Chapter 2
"Of course you're going to say yes. Are you crazy?
The man is offering you a lifeline. A solution to the problems facing you.
He's Brant O'Keefe, multi-billionaire, not to mention a hottie.
The fact that you're sitting at my bar and nursing a Chardonnay instead of buying a dress for your wedding makes me wonder if you've hit your head on the way here.
" With an impatient flick of her wrist, Juliet poured the drink and handed it to the client before gesturing to the bartender to take over.
"He's Brant O'Keefe."
"Precisely." Coming around the oak counter, Juliet dragged a bowl of mixed nuts over and set it before them. "A man with an amazing amount of money that's been offered to you. Take it."
Indigo flipped the card between her fingers and stared at the name.
"He feels sorry for me."
"So?"
"I don't like people feeling sorry for me."
"Oh, for Christ's sake!" Juliet hissed. "The man has a need as well.
He wants something. He was the one who said it would be mutually beneficial, and even if that was not the case, he's offering you a way out.
You get to keep that beautiful store of yours and help that worthless human being who happens to be your brother.
You get a fabulous place to live. It's a win-win. "
"He's Brant O'Keefe," she repeated. "And men who look like him, who have his kind of money, get to choose their own wife. I'm hardly his choice."
"You're a beautiful woman. Any man would be proud to have you as his wife," her friend said firmly.
"I'm a size eighteen black woman with locks?
" She tugged at a coil that had escaped the intricate style she had it in.
"He's used to thin and stunningly beautiful white women.
I've seen him with tons of them. This is crazy.
He's going to regret it the minute we walk out of that courthouse or whatever. "
"He's an adult, and I'm sure he's capable of making up his mind."
"He has a mother."
"I'm pretty sure he does and did not drop from the sky." Juliet grinned when her friend gave her an exasperated stare. "What's your point?"
"My point is, what does she think of all this? Of this cold-blooded marriage proposal?"
"Like I said, the man is an adult, and depending on the relationship they have, he discussed it with her. And besides, be grateful she does not live with him. She doesn't. Right?"
Indigo shook her head.
"There you go. Problem solved. I had my husband's mother living with us for a couple of months, and I wanted to murder her in her sleep.
I think that was the beginning of the end for us.
" She reached across to touch her friend's hand.
"Pick up the phone and quickly say yes, before that gorgeous man changes his mind. "
It was done. Just like that. Within two weeks, she had gone from being Indigo Olivia Shepherd to becoming Mrs. Brant Jason O'Keefe.
They were married in a civil ceremony by a judge who was a friend of the family.
His mother and her friend Juliet were the only witnesses.
Before that, the minute she said yes to this crazy deal, things were set in motion, first by his fleet of lawyers who descended on her like carrion, with their thousand-dollar suits and shark-like smiles, carrying leather briefcases and explaining the prenup she had to sign.
She did not care and only listened to half of what they were saying. As Juliet had rightfully stated, this was her way out. She got to keep her store, with the option to purchase if she wanted and to expand. She had so many ideas, things she wanted to do but had not been able to.
Most importantly, she could move her brother into the fancy rehab that looked more like a country club than anything else and was assured he would be getting the best care.
It helped a lot that Brant had accompanied her.
They knew he was behind the entire thing, and he had mentioned the fact that she was his fiancée.
If the administrator was surprised that a man like Brant was marrying someone like her, the woman hid it well.
His mother, on the other hand, had not seen the need to be diplomatic. She had bluntly told Indigo what she thought of the arrangement.
"I tried to dissuade him from following through with it, but he would not listen. I think it's a mistake."
"I think so too." She had surprised the woman by agreeing. "But time will tell."
So, now they were at a fancy hotel, one that was owned by the family and being courted and catered to by the manager.
There would be no honeymoon, of course. She had business to take care of.
Her brother was already moved to the rehab center, but the Christmas rush meant that her store was going to be very busy and she had some buying to do.
She was also moving in with Brant this afternoon.
