Free The Billionaire's Convenient Bride: A BWWM Billionaire Love Story by Cj Howard

spell that had taken hold of him in the church was broken and he was somehow released, feeling more himself than he had during the ceremony, but the power of the kiss they shared haunted the edges of his mind all day as their guests enjoyed a luncheon with them, and a dancing party that lasted long into the night.
         At some point near the wee hours between yesterday and tomorrow, Peter stole his new wife away in a car and they left their guests with waves and kisses blown into the wind. The car took them to a yacht that was waiting on the great Mississippi River. They boarded it and the Captain began to sail it to the Bahamas where they were going to honeymoon, or at least have a nice vacation together.
         They changed out of their wedding clothes and Peter relaxed on the deck, watching the stars as they shone more and more brightly the further out to sea they sailed. Emmaline joined him after a while and sat beside him, enjoying the feel of the cool air on her skin.
         They were silent for a bit, and then she looked at him and said, “Well, it’s official.”
         He nodded and laughed a little. “It is. You’re chained to me for three years, and then you get parole.” He winked at her and she nudged him with a chastising smile.
    “We were convincing,” she said, looking away from him as she spoke. “I nearly fell for it myself!” she said in a teasing voice.
         He looked, but he couldn’t see her face for the dark night around them, and he wished desperately that he could. “Well, I had to make it real. I had to make it count,” he said, wondering what she was really thinking.
         “It counted,” was all she said in reply.
          He sat there a moment longer with her in silence and then found the courage to say, “Emma, I really appreciate what you did for me today. I realize what a huge sacrifice it is for you, and I want you to know that it isn’t going unnoticed.”
         “You’re making a sacrifice as well. No more women for you for a while unless you go out of state to find them. All for the sake of the project you want to do in the city. That’s a big sacrifice, too,” she stated, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
         “That’s true, that is a sacrifice.” He laughed at her, but then his tone quieted some and he said, “Yours though, seems bigger. I’m sacrificing regular intercourse with women I care nothing about. That’s not a big deal. You, you’re sacrificing the next three years of your life to live with me as my wife. That’s three years that you won’t be able to find your own Mr. Right, whoever he might be, and maybe get your own serious relationship going, maybe get engaged for real and get married for love. Perhaps have some children. You’re waiting for all of that just to help me out, and that’s huge. That’s the rest of your life on hold just for me.”
         “That’s a very thoughtful observation, Peter,” she said, looking at him in surprise. “I guess it is a big sacrifice when you look at it that way.”
         He looked over at her nonchalantly and hoped that his question sounded as nonchalant as he wanted it to. “What would your perfect guy be like?”
         Her laugh was a little too hollow. “Oh, I don’t know. Build him from the ground up?” she asked.
         “Yeah, build him from the ground up. Who is he?” Peter asked, grateful that she had put a sort of game-like spin on the subject.
         “He’s a good man. Generous and kind, with a gentle spirit and a good sense of humor. He’s handsome of course,” she giggled.
         “Of course.” He nodded back in agreement.
         “He’s honest and forthright. He could be evil, but he always chooses to be good. He is gentle and passionate, reliable and responsible. He loves to read and learn, he is a lover of classics and a lover of travel. He is adventurous and free spirited. He is selfless and devoted. He believes