Marrying My Best Friend's Sister: A Billionaire Enemies to Lovers MC Romance (Secret Love) by Nikki Bloom (free ebook novel .txt) 📗

“I just found out today that it would be a good idea to get one. Sue me, I was focused on my work record and ability to make money for these guys. Not my social life.”

“Hmm.” I considered him, and then looked away. A thought had occurred to me and I didn’t know where it came from. Certainly not my rational mind. It must have been a chocolate high confusing my brain.

Too late, my brother had noticed. “You thought of something. Come on, Nico, share with the class. What’s that big brain of yours come up with?”

I was already shaking my head but Morgan was a bloodhound. “Come on, girl, tell.” He squeezed my hand, looking eagerly at me. Even Domenic looked interested.

“Hey…” He held out his hand, palm up. “If it makes you feel better about helping me, consider it a paid consulting position. Give us your idea and we’ll pay you for it.”

Well…that’s awkward.

My idea only occurred to me because I’d been reading Khal Drogo and Khaleesi fanfiction. It was a modern AU where Khaleesi married Khal Drogo to save her business. I couldn’t tell them that of course because they’d laugh me out of New York but there were similarities. Domenic needed someone to be a respectable bride by his side. I supposed I could fit the bill. And being married to the Domenic Cliff might just be what I needed to tip the scales in my direction with this grant.

Win-win.

Now how to put that in a way that doesn’t sound totally bonkers or straight out of a romance novel? I looked into Domenic’s hopeful eyes and just knew in my gut that he would think I was in love with him or some shit like that if I opened my mouth.

I leaned back and forked another piece of chocolate cake, dripping with chocolate cream; an orgasm in my mouth just waiting to happen. Shaking my head, I stuck the fork in my mouth.

“I can’t.” I avoided both their eyes as I focused on the chocolate melting on my tongue.

3

Domenic

I reached into my jacket pocket and extracted my checkbook. Signing it, I passed it across the table to Nicolette. “There, blank check. Name your price.”

Her cheeks were rosy as if she was embarrassed and I looked to Morgan for guidance, but he looked just as perplexed as me.

“Nico?” His voice was soft and gentle. Coaxing. I got to my feet.

“Here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna go to the john and release the hostages. You can discuss whatever it is with Morgan and if he thinks it’s a good idea, he can tell me about it. How about that? Does that work?” I didn’t know why we had to baby the idea out of her like this, but after all this drama, it’d better be a good one.

She nodded, her cheeks getting rosier, and I took off, feeling extremely bemused. I couldn’t resist one last look before disappearing into the men’s room. Nico and her brother had their heads close together, talking quietly. Morgan’s eyes were wider than usual as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I looked around, wishing there was a plant near our table I could hide behind and eavesdrop like a Disney villain.

Sadly, there were none.

I shrugged inwardly and went to the men’s room since I really did need to use it.

What could it be that’s so embarrassing?

Biting my lip, I tried to imagine. Whatever it was, the build-up excited me enough that I was looking forward to finding out. Morgan wasn’t kidding when he said Nico had big brains. By the time he was able to get custody of her, she’d missed a bunch of school thanks to her deadbeat stepfather and still, she ended up valedictorian at her graduation.

Morgan had been so proud of her.

To be honest, I was pretty proud of her myself. Nicolette was nothing if not a fighter.

Which made me even more curious about what could make her blush the way that she had. Whatever it was, I would definitely try it out for sure.

I got back to the table to find the siblings avoiding each other’s eyes. Naturally, my curiosity intensified. “Well?” I was jittering like a crackhead, eager for someone to explain the awkward silence.

Morgan lifted a hand as if in surrender. “I’d like to go on record as saying, this is a bad idea.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “But…?”

“But…” He sighed, his whole body deflating. “It’s also brilliant.”

I made gimme gestures with my hands. “Tell me, tell me, tell me.”

Morgan leaned forward with a sigh. I swear these two knew how to stretch out that suspense. Nico was looking anywhere but at me. “So, Nico’s idea is that we can have an arranged marriage-”

“Well, duh-” My heart was sinking with disappointment at the predictability.

“-between you and her.”

I blinked a few times. “W-what?”

Morgan took a deep breath. “It’s actually brilliant because obviously a man in your position, you need somebody you can trust to not only keep your secrets now but even after the marriage is annulled or whatever. Being that close to you, man…” He shook his head. “That was my main worry. That you’d get some Amber Heard wannabe who would destroy your life. But this way, you marry Nico, you both get to focus on changing the world in your own different ways.”

I swallowed, still unable to process. “A-and this was your idea?” I pointed at Nico just to clarify that it was she –my nemesis– that we were talking about.

She took a deep breath and bravely met my gaze. “I can relate to how difficult it is to get a foot in the door, especially when you don’t have the right last name or come from the right background. This isn’t just me doing you a favor. I have my own battles to fight and being your wife would take me from