Falling for You

By Danielle Taylor

Julia Burns can't remember a day in her life when she didn't have to work. So the ad in the paper sounds perfect to her - even if she does have to marry a complete stranger.

Nicholas Steele isn't used to being around people since the accident that left him d

• Language: English
• Publisher: Writend Publishing
• Release date: Jul 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781785201400

Book preview

1

The small leather box clasped between her clammy palms jostled when the vehicle exited the highway and bounced over the uneven pavement of the off-ramp. Julia Burns flashed her exhausted eyes wide, letting the unfamiliar setting wash over her while her mind stumbled over itself, her thoughts an absolute mess and her pulse tripping wildly to match.

Do you think he’ll even like me? Julia wondered aloud, leaning back in the passenger seat with her lower lip sucked between her teeth. I mean, do you think I’ll be ‘acceptable?’ She used her hands to air-quote, clutching the box in her right hand with her free fingers.

The driver, a man in his late fifties who introduced himself as Charles when he picked her up early this morning, glanced her way before responding in his proper English accent. In my opinion, miss, no other woman alive is as perfectly suited for this position as you are.

Though his words stunned Julia into momentary silence, they also helped her to relax, just a little. You really think so? I mean, I know it won’t be real, but…well…I-I uh, I’ve never done anything like this. I don’t know how I should act or what I’m supposed to say to him, you know?

Do not worry, Miss Burns, all you have to do is accompany Mr. Steele to various functions and live in the house. The rest of your time is yours alone and you may do with it as you please.

It doesn’t really seem like a fair trade from where I’m sitting, she sighed, watching the trees pass by out the passenger side window.

Oh?

Julia slapped a hand over her mouth so she’d keep from laughing at his way of asking-without-asking what she meant. You know, that all I have to do is marry a stranger and I get a bunch of perks. If not for this opportunity, I would be stuck back…

She swallowed back the slimy, awful taste rising from her stomach. Charles had seen exactly where she’d been living when he picked her up early this morning.

Ah, not true. He slowed the vehicle and pulled up to a gate. It opened when he waved to the guard. You are giving Mr. Steele precisely what he needs so that his father will quit hassling him to go out and find a wife.

Her eyes were drawn to the impressive sprawling mansion at the top of a long stone driveway. The grey stone and white wood complimented each other fantastically, as did the arched windows and carved pillars. The house seemed to go on forever, stretching further than she could see.

A magnificent garden curved with the front of the house, lilies interspersed with bright jade shrubs expertly trimmed and sculpted. Julia had never seen a dwelling so spectacular, in photographs or with her own naked eyes.

Lovely, isn’t it? Charles parked near the large white double doors. Mr. Steele designed and built the house himself, the gardens too. You should see the main garden in the back. Plenty of space, and there are two pools.

Two pools! They definitely wouldn’t have gross dead bugs and small animals floating in them. When was the last time she had even been swimming? She couldn’t recall.

Speechless now, Julia nodded and stepped out of the car. She looked around but didn’t see anyone who fit Nicholas Steele’s description. Surely he would come out and greet her, wouldn’t he? After all, she was going to marry the man. The agreement had already been made, sight unseen. All of the paperwork signed and dated by his lawyers. Now all she had to do was show up and say ‘I do’.

Tomorrow.

A sudden wave of uncertainty crashed over her and Julia grasped the vehicle to steady her trembling frame. The realization of her future was like a slap to the face. A loveless and, most likely, childless marriage, in exchange for a lifetime of financial comfort.

Not that she had much experience in the romance and physical love department. And, since she grew up being shuffled from foster home to foster home, emotional love was something she had never known. Perhaps the Jane Austen romances were better left for books.

Miss Burns, follow me and I’ll show you to your room.

She looked up to see Charles standing at the open front door with two maids both holding her luggage. When she tried to carry them herself, Julia received a lecture in her new post. Just another thing she had to get used to – people whose job it was to serve her. The very idea made Julia cringe.

