The Pretend Billionaire Groom: Finding The Love Of Your Life Series, #3

Chapter 1

TOMMY WAS WAITING FOR me at the airport when I touched down. He hadn’t been fooled by my false cheer and promises one bit—even from a thousand miles away. We didn’t say anything when we saw each other on the tarmac. He didn’t comment on my couture gown, and I didn’t mention the fact that he had what looked like a chewed-up cheerio in his hair. He simply opened his arms, and I walked inside, sobbing without restraint into his shoulder.

For a kind moment, the world seemed to pause.

Time had never been a factor with Tommy. And I clearly had no grasp of it now. We held each other like that for what felt like forever as the planes around us landed and took off again, completely unconcerned with the opinion of rest of the world. It wasn’t until I finally lifted my head, that he gave me a gentle smile.

Are you ready to go home, Rosie?

I had never been more ready for anything in my life.

I nodded tearfully, and he took my hand—leading me past the throngs of bustling passengers and out to the parking lot. I hitched up my dress and climbed into his car like someone finally coming to bed after an impossibly long day. My eyes closed as I breathed in the familiar smells of sugar maple and warm leather. The window was rolled down, and as I leaned my head outside, I was greeted with the blinding embrace of the Tennessee sun.

There it was. Home sweet home.

How’s Theo? I asked. Is he adjusting well?

Yeah, he’s doing fantastic. And he misses you like crazy.

Tommy flipped the radio on to full blast, and without a glance behind us, we pulled onto the freeway and shot off into the sun—leaving the entire, bloody mess behind us.

We stopped for tacos halfway there—rather baffling the roadside vendor with my extravagant attire—and exited the interstate about twenty minutes later. Both of us had determinedly avoided anything other than superficial subjects since we left. We slowed onto Main Street and I smiled. I couldn’t wait to get home.

I missed Theo, I said. Thanks for all the pics you sent me.

Tommy’s face gentled just hearing the name. Not a problem.

Is your mom watching him?

No, he’s with Lily. I raised my eyebrows and he chuckled. You’re not going to believe this, but she took some time off of work to help me.

Kind of like maternity leave?

He chuckled. Yeah. I couldn’t have done it without her.

I shook my head, staring out the window. Actually, I have no trouble believing that.

It’s been nice though—having the help. Tommy pulled off the main road and headed into the country with a thoughtful look on his face. Everyone is so quick to offer their advice, but not their actual time. Lily isn’t like that. She just rolled up her sleeves and dove in. Granted, she tried to claim parental rights in the process.

He trailed off, and I swiveled around in my seat to look at him. Here I was, wallowing in my own self-made tragedy, while Tommy’s life had been flipped upside down as well. And not with a twelve-month expiration date, but with a permanent, life-altering commitment.

I’m sorry I wasn’t here, I murmured, face flushing with shame.

What? he asked, rolling up the window so he could better hear me.

I wasn’t here, I said again, louder this time. The guilt settled hard upon me, and I dropped my face into my hands. The most important event in your life and the first thing I did was take off to New York. After marrying your nemesis. Perfect timing.

He shook his head quickly. Rose, that’s not what I meant about Lily—

I haven’t even held your baby more than twice, I exclaimed, my brow furrowing in self-disgust as I reached out and squeezed his leg apologetically. Tommy, I—

"Rose, enough. Really. A flash of sunlight shot through the car as he turned down his long driveway and parked under the shade of the trees near the house. I was the one who told you to go. Theo’s not going anywhere. Your thing was time-sensitive. I get that. Don’t worry about it."

He flashed me a sunny smile—simultaneously analyzing, understanding, and forgiving in a way that only Tommy Murphy could. I shook my head and offered him a shaky smile in return.

I’m still sorry. 

Of course you are. He shot me a wink and threw open his door, flooding the car with the sudden scent of wildflowers. You can make it up to me in babysitting. I want this kid growing up thinking I’m surrounded by a harem of women—it’s the only way he’s ever going to think I’m cool.

