stood by their sides as light streamed through the stained-glass window and Julietta waited to see if God would send down a thunderbolt in a sign that this marriage was doomed.

Instead, the day was mild and spring warm, and the singer lent a haunting note of beauty as she sang, her voice along with the organ’s chords lifting and echoing toward the arched dome ceiling and stirring emotion Julietta refused to recognize. Her mother beamed with pride and a satisfaction that ripped at Julietta’s heart. When she recited her vows, she wondered if her father’s spirit was finally pleased.

Unlike her sisters, she’d rarely dreamed about weddings and had never imagined walking down the aisle with anyone.

When she gazed into those shattering golden eyes, her heart lurched in a beautiful agony of need. The truth whispered deep inside her in mocking tones.

She wanted it to be real.

What would it feel like to be the woman Sawyer loved?

The one who opened up all those dark, dusty corners of his soul and let fresh, clean air blow through? He’d possess his mate with a fierceness and primitive air that no man could equal. But there was also a sweetness in his soul that called out to her. She remembered him bathing her so tenderly, the gentle touch of his finger across her cheek, the passionate way he’d ordered her never to demean herself.

“Julietta? Are you okay?”

She shook herself out of her musings and looked up.

The object of her thoughts stood in the doorway of the room she claimed as her office. After dinner, they’d headed to their new house, and both of them had immersed themselves in work, retreating to their separate space. Wolfe had long since gone to bed. The quiet, impersonal environment mocked the idea that a wedding had taken place just hours ago. It was business as usual, with iPads and laptops and furious text messages to business associates. The house roared up and seemed to demand more personal contact from its inhabitants. “Sure, just wrapping up some loose ends.”

Sawyer stretched and rubbed the back of his neck. He’d changed into a pair of loose khaki slacks and a clean white T-shirt, and he sported bare feet. The intimacy of sharing a house suddenly loomed before her. Seeing him in all forms of undress, but not feeling she had the right to touch him.

Panic lit. What if she couldn’t play this charade? It was their honeymoon night, and she had no idea how to act. Cool and sophisticated? Warm and friendly? She ached to crawl under the covers and hide for the night, but wouldn’t that look pathetic at this point? He spoke with no idea regarding her looming attack. “yeah, me, too. I have to get up early to go to the site tomorrow. Are you finished up?”

“yes.”

“Wanna join me for a quick drink before bed?”

Her nerves shrieked and her body jumped to come out and play. She deliberately squeezed her thighs together in rebellion. “Sure. Wouldn’t mind a taste of cognac before sleep. I’ve got an early morning, too.”

She followed him down the winding staircase, her fingers lightly tracing the smooth mahogany as they walked into the library. Julietta took a soothing breath of lemon, paper, and leather. Between both of them, they’d filled up the mounted bookcases with a variety of fiction, biography, business, and cooking. She’d been fascinated by his eclectic reading taste and found he could hold a conversation on practically any topic. She took a seat close to the fireplace and tucked her feet underneath her. It was important they set a precedent for the future. Julietta decided she’d be friendly, but distant.

He handed her the snifter of amber liquid and sat beside her. The warmth of the fire enveloped them in a com-fortable haze, and she relaxed a bit. “you looked beautiful today,” he said.

Julietta smiled. “Grazie. you didn’t look too bad yourself. And Wolfe was quite handsome. He even took out his many piercings.”

Sawyer laughed and sipped his drink. “yeah, he cleans up nice. I never got to thank you. For your advice with Wolfe.” He lifted his gaze and pinned her with sheer intensity. “He was going to walk, and if I hadn’t asked him to stay, we would’ve both been alone. How did you know?”

She swallowed past the tightness in her throat. “I saw the way you look at each other. respect. Admiration. Care.

you may have met as strangers, but he’s part of you now.

That’s how family is. They drive you crazy, push you to the edge, but family stands true.”

“I always had the opposite.”

“I know. But family isn’t about blood. It’s about sticking and loyalty and sacrifice. I didn’t want you to let Wolfe go because of pride.”

“And that’s why you agreed to marry me. right?”

Julietta stiffened, afraid he might guess too much of the truth. yes, she’d done it for family. For Papa. For business.

But the secret part inside told her she’d only marry someone she cared about, felt safe with. Sawyer was both. “yes, that’s right.”

“Did you ever think of marrying before?”

His probing surprised her, but she decided to answer.

“No. There was one man I got close to. We worked together.