The Marriage Trap

Chapter Five

They were in trouble.

Michael flanked the door and greeted a long line of relatives he hadn’t seen in months. He’d suspected the intimate dinner party that was no big deal would end up in a disaster. Well, not as much for him as for poor Maggie. His famiglia flocked around her with a noisy affection they only reserved for blood. Cousins brought spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, and all the bambinos. Close neighbors and some women who’d hunted him for years showed up to check out their winning rival. For him, it was a typical evening at his mama’s house.

For Maggie, it must be hell.

He shook his head and tried hard not to laugh. She stood trapped in a corner with some of his female cousins, her cinnamon-colored hair a bright beacon in a room filled mostly with olive skin and brunettes. Her dress was short and flirty, the skirt flouncing above the knee and showing off a pair of endless legs that begged to be wrapped around a man’s waist. Bright red and yellow splashed over the delicate material and made her easy to spot in the thronged mass. Her height had always been impressive, but she matched most of his cousins with her three-inch red sandals. Something about her shoes turned him on like no other woman’s shoes had. Almost as if her lust for sexy, come-get-me heels confirmed her inner hellcat.

He refilled his wineglass and chatted with old friends as he kept an eye on her. He expected a chilled politeness that would put off his affectionate family, but each time his gaze snagged her, she was laughing or listening intently to the many stories regaling her ears. Fascinated, Michael inched toward her.

Sure, he knew she was socially professional and relaxed in work settings. He just didn’t expect her to be so open in her ruse. Her childhood bespoke a cold familiarity, and she radiated a distance that was part of her core. Hell, she wore it like a cloak, which he spotted the moment she walked into the restaurant to meet him for their blind date. But something felt different tonight.

He studied her as his uncle Tony talked shop with him—problems with suppliers and increased rent and the possibility of owning properties. He nodded, listened with half an ear, and eavesdropped on his fake wife.

“How did you do it?” his cousin Brianna whispered to Maggie. She reminded him of when people dropped their voices automatically to say such words as “cancer.” The question still sounded as harsh as a gunshot. “Michael has avoided marriage forever. He has a reputation, you know.”

Maggie’s lip twitched. “Really? What type of reputation?”

Brianna looked around and leaned in. Michael hid behind the breadth of Uncle Tony’s back. “He loves the chase. Seems he likes to seduce a woman—the bigger the challenge the more skilled he becomes in gaining her affection. Then, as soon as she gives in, wham.”

Maggie drew back. “Wham? What wham?”

That whisper again. “He leaves her flat. Heartbroken, seduced, and abandoned.”

Anger cut through him at his cousin’s impression. Dios, did he ever get a break? He never led a woman on, yet his reputation preceded him all the way to America. Nick had informed him many times of the murmurs of his prowess among women and how he’d once been concerned Alexa would fall vulnerable to his charms. Michael took another casual step in and listened for her answer.

Maggie clucked her tongue. “How horrible! Maybe that’s why he married me, then. How strange.”

Brianna widened her eyes. “What’s strange? Tell me. We’re family now—your secrets are safe with me.”

Maggie took a deep breath and looked around as if worried who’d overhear. Her whisper was as soft as his cousin’s. “I refused to sleep with him until he married me, of course.”

Michael choked on a piece of bruschetta. When he recovered, he looked up to find Maggie’s mischievous grin, followed by a wink. She touched Brianna’s arm, then turned on those sexy heels, and her skirt flipped, showing off a perfectly curved backside. He clenched his jaw as the sudden want clawed at him. He imagined sinking his teeth into her firm flesh and taking a succulent bite. The echo of her cry as he held her down and pleasured her misted his vision. When he resurfaced, Uncle Tony still droned on, and Maggie had moved to the other side of the room.

What the hell was he going to do about her?

More important, what was he going to do about his sudden need to claim the woman who pretended to be his wife?

Something was wrong with her.

Maggie nibbled on salty prosciutto from the antipasto, drank her wine, and mingled. In only twenty-four hours, she’d experienced every event she always avoided and despised.

Long, chatty conversations focused on weddings and girly talk. Check.

Cooking and chopping and ruining her perfect manicure. Check.

Dealing with mother-in-law and sister-in-law and cousins all prying into her personal life and making judgments. Check.

So why wasn’t she running from the room in terror, like one of those idiots in Scream who saw an obscene white mask?

Maybe because she knew it was all fake?

