Chapter 0015
Chapter 0015
Layla
“I need to ask you a favor.” I hated the words even before they’d left my mouth. Hated thinking them. Hated that I’d cornered Marco in the break room of the hospital to ask this of him.
Marco was a nice guy; everybody knew it. He was one of the most well–liked doctors at the hospital, and here I was, taking advantage of his kindness and perpetual willingness to help.
Marco turned from the coffee maker, set a hip against the countertop. “What’s up?”
“I um…” My fingers drummed the counter, and I stared down at them, soft and white against the purple laminate. “This is gonna sound so weird, but I need you to pretend to be Eli’s father.”
“What?” Marco’s brows turned upward in confusion. “Why would-”
“Just for a little bit. To um …” But how could I explain it? That I was trying to throw Eli’s real father off the scent because–surprise!—he was actually the Don of the most feared and powerful Mafia family in New York?
No, pretty sure I couldn’t say that.
“Just need to maintain appearances for a while,” I finished lamely.
“All right.” Marco nodded, and I felt my jaw drop in surprise. Just like that? He’d agreed to it?
“It’ll only be temporary,” I assured him. “I’m not trying to rope you into anything shady.”
He laughed, and that bright and beautiful smile quickly reminded me of the other reason he was the most popular doctor at the hospital. Marco was undeniably attractive. His sunshiney smile and easy laughter had caught the eye of just about every woman–doctor, nurse, or patient–in the hospital.
Aside from being a bit of a playboy, Marco was just about the perfect man. With a strange pang in my chest, I couldn’t help but think that he reminded me of the Vasco I’d known eight years ago.
But compared to the Aldo I’d met last night, this smiling gentleman was his complete opposite.
“You don’t need to explain,” Marco said, his smile fading with his gentle words. “We’re friends. Friends help friends. Whatever you need, I’m there for you.”
My thank you caught in my chest, and my eyes felt strangely damp. Me. I didn’t cry, hadn’t cried for eight damned years, and I wasn’t about to start now.
I was stronger than that.
“In fact,” Marco sipped at his coffee, “I think we’re off at the same time today. If you need my acting skills, I’m free.”
I laughed, driving back any lingering pangs or wayward eye moisture. “I don’t think-
“Aw, c’mon.” Marco grinned, showing off straight, white teeth. “It’ll be fun.”
Fun? I wasn’t sure I’d go that far, but maybe he was onto something. Marco stopping by the estate to visit Eli would certainly sell the story of his paternity, right?
And it had nothing to do with wanting Vasco–Aldo–to see me with another man.
Nothing.
“Well, all right. You can come by the place where I’m staying after work?”
Chapter 0015
Marco smiled wider. “I’m all yours, love.”
+25 BONUS
Marco followed me back to the Marcello estate in his sleek Porsche. As I guided my own Mercedes along the quiet suburban streets of Also’s neighborhood, I wondered if Marco would even be allowed past those imposing front gates.
Had bringing him here been a mistake?
But surprisingly, we were stopped at the end of the driveway for only a handful of minutes before the gates opened and the guard waved us through. Carlo met us at the front door.
“Dr. Bennett.” He opened my door for me, and an unfamiliar man in a suit slid behind the wheel, presumably to park my car in the garage. “Mr. Marcello has permitted a meeting in the guesthouse around back.”
“Oh. Um. Of course.” I tossed an apologetic smile in Marco’s direction, but he was too busy staring at the estate soaring up over our heads to notice. Guess I couldn’t really blame him.
Carlo led the way, Marco following in my wake. The guest house was a two–story brick affair, larger than my townhouse, with impressively wide windows and an oversized front door.
“I’ll get Eli?” Carlo asked as he swung the door open.
“Please.” I stepped into a large, clean foyer. “That would be great.”
Carlo vanished, and Marco appeared in his absence. That wide white smile bloomed across his face again, and he lifted a bouquet of flowers between us. Carnations and roses.
Today’s Bonus Offer
