The Convenient Wedding: a contemporary romance (The Rosa Legacy Book 3) (7 page)

They boarded a private plane in Hartford and she heard the pilot confirm the flight details. They were heading for Boca Raton.

Stepping off the small plane two hours later, Lucia felt a wall of heat hit her even though it was dark and almost 11:00 o’clock at night.

Lucia was surprised, the small private airport seemed deserted. Anderson carried their luggage over to a silver convertible BMW and opened the trunk with the automatic locking device. When he fit their suitcases in the small trunk, Lucia was glad that she packed lightly.

Anderson efficiently lowered the top and asked if she was ready. She climbed into the small car beside Anderson and realized this was the first time she was alone with him in a car. Driving towards their destination, she watched the landscape and admired the beauty of the palm trees silhouetted against the moonlight.

“An old friend graciously lent us their Florida retreat for our honeymoon,” Anderson explained. “It has a private beach and all the amenities expected at a vacation home. The press won’t be able to get near the estate.” He added.

Lucia couldn’t think of anything to say. Anderson drove into the long, windy driveway and the house came into view. Lucia thought it looked like a pink palace. Bright lights illuminated the front of the house and the main door was open with a housekeeper waiting to greet them.

It was nearly midnight when Anderson led her to a beautiful bedroom suite on the main level. He opened the glass doors and Lucia could see the ocean in the distance.

“Would you like to take a shower?” Anderson asked.

“Yes”. She needed a few minutes to unwind. She had changed from her wedding gown for the trip but her hair was still put up in a formal style.

Walking into the bathroom, she could feel Anderson watching her. She firmly closed the door and undressed. It took several minutes to remove all the pins from her hair. Slipping gratefully into the shower, she let the warm water relax her body. After washing her hair and then lathering her body in a tropical body wash, she rinsed the soap from her body. Lucia stepped out of the shower and dried her body and then brushed out her hair.

Walking back into the bedroom wearing a soft, white robe, she was relieved that Anderson was not there.

She was opening her suitcase when another door opened and Anderson appeared wearing only a pair of dark pajamas pants.

He must have seen her surprised look because he simply said, “This bedroom suite has two bathrooms.”

Lucia turned away from him and took a nightgown from her suitcase.

Anderson came up behind her and lightly touching her shoulders, and murmured “Lucia, don’t be nervous. We don’t need to rush this aspect of our relationship.”

She could feel his closeness and tried to distance herself. “I’m not nervous. What do you expect from me?”

“I would think that was rather obvious,” he quietly stated and his hands trailed down her body until he got to her hips. His touch lingered and he kissed the side of her neck.

She stepped forward and turned toward him. “This marriage isn’t real and I don’t think we should complicate our relationship by having sex.” 

He reached out and grasped her arm and pulled her towards him. Lucia put her hands up to instinctively block him but her hands landed on his bare chest while his head lowered and captured her lips in a slow, seductive kiss.

Anderson murmured, “I want you, bella.” His hands moved from holding her arm to embracing her and pulling her closer. Without thinking she stroked his chest with her palms and was rewarded with a pleasurable groan.

Her eyes closed, blocking out the sight of him. His physical perfection was too much to take in. Anderson rained tiny kisses on her neck, and she could feel her entire body melting into him in response. He captured her mouth in a seductive kiss and she sighed when his tongue slid over hers. She moved her hands to explore his chest and she could feel his body pulse with desire. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed while continuing to kiss her deeply.

When he lowered her down onto the bed his hands pushed open her robe. He lightly glided his hands over her breasts and captured her mouth again. A warning signal sounded loudly in her mind that she was going too far with him. He was interested in using her to fuel his ambitious political agenda.

She pushed hard against his chest and he lifted his head to gaze into her eyes, she said “I can’t do this.”

Lucia could fell the adrenaline pumping through her veins and tried to breathe calmly. Anderson released her and she closed her robe and sat up.

“What the hell are you playing at?” He ran a hand through his hair. The tension snapped between them.

Her body still felt on fire for him. “You can’t expect me to take this marriage seriously. We barely know each other.” 

“I do expect you take this marriage seriously.” He told her harshly.

A few seconds went by while Lucia tried to gather her scattered thoughts. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” Lucia quietly said to him.

“Make love to your husband?” he angrily supplied the words she didn’t want to voice.

