Baby for the Billionaire(2)
He’d always considered Isabel his mother. She was elegant, charming, loving, and quite formidable when riled. She’d been the only mother he’d known—until his real mother had started turning up during his childhood, causing havoc.
“Isabel and I have agreed to disagree. She knows my feelings on this, and I’m not about to change my mind. It’s too important to me.”
Nick swore. “Dammit, I’m not marrying some woman just to satisfy your perverted sense of power.”
“Then Matt gets the estate.”
His stomach tightened. “Matt won’t want it once I tell him what game you’re playing.”
Cesare took a sip of his coffee before putting the cup down on the table. “Then I’ll have to sell, won’t I?”
Nick swallowed hard. His father thought he had it all figured out, did he?
“Just who the hell am I supposed to marry anyway? Should I just pick a woman from my Rolodex?”
“Sasha Blake.”
Nick’s brain stumbled. He hadn’t thought about that name in years … hadn’t thought about her in years … hadn’t thought about that kiss.
Well, rarely.
“She isn’t in my Rolodex,” he snapped, not wanting to think about her at all. That kiss had been a minor lapse in judgment.
“She’s perfect for you.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
Displeasure furrowed Cesare’s brow, then cleared. “You’ll see. Once you marry her you’ll—”
“I’m not marrying her, Dad.” If he was getting married—and he wasn’t saying he would—he’d choose the woman. “Besides, isn’t she in England?”
“No, she’s back. She’s an interior designer now, and I’ve asked her to redecorate this house.”
The surprises just kept on coming, didn’t they?
“This place is fine the way it is.”
Cesare considered him. “You’ve always loved it here.”
Nick shrugged. “It’s home.”
“And that’s why I’m offering it to you.”
“But only if I marry Sasha Blake, right?”
“It’ll be good to join the two families. Porter and Sally Blake have been our friends for years.”
“I’ve never trusted Porter.” Sally was a nice enough woman, if a little too submissive.
“Forget Porter Blake. It’s his daughter you’re marrying.”
“I’m not marrying anyone. Period.”
There was a small pause. “Sasha will be here tomorrow morning checking things while we’re in the city. It might be a good time to talk to her.”
“No.”
His father went very still. Then, “I think Matt will be more than happy to change the whole look of this place, don’t you? And Sasha must have some innovative ideas she’s picked up from living in London.”
Nick swore. “Why are you doing this, Dad?”
Cesare looked at him, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “I’ve had one heart attack already. I want to see you married before I die.”
“It was a mild heart attack,” Nick rasped, remembering.
“And the next one may be fatal, figlio mio,” son of mine, he said, lapsing into Italian.
Nick felt an inward shudder at the thought and knew his father had him right where he wanted him. He could fight Cesare on everything but this. That heart attack had really shaken up the whole family, and he wasn’t about to be responsible for any further attacks.
Marrying to please his father may sound ridiculous in this day and age, but he’d been raised with strong family values. He’d do what was necessary.
But did it have to be Sasha Blake of all people he had to marry?
A shapely female bottom and matching long legs in white trousers greeted Nick when he opened the front door to his parents’ house the next morning. They belonged to a gorgeous female figure standing in strappy sandals on a chair near the staircase.
At least they were until the woman turned, saw him and gave a squeal of fright, then started to topple off. He raced forward and caught her as she fell back into his arms.
For a moment she stared up at him. “Nick?” she whispered, almost as if his name was a secret.
He looked down at the beautiful blonde and wanted to lie and say no, he wasn’t Nick. And he’d never kissed her either. Nor did he want to again.