The Doctor's Fake Fiancé (A Contemporary Interracial Romance): UnReal Marriage, #2

By Tasha Hart

Dante's dream job is in Seattle. But he's got one problem.

 

He's a bit of a loose cannon. And a player. You know the kind of guy that takes a different girl home every night? Yeah that's Dante. His pretty white boy face has him breaking all the hearts. But now he needs to settle down if he wants everything he's worked so hard for. When his dog needs a little TLC, he takes him to the local vet hospital...

 

And ends up proposing to the doctor!

 

Well, maybe proposing isn't the right word. Instead he asks her to fake marry him.

 

That's not a code Red, that's called a code W-T-F.

 

It's supposed to be a strictly business arrangement with no strings attached. But you know how these things go when you put a handsome white boy and a Black queen together. You start getting sparks. But with all these lies going dry, will Dante and Nia's sparks light everything on fire?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Summerhouse Publishing
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215019382

Book preview

Chapter One

Given my family is so successful, I’m no stranger to flights and business meetings. We own and operate a company that makes custom Italian sports cars, and business has never been better. In fact, that’s why I’m on a flight to Seattle right now so I can find an apartment for myself. I want to settle in, and get all the details in order, for our expansion into Seattle.

This is a big opportunity for me in the family business, and I’m not taking any chances or cutting any corners. I want to make sure I get every last little detail so I can get going on the next chapter of my life. Honestly, I’ve more than proven myself to the family that I can handle this.

My phone rings and when I look down at the call display, I’m surprised to see it’s my father. Hey Dad, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you yet, I haven’t even landed.

Right, well there’s been a change of plans.

I don’t like the tone of his voice and I sigh, dragging my hand down my face as I recline back in the seat. I swear, if he tells me the company changed their mind and I don’t get to handle the Seattle expansion… I’ve more than proven that I can do this.

Dad, what is it? Just spit it out, I don’t want to have to beat around the bush with this. We’re just about to land.

He pauses for a moment and then sighs, and I can already tell that this isn’t going to be good. Though, what comes out of his mouth next is definitely not what I expected. The company has decided that in order for you to run the Seattle branch, you’ll need to meet some conditions.

Conditions? I balk, annoyance rising. Don’t you think those conditions should have been laid out to me before I left and got on a plane? I take a deep breath and close my eyes, and then nod, not that he can see me obviously. All right Dad, what is it, what are the conditions?

The company is worried about your level of commitment. You don’t seem to be able to settle down and stay with a woman more than a few weeks at a time.

I’m not sure what the fuck that has to do with anything, but rather than start another argument I just listen. He can say his piece.

"The decision that we arrived at is, in order for you to have the Seattle branch given to you, you’ll need to settle down and get married. And stay married. After a year, the branch will be officially yours."

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. How am I supposed to commit to marrying someone when I’m not even dating anyone? Dad, this is absurd, and—

He cuts me off, and I can tell by his tone that he means business. Son, this isn’t up for debate. Meet the conditions, or you might as well book a flight back.

What do I even say to that ultimatum? There’s not much I can say, really, except to agree. Otherwise I might as well tell the pilot to turn the fucking plane around. I’m not sure how I’m going to pull this off, but I can figure it out later. Right now, I need to get my father off the phone so I can come up with a game plan.

Fine. I push through gritted teeth. I’ll call you later.

With that, we say our goodbyes, and I’m left sitting here on the plane wondering what the fuck I’m supposed to do next.

We land not long after and I hand my travelling companion—my dog Enzo—off to his caregiver before I make my way to the office, getting things in order so I can acquire licenses and new customers. Despite the bombshell my father dropped on me just a hours ago, I’m still just carrying things out as business as usual. I need to make sure everyone in the building is on the same page.

I spend far longer at the office than I intended, and by the end of the day I’m feeling absolutely wiped. A full day’s work on top of a flight is a huge bummer.

Having said that, seeing my dog Enzo brightens me up immediately, and I decide to take him to a park near where I’m staying. Enzo is half German Shepard and half Wolf. Safe to say he’s a beast, and a hoot.

He always has a way of brightening up my day no matter how long or how stressful. Today is no different. So, we head out and into the park, the fresh air clearing my head and making me feel better with each passing moment.

Of course, the happiness can only last so long, and I shout after Enzo as he tears off into some bushes. I hear him bark and yelp, and I go running. He comes scampering out, his snout, face, and neck, completely covered in porcupine quills.

Seriously Enzo? Come on, boy, you know better.

He whimpers and trots over with the most pathetic whine, and I know immediately that I need to take him to the vet. So, I look up nearby vets on my phone and see that Broadway Veterinary Hospital is the closest. Looks like I’m giving them a call. Thankfully, they have some free time and say to bring him in. Great. I get him loaded up in the car and we drive over.

The last thing I need is to spend all night at the vet my first night in Seattle, but I guess that’s life. Enzo whimpers beside me and I give him a careful pat on the ear, assuring him that everything will be fine.

Here’s hoping our visit doesn’t take too long, and that Enzo doesn’t need to be too uncomfortable.

Chapter Two

It figures that the one and only night I have off from Antichi Sapori, the restaurant I work at, I’m working at the veterinary hospital instead. My main job is the hospital, but I work evenings and nights at the restaurant to make some extra cash. Not that being a veterinarian doesn’t pay well, but I’ve got student loans and my daughter Ayanna to care for, so every extra penny counts.

So, where this would normally be my night off, I’m here because a co-worker really needed to take some time and I could use the extra money. It’ll make for a long week without a day off, but hey, sometimes that’s just how life works out.

It’s been slow so far, but the receptionist chimed in from the front desk to tell me that I had a patient incoming.

I wheeled my chair over, brows raised. Oh? What’s the breed, and what happened?

"Lupo Italiano, and apparently he got a bit too friendly with a porcupine. Owner says