While they led her through the house, pointing out various rooms she needed to know, the kitchen and dining rooms, library, games room, among others, Julia considered what she might do with herself every day. Charles made it abundantly clear during the three hour journey to her new home in Southgate, Ontario, from the town of London, that she was free to do whatever she wanted as long as it did not threaten the integrity of Mr. Steele or their marriage.

As a child, she longed for a home. A permanent place to call her own and a family who would love her unconditionally. When it became clear that would never happen, Julia resigned herself to more practical dreams. Such as finding someone to spend the rest of her life with, having her own family.

At twenty-six, she hadn’t even managed to secure her first boyfriend so she doubted the rest would follow.

So, to focus on what she could do, Julia decided that the first chance she got, she wanted to enroll in a college or university course. Though what that course or program might be, she didn’t have a clue. There was plenty of time to figure that out after tomorrow. She had the rest of her life in front of her now to make those decisions.

Here we are. Charles stood at the entrance to her new room. Once Lisa and Nikki finish putting your things in your room I will assist the dressmaker with your fitting. In the meantime, why don’t you go and freshen up? You have got about ten minutes or so. He motioned to an open door.

Awestruck by the sheer size and luxurious elegance of the room, Julia merely nodded and allowed her feet to move of their own accord to the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she slumped against it with a sigh.

Even the bathroom was bigger than any room she’d ever been in before. Not only did it have a gigantic bathtub, sitting on an angle in the room with a tap that looked like it was floating, but a walk in shower with seats inside.

Sheesh, Julia breathed, taking it all in. This room alone contained the most expensive and luxurious decorations she’d ever seen and it was all hers.

A sharp woman’s voice brought her back from daydreaming. Julia found a plain white slip hanging on a hook near the door and a note pinned to it explained that she should put it on for her fitting. As part of her wedding contract, she was measured so of course they would know what size to get.

She splashed some cold water on her face and dried it off with a towel that felt like silk – not that she would know. Julia hadn’t ever touched silk. Until she fingered the slip. Yup, the tag said one hundred percent silk.

Stripping out of her jeans and t-shirt, she pulled the slip from its hanger and nearly moaned at the feel of silk against her skin. No wonder people made such a big deal about it. The stuff felt amazing!

Her attention went to the full length mirror that hid behind the slip where it hung. Were her eyes deceiving her? No, she definitely looked that awful. How could Charles think she was good enough to marry Nicholas Steele? He picked her, out of what she could only assume to be millions of applicants.

Using the elastic from her wrist, Julia tied her hair back and pinched her cheeks a few times. Maybe she should start wearing make-up. Before, there weren’t enough hours in the day for her to spend time getting dolled up. Now, she had all the time in the world.

Well, that’s as good as it’s going to get, she supposed, pushing the bathroom door open.

2

In the short time she spent in the bathroom, the bedroom had been transformed into a tailor’s workshop. Yards of fabric rested against every possible surface. A pedestal stood in the middle of the room and on top sat a pair of glittery, white high-heeled sandals. Beautiful, delicate.

Everything that she wasn’t.

Ah, you must be Julia. A woman descended on her like a tornado. Congratulations on snagging one of the richest men in North America! I’m Ruth Kowalski, it’s a pleasure to meet you.

Why would someone congratulate her for marrying rich? What an awful thing to think, or even say! Despite her trepidation, Julia smiled to the older woman, noting her perfectly styled glossy auburn hair and that her knee-length sapphire dress had not a single wrinkle.

She accepted Ruth’s outstretched hand when she reached the other woman. You too, and thank you for agreeing to make the dress on such short notice.

They don’t call me ‘Bridal’s Best’ for nothing! Now get your ass up here, put these shoes on, and stand still so I can get this dress made. We haven’t got much time.

Stunned, she did as she was told, standing on the platform with the shoes she would be wearing for her wedding while Ruth took more measurements. Next, the assistants brought up different fabrics and held them to her body while Ruth examined them, searching