Marrying Andrea: The Russo Family, #2

By Milly Murphy

Lola Thomas has recently broken up with her long-time boyfriend, Travis, and isn't looking for love. When Lola's mother decides to sell the house and move out of town, Lola is left with nowhere to go. 

Andrea Russo has no desire to get married. He's been single his entire life and intends to keep it that way. Secrets of his past prevent him from ever settling down. Until he finds out his mother is terminally ill and she has one wish. For him to fall in love.

He has the perfect woman in mind to act out his mother's wish, and Lucy can't say no to a free place to stay. But will the chemistry get too much for both of them? Will the act become a reality?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Milly Murphy
• Release date: Oct 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215502150

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Lola was close to tears as she watched her best friend Ella walk down the aisle toward the man she loved. It had been a hard week, watching her friend almost lose the only man she had ever wanted, but seeing them together now, it was all worth it.

Leonardo went out of his way to make this day perfect for his bride. Flying all of Ella’s friends and family to Ireland to get married in the Seane church her grandparents had was so thoughtful. Usually, Lola was cynical about such things, yet she couldn’t help but smile.

Well, that was until she looked over Leonardo’s shoulder at the best man’s arrogant smile.

Andrea Russo was very handsome, very confident, and nothing like his uptight cousin. A man like Andrea should come with a warning label, and Lola knew better than to get involved with him. His almost black eyes watched her, and when she made eye contact, he winked at her.  She frowned, shaking her head in disbelief.

She’d come into contact with him a few times and knew from previous experience that he was a player. The first time they met, she wasn’t aware of his relation to Leonardo and had almost made a massive mistake with him. Her friend Ella had gone missing in a nightclub, and Lola had just broken up with her boyfriend. She went looking in places that she shouldn’t have to find her friend.

Lola knew it had been a stupid idea to let herself past the barrier in the club and through a door that was marked 'off-limits.'

However, she also knew Ella and Leonardo had gone up the stairs. She didn’t know through which door. And after her row with Travis, she couldn’t get in a cab with him.

He’d told her he was getting in the ambulance with Stefan, and Lola said she was going to head straight home with Ella. But when she’d looked around the dance floor, she saw Travis hitting on some raven-haired beauty who looked horrified by the drunken man's advances.

The fact she didn’t care that he was doing it spoke volumes about how she felt about him. She had been lying to herself for so long about her relationship with Travis, convincing herself that it was better to stay together despite the lack of intimacy between them and the virtually separate lives they led.

Travis was close to tears when she confronted him, telling her it was her fault because she’d neglected him, and he resented her for the indifference she felt about him. She blamed his addiction to porn and talking to girls on social media. Perhaps he was in the wrong, or maybe she was. It didn’t matter anymore. As far as Lola was concerned, it was over between them.

She had left him outside to come back and find Ella but somehow had walked in on what could be the start of a soft porn movie.

One of the doors she had opened in the off-limits area led to a cramped office without any windows and a dark-haired man sitting on the other side of a small desk.

Lola walked closer, about to apologize for the intrusion, and ask the man if he knew Leonardo Russo.

Between his legs, she saw the waves of dark hair being stroked by the man's hands, urging the woman's slow movements up and down.

That should have been her cue to leave. But neither the dark-haired man nor the slim topless woman on the floor even noticed Lola, standing open-mouthed as she took in the scene in front of her.

The man took a deep breath, and his head fell back before he let out a deep sigh.

When Lola used to go down on Travis a long time ago, he wouldn’t have even lasted a few seconds, this man had restraint, or he wasn’t enjoying it.

Stop, just stop, it’s not gonna happen, he said harshly, causing the beauty to open her eye’s looking furious. The line between her blue eye’s deepened as she looked behind the man to see Lola standing there in shock.

Lola couldn't blame the woman for the scowl on her face.

Who the hell are you? The woman snapped, indifferent to her nakedness as she flicked her mane of hair back and licked her plump lips.

Lola’s eyes shifted to what the woman had been sucking just moments ago. It was big. She hadn’t ever seen one that size other than in the porn Travis watched regularly.

Tearing her eyes away and looking anywhere but at the lovers, she backed her way out of the door.

Please forgive me. I didn’t expect to walk in on this. Have a good night, you two!

She cringed at her own words as she shut the door and ran down the dim corridor to an unlit passage, only the fire exit sign casting any light over the narrow hallway.

The scene she’d just witnessed in the office and the sight between the man's legs had turned her on, and she felt ashamed. She should have been crying over the end of her relationship, grieving over what she and Travis once had. Instead, she was feeling flustered over some stranger's anatomy in the back of a club.

