The Billionaire's Second-Chance Bride (The Romero Brothers, #1) (6 page)

The thought of his grandson’s threat loomed large. This dream wedding could turn into a nightmare affair if she wasn’t careful and she knew that all too well.

“Yes, Miss Shillerton. Mr. Romero will see you in the study.” A man with a waiter’s tuxedo greeted them after opening the door.

“Thank you,” Lucy said warmly. She felt so out of her league and intimidated by the premise and the staff, which was so weird. Why should she be? They were just as human as she was, right?

The inside of the grand entrance boasted golden marble and the ceiling was the tallest she’d ever seen. It seemed to go on forever. An enormous chandelier dangled from above and the walls were adorned with beautiful yet subtle artwork. Lucy felt like she’d just stepped into an art gallery, not somebody’s private residence.

She also noted that this would certainly be an ideal place to take some of the pictures for Toni’s wedding to Shelly. The backdrop would be so romantic. So royal-looking.

Later, they received a brief tour of the beautiful premise and the enormous ballroom where the reception would be held. Maxine ferociously typed away on her iPad taking notes and snapping pictures of the setting. Then they were introduced to the official photographer so they could go over the layout and photo settings.

They had spoken with Shelly, who seemed so full of life and humor. She kept hugging Toni and held firm on his arms. Clearly, the couple seemed as if they were in love. Toni showed Lucy and Maxine his iPad with his Fun Bird scores and told them that while Shelly was caring for him after his second stroke, she’d showed him how to play the game to cheer him up and he hadn’t stopped since. He showed Lucy and Maxine their scoreboards with the names Mr. Romero and Shelly Romero. Of course, they had given Shelly his surname as a joke. Mr. and Mrs. R. Bird they nicknamed themselves.

“Beautiful,” Lucy commented. She was gushing now. This all seemed so perfect, except the fact that they still wanted to go ahead with the Fun Bird slingshot down the aisle.

“Well, you know there are risks involved, right?” Lucy warned the doting couple.

“Of course we know that. Life is a risk, wouldn’t you say?” Toni shot back before bursting into laughter. He seemed to be a jolly old fella who really did look more like a fit forty-something-year-old. Shelly and he looked roughly the same age—almost. His upbeat attitude was so infectious. It was obvious that one of the reasons Shelly loved Toni was because despite his age, he was young at heart and he rarely took things seriously, including himself.

“You know, Lucy, I want to thank you and your aunt...er...God rest her soul, for this wonderful wedding you’re putting on for us. It’s a dream come true,” Toni said as he looked lovingly into Shelly’s eyes.

Lucy exchanged a glance with Maxine. It translated to I-really-hope-this-works-out-for-them-because-they-are-such-a-nice-couple. Maxine appeared to have swallowed hard. Lucy could also feel a lump in her throat.

“Come. Let’s go out into the garden where part of the ceremony will take place.” Toni escorted them outside to the patio then led them down a pathway to the fertile garden.

Lucy noted the two trees near the pond where Shelly wanted to be tossed from the slingshot to the aisle and they had already worked out with the videographer and DJ how they would film it to the Fun Birds soundtrack and quirky bird sound noise complete with slingshot. Lucy felt a migraine coming on and she really didn’t know why. Perhaps it was the whole litigious angle not to mention the safety-risk involved.

“I’ve already gotten fitted for the harness that will go with the gown,” Shelly beamed. “I’m so thrilled to be doing this. My friends are going to have a blast. We’re going to post this on YouTube. It will be great, won't it?”

Oh. No.

“Um. Oh. Yes.” Lucy hesitated
. It’s about the client. It’s about their happiness. It’s about them, not me—or Antonio! God, there was that Antonio again.
Lucy’s thoughts were distracted by the sound of rotors in the distance. What the—?

She’d thought it might be some news chopper overhead but then realized that the helipad off in the distance was empty. It must be someone family related. Who could be flying at this time?

“Oh, great!” Toni seemed excited. “My grandson Antonio is here. You’ve met him, haven’t you?”

Lucy felt her stomach plunge to her feet.

