Read Online The Academic Bride: Billionaire Marriage Brokers Book One by Lucy McConnell - Free Book Online

went out of their way to learn more about her chosen field of specialization. The few boyfriends she’d had were caught up in their own studies. She looked back down at the book and hoped he didn’t see the moisture in her eyes. It was just a book, but it meant more than that.
    “I’m touched. Thank you.”
    It was quiet for a moment. Then Nick’s phone chirped. He glanced down and sighed. “I hate to do this, but I have an important client who insists on meeting with me this afternoon. Will you be okay if I head to the office for a while?”
    Janel blinked. She didn’t think much about what would happen after the marriage, but she kind of planned on them spending the day together. Plus, he hadn’t finished giving the tour. She didn’t even know where the bathroom was. As far as jobs went, the orientation was sorely lacking. Of course, if she was going to make this work, she’d have to fly solo eventually. “I’ll be fine.”
    Nick held out his hand to help her off the floor. When she stood up, she felt a slight squeeze, and he didn’t let go right away. Nick was like an electric blanket, she realized: every time she touched him, warmth spread through her body.
    “There’s one thing I have to show you before I go.” It was only when he went to move that he noticed he was still holding her hand. He dropped it like a kid caught stealing a cookie, and motioned for her to follow him. Walking up the circular grand staircase to the loft on the second floor, Janel did her best not to peek or gawk at the home.
    “This is the private living area. I rope off the staircase when I throw a party. No one but you and I, and the maids, will come up here.”
    The balcony at the top overlooked the gathering room. It reminded Janel of the books she read about old English parties and children allowed to spy from the top of the stairs as guests entered the home. From this high, she could see everything that went on in the large room below. Several sets of couches or chairs divided the room into different zones, which no doubt made it easy for people to gather in small groups and mingle. A black grand piano stood in one corner.
    “Do you play?” she asked.
    “No. I hire a pianist when needed.”
    Of course you do.
    “This way.”
    They walked through a private sitting room. The wall directly opposite the balcony had a built-in entertainment center, a big screen TV, and a set of shelves full of contemporary titles. Several magazines were fanned out on the glass-topped coffee table, and a huge leather couch faced the TV. The room was smaller than the great room downstairs, but it was anything but small. Nick moved to a door on the left and placed his hand on the doorknob.
    “This will be your room.” He swung the door open and stepped back, so she could go in first.
    Stopping just inside the door, Janel pressed her hands to her face. The room was beautiful. She had her own set of bookshelves waiting for her books, which sat in four boxes nearby. The window seat was a treasure aged to perfection, with beveled edges and an overstuffed cushion.
    Everything was beautiful, but it was the bed that caught her imagination. Big enough to hold a family of bears, the fabric swags and the mountain of pillows brought out a desire to jump in and never get up. While the room had a feminine feel with the deep purple accents, it was elegant and mountains above the dorm-like living she came from.
    She walked over to the bed and brushed her fingers across the velvety pillow. 
    “Do you like it?”
    She looked up to see him standing in the doorway with his back straight. “It’s perfect,” she whispered.
    Nick’s shoulders relaxed. He came into the room and went to the desk, where a laptop sat, exactly like the one in his office downstairs, along with a pile of sticky notes and several expensive-looking pens. “I’d like you to take over managing the household staff.”
    “The staff?”
    “Two maids, a chef, a gardening crew, a plant