Baby for the Billionaire(82)

She paled. “My father. He has no idea I even work for you. What am I supposed to tell him about our marriage?”

“Tell him it was love at first sight.”

“He’ll never believe that.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

“He just won’t,” she argued. “He knows me. He knows I’m not the type to fall for someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” He wondered if he sounded as offended as he felt.

“Rich. Powerful.” She regarded him impatiently, refusing to reflect even a modicum of nervousness at his reaction. “It’s too fast. I’m a cautious type of person.”

“What’s really going on, Annalise?”

Her chin shot up. “You once told me your father taught you to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Well, mine taught me not to make rash decisions. Just as you’ve taken your family motto to heart, so have I. My father knows I wouldn’t marry someone I’ve only known for a couple of weeks.”

“Then you’ll have to find a way to convince him that you’ve made an exception this one time.”

She spun away, turning her back to him so he couldn’t read her expression. “Dad agreed to captain a charter into the Caribbean for the summer. It may take a while to track down his boat and get word through to him. This is something that needs to be done in person. When he does get in touch, I’ll do my best to convince him it’s a love match, but I suggest we come up with an alternative story. Because I guarantee we’re going to need one.” She faced Jack once again. She’d gathered up her self-control and hid every scrap of emotion behind a calm expression. “How will your father react to our marriage?”

“I guess we’ll find out when it hits the newspapers.”

Her air of calm evaporated. “You’re not going to tell him yourself?”

He bared his teeth in a grin. “Trust me. It’ll be more fun if we do it my way.”

He didn’t give her time to argue the situation. Instead he dropped her and Isabella off at an exclusive little boutique with instructions to the proprietor to dress his bride-to-be in the most romantic gown available, and to make sure that his niece wore something that matched. The blank check he offered to make certain everything was completed on time ensured satisfaction on behalf of both parties. Much to his private amusement, he left Isabella glowing and Annalise glowering.

The next morning Derek had surprised him by showing up on his doorstep with Taye McClintock in tow.

“What the hell …?” Jack greeted his two best friends with a broad grin.

“Fine greeting that is,” Taye griped. “I fly in all the way from Singapore—”

“I thought you were in Paris.”

“That was last month.” Taye paused, and his angel’s face assumed a wicked expression. “Doesn’t really matter, does it? I couldn’t miss your wedding, could I?”

Jack spared Derek a brief glance. “You told him?” he asked.

“About the wedding, yes.”

“About the reason for it, no,” Taye contributed with the comfortable brazenness of an old friend. “But I can make a fairly good guess. And I’m guessing that it has something to do with Isabella and that ongoing fight you’re having with CPS. Am I right?”

Jack started to agree, then for reasons he didn’t dare analyze, he hesitated. “Isabella’s part of the reason,” he grudgingly admitted.

He couldn’t explain his reluctance to go into the finer points, but suspected it had something to do with Annalise. Even though Derek had drawn up the prenup that spelled out every last detail of their forthcoming marriage, he felt a bone-deep urge to protect his bride from his two best friends, which struck him as vaguely ludicrous. Even so, he didn’t want them to think she was marrying him for financial gain, mainly because he knew that wasn’t her true reason. Like him, she was simply putting Isabella first, and that fact had to be protected and celebrated.

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “Well, well. Who’d have thought?”

“Thought what?” Jack asked defensively.

“That the great Jack Mason has been brought to his knees by his nanny.”

“Stuff it, Fletcher. It isn’t like that.”

“Huh.” Taye appeared intrigued. “I think it’s exactly like that. I don’t doubt Isabella is a big part of the reason for the hasty marriage, but I think you have a thing for your bride-to-be.” Before Jack could argue the point, he added, “But, the more interesting question is why the hell would she marry you, Mason?”