Claiming My Bride of Convenience

As if I was anything of the sort. I shook my head, putting my plate and cup down, my appetite vanished. If he meant what I thought he meant, there was no way I could agree. No way I could let myself even consider it—because after that kiss, part of me was dangerously tempted.

‘However “real” you want to make this marriage, Matteo, I’m not interested.’

‘Are you sure about that?’

‘Yes, very sure.’ I stood up, clutching the dressing gown around me. ‘I never should have come here. I was very happy with the way things were. Are.’

Matteo cocked his head, his gaze sweeping slowly and thoroughly over me. ‘Were you really, Daisy? Because I don’t think you would have gone to such lengths to find me if you were.’

I opened my mouth to say something but no words came. He was right, of course. The desire, the need for a husband and family of my own, was as strong as ever—but it was one I’d just have to live with. I’d lived with it this long already, and who knew? Maybe one day I would find that Mr Right Matteo had scoffed about, even if in my leaden heart I doubted he existed.

Even so, Matteo Dias was too dangerous for me to tangle with any more than I already had. He was especially dangerous when he wanted something, and I realised right then how lucky I’d been, how safe, when Matteo hadn’t been thinking about me at all.

‘You grew up with your grandmother, did you not?’ he remarked suddenly, and my mouth opened again—this time in shock.

Speechless, I stared at him. ‘How did you know that?’ I finally managed.

‘I did a bit of research last night.’

‘Now who’s stalking?’

He shrugged. ‘It is always useful to be informed.’

For what reason? And why on earth had he changed his mind about all this? I was afraid to ask, to know.

‘Yes, I grew up with my grandmother,’ I told him shortly. ‘My mother died in a car accident when I was a baby and my father was never around.’

‘So you’ve never had any real family?’

His assessment was brutally to the point. ‘My grandmother was my family,’ I protested, although I wasn’t sure why.

My granny had done her duty, but it had not been tempered with much love. She’d been tired, broke, worn out from working her fingers to the bone cleaning other people’s houses. I could hardly blame her for not wanting to take on a baby at her age, or for not having enough room in her heart to love me the way I’d ached to be loved.

‘But not much family,’ Matteo said quietly, watching me. ‘Not the kind of family you really want, I think, because that’s what has motivated you to find me, isn’t it? Not so much wanting Mr Right as being Mrs Right? The mother.’

I gaped at him, shocked at how he’d cut to the heart of it. Of me. How had he discovered so much, so quickly? And not just the bare facts of my upbringing, which I supposed were easy enough to dig up, but the desires of my heart that I’d spoken of to no one. It unsettled me and touched me in equal measure that he saw those. That he seemed to understand them. And I knew the latter reaction was far more dangerous than the former.

‘So what are you suggesting?’ I asked hoarsely.

I couldn’t make myself say the words, but Matteo said them for me.

‘We’ll have a family together,’ he said. ‘A real family, and a real marriage.’ His smile widened as he held my gaze. ‘We’ll both get what we want.’

* * *

Daisy stared at me, her face draining of colour, her body lost in that enormous robe. I waited, sure she’d see the sense in my plan. How could she not?

I’d spent most of the night considering it in all its detail, as well as considering any potential objections Daisy might have—all of which seemed negligible. She wanted a family, a baby, and she would get one. And I would get what I wanted...an heir and an end to this restless ache. My convenient wife made just a little bit more convenient.

‘Well?’ I asked when she simply stared at me, her face very pale. ‘What do you think?’

‘What do I think?’ she repeated, the last word ending in a yelp. ‘I think you’re crazy, Matteo Dias. And I think I will respectfully and firmly decline your offer of a real marriage, thanks anyway.’

With that she whirled around and stalked back to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

That was unexpected. I sat there for a moment, sifting through her words in my mind, trying to discern what was really bothering her. Daisy wanted a baby, she’d already reconsidered the annulment, and she was most certainly attracted to me—something I would happily prove to her again, and with ease. What on earth could her objection be?

Fighting irritation at her theatrics, I stood up and strode to the door, annoyed to find it locked.