That's when she’d called Ella.

Once she knew her friend was safe, Lola felt better, and as she’d been about to suggest getting a cab together, then she heard a male voice from behind her.

Cutting the conversation short, she put the phone down on Ella and pretended she couldn’t hear the man. She was trespassing and had no excuse to be down this corridor.

I said, what are you doing here? This part of the club is out of bounds, the deep voice said, now directly beside her.

Oh, darn, I must have gotten lost. Which way is it back to the dance floor? She tried to flash a smile to the man but couldn’t see his face and hoped that meant he couldn’t see hers either.

Lost? He stated, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

Lola couldn’t see his facial features, but it was obvious he worked out from his broad physic.

Yeah. I think I remember my way back now, actually. Thanks for your help! She was about to step around him when he extended his arm, blocking her path.

She walked straight into him, her breasts pressing into the palm of his outstretched hand. She wished she’d worn a bra. She was too horny and sensitive to reason correctly.

Lola didn’t move when he stepped closer to her and let his fingers brush over her firm nipple before dropping his hand. Doing this was wrong on so many levels. The man could be a hideous creep, yet, Lola couldn’t walk away. Bending down, the man's lips stopped just next to her ear, blowing hot air over her neck as he spoke.

Don’t you want to help me finish?

She caught a whiff of his aftershave. That was when she knew who he was.

The man from the office.

Help you? She stammered, not rejecting his hands going around her waist to pull her body against his own.

We could help each other. You know you want to, the man said, beginning to use his tongue to trace her neck, his stubble making her shiver.

What about the woman in your office, she gasped as his teeth gently bit at her skin and his length pressed against her.

I want to fuck you so bad, he growled, ignoring the question as his hand cupped her ass, pulling her up into the air with ease and letting his hardness press between her legs.

Lola had drunk, and yes, she was ridiculously turned on. The idea of this big powerful man doing her against the wall, bringing her to an earth-shattering orgasm, only to never be seen again, was the kind of thing she’d fantasized about.

She would never know who he was, and he would never know who she was. It was a dark fantasy that one thought about but never actually did.

The man held her up with one hand and took a foil packet from his pocket. Lola was amazed the man could hold her up, she was curvier than most, and this man made her feel as if she weighed nothing.

That didn’t mean she should have sex with him. He was a stranger and had only moments ago been with a different woman.

She managed to force him to let her down and backed away.

You just had another woman's lips wrapped around your dick. Thanks, but no thanks, Lola said, pushing past the man and down the corridor.

––––––––

For the following two weeks, Lola still had no idea who the stranger was, who she had been fantasizing about when she was alone in bed. Then at Ella’s flat, she began to worry about the identity of her sexy stranger.  

HELLO! Somebody shouted, banging on Ella’s apartment door as loud as possible.

What the hell? Lola snapped, jumping up from the sofa to answer it.

It wasn’t Lola’s place, but she knew Ella wouldn’t complain to the person about to break down her door. She was too sweet to argue with anyone.

What is your problem? Can't you just knock on the door like a normal person? Lola said to the stranger. She gasped when she saw the man who stood there. The black eyes that surveyed her were framed with long lashes, the only remotely feminine thing on the man's masculine face. With his straight nose, high cheekbones, and sharp jawline, he was all man, and Lola would have appreciated how attractive he was if the situation were different. 

My, my... aren't you feisty? The man teased, staring at her lips, then biting his own. He had ignored her question, and Lola was losing patience.

And aren't you rude? Lola said, about to ask the stranger what he wanted again.

You don't want to know what rude thoughts I'm having about you and me right now, he said, stepping past her, his body so big and imposing that she had no option but to move.

Lola was furious at the man's intrusion, and she was about to grab his leather jacket and tell him to leave when Ella shook her head.

Andrea, what do you want? Ella asked, her hands resting on her small waist.

I want her number, the man said, winking over his shoulder at a scowling Lola before turning his back to her. Oh, and Leonardo was worried about you because you’re not answering your phone. I was passing by, so I offered to check on you.

Lola tried to think where she knew the man’s voice from, and her mouth fell open when she remembered. No, this man couldn’t be the stranger from the club, could he?

What's your name? Andrea said, tilting his head as he crossed his arms over his chest. Do I know you from somewhere?

No, it couldn’t be. It was just a coincidence that this man wore the Seane aftershave and thought he knew her. The way he stared at her put her on edge. It was unlike Lola to be at a loss for words, and she didn’t like it.

