Billionaire's Blackmail Bride: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ridge's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) (3 page)

Ridge shook his head. Now it was his turn to look at his brother
like he was slow. “Did you hear what I said?” he asked. “I already offered her money,
enough money to cover the cost of her research and her lab for more than a
year. She turned me down cold.”

“Not good enough,” Rafe said drily. “Give her an extra half-a-million
on top of that and you’ll be good to go.”

Not liking the sound of that, Ridge frowned. “I don’t know,” he said
slowly. "That smacks of all-out bribery.”

“So what do you call the offer you made her before?” Rafe shrugged.
“Same thing but with the extra mil you’re sweetening the pot. She won’t just be
covering her expenses. She’ll have some money to spend on herself.”

Ridge shook his head. “That would only make things worse. If you
knew Lani you’d have figured that out.”

“And that’s the thing,” Rafe said, getting up from his chair and
walking over to the big bay window. “I don’t know this Lani of yours. How come
I never heard about her before now?”

“Because,” Ridge said slowly, “she and I have never been…romantically
involved.”

Rafe’s eyes narrowed and he turned to face Ridge. “Then why the hell
do you want to get married to her?”

Ridge grimaced. He drew in a deep breath then let it out. “It’s hard
to explain.”

Rafe gave him an impatient look. “Try me.”

For a moment Ridge didn’t reply but then he decided to spill it. "Her
name’s Lani Donatelli. She’s a big-time research scientist who runs a lab.
Allied Labs, it’s called.”

Rafe looked intrigued. “Since when did you run in those circles? A
research scientist?”

Peeved by his brother’s disdainful tone, Ridge made sure to set him straight.
“We both happen to be members of the Houston North Academy school board. I fund
some of their extra-curricular programs and she’s their advisor for the science
programs. I’ve known her for almost a year.”

“And you’ve been lusting after her ever since, I bet.” Rafe was
grinning now.

“Why doesn’t your crudity surprise me?” Ridge shook his head.
“Anyway, the important thing is, I kind of like her.”

“Kind of?”

“Okay, I’m attracted to her. A lot. It’s just that she’s never given
me the time of day.” He sighed. “And it doesn’t help that we haven’t seen
eye-to-eye on a few issues being dealt with by the school board.”

“So you’ve been pissing her off, huh?”

“You could say that.”

Rafe chuckled. “No wonder you’ve had to resort to blackmail.”

Ridge gave him an exasperated look. “Yeah, well not all of us were
blessed with your gift of gab.”

“The ladies call it charm,” Rafe said, looking way too pleased with
himself.

Ridge didn’t bother answering that one. Instead, he went right to
the heart of the problem. “So what’s your suggestion, Mr. Expert? I called you
here for advice. Now give it.”

Rafe was smiling as he walked over and dropped back down onto the
chair. “You know what, big brother? It feels good to have you coming to me for
advice for a change. After all those years of you trying to bully me and boss
me around I’m in the driver’s seat now.”

“Trying?” Ridge scoffed. “I bossed you around because you were the
runt of the family and you still are. Don’t you forget it.” The kid had grown
pretty tall, topping out at six foot three, but he was still no match for Ridge
who bested him by an inch, not to mention forty more pounds.

“Yeah, but a runt who’s got the key to solving your problem,” Rafe
said, looking like he didn’t give a damn what Ridge had just said. “Right now
you’re desperate so I’m the one in charge.”

“Is that right?” Ridge regarded him with a cool stare.

“That’s right,” Rafe said, “so listen up.” He straightened up then
sat forward in his chair. “Now here’s what we’ll do-”

A call came over the speaker phone, cutting him off. “You have a
visitor, Mr. Kent.” His assistant’s voice came in, clear and crisp. “Miss Lani Donatelli.”

Surprised, Ridge glanced over at Rafe just as his brother raised his
eyebrows. “Bring her in,” he told Miss Poole.

“I think that’s my cue to exit,” Rafe said and got up out of his
chair.

