Backup Wife

By Bethany Lopez

USA Today Bestselling Author Bethany Lopez brings you her break-out series about getting a second chance at love later in life. Follow Whitney, Summer, Margo, Charlotte, and Andi as they experience the good, bad, and ugly of dating again in their thirties and forties. Join them in The Jilted Wives Club.
When your first shot of love curdles, switch to a nice Cabernet.
Charlotte never imagined she’d be a single mom in her thirties. With a fulfilling job, a sweet toddler, and a supportive family, she knows she should be counting her blessings, but it feels like something is missing... her.
Although he and Charlotte made a marriage pact when they were teenagers, Damon always knew he’d never get married. An architect and artist, his life is full, and there has never been room for more than casual affairs. But lately, he’s felt like something is missing.
When they find themselves alone in Italy, the food, wine, culture, and gorgeous countryside become the backdrop of a passionate affair. In the midst of finding themselves, they found each other.
But when reality sets in, can they make this vacation romance into something that lasts, or will they be left with nothing but memories and a nice cabernet?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Mar 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781954655126

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

Chapter 1

Charlotte

THE PAST

Iwas hiding in the attic, my favorite spot in the house. I’d found old blankets and pillows and shoved them into the corner under the small circular window, and I’d go up there whenever I had the chance to read or write in my journal.

Sometimes I’d draw, but I wasn’t very good at it.

Other times, like today, I hid up there because I was feeling sorry for myself and simply wanted to be alone.

Being eighteen was hard as it was, but when your high school boyfriend dumped you in front of the entire football team during the homecoming game, it was brutal.

Loud male voices began to get closer, and I cursed the fact that my younger brother, Luca, had decided to use the attic as his hangout too. It was hard to find space to be alone with me, Luca, and our older brother Vanni all vying for privacy.

Luca and Vanni shared a room, and we all shared a bathroom. Three teenagers in one bathroom. Ugh.

What are you doing up here, Char? Luca asked when he saw me in my corner.

Damon, his best friend since forever, was trailing behind him. They were a grade younger than me, but I had to admit, Damon was hot. It sucked that he was my younger brother’s best friend, but that didn’t stop me from daydreaming about him every chance I got.

We’d known each other for so long I hadn’t immediately noticed his change from annoying boy who put frogs in my face, to cute with a head of floppy hair, to finally a tall guy with a sexy smile and really nice biceps.

I’d gone from wishing he’d go away to wondering what his lips would feel like on mine.

"I was enjoying the peace and quiet," I replied.

You have your own room … why do you have to be up here all the time? Luca complained. It was a constant argument that he and Vanni had.

And my reply was always the same. Because my room is basically a closet. Up here I can stretch out … plus, I found it first.

Luca rolled his eyes. Whatever, just stay out of our way.

"You stay out of my way," I shot back.

Want a Coke or something? Luca asked Damon.

Sure.

’Kay, I’ll be right back. Just ignore her.

I went back to reading my book, pulling the throw blanket up a little tighter as I tried to pretend Damon wasn’t there.

This became impossible when he moved closer and sat down beside me.

Hey, he said softly.

Damn, he smells good.

Damon wasn’t usually quiet. In fact, he was one of those popular guys who always seemed to have a spotlight on him whenever he walked into the room.

His tone had me looking up from the book I was pretending to read.

"Hey," I replied.

I saw what happened…

My face became hot with embarrassment. "Of course you did … Everyone did."

I’m sorry. Johnny’s a jerk. You can do better.

My eyes filled at the memory, and I lifted one shoulder in response, trying to play it off.

Maybe. I don’t know. Right now, it feels like I’m the laughingstock of the whole school and no guy is ever gonna give me a chance again. Not after Johnny told the whole school I’m frigid.

Can I tell you a secret? Damon asked.

I looked up into his handsome face. Still slim with youth, but I could see the potential and knew when he got older, he was going to be even hotter than he was now. And that was saying a lot.

Sure.

Luca and I caught up with Johnny after the game.

I sat up straighter and asked, What happened?

Luca punched him in the nose, Damon said with a grin.

Shut up, I said, pushing him slightly.

He laughed and righted himself.

He did. He was so pissed after what Johnny said, and although I knew Luca could get in trouble for it, especially if your parents found out, I figured Johnny deserved it.

I can’t believe Luca did that, I said.

Of course he did. He’s your brother.

Yeah, but he messes with me all the time, I argued.

It’s different when someone else hurts you. Especially like Johnny did.

Warmth flooded me at the knowledge my brother defended me. Even if physical violence was wrong, like our mother said constantly, it felt good to know Luca had my back.

Do you really think I can do better? That this thing with Johnny will blow over? I want to get married and have kids one day, and I don’t see how that will happen if all the guys think I’m frigid.

You’re not frigid, Char. You just haven’t met the right guy. You need someone who loves you for who you are and treats you like a princess. Don’t settle. There’s no rush, Damon said, and I thought I’d never heard him sound so sweet.

That’s easy for you to say. All the girls in school would die if you asked them out.

"Not all the girls," Damon said, his gaze seeming to try and convey something I didn’t understand.

Most of them, I countered.

What do you say we make a pact? he suggested, and I found myself momentarily lost in his eyes.

What kind of pact? I asked.

If neither of us are married by the time we’re thirty-five, we’ll marry each other, Damon said, and my stomach dipped down to my toes.

"What, have you been watching My Best Friend’s Wedding or something?" I joked, convinced he couldn’t be serious.

What’s that?