CHAPTER SIX

––––––––

A
nd what an entrance
that
was. Toni, along with Shelly on his arm, walked over towards the helipad and his grandson. Lucy and Maxine followed closely behind. Lucy was chewing her lower lip so much so that she thought she tasted blood. Her heart thrashed about in her chest. As the blades slowed down and stopped, Antonio, looking hot as ever in his Ray-Ban aviator shades and expensive business suit, stepped off the chopper, along with another gentleman. Antonio wasn’t looking particularly pleased when his gaze met Lucy beside his grandfather while Shelly was waving maniacally at his grandfather’s side.

“Welcome home, my boy!. I see you wanted to avoid the evening rush-hour traffic again.”

“Grandfather,” Antonio formally greeted Toni. He then nodded to Shelly and glanced at Lucy and Maxine. He arched his eyebrow when his gaze met Lucy. Though the corner of his lips turned up slightly, the smile definitely did not reflect in his eyes. He pulled off his shades to reveal his dark and dangerously sexy gaze before re-focusing on the property.

“What is all of this?” Antonio asked as he scanned the area around him. Some of the decorating team had already begun the work on the garden for the upcoming wedding, getting the new gazebo reconstructed among other things.

“Have you met Lucy from the wedding agency?” Toni asked.

“Yes. We met last week.” Antonio’s voice was void of any emotion; his dark gaze was fixed on Lucy.

Lucy realized from staff at the estate that Antonio no longer resided there full-time but he had his home in the city, a penthouse in a luxury high-rise building that he owned, by the lake and would visit his elder periodically whenever business allowed.

And today had to be one of those days.

“Well, grandson, Lucy...along with her assistant, is just getting the setting for the wedding in place. She has her entire crew here and it looks as if we are going to pull this thing off, eh, pumpkin?” Toni then turned to Shelly and they smooched.

Lucy could see the queasiness on Antonio’s face. Then the look on his face turned to a scathing one directed towards Lucy. He narrowed his eyes and walked closely towards her. Lucy felt the penetrating heat of Antonio’s gaze and it was making her feel weak in the knees. But somehow she just didn’t feel threatened. It wasn’t a look of hate, it was something else. Perhaps annoyance that she dared disobey his command or the raw hurt that a lover gives to his love when she was about to do something cruel. But the difference was that Lucy and Antonio were nothing more than acquaintances.

“Why don’t we all walk back to the house?” Toni suggested as he and Shelly proceeded towards the main house from the helipad. The ground crew appeared on the scene and tended to the chopper. It must have been for maintenance, Lucy noted.

What a way to live.

As they traversed back on the well-kept grass, Antonio strolled with sophistication, his hands shoved in the pants pocket of his suit. His friend flanked him and Maxine walked closely beside Toni and Shelly as she held her iPad up chatting to them about locations on the estate for the ceremony.

“So, I see you’re following through on my orders very well,” Antonio said through clenched teeth.

“I can explain everything,” Lucy offered softly. Her voice trailed off and she wondered if Antonio even heard her. The others were busy talking so they seemed oblivious to the vibes between her and Antonio.

After having refreshments in one of the main dining quarters of the house, Antonio, who had been quiet through most of the meal, got up. “Grandfather, I would like to speak to Lucy alone in the study, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, sure, Antonio. Is everything alright?”

“I have a few things to discuss with her. Things we’d spoken about last week.”

Maxine gave Lucy a peculiar look but his doting grandfather and his fiancée seemed unaware and carried on with their cuddling. “Very well. And Maxine?”

“Oh, I must be getting home.”

“But you don’t have a ride,” Lucy blurted out.

“We can have one of our drivers take her home. Or better yet, you can let her drive your car and I will take you home.”

“Sounds great!” Maxine enthused before Lucy could say anything.

Was it Lucy or was the heat climbing up in this place?

“Fine,” Lucy acquiesced. Great! Now she was at Antonio’s mercy and she had no other means to get home. But something told her Antonio wouldn’t leave her inconvenienced in any way. He seemed like too much of a gentleman to do so.

Lucy watched as Maxine departed the luxury living area and waved giving Lucy a salacious wink. Why that—!

It didn’t take Lucy long to realize that Maxine was thrilled she was leaving Lucy alone with Antonio. With the elder Romero gone to another part of the God-knows-how-large-this-place-was mansion, she was practically alone with Antonio, save for a few of the staff about the premises.