“Wait.” Ridge got up, too. “What’s the idea you had for plan B?”

Rafe shrugged. “That’s irrelevant now. The lady’s already here.
Improvise.”

And with that he turned on his heel and walked to the door just as
it opened and Lani stepped in.

“Good day, Miss Donatelli,” Rafe said with a smile and a polite nod,
making her eyes widen in surprise. Then, before she could respond, he went
through the door and closed it firmly behind him.

Still standing by the door, Lani gave Ridge a look of puzzlement.

“My brother,” Ridge said then waved her over to a chair. “He heard
your name when Miss Poole announced you.”

“Oh.” Lani relaxed visibly. “For a moment there I thought you’d been
discussing me or something.”

Ridge cocked an eyebrow. “Now why would you think that?”

“I don’t know. I just…” She shook her head. “Anyway, that’s not
important. What’s important is why I came to see you.”

Ridge watched as she settled in her chair then, his thoughts racing,
he walked back to his desk but he did not retake his seat. Instead, he perched
his rear on the edge of the desk and as he stared at her he folded his arms.
“And why did you come to see me, Miss Donatelli?”

For just a fraction of a second tough little Lani looked hesitant,
like she was afraid to say whatever it was she’d come to tell him. But then he
saw her set her lips in a tight line and when she looked back at him her dark
eyes flashed and she did not drop her gaze.

“I came to see you, Mr. Kent, to tell you that I will marry you.”
Her brows furrowed and she raised her hand to point an imperious finger at him.
"But only for one year and not a day more. Do you understand?”

Ridge stared back at her, his look deliberately serious, but inside
he was laughing. The way Lani was talking anybody would think she was the one
in control of this situation. She was like a little terrier trying to assert its
authority over a Mastiff.

After staring her down for a few seconds longer Ridge gave her a
slow smile. “I’m glad you came around, Lani. Now go get yourself in order.
We’re getting married next weekend.”

CHAPTER THREE

“I’m still amazed. How did you pull this off so fast?” Marie Donatelli
straightened Lani’s veil one more time. “A full-scale wedding in two weeks? How
is that even possible?”

“I keep telling you, Mom, I had nothing to do with it. It was
Ridge’s team that pulled it all together.” She wrinkled her nose. “I guess all
things are possible as long as you have the money.”

Marie smiled. “Well, it certainly helps.”

“Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?” Lani’s words came out more as a grumble
than a compliment. It was so unfair. The money had come so easy for this event
– and Lani knew Ridge was spending thousands – but when it came to finding
money for research that could make a huge difference in people’s lives, she
couldn’t get any. Unless, of course, she married a man who was an expert at
working her last nerve. How she would survive a year with him, she had no idea.

Marie stepped back, her brown eyes glistening as she gazed at her
daughter. “You look so beautiful,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “The
perfect bride.”

Lani frowned. “Mom, are you crying? Don’t tell me you’re getting
emotional over this. I told you, it’s just an arrangement. We’ll be going our
separate ways in a year.” Then she gave Marie a cheeky grin. “Or less, if I’m
lucky.”

“I know your situation is a bit…unorthodox…but it’s a wedding. My
daughter’s wedding. I can’t help it if I get choked up.”

“Just try and hold it in,” Lani said drily. “Please.”

Marie sighed. “I’ll try, honey, but I’m not promising anything. You
know me.”

Lani shook her head but she didn’t answer. Yes, she knew her mother
well, like how she would tear up at the drop of a hat. Her mom cried over
commercials, for goodness sake.

“But do you know what?” Marie continued. “Maybe it’s a good thing
this is happening. You were always so focused on your studies and then on your
work, you haven’t paid much attention to your social life.”

Lani gave Marie a crooked smile. “You seem to know a lot about my
social life.”

“I do,” Marie said with absolutely no hesitation. “You’re
twenty-nine, Lani. It’s time you started thinking about your future.”