“Why is that? Have you had a bad experience?” Anderson questioned her.

She got off the bed and went over to the look out the window, wanting to block out his physical perfection. “No. I don’t consider our marriage real. It is a means to an end.” 

“Our marriage is real, bella. We need to start a life together.” Anderson came up behind her and reached out for her.

“I’m not ready for this.”

“What do you want? A pledge of undying affection?” Anderson murmured, “I adore you.” as he kissed her neck.

“Don’t. I have no false illusions about your reason for marrying me.” Lucia pushed him away.

Anderson studied her for a moment. He said “What do you want from our marriage?”

“Nothing. I want nothing except to try and survive the next several months.” Lucia turned to face him.

“Just trying to survive our marriage will not convince anyone, especially our families. We had an unusually fast courtship and we will be under intense scrutiny to see if our marriage is real.” Anderson explained calmly.

Lucia crossed her arms saying, “Fine. I can pretend that you are a wonderful husband.”

“Show me that you adore your husband and are madly in love with him.” Anderson challenged her.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Lucia looked at him.

“I think that you do.” Anderson waited for to make the first move.

He was right. They needed to convince everyone that they had a normal marriage not just a convenient cover for political reasons. The clarity of their situation began to come into focus. She had dug herself in much deeper and now it was time to live with her decision.

She tightened her robe. “You are right. It would be much easier if we had a physical relationship. But I hardly know you and I will not just go to bed with you. Marriage or not.”

He threw his hands up. “Then how do you plan to handle our relationship? We need to display a closeness that will not be possible without a physical closeness. No longer can you play the part of nervous bride. It was quite endearing but when we return from our honeymoon, you must look every part of a confident, secure wife.” 

Lucia responded, “I’ll learn to just fake it.”

“You are quite expressive. Everything that you are thinking and feeling is written on your face.”

“So what am I thinking right now?” Lucia challenged him.

“You are angry with me for expecting more from you then you are willing to give. Why are you so afraid to trust?” Anderson asked her. He moved closer to her but didn’t touch her.

“Since you can read me so well, you figure it out.”

He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “I think you have a hard time relaxing the barriers you have built around yourself.”

“You know almost nothing about me…” Lucia faltered as she tried to put her chaotic thoughts into words.

“Show me, let me in…” he let his words trail off. 

“This marriage was a mistake. I’m not willing to compound that by getting too close to you.”

Anderson reached out and tilted her chin up until her eyes met his. “I can wait but I expect you to play the part of a normal wife.” His words were low and persuasive.

Lucia was appalled by the entire situation. Instead of her wedding night being romantic with a groom professing his love for her, she was faced with a politician who was more interested in his media coverage then the woman he married.

“I’m not attracted to you.” She wondered if any female had ever turned him down.

“Is that supposed to be a challenge?” he asked her.

A shiver of apprehension flowed over her body. “No. It’s the truth.” 

He couldn’t believe her audacity. “Let’s put that statement of fact to the test. If you really feel distaste when I touch you then I’ll leave you alone. If not, then we will consummate our marriage.”

She stared at him, saying “I find you revolting in fact.”

“Prove it.” He watched her skin pale and a pulse at the base of her neck beat erratically.

“How do you expect me to prove something that I feel?” Lucia asked him.

“If you can resist me then you win. I’ll leave you alone.” Anderson told her.

He watched her as a series of fleeting emotions passed over her face. 

“Are you worried about a few kisses?”

“No, I’m not afraid.” Lucia said.

“Then come here.” Anderson challenged her.

She walked towards him and he watched her stiff, choppy movements. She was nervous. He needed to put her at ease. She was so beautiful and he wanted nothing more than to bring her pleasure.

She stopped a few inches from him and waited.

“Touch me.” He instructed her.

He watched her hesitate, saying “No. I’m not a puppet about to obey your every command.”

He scooped her up into his embrace and said “You take my breath away, bella”.

Lucia could feel her protective barrier start to slip when Anderson held her for a few seconds before carefully placing her on the bed. In one fluid moment his body covered hers and she could feel the warmth radiating from his bare chest. Anderson began a slow seduction of kisses over her face. He lightly traced the outline of her robe with his hands and she had to stop herself for reaching out to him.