I stared at him. Only one of the most popular movies ever made.

You know I don’t watch a lot of TV.

I shook my head and asked, "So, what? I’d be like your backup wife?"

And I’d be your backup husband, he replied. That way, we still have time to have those kids you want, and we don’t have to be alone.

Thirty-five seems really old.

It is, but that gives you time to find a man who deserves you, and if you don’t, I’ll be there to be your backup.

What if you meet someone else first?

Damon shook his head. I’m not getting married. Then he glanced at me and amended, Unless it’s to you.

I stared at him, not sure if he was messing with me or being serious.

What do you say? he asked, holding out his hand.

I looked down at his hand, then back up at his face. He seemed sincere, so I placed my hand in his and shook.

It’s a deal.

What’s a deal? Luca asked as he crossed the attic and handed a Coke to Damon.

Nothing, I told my brother.

Damon stood up and said, Yeah, we were just messing around.

They went to the other side of the attic, partially hidden by the beams, leaving me alone once again.

So, was Damon being serious, or just joking? I wondered, then shrugged and went back to my book.

Chapter 2

Damon

S o, how are things in your world? I asked Luca. It had been a couple weeks since we’d seen each other, which wasn’t unusual now that he was married to Whitney. It was weird to think of my best friend as a husband and stepfather, but it was a good look on him.

I’d never seen him happier.

Good. Busy. How about you? he asked, picking up his menu, even though he almost always got the wagyu burger.

Still flying high from my show, I said with a grin as I remembered the night. I’d almost sold out of all my paintings, and it had been my first show. I’d been afraid of putting myself out there for so long that it felt great when it was a success.

You should be. Whit loves the one she bought. She looks at it every night before we go to sleep and as soon as she wakes up. She says it calms her.

I simply grinned at him, not wanting to come off as pompous or conceited, but it was a really nice thing to hear.

He glanced at me thoughtfully and asked, Did you ever hear from your parents on why they didn’t make it?

The joy within me soured a bit, but I just shrugged half-heartedly and said, "You know them … Mom said they were busy, and it wasn’t their kind of thing, but what she really meant was they think art is a waste of time and energy. You know they never wanted me to focus on my painting. … You need a real job to make it in life."

That was a direct quote. One I’d heard a million times over the years.

I’m sorry, man, that sucks. I keep hoping they’ll come around, Luca said with a frown.

That’s because your parents are the best. They’d never not support you, Char, or Vanni, no matter what. And they were there for me, too, so that’s all that matters. Even if I can’t count on my own parents, I know I can always count on yours.

This had been true since the first time Luca had brought me home with him after school in elementary. I’d been welcomed and immediately adopted into the family, and they’d been filling the void my often cold, and distant, parents left in me.

What can I get for you, gentlemen? Jennie, our waitress, asked with an easy smile.

I’ll have the wagyu burger with cheddar, medium well, and the crinkle-cut fries, I said, giving her my most charming grin and a wink.

Jennie and I had hooked up a couple times, but always kept it casual. Now she was in a serious relationship, and I couldn’t be happier for her. She deserved to be with someone who wanted to settle down and have a family, and that would never be me.

Well, at least not with anyone but the one I’d made a promise to.

She blushed a little in response then looked at Luca, who said, I’ll have the same.

I don’t know why you bother to look at the menu, I joked as Jennie left us to go place our order.

Luca shrugged. You never know when something will jump out at you and make you change your mind.

Hmmm, I replied noncommittally, my mind still on my last conversation with my mother. I shook my head, willing the thoughts away, and asked, So, how’s Char holding up? Nigel the narcissist still being a jerk?

Luca’s brow furrowed at the mention of his ex-brother-in-law.

I should have gone with my gut the first time she introduced us to that ass-hat. Maybe if I’d spoken up, she wouldn’t have married and subsequently divorced him. I could have saved her years of misery.

Nah, then she wouldn’t have Sky, and we both know how much you dote on her.

Luca’s face cleared at the mention of his niece.

"Did I tell you she asks for me now? I want Unca Luc … Charlotte says Sky’s driving her nuts asking for me."

What is she now? Two? I asked. Even though I’d been to her birthday parties it was still hard to keep up, especially with the way people always seemed to count kids’ ages in months. Drove me nuts.

Twenty-seven months, Luca said with a smirk.

"Asshole," I muttered. Of course, my friend knew all about my pet peeve and used it whenever possible.

Luca chuckled and said, To answer your question, Char’s doing good. Exhausted, but good.

Working too much? I asked.

Yeah, full-time work and single mothering takes a lot out of her. We all try and help out whenever we can, but I can tell she’s tired. We all keep telling her to take a break, but I think she feels like doing so would mean Nigel was winning in some way.

Has he visited Sky at all?

Luca shook his head.

What a miserable excuse for a human being. I’d always hated the guy, but some part of me had always assumed it was due to who he was married to, but, no, turns out he’s just a horrible person and a shit father.

Char says his family has reached out … They’d like to get to know Sky and spend time with her, even if Nigel doesn’t.

How does she feel about that? I asked, knowing how protective Charlotte was of her daughter.

She’s worried, of course, but also wants Sky to get to know the other half of her family. And Nigel’s parents were always good to her. Still, it’ll be hard for her to be apart from Sky if she agrees to her going for a visit.

How’s everything with Whitney and the kids? I asked as our food arrived.

As we dressed our burgers, Luca regaled me with tales of family life, and I couldn’t help but feel a little niggle of regret about my own life. Sure, I had a great career and was