Had to be. There was no other rational explanation. Other than with her brother and Alexa, she didn’t do family functions. She cooked on her terms, when she thought it’d be a fun distraction. And she never had to deal with a flock of females who giggled and asked a billion questions. She was used to silence—had lived with it most of her life—and had little experience with such open affection.

Yet, they all welcomed her into the fold wholeheartedly. All of his sisters were so different, yet Maggie actually liked them. They were real. His mother never laughed or criticized as she taught her to make her first homemade pot of gravy. A tiny part of her flamed to life, a part she was ashamed to admit she owned. What would it feel like to have so many people love you no matter how many mistakes you made?

Her gaze caught on Venezia wrapped up in her fiancé’s arms, laughing at something he said. Their connection burned from across the room, and the adoring expression on Dominick’s face smashed straight through the gut with one pure emotion.

Longing.

Maggie swallowed past the lump in her throat. As horrific as their ruse was, somehow it felt so right once she saw the couple together. Nothing should stand in their way—especially an ancient custom. What would that feel like? To have a man look at her with such possession and love? To belong to a person who actually gave a damn?

She pushed the question from her mind and made her way back to Michael. Time to get her head back in the game. He stood next to a very attractive man with burning blue eyes and scruffy facial hair. Thick, jet-black waves of hair spilled over his forehead. Crap, the man was sex on a stick, and she briefly wondered if he was a model. Carina stood with them, her head tilted up as she gazed at the stranger as if he were the sun and the only element that stood between her and a cold, frozen death.

Curious, Maggie eased her way into the inner circle to stand by Michael.

“Maggie, there you are,” Michael said. “Meet my friend Max Gray. He’s been like a part of our family for years, so I consider him my brother. He works for La Dolce Famiglia as my right-hand man.”

Max the sex god turned his piercing eyes on her and smiled. Laugh lines carved the edges of his mouth. She blinked at the sensual aura coming at her like jet propulsions. Oddly, she didn’t feel the burn of connection she experienced with Michael, but more of an aesthetic pleasure from such a visually stunning creature. She offered her hand and he shook it with a firm grip.

Nope. No sparks at all. Thank God. Maggie pitied the woman who fell in love with this man, doomed to walk in his shadow forever.

Then she realized Michael’s little sister had the bug.

Bad.

Carina had not yet reached the age where she hid her emotions. Still caught halfway to a full-grown woman, her face reflected a longing that broke Maggie’s heart and filled her with fear. Her past rocketed toward her with the dim memories of the girl she’d once been. Before her innocence and belief in happily ever after was ripped from her.

Poor Carina. If she had a thing for Max, she was doomed to experience a broken heart.

“Where have you been hiding her, Michael?” He glanced between them with a hint of curiosity and something more. Suspicion? “Here I am thinking of you as my best friend, yet I didn’t have a clue you two were involved. When Page Six doesn’t break the news about a hot single billionaire in New York getting hitched, something’s up.”

Oh yeah. Max definitely believed her to be a fortune hunter.

Michael snorted. “Seems the magazines are more interested in you than me, my friend. And I thought the last time we compared notes, you beat me by almost a million.”

“Two.”

“Ah, but you are not a count.”

“That Swiss blood took me out of the running, I guess. But I still own more land.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you both whip it out and I’ll tell you who’s bigger?”

Michael shot her a look. Carina clamped her hand over her mouth.

“If my sources are correct, you’re keeping your own secrets,” Michael said. “What’s this in the gossip columns about you dating royalty? Italian descent not good enough? You need a blue blood to satisfy you?”

Max shook his head. “Serena accompanied her father on a business trip and is keeping me company. She’s an heiress to a fortune, and not really royalty. Her papa would rip me apart—I’m not worthy enough to marry into that family.”

Carina blazed with fury. “That’s ridiculous! Anyone who marries for money instead of love deserves unhappiness! You’re worth more than that.”

Max put his hands to his chest. “Ah, cara, will you marry me? You are a woman after my own heart.”

Carina turned beet red. Her lips trembled as she searched for words. What a mess. In love with her brother’s best friend who was years older, and trapped in a girl-woman’s body as she lusted after someone she couldn’t have. At least, not yet.

Maggie opened her mouth to divert attention, but Michael dived in for a belly flop. He chucked his sister under the chin, his indulgent smile like that of an adult to a toddler. “Carina has many years before she can be serious about a man. She will be stepping into her rightful position in the bakery and will finish her business degree. Besides, she’s a good girl, and you, my friend, only date the bad ones.”

The men laughed, neither realizing the expense of their joke.