My name is none of your business. And no, we have never met, not ever. Now you can see Ella is fine, so how about you leave? Lola stepped directly in front of Andrea, her arms crossed and daring him to tease her again.

You've got a great taste in fashion, and I especially like that bra you're wearing, Andrea teased, referring to the fact that her top was see-through. Although I have to admit, I think you'd look great without it.

Thanks. Now leave, Lola said, trying to ignore his teasing.

Are you sure we don't know each other? I feel like we’ve met, Andrea asked one last time.

Lola was almost sure it was him, and she would be mortified if it was. He was a jackass, standing there with his cocky smirk.

I said to leave! Lola was shocked by her own actions as she went to slap him. Her temper rarely got the better of her, but the embarrassment of what she’d done and the fear of him remembering her had her acting out of sorts.

Unfortunately, Andrea caught her wrist with ease. Gripping it tightly.

I will see you again soon. I am sure. He kissed her hand, leaving sparks in its wake as she dropped it and winked again.

He strutted out the door, and Lola slammed it behind him.

That guy is a complete and utter dick! Lola mumbled, not making eye contact with Ella, who looked confused about what had happened.

That night she went home and couldn’t stop thinking of the stranger and her reaction to him. Lola should never have tried to slap him. It wasn’t his fault she almost had sex with him in the back of the nightclub. Guiltily, Lola even used the image of him to get off to several times, feeling pathetic that she was obsessed with the man. He might be a 6’2 half Italian hunk, but Lola had seen for herself what a player the man was. The first time she’d seen him, he had a woman on her knees for him. If only he hadn’t have found out who she was, it would have made this wedding day a lot easier for her.

Lola pulled up outside the intimidating structure, which Ella had given her the address to. She had only seen Ella that morning, and she hadn’t told Lola she was moving into Leonardo, so it must have been a last-minute decision.

Good for her. Lola was happy Ella was finally living the life she deserved. Leonardo obviously cared deeply for her friend, and Lola thought the two of them were already in love. She grinned as she got out of the car, making her way inside.

That was until she saw the man who had been at Ella's place this morning.

Well, well, I never knew you were coming babe, looks like this get-together just got fun, the jerk said as he stepped into the confined space, leaning against the wall, his black eyes looking her up and down as he licked his lips.

Lola could see the resemblance between him and Leonardo. Both were extremely attractive. But where Leonardo looked like a refined businessman, his cousin did not. From his black leather jacket to his hair slicked back and the devilish glint in his eye, he practically screamed bad boy.

When he'd said he knew her at Ella's place, she had her suspicions of who this man was. The aftershave he now wore confirmed it. He was the guy from the club, the faceless man she'd been fantasizing about over and over. And now she knew what he looked like. She knew those fantasies were not going to stop.

He was arrogant and sure of himself. After what she'd witnessed in the club, she knew he had every reason to be. Hell, he'd probably managed to secure another woman after she'd left him alone in that corridor.

If I knew you were coming, I certainly wouldn't have, she said, standing as far away as possible in the tiny elevator. She regretted that she'd been so close to having sex with this man that night, and Lola prayed he wouldn't remember who she was.

It was unlikely, and she would put money on this man being a serial seducer with dozens of lovers left in his wake.

You will be 'coming' with me pretty soon, he teased, winking as he moved to cage her in against the wall, completely invading her personal space with his large frame, screaming my name, maybe? What did you say yours was again?

That will never happen unless I'm screaming at you to leave me alone. And I didn't say my name because you don't need to know it.

The elevator pulled to a stop, and Lola slipped under his arm and looked at him with her eyebrows raised.

Don't push your luck. I'm not interested, Lola warned.

He laughed as he ran his tongue over his straight teeth, raising his dark brows, mischief evident in those black eyes.

You were interested enough when you saw me in the club, and I saw that look in your eyes when you saw what I had to offer. You know as well as I do that I could have taken you against that wall, and you'd have been begging me for more. It would have only taken one more touch, and I'd of had you screaming my name.

That wiped the smile from her face, and she was speechless. He remembered her.

Ah, you think I'd forget a woman who would reject a night of guaranteed passion so easily, he mocked, smirking at her, Don't worry, your secrets safe with me.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, we can pick up where we left off another time.

Thankfully, he didn’t make a pass at her again that night, and she hadn’t seen him since. He had texted her a couple of times, mainly pictures of sex positions he’d like to try with her. She didn’t know how he’d gotten her number.

Secretly, he’d been on her mind since then as a dirty fantasy. She was never going to admit that. Not