Lucia moved her hips slightly in an attempt to limit any intimate contact with Anderson’s half-clad body but the movement only served to encourage him. He placed his hands on her hips and moved her gently until there could be no doubt of his full arousal and she gasped. He took her mouth again in a sensual assault.

Time seemed to be suspended. Lucia moved her hands up to trace the lean muscles on his back, savoring the feel of his satin skin under her fingertips. Lucia could feel his strength and was amazed by the tenderness he exuded. 

Instead of and she began to explore his body with her hands and mouth. She felt her control over her emotions slipping and had to remind herself he was only interested in what he could get from her. As if an icy bucket of water was thrown suddenly on her, Lucia abruptly sat up and said “I don’t want this or you.” 

“I don’t have the yearning to melt the icy disdain you so protectively shroud yourself in.”

Moving away from him, Lucia felt an emptiness that caused her heart to ache. She clutched her hands in response to the overwhelming feeling that her rejection of him was wrong. 

Reaching the doorway, he turned and said, “Enjoy your solitude”.

He left so quietly Lucia thought he vanished into thin air. She paced the room and considered her next move. All of her adrenaline was still pumping through her veins and instead of feeling relieved he left so easily, Lucia began to realize she was disappointed.

She wondered why she couldn’t just throw caution to the wind and take a chance. She was normally so impulsive. Why did she finally find a speck of caution when dealing with him? Maybe he was getting under her skin more than she realized.

No, she thought it was better she protected herself against their inevitable breakup and left her emotions intact. Her thoughts drifted to Paul. She thought cynically that it was strange how life presented her with another man incapable of emotional involvement. After Paul, she vowed that she would never let herself fall in love with a man that didn’t return her feelings.

Lucia realized now that a long-standing friendship and common values were not enough to create a lasting emotional bond. At least thinking about her ex no longer held the power to hurt her. Until tonight, she hadn’t thought about him in many weeks.

She almost left the bedroom to search for Anderson. She couldn’t help but feel guilty about her harsh rejection of him. If she explained her feelings instead of rejecting him outright maybe they could have reached an understanding.

The small charter plane left Boca Raton five days later. Lucia looked out the small window and felt nothing for the beautiful landscape of palm trees and beachfront. She thought Anderson had promised her solitude and delivered it. But with her life in such upheaval, the solitude didn’t re-energize her, instead it left her feeling lonely. A few times she almost called Isabel or Emilia but she didn’t want them to think that something was wrong on her honeymoon.

Lucia glanced over at Anderson. He had opened his laptop and was typing away. Lucia took a deep breath and tried to expel some of the loneliness she was feeling.

“Did you enjoy your honeymoon, bella?” Anderson’s tone was pleasant but his harsh glance exposed his contempt.

“Almost as much as you did.” came her quick reply. But as the words left her mouth, Lucia realized sarcasm wouldn’t get them anywhere. And she vowed during her many days alone on the beach she would try to make the best of the situation.

Anderson put his work away and moved to sit next to her. They were alone on the small charter plane. The two-person crew was behind the cockpit door.

“Would you like something to drink?” Anderson inquired.

“No, thank you.” 

Anderson gazed at her and let his eyes wander slowly over her body. Lucia was wearing a sleeveless sundress in white that emphasized her light tan. He probably thought she was underdressed compared to his conservative suit and tie.

“We will be greeted at the airport with a minor press conference then I will bring you home before heading to the campaign headquarters.” Anderson said.

“What will be expected of me?” Lucia asked him.

“It’s entirely up to you. It would be helpful having you on the campaign trail but you are welcome to sit home and make an occasional appearance.” Anderson explained.

“I’d like to work on the PR aspects of the campaign.” Lucia asked him.

He studied her for a moment and said, “Brian hired someone else to handle the PR. Your role is somewhat different now.”

Lucia looked out the window and tried to gather her disconnected thoughts.

She touched her throat and tried to hold off the misery. She couldn’t believe that they gave the job to someone else without discussing it with her. Even though she tried to ignore her overwrought emotions, her loneliness compounded tenfold when she realized that she wouldn’t have a job waiting to absorb her energy and ideas. During the honeymoon she kept up a thin veneer of pleasantness with Anderson, waiting to get back to a normal routine.

“What about my apartment?” Lucia asked while trying to keep her tone neutral.