She had packed her things and would be swinging by her old place to pick them up.
The furniture would be put in storage, the ones Juliet had declined.
She would not want to take any of her stuff, well, except for a couple of lamps she had picked up at an auction and a padded chair that she had polished and revarnished a year ago.
Other than that, she was taking nothing except her clothing.
And his mother had quietly told her that she would be getting a whole new wardrobe.
"Whether or not this is a marriage of convenience, you'll be required to accompany your husband to functions.
" So that was that, of course. The woman intimidated her, and she wasn't easily intimidated.
But there was an aura of sophistication and power over her that was perfectly obvious.
Besides, she had that classic beauty that never fades with age.
Indigo had gone into her meager savings and bought a lovely teal blue pantsuit and teamed it with a blue and green silk scarf.
The suit flattered her full figure, and the color looked great against her caramel complexion.
She had reluctantly agreed to accept the gift from Juliet to go to a pricey salon uptown and was pleased with the result.
The black-owned beauty shop with its gregarious owner had cut and clipped her locks and styled them so that they framed her oval-shaped face.
Makeup had been complimentary, and the result was stunning.
But even so, Indigo could not help but feel gauche and awkward standing next to her husband's mother.
Husband! The word sounded weird and scary at the same time.
She was Mrs. Brant O'Keefe and was wearing the stunning square-cut set to prove it.
A sum of money, the amount of which had drawn a startled look from her, had been transferred into her account.
He had gone to the bank with her, and the manager, who had just recently told her an absolute no to her request for a loan, had bent over backwards to accommodate her.
The obsequious manner of the woman made her sick to her stomach.
And the way she fawned over Brant was positively nauseating.
"You don't like her." His observation had her glancing at him as they walked out of the building.
"She refused me a loan just two weeks ago."
He glanced back at the building. "You should have said something. Our bank is at Federal and Trust. We could transfer your accounts there."
"Oh, I like the idea that each time I happen to step inside this place, I will be revered."
The smile she threw at him had him staring. She had dimples, deep grooves in both cheeks, and her teeth were very white, drawing attention to a pair of provocative lips.
"You have a mean streak."
"Sometimes."
Now they were alone and driving into the cobbled driveway of his building.
"It was originally an abandoned warehouse," he informed her as he slid into park under a towering oak tree. "It's fairly isolated, and I liked the challenge of restoring it and turning it into a home. Shall we?"
She nodded and pushed open the passenger door of the vehicle, pulling the cashmere coat he had surprised her with at the courthouse closer as the wind blew through the trees.
"There's a lake around back and a gazebo.
You can take the tour one of these days.
" He keyed in his code. "I will write the password for you.
" He held the doors open for her to precede him into a lofty foyer with a concave roof.
Recessed lights shone on the golden wooden floor.
Instead of wallpaper, more paneled wood made up the walls, giving the place a stunning artistic feel. It also had an open concept.
To the left, there was the kitchen, the décor a stark black and white with gleaming modern appliances. "There's a housekeeper who comes in three times a week. I could have her come in more if that suits you."
"No." She shook her head. "I can manage."
He led the way from the kitchen to a sunken living room where a fire burned and wood crackled in the huge fireplace that took up an entire wall. Tilting her head, she followed the winding staircase up to the second level.
"I took the liberty of having them put your things in the cream and blue suite.
It's larger than the rest and has two bedrooms, a bath and a sitting room.
You can use one of the bedrooms for your home office.
Mrs. Holt, the housekeeper, came in while we were at the ceremony and unpacked the clothing from Romano's.
Would you like to go up?" He glanced at his watch.
"I have a call to make, if you want to make yourself at home. "
He touched her arm briefly. "And I do mean that, Indigo. For the time you're here, consider this place your home."
"Thanks."
With a brief nod, he turned and walked down the long hallway.
With a quick peek to make certain he was gone, she climbed the stairs and could not help trailing her fingers over the smooth finish.