The color drained from Carina’s face, and she lowered her head. When she stuck her chin back up, she blinked back tears of rage. “I’m not a child, Michael,” she hissed. “Why can’t you both see that?”

She turned and ran from the room.

“What did I say?” Michael asked. “I was only teasing her.”

Max looked just as lost.

Maggie let out an irritated sigh and gulped the rest of her wine. “You two boneheads really did it this time.”

“Did what? Her behavior is irrational and rude to our guests. I meant no harm.”

Max shifted uneasily. “Should I go talk to her?”

“No, it’s my responsibility. I will talk to her.”

Maggie shoved her empty glass into Michael’s hands. “Ah, hell, stay out of it. You’ve done enough. I’ll talk to her.”

Michael’s face reflected skepticism. “Darling, you don’t have much experience with young women. Sometimes she needs a firm hand to see reason. Maybe it will be better if I get Julietta.”

Maggie somehow doubted his business-minded sister understood Carina at the moment, either. Once again, his tone pissed her off, basically telling her she was incapable of handling another situation. In the past twenty-four hours, the man had insulted her career, her cooking, and now her social methods. She forced a sweet smile that almost gave her a cavity. “Don’t worry, darling.” She mocked the endearment in a private manner he understood immediately. “I’m going to give her some good news to make her feel better.”

“What news?”

She stared up at the twin gorgeous men before her and gave a wicked smirk. “I’ll fix her up on a blind date. With someone hot.”

Michael’s face darkened. “Absolutely not. My baby sister is not experienced with dating.”

“That’s exactly why this will be perfect for her. See ya.” She added to the insult by raising herself on tiptoes and placing a kiss on his lips. The tiny zing between them distracted her for an instant but she ignored it. “Let’s not argue on our honeymoon, love, when we can concentrate on other fun activities.” She gave Max a wink, then strolled away, making sure to swing her hips as she felt his gaze on her rear.

Maggie held back a laugh. Damn, some of this was fun. Challenging his wit and bullheaded ways gave her some benefit. She made her way upstairs and searched for Carina’s room. Let Michael stew with that disturbing idea for a bit. She’d confess later she didn’t even know a suitable boy to set Carina up with. Unfortunately, her mouth got her in trouble again and she still needed to try to speak with Carina. She certainly had no experience with female advice. What could she possibly say to make her feel better?

Maggie sighed as she stopped behind a closed door and heard muffled sobs. Her palms were sweaty so she rubbed them on her skirt. Ridiculous. If Carina didn’t want to talk to her, she’d just hang here upstairs for a bit so Michael would believe they’d shared a conversation. She raised her hand and tapped on the door.

“Carina? It’s Maggie. Do you want to talk for a bit, or do you want me to go away?” Yep, she was a coward. A good advisor would demand she open the door for a talk. A few beats of silence passed. Relief caved through her so she turned to go. “Okay, I understand, I’ll just—”

The door swung open.

Ah, crap.

“Why doesn’t anyone understand I’m a grown-up?” the girl burst out.

Maggie paused in the doorway, tempted to run, but Carina stepped back and made room for her so she walked in.

“Because your older brother will never accept it,” Maggie said easily. She took in the pink walls, fluffy stuffed animals, and lots of lace. Yuck. Something told her Carina kept the room like this to please others and not herself. The canopy bed looked soft and inviting, but held a quilt of various butterflies that made it seem childish.

Definitely a young twenty-three. Maggie doubted she’d ever dated, especially with Michael in charge. She stopped at the back of the room where a few stairs led down to a separate space that looked as if it could have been a playroom at one time. This area had a different feel to it, with blank canvases, paint, and an array of artists’ tools. Various watercolors in vivid colors drew her attention, and clay models of embracing lovers lined the shelves. Hm, interesting. This seemed more of a fit for Carina than the main area.

“I hate my life.” Misery etched every feature of her face. She flopped on her bed as more tears leaked from her eyes. “No one understands or lets me make my own decisions. I’m not a baby anymore, but my life is already mapped out for me.”

Maggie mentally berated herself for getting into this mess with a girl she barely knew and a situation she couldn’t fix. “Um, how so?”

Carina gulped. “I’m only allowed to date boys my family approves of. Not that any boys have ever asked me out. I’m ugly and fat.”

Maggie let out an exasperated sigh. “That’s stupid. Your body is naturally curvy. You have breasts. Have you seen your sisters? They may be rail thin, but their boobs are flat as pancakes.”