“You had just moved in so there wasn’t much to pack. But your parents coordinated packing up your personal effects while furniture and household items were donated to charity.”

“No.” Lucia seethed inwardly. She felt like lashing out at him for treating her as a nonentity. The apartment was her space and should have been left intact for her to escape from this madness.

“I thought you knew all this…” Anderson said.

“I had wanted to keep my apartment.” 

“I thought my father discussed this with you. Obviously we need to live together. The media would just speculate if you kept a separate residence.” Anderson closed up his laptop and began packing up his files.

It was image and media coverage. Picturing Arthur in her mind, she remembered the subject of her apartment coming up and him suggesting she give up the lease. But she didn’t tell him to go ahead and organize a move.

“I didn’t realize your father was your personal assistant.” Even as she uttered the harsh words, Lucia felt guilty. Arthur was warm and inviting throughout the engagement, taking her under his wing and helping with every detail.

“It was extremely busy period for me and I had to wrap up several important campaign events so I could take time off.” Anderson patiently said.

“What exactly am I supposed to do now without an apartment or job?”

“Be my wife.” Anderson challenged her. She knew what he meant and after a moment of holding his intent gaze, she looked away.

She could feel the plane beginning to make it’s decent into Logan Airport. Lucia gathered her belongings and waited for the plane to touch down.

When the plane was safely on the ground, Anderson placed his hand on her bare shoulder and said “Remember to smile and look happy.”

The door opened and they made their way down the small staircase. Lucia was startled by a multitude of flashes and felt assaulted by the questions being thrown at her. She followed Anderson towards a set of microphones. The questions were relentless but Anderson seemed completely at ease dealing with the press. A couple of times, he pulled her close and smiled down at her before giving his response to questions about their honeymoon. Lucia thought to herself what a fake then she was brought back to reality when she realized these photographs would be plastered everywhere.

When the limo pulled away from the airport, Anderson leaned forward and gave the driver instructions to take them to his home.

Lucia was unnerved by the entire experience. It was so different to be advising others about the public relations aspects of a press conference and quite another thing to be the person in the spotlight. She had never been to Anderson’s home and had no idea what to expect.

“If you are to survive the next few months then you will need to develop a rapport with the press. You shut down out there.” Anderson counseled her.

“I don’t care what the press thinks and it is none of their business what went on during our honeymoon.” Lucia argued.

“You need to manage them by appearing open and approachable to hold them at arm’s length and not let them get too close.” Anderson said.

“Unlike you I can’t fabricate tales with a smile on my face.”

She could see the immediate tension in him as he straightened his tie and flexed his shoulder muscles in attempt to control his irritation with her. In a clipped tone he said, “I certainly did not lie. Yes, I made it seem I was relaxed and happy at the conclusion of our honeymoon but I didn’t give any specific details and commented on the weather more than anything.”

“But you made them think that you are happy.” Lucia accused him.

“Happiness in many ways is based on perception not facts. I have a great life and I consider myself fortunate. The fact that I didn’t discuss the intimate details of our marriage with the press doesn’t make me a liar. Or would your rather I gave them a blow by blow account of what happened between us?” Anderson said.

“No, of course not.” 

“Be warned, the press will not respect your privacy. It is up to you to set limits and decide what you would like everyone to know about you. Certainly we live in a sensationalist culture where some people choose to discuss the emotional ups and downs of their existence but that is not me.” Anderson said.

Lucia wondered if she was up to the challenge of dealing with the media. It was so different advising others how to handle these situations.

The rest of the drive was spent in silence. As the limousine turned into an underground parking garage, Lucia glanced at Anderson and realized she knew very little about him. She expected a house like his father’s - traditional, impressive and private not a condo or loft apartment.

Anderson must have read the surprise on her face because he said, “Unlike my father, I don’t have a traditional house for entertaining and a small army of staff to oversee every detail. I prefer a more private existence.”

“I won’t invade your private space.” 

“Given the circumstances – that will be somewhat impossible.” 

Lucia thought to herself it wouldn’t be too hard to stay out of his way. Anderson would be very busy and have to travel frequently.

“My company owns this building, it was an old newspaper press and I reconfigured it into loft spaces and offices. My home is on the top floor.” Anderson said.

