Title: Unconditional You
Series: Stupid Awesome Love #5
Series: Stupid Awesome Love #5
Author: Ceri Grenelle
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 25, 2019
Release Date: July 25, 2019
Blurb
A marriage of convenience is their second chance at love.
Celeste
With debt threatening to bury me, I have no choice but to fall back on my
mother’s lessons and marry a man for money. I’ve got an in with the wealthiest
bachelor in town, but I have to go through his Chief of Staff, Kai, before I
can even meet the Nilsson heir. Which sucks, because a long time ago Kai
promised to run away with me, then left me at the train station with no word.
I’m still not over it.
Kai
To my friends, I’m Kai. To the world at large, I’m Bobby Nilsson, mysterious
and reclusive heir to the Nilsson fortune. I inherit my parents’ money at the
end of the year under a single condition: A wife. There’s only one woman who
might be able to convince the world she loves me. The only problem? Celeste
doesn’t know that Kai and Nilsson are one and the same. Not to mention she
hates me. What's a billionaire heir to do?
Celeste
With debt threatening to bury me, I have no choice but to fall back on my
mother’s lessons and marry a man for money. I’ve got an in with the wealthiest
bachelor in town, but I have to go through his Chief of Staff, Kai, before I
can even meet the Nilsson heir. Which sucks, because a long time ago Kai
promised to run away with me, then left me at the train station with no word.
I’m still not over it.
Kai
To my friends, I’m Kai. To the world at large, I’m Bobby Nilsson, mysterious
and reclusive heir to the Nilsson fortune. I inherit my parents’ money at the
end of the year under a single condition: A wife. There’s only one woman who
might be able to convince the world she loves me. The only problem? Celeste
doesn’t know that Kai and Nilsson are one and the same. Not to mention she
hates me. What's a billionaire heir to do?
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Excerpt
“This is quite the reunion then.”
“One I would have avoided if possible.”
“You said you have business to discuss? I’m so intrigued.”
His facetiousness, which was once fun, has now turned biting. We’re on opposite
sides, no longer partners in crime.
His facetiousness, which was once fun, has now turned biting. We’re on opposite
sides, no longer partners in crime.
“I want to meet Mr. Nilsson, and you’re going to introduce
me.”
me.”
“I don’t know who Nilsson is. And he doesn’t go by Mr. Nilsson.”
I sigh at the obvious misstep. He knows what he’s
doing.
doing.
“If you don’t know him then how do you know he doesn’t go by
Mr. Nilsson?”
Mr. Nilsson?”
“Sorry?”
“You said you don’t know him, so how do you know the
nomenclature he prefers?”
nomenclature he prefers?”
“All staff are briefed on the host.”
“And you’re just a regular, nobody, member of the staff.”
“Yes. That’s me—”
“Sir!” A young man in a waiter’s tux bursts through the
patio doors. “The caterer is freaking out. She can’t find her late-night peanut
butter and jelly puff pastries.”
patio doors. “The caterer is freaking out. She can’t find her late-night peanut
butter and jelly puff pastries.”
“Why are you asking me?” he asks stiffly without looking
away from me. “Why would I know where the caterer’s puff pastries are?”
away from me. “Why would I know where the caterer’s puff pastries are?”
The kid looks like the waiter is a world-class idiot and
speaks very slowly, a thick New York accent peeking out.
speaks very slowly, a thick New York accent peeking out.
“Because you’re the chief of staff, which you made us repeat
back to you three times in a row. In unison.”
back to you three times in a row. In unison.”
He glances at me, and I raise my eyebrow, a victorious but
subtle gesture.
subtle gesture.
He turns back to the boy, clearing his throat.
“Tell the caterer to check the walk-in in the second
kitchen. Some of the overflow went there.”
kitchen. Some of the overflow went there.”
“Thanks.” The kid is gone as fast as he arrived.
Kai's expression is as innocent as a newborn baby taking a
shit.
shit.
“Surely the chief of staff, the representative
of the man of the house, knows and has met his boss.”
of the man of the house, knows and has met his boss.”
He folds his hand behind his back, rocks on his feet.
“Even if I do know Nilsson a little, why would I agree to
arrange a meeting?”
arrange a meeting?”
“Because I have something he wants.”
“And what’s that?”
“A life away from the spotlight. Away from the people he
hates. An easy life with no expectations.”
hates. An easy life with no expectations.”
He stops moving, his eyes narrowing. “What exactly are you
proposing?”
proposing?”
“Just that. A proposal. Of marriage.”
He stares at me, his eyes wide, and then he laughs. I knew
he would, the idea so outrageous and outdated. But I have my sources, and I
know Nilsson is as desperate as I am. I keep my expression neutral, unaffected
by his reaction.
he would, the idea so outrageous and outdated. But I have my sources, and I
know Nilsson is as desperate as I am. I keep my expression neutral, unaffected
by his reaction.
“There are at least a hundred women,” he says, finally
composing himself, “inside that ballroom that want to provide what you’re
suggesting. What makes you think you have anything to offer? Your family
reputation is tarnished, thanks to that article. What advantage could you give
Nilsson?”
composing himself, “inside that ballroom that want to provide what you’re
suggesting. What makes you think you have anything to offer? Your family
reputation is tarnished, thanks to that article. What advantage could you give
Nilsson?”