The girl’s eyes widened in shock, and then an actual laugh escaped her lips. “Maybe. But boys like thin. And my hair looks like I stuck a finger in a socket. My lips look puffy and swollen and stupid.” More tears and another gulp. “And Michael says I have to help Julietta at La Dolce Famiglia, but he never asked me what I want! I wanted to go away to college but he made me study at the university. Now I have to get my MBA and then do a long internship. Why can’t I go to America and work for him? Nothing’s fair!”

Maggie shook her head. Geez, the dramatics in this family were off the charts. She sat gingerly on the bed and let Carina cry it out. She searched desperately for all the right things a mom or Alexa or Michael would say. Ah, the hell with it. At this point, Maggie figured she couldn’t make it much worse.

“Okay, babe, sit up.”

The girl swiped at her cheeks and obeyed. Those lips she hated pursed, and Maggie bet one day Max would be seeing a whole new persona of Michael’s baby sister. But not now. Not yet. Carina needed some time to find herself and be comfortable in her own skin.

“I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but life sucks.”

Another faint smile. At least she humored the girl.

“Look, I know we don’t know each other well, but let me tell you what I see. Max is smoking hot and you’re crazy about him.”

Carina’s mouth fell open. Her skin flushed bright red. “N-n-no, I don’t—”

Maggie waved her hand in the air in dismissal. “I don’t blame you. The problem is you recently passed legal drinking age. You’re practically jailbait to a thirty-year-old man.”

“What’s that?”

“Hm, never mind. I mean, you’re too young for him to see you as a woman yet. That may change, but instead of spending the next few years not living and waiting for him to notice you, you need to get out and live a little. Find out who you are. Then everyone will see you as your own person.”

She looked so bleak and hopeless, Maggie’s heart tore. God, she remembered how it felt, how confusing life was. But Carina had people to guide her, people who loved her, and Maggie hoped it made the difference. “How do I do that? Look at me. I’m a mess.”

“Do you like studying business in college?”

“I don’t mind. I’m very good with numbers—one

of the few things I can do well.” Her chin tilted up

stubbornly. “But it would be nice if someone asked my opinion.”

Maggie laughed. The girl had spirit. She’d need it. “Business and accounting aren’t bad degrees to get. You can do lots of stuff with it and meet new and interesting people.” She pointed to the art room at the back. “Is that your painting?”

Carina nodded. “Yeah, I like to paint, but I don’t think I’m good.”

Maggie took in the stark images of faces in different emotional turmoil. With a critical eye, she noticed the sweeping lines of the brush, the vivid expressions pulling the viewer in, and the beginnings of real talent. “No, you’re good,” she said slowly. “Don’t ever give up on the art. Take some classes on the side to nurture your talent, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Get it?”

Carina nodded, seemingly fascinated by her new sister-in-law.

“Michael has your best interests at heart, but as an older brother, he’s always going to suck at this. You’re going to need more of a backbone to let him know what is and is not acceptable.”

Her eyes widened. “But whatever Michael says is law,” she whispered. “He’s head of the family.”

“I’m not telling you to disrespect him. Just be clear with communication. Try.”

“Okay.”

“As for Max, maybe one day things will change. Until then, you need to concentrate on other boys.”

“I told you, boys don’t like me.”

Maggie shook her head. “You’re not presenting yourself to your full potential.” The invitation hovered at the edge of her lips, but before she could swallow the words Maggie sealed her fate. “Why don’t you come with me to my shoot this week?”

The girl studied her with suspicion. “Why?”

Maggie laughed. “I’ll give you a makeover. Show you the world of photography and introduce you to some of the models. It won’t fix your problems, but maybe you can see how other people view you. You’re beautiful, Carina. Inside and out. You just need to believe it.”

As she said the words, Maggie suddenly fought back tears. What she would have given for someone to say those words to her. Would it have made a difference? At least she had an opportunity to tell another young girl, whether or not it made an impression. Disgusted with her burgeoning emotions in the past twenty-four hours, she tamped down her silliness and stiffened her spine.

“You would do that?”

“Sure. It’ll be fun.”

Carina threw her arms around her in an all-consuming hug.

A beat passed before Maggie hugged back, then pulled away awkwardly.

“Thanks, Maggie. You’re the best sister-in-law in the world!”

“I’m your only sister-in-law, babe.” Guilt pricked her conscience. It was one thing to pretend to be Michael’s wife, but another to actually form an attachment to his family. She regretted the invitation immediately but it was too late to change her mind. Maggie rose from the bed and walked toward the door.

“Grazie!”

“Prego.”

She shut the door behind her. Oh, boy. Michael was going to be pissed.