I snorted and followed him up to the house, trailing the hem of my gorgeous dress over the soft grass. A harem, huh?

You and Lily will do for a start.

And speak of the devil...

Before we even got to the porch, the door flew open, and Lily herself came rushing outside—a huge smile lighting her face, and baby Theo tucked snugly in her arms.

You’re back! she squealed with uncharacteristic brightness, tossing her dark bangs out of her face so she could take in the whole image.

Motherhood had obviously done wonders for Lily. There was a glow to her skin and an internal sparkle that was usually so tainted in sarcasm, it was hard to see.

Then the smile turned sly, and she couldn’t help but add, We’ve been watching your little debacle on C-Span.

A full two seconds of restraint. Had to be a McAllister record.

I do what I can to entertain, I grinned as Tommy and I jogged up the steps.

You’re not wearing the ring, she said.

Yeah, I gave it back. It just didn’t seem right to keep it.

You’ve got a good heart. Some women would’ve kept it.

You know I’m not like that.

And that’s why I love you.

I smiled.

My hands were just itching to hold the baby, but Theo only had eyes for his father. The second he saw Tommy, he reached out his chubby little arms with a squeal of delight. Tommy reached for him at the same time—like two magnets—kissing him swiftly on the forehead before palming him in one hand like a football as he automatically checked him over for any sort of damage. No scrape was too small to escape his attention, no bruise too faded.

Theo is amazing, Tommy said. He’s totally turned my life around in the short time I’ve known him. He gave my life new meaning. I can’t believe his mother won’t even see him. She’s ignoring all my phone calls, which is probably revenge for me ignoring hers. I really think Theo needs his mother and father in his life.

Give her some more time, I said. She’ll come around. She’s probably stressed and overwhelmed.

I don’t get how she can raise him all this time, and then dump him like she did. I could never do that, not ever. It’s cold and heartless. He sighed. And do you know what’s even more heartless? Her not telling me. If I would’ve known, I would’ve been at his birth.

Would you have believed her? I asked. You know how much she sleeps around.

She told me I was the only guy she’d been with that much, so she was sure it was mine. I would’ve been there on the chance it could possibly be my baby. And I know he’s mine. He has my bright blue eyes and looks just like me. Even my mom said there was no doubt that Theo was mine. She pulled out baby pictures and we looked identical. It’s uncanny. I gotta show you next time we’re over there. But my dad, he’s a different story.

Oh, as if we didn’t see that coming.

Exactly. He paid for a paternity test. We should get the results back in a few weeks.

The test will give everyone closure, Lily said. I think it’s a good thing. That way your dad won’t have any doubts in his head.

I agree. I want my dad to love his grandson without any reservations, ya know?

Tommy licked his finger and rubbed off something that turned out to be juice. I looked on in wonder, and behind his back, Lily flashed me a little smile. She was not the only one who had plunged full-force into parenthood. Theo held perfectly still during the examination—I suspected he had become accustomed to it—but his patience came at a price. He was obviously waiting for something, something that was making his toes wriggle with excitement.

The second the ordeal was over, his eyes darted up to Tommy’s where they suddenly locked—both pairs dancing with the same knowing grin. Theo squirmed and giggled with anticipation while Tommy abruptly pretended to lose interest. Then, with no warning, he tossed Theo up into the air high enough to send Lily and me into matching heart palpitations.

Tommy, don’t—

But Theo couldn’t have been happier. He raised his hands up to the sun with a feral scream of joy—claiming everything in sight. When he landed lightly in Tommy’s arms, he kept his gaze upward, preparing to take to the skies.

It was quite possibly the cutest thing I had ever seen, but babies are fickle and one time is never enough. When it became clear Tommy wasn’t going to do it again—Theo turned on a dime. His face soured immediately, and he grabbed little fistfuls of his father’s golden hair, ripping at it with all his might.

Setting those boundaries early, are we? I teased, following them inside as Theo shrieked in protest.