Lucia could tell Anderson had switched back to being a diplomat and was trying to make her feel comfortable. She hardly knew him and was expected to just melt into his life and become the perfect wife. If he was expecting perfection that he would be disappointed because she was a real woman with thoughts, feelings and shortcomings.

The parking garage was well lighted but without any natural light seemed cold and sparse.

She waited for her luggage but Anderson said, “It will be brought up.”

“I can manage my own suitcase.” Lucia protested but Anderson was already striding towards the elevator with a quiet authority that he would be obeyed. Instead of causing a scene over luggage, she followed him.

The large cargo elevator ascended and Anderson said, “I had keys made for you but I want you to use my driver and private car whenever you go out.”

“Surely I can go out by myself?”

“No, the media has an unquenchable desire to cover our fairytale life. Even though the risk is minimal, anyone in the spotlight is a potential target.” Anderson’s tone and manner seemed to negate any discussion on the subject.

The doors opened and Anderson guided her off the elevator. He punched a code into a security pad and opened a steel double door to reveal an immense space that was bright and luxurious.

“Does the space surprise you?”

Lucia politely said, “It’s not what I was expecting but it is impressive.”

“It was originally factory space that I purchased to renovate but after spending time here, I decided the top floor would make an ideal home and office.”

Lucia walked to the window and looked down ten stories onto the busy street below. Looking around the space, she marveled at the sheer size of it, the windows were at least 20 feet high. Wherever she looked, she saw steel, concrete and glass. Lucia smiled to herself when she pictured her old apartment in California. It had been painted shades of off white with mostly white furnishings.

“Is something amusing?” Anderson inquired.

“I didn’t know you were into such a modern aesthetic.” 

“It’s probably my background in architecture. I’m drawn to large commercial spaces with interesting bones.” Anderson said in a clipped tone as he walked forward to a hallway.

It occurred to her that the space didn’t seem to have a couple’s feel. She thought about his past love life. He was certainly considered a catch. He looks alone interested women. Why had he not fallen in love and gotten married? Maybe the women in his life didn’t care for his lack of emotional involvement or barriers he erected around his valued private life, Lucia continued to speculate.

Anderson interrupted her thoughts and said “Let me give you a tour before I head out.”

Anderson walked her through the lower level. The engineering behind creating a living space in a warehouse impressed her. The spaces were huge yet functional. There were two guest bedrooms downstairs each with a bathroom and at the end of the hallway, a high-tech office for Anderson that included a conference table that could sit at least 12 people.

The kitchen flowed into the living areas with each space seeming open yet defined by soaring ceilings. The artwork in each room captured Lucia’s attention. Anderson chose mainly bronze sculptures and bold impressionist’s paintings to decorate the space.

She followed him up a floating staircase to the second level, Anderson stopped abruptly and said “This is a private area and I prefer to keep guests out.”

Lucia heard the warning in Anderson’s voice and held on tightly to the banister. Lucia said, “I don’t need to see the upstairs.”

“As my wife, you are the one exception.” Anderson said and moved forward beyond the wall that blocked a view directly into the room.

Lucia felt uncomfortable following Anderson and for the first time began to realize he was also forced to give up his independence to allow for the marriage of convenience.

Lucia drew in a deep breath and walked to the other side of the privacy wall and was stunned when she saw the space. It was instantly inviting, the floor was a beautiful cherry giving the room depth and warmth and it was furnished with Asian inspired antiques. Moving forward into the room, a black cat greeted her by rubbing up against her leg. Lucia bent down and stroked the tiny cat along her back.

“That’s Lira. She lived in the building when it was vacant so I couldn’t evict her.”

The small sitting area was separated from a bedroom by a floor to ceiling fireplace. She walked around the fireplace and saw an immense bed low to the ground and beautifully accented with white and gold-stripped bedding. Anderson led her into a spacious, modern bathroom that had a completely glassed in shower and large soaking tub.

She was invading Anderson’s private space and then followed him into a large walk-in closet. She was surprised to see her clothes hanging on one side.

She gave him a dazed look. “I can’t share a closet with you.” 

“You are coming to have to come to terms with the intimate nature of our relationship.” Anderson was within a few feet and she could feel the intensity of his words.

“I’m sure you don’t want to share your space with me anymore than I want to share it with you. Certainly we can find a solution.” Lucia tried to reason with him.