“After you,” Antonio offered as he directed Lucy down the tiled corridor. Artwork decorated the cream walls. She noted that the place had imported Italian molding top and bottom of the walls. It really seemed as if she were in some sort of museum. The place was quiet now, too.

They walked into the book-lined study. Lucy was in front of Antonio but when she spun her head around, she caught his salacious gaze that seemed to have fallen to her derriere. He didn’t even seem embarrassed when she caught him looking.

“So, you wanted to speak with me about your grandfather’s wedding?” Lucy cut into his gaze, feeling the heat rise to places in her body she wished it didn’t.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’m fine, thank you. I’m still sort of full from the pastries and that
delicious
fruit tray.”

“Will you be staying for dinner?” he spoke softly.

“I...” would love to. “I can’t. I have so much work in the morning and-”

“Very well. I won’t keep you too long then. I’ll cut to the chase.”

Oh, no. Had she offended him? She just refused to have dinner with one of the hottest, eligible, affluent bachelors in the world. Was she crazy? Foot-in-mouth disorder. Arrgh!
Stupid. You should have said hell, yeah! No wonder you are still single.

“You seem to have given my grandfather the impression that the wedding is still forthcoming, Lucy.” Was that a question or a statement? Either way, his rich, deep tone of voice—that silky voice and the way he said her name
Lucy
in a low timbre captivated her.

“Listen, Antonio. I have no disrespect for you but...” This was not going to be as easy as she thought. A lump as large as a boulder seemed to have lodged in her throat. Damn, why the heck did Antonio have to look so hot? She was burning from the sexy heat of his delicious gaze. Even his name Antonio Romero was seductive.

Antonio Romero. Antonio Romeo. Antonio Romero. Lucy Romero. Stop it!!

That irresistible scent of his sweet cologne tickled her nostrils and lulled her into a dizzying calm state. But it wasn’t just that. It was his aura. There was something about being in this man’s presence. Heck, even looking at his tall, muscular-built frame. His excellent physique and his skin! His skin was almost flawless. He was blessed with good genes and good bone structure. She again noted his high cheekbones and chiseled features. His beautiful large, dark eyes and softly defined lips. Oh, those lips!

Okay, I’ve so got to focus here or that’s it for me. Game over.

Lucy closed her eyes for a moment feeling utterly incompetent. Why was Antonio Romero having this crazy effect on her? This was absolutely insane. She barely knew the guy. But, oh, she wanted to know him better. Much better. Even biblically.
Stop it!

“Antonio,” she said almost breathless. “I realize how difficult this may be f-f-for you. We may not fully understand your grandfather’s happiness. But it is
his
to have...to decide on how he wants to be happy.” Oh, God! Why was she sounding like an incoherent idiot? “He obviously cares for Shelly. I want him to be happy.”

“You want him to be happy?” Antonio echoed. “You don’t know anything about my grandfather, Lucy. Loneliness and love are two completely different animals.”

“Loneliness?” Lucy repeated, incredulously.

“Yes, Lucy. My grandfather always had this fear of dying alone. Since my grandmother passed many years ago, he has been on a rollercoaster of indiscreet relationships and bad marital decisions. All of them ending bitterly in divorce. And all of them ending with my grandfather getting nothing but slapped with exorbitant spousal support. And what has he been left with?”

“A broken heart,” Lucy whispered, her voice trailing off. She swallowed hard. Her heart was pounding in her chest again. She could see raw hurt glittering in Antonio’s dark eyes. She really did not want to be responsible for Toni suffering more heartbreak, but on the other hand, what if this marriage did work out for him? But would young Shelly stick around for Toni until his final days, whenever that would be?

“Love is one heck of a ride, Antonio. It’s never easy. You never know how bumpy or smooth it’s going to be. You never know if you’ll have enough fuel to go the distance or if you’ll crash and burn.” Lucy bit down on her lower lip.

She noticed Antonio’s body language changed ever so slightly. He’d become more rigid. Then his eyes trailed to her lips. Damn! She must stop that awful habit of biting down on her lower lip. What must Antonio think of her? That she was some shy, awkward school girl who was indecisive?

“I like what you just said,” Antonio finally spoke in his deep, throaty voice. “It’s true.”

“I take it you’ve had your share of-” Lucy decided not to probe further. She thought it would be way too inappropriate at that time.