“I am thinking about my future. That’s why I work so hard.”

Marie gave an exasperated sigh. “Let me put this another way. It’s
time you started thinking about my future which, I hope, will include
grandbabies.”

Lani laughed. “Mom, you're asking for grandkids already? You’re only
fifty-five. You’re not like Dad, who’s already retired. You’re a busy woman.
Where would you have time for grandchildren?”

“Don’t you worry about that. All I want is for you to start thinking
about family. You’re not getting any younger. Remember that.”

Lani didn’t bother answering. It was no use reminding her mother
that this wasn’t a real marriage, only a temporary arrangement that would be
over in a year. When she’d first told her about it, instead of expressing shock
that her daughter would even consider such an arrangement she’d looked
relieved, like she was glad there was finally hope for Lani. At the news, her
father had simply shrugged and said, “You do what you have to do.” She had such
weird parents.

The only sane one had been her sister. Three years older than Lani,
she’d always acted like she was a surrogate mom, dispensing advice like it was
her purpose in life. Of course, she’d had lots to say about the ‘arrangement’.
She hadn’t liked the idea, not one bit, and she’d told Lani so. But Lani had
made up her mind and she wasn’t about to change because Paula said so. It
wasn’t like she ever followed her sister’s advice anyway.

And just as the thought crossed her mind the door swung open and
Paula stuck her head inside. “Come on, Lani. We’re ready for you. Dad’s already
at the front, waiting to give you away.”

Those words made Lani’s heart flip over but she straightened her
back and drew in a steadying breath. Then, as her sister held the door wide
open, she walked out.

“Well, here goes nothing,” she muttered under her breath. 

***

“You pulled this one out of a hat,” Ransom said, peering into the
mirror as he straightened his bow tie. “Where’ve you been hiding the little
lady?”

“Oh, around,” Ridge said casually as he relaxed on the sofa and
watched as his older brother finished his titivation then turned toward him.
“We’ve known each other about a year.” He wasn’t prepared to say much more than
that. He’d already spilled his guts to Rafe. He wasn’t about to give his other
brothers reason to start bugging him. Rafe was a risk-taker so he was cool but
Ransom and Ryder? Too uptight for anybody’s good.

Ryder, who’d propped his butt against the stool by the breakfast
bar, was watching Ridge with an amused smile. “I still can’t believe this is
happening. You’re such a joker, when you told me you were getting married in
two weeks I thought this was one of your usual pranks and I told Mom so. Boy,
you proved me wrong this time.”

“And nearly gave Mom a heart attack in the process,” Rafe said with
a chuckle. “For days she was running around like a chicken without a head.”

“But I told her I was handling everything,” Ridge said. “It wasn’t
like I needed her help in planning this thing. I had my team taking care of
everything.”

“Yeah, but you know Mom,” Rafe said with a shrug. “Everything’s got
to be just right.”

“Miss Perfectionist,” Ryder said in agreement. “But it’s a good
thing, since Dad’s such a sloppy organizer.”

Ransom smiled. "Opposites attract.” He jerked his chin toward
Ridge. “That the case with you and Lani?”

Ridge grimaced. “Maybe. She doesn’t seem to find my jokes all that
funny.”

“Jokes,” Ryder asked, his tone skeptical, “or pranks?”

Ridge shrugged. “Whatever.” But then he thought about it. “It would
be kind of great if she had more of a sense of humor.”

Instead of agreeing, Ransom shook his head. “Be careful what you
wish for. You just might get it.” Then he jerked his head toward the door.
“Come on, guys. Time to go make a good man out of this beast.” And, not even
waiting for them to make a move, Ridge’s best man strode out of the suite,
leaving the rest of them to follow.

Later he made up for his nonchalant behavior, though. As Ridge stood
at the front of the church waiting for his bride, sweat beading his forehead
and his upper lip, it was Ransom who dabbed his face with a folded
handkerchief. He even whispered a few supportive words that helped Ridge calm
down a bit.