Tommy winced and set him down in a high-chair by the table, gently extracting his angry little fingers. "Man—he’s going to be strong. Maybe we should ease up on feeding him...save my hairline."

I sank into the adjacent chair with a smile, but Lily was scowling as she retrieved a jar of applesauce from the fridge and popped it into the microwave. He’s not a football, you know that right? You can’t just toss him around like that.

Tommy ignored this, fixating on the baby with an infatuated smile. He loves it. We’ve gone even higher before. But he got so excited one time, he threw up on my forehead. We’ve been pacing ourselves ever since.

I shook my head, unable to believe what I was hearing. When had this place turned into some kind of day care center? Had so much changed in just the few short days I was gone?

I just...can’t believe how well you two are settling into each other.

On the one hand, I wasn’t surprised. Despite being a reckless, adventuring hunk, Tommy had always been one of the gentlest, most thoughtful, selflessly-caring people I’d ever known. I just...had never imagined him applying all that to a child. Much less—his child.

Tommy ran his hand through his hair, extracting the cheerio in the process. I know, it’s a little bit scary. Actually, look at this! I already taught him a trick!

Lily yanked the sauce from the microwave with unnecessary force. And he’s also not a dog—

Quiet, Lil. Rose—watch! He turned to the child with an indulgent smile, tickling his feet to get his attention. Theo, show Auntie Rose your trick, okay? Show her what you can do.

Nothing happened.

Come on, he coaxed, lowering his head so they were at eye level. Just once, I promise.

For a baby, Theo was surprisingly expressive. He looked just as unimpressed with the request as Lily was, but in an act of supreme generosity, he held up his little hand.

Tommy tapped it with his and turned back to me with a radiant smile. Did you see?!

I blinked. Sorry—I thought that was the wind-up. What was it again?

Lily snorted in laughter, still rummaging around in the drawers for a spoon. Tommy, on the other hand, looked crestfallen.

It was a high-five! he exclaimed. A perfect high-five! You really didn’t see it?

Glancing back at where Theo was still raising his hand, it kind of looked like the kid was giving Tommy the finger.

"Oh—that! I said with false enthusiasm. Yeah I did! That was...awesome!"

The old Tommy could have spotted the lie in a second. The new Tommy was so full of pride, there was hardly room for anything else.

He does it almost every time, he said smugly. Here, watch—I can probably get him to do it again. Theo, show Auntie Rose your...

But Theo’s attention was focused on something else entirely. His sparkling blue eyes widened impossibly as they gazed around at the streaks of sunlight being scattered by my shimmering gown. The tiny crystals caught every last drop of the afternoon sun—painting it over the walls and dancing it in the eyes of the captivated child.

Thanks to the time difference, I had lived this sunset twice now. Both times in very different circumstances. Back home in Wessler, with my adopted family was one thing, but a part of me was still back on the steps of the Met, staring into a pair of heartbroken eyes.

My hand flashed up at lightning speed and wiped away an errant tear. Both Lily and Tommy saw right away, but I turned with deliberate attention to the baby, twisting this way and that to make the light beams dance across the wall.

He’s going to love you, Tommy said, watching as Theo reached out to me for the first time.

I took him without hesitation, bouncing him lightly on my hip as we rotated in a slow circle, pointing at the sunrays on the wall. He leaned forward to touch one of them and was highly disappointed that it didn’t feel how it looked. My dress itself, however, was a different story entirely.

Theo—no, Tommy chided, reaching out to take him as he started excitedly gumming one of my sleeves.

I laughed and shook my head, refusing to give him up so easily. They’d all had time to bond with this little guy. I hadn’t. I’d been worlds away—doing everything in my considerable power to get my heart broken.

Would you like it? I asked in a little coo. Would you like to have it?

At this rate, I should just weave the thing into strips and hang it from his crib like a little mobile. It was better than hanging it up in my closet—where I would see it every day.

Tommy and Lily exchanged a quick, worried look before he stepped forward and eased Theo from my arms. I’ve got to get him into a bath, then bed. He made a casual study of my face, before gesturing to