He’s listening. Time for my pitch.
“Those women come with rules and expectations. They want his
name and the privilege that brings. They want him at their side at galas,
showing him off like a fucking engagement ring or a puppy with a diamond
collar.”
name and the privilege that brings. They want him at their side at galas,
showing him off like a fucking engagement ring or a puppy with a diamond
collar.”
“What do you come with?”
“Freedom. The freedom for Nilsson to do whatever the fuck he
wants. Stay holed up in this mansion. Travel the world. Never see me, not once.
I’ll agree to anything he wants, as long as I get what I want.”
wants. Stay holed up in this mansion. Travel the world. Never see me, not once.
I’ll agree to anything he wants, as long as I get what I want.”
“He’s already free. He’s richer than Croesus—”
“Which I hear will change if he doesn’t marry by the end of
the year.”
the year.”
If silence could kill, Kai’s weapon of choice would be made
of a narrow looks.
of a narrow looks.
“How do you know that?”
Play it cool. Hook him and trap him.
“I have my sources.”
We face off for a moment, the tension riding us, stirring
us. Eventually he shrugs, acting nonchalant.
us. Eventually he shrugs, acting nonchalant.
“It doesn’t matter. Even with that knowledge, you don’t have
anything special to offer. You don’t know him, and he doesn’t
want just anyone.”
anything special to offer. You don’t know him, and he doesn’t
want just anyone.”
“You’re right. No one knows him or what he wants. I don’t
know what happened to him after his parents’ death, what made him the way he is
now. Maybe he’s disfigured or crippled or just really really shy. Maybe he’s a
drag queen by night, and he knows at least a quarter of the men and women in
there won’t give to his charities anymore if they discover his true self. I
don’t know why, and I don’t need to know. I don’t care. I want one thing.”
know what happened to him after his parents’ death, what made him the way he is
now. Maybe he’s disfigured or crippled or just really really shy. Maybe he’s a
drag queen by night, and he knows at least a quarter of the men and women in
there won’t give to his charities anymore if they discover his true self. I
don’t know why, and I don’t need to know. I don’t care. I want one thing.”
He doesn’t ask, and I don’t wait for him to. I don’t need
his permission or his acknowledgment.
his permission or his acknowledgment.
You don’t own me.
“I want the money.”
He takes a step back, disgust clear on his face, even in the
dim light of the patio.
dim light of the patio.
“Of course you do. Christ.”
“I want a limited amount, and I’m willing to sign a
contract, a prenup, whatever he thinks necessary.”
contract, a prenup, whatever he thinks necessary.”
“How much?”
“That’s for Mr. Nilsson and me to discuss.”
He shakes his head and the disappointed expression almost
makes me waver. Almost.
makes me waver. Almost.
“You’re just like them,” he grits out.
“What did you think I’d become after you disappeared?”
It’s the only memory I let slip, the only sign I’m angry at
him and still holding a grudge.
him and still holding a grudge.
His eyes are fathomless as he takes me in. “Better.”
He turns on a stiff heel, and as he walks out, calls back,
“Nilsson will be in touch.”
“Nilsson will be in touch.”
“How? A text?” I lay on the sarcasm, thick and
cynical.
cynical.
He pauses, his hand hovering over the doorknob lightly, no
sign seeing me has had any effect on him at all.
sign seeing me has had any effect on him at all.
“Email. Cell service isn’t very reliable around these
parts.”
parts.”
“Just like the people here. What a life he must live.”
He grins. It’s cold. So unlike anything I remember. “Life is
the ultimate delivery system for disillusionment.”
the ultimate delivery system for disillusionment.”
With a snap of the door frame, he’s gone.
I sag against the railing and down my glass of champagne.
The alcohol burns and carbonation fills my lungs like balloons.
The alcohol burns and carbonation fills my lungs like balloons.
There. It’s done.
The wheels are in motion. I’m on my way to seeing the arts
program finally succeed, and I survived a meeting with Kai.
program finally succeed, and I survived a meeting with Kai.
Not half bad for a night’s work.
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Author Bio
Ceri is the author of quirky and sexy contemporary romance
novels. She has a major weakness for sappy cuddle moments as much as hot and
steamy sex scenes, and a penchant for writing snappy and sarcastic dialogue.
She loves romance that isn't afraid to be awkward and uncouth, and thrives on
flawed characters with big hearts.
novels. She has a major weakness for sappy cuddle moments as much as hot and
steamy sex scenes, and a penchant for writing snappy and sarcastic dialogue.
She loves romance that isn't afraid to be awkward and uncouth, and thrives on
flawed characters with big hearts.
A New York native, Ceri now lives in California with her two
cats, Mercy and Eugene Fitzherbert, who should be very thankful she didn't name
him frying pan. She is a proud functioning introvert and lover of all things
geeky. You can find her haunting the Twitter machine or posting pictures of her
ridiculous cats on Instagram.
cats, Mercy and Eugene Fitzherbert, who should be very thankful she didn't name
him frying pan. She is a proud functioning introvert and lover of all things
geeky. You can find her haunting the Twitter machine or posting pictures of her
ridiculous cats on Instagram.
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