The Billionaire's Marriage Proposal

Prologue

It’s about time you settled down, grandson, Toni Romero chastised Dr. Alonso Romero. A few hours earlier, Alonso attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the new building for the Children’s Trauma Center of Mayberry Hill. It would become a part of his special Juliana Center for Children.

Alonso and his brothers were seated in the study at the family’s grand mansion, Romero Manor.

Granddad, we’re not seriously getting into that debate again, are we? Alonso arched a brow.

Yes, we seriously are, Alonso.

Alonso could feel his heart muscle squeeze. He glanced around the room. His other brothers, all formerly sworn bachelors who’d had their own share of heartache and scandalous relationships, were settled down with their beautiful, loving wives who were also their best friends, and with their adorable offspring.

Who did Alonso have?

He was wedded to his profession. His passion entailed making great strides in the healthcare industry. And his desire to turn old, rundown buildings into massive, smart-clinics for people from all economic backgrounds.

A woman wouldn’t be able to understand his long hours or his unsociable and workaholic personality. Not to mention his travel all over the world, to establish similar affordable healthcare facilities.

Besides, he’d suffered enough heartbreak and traumatic loss in his life. It was better to keep his distance from women. But now that his brothers were settled down, his dear old grandfather would never allow him to get out of his marriage-is-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-a-man sermon so easily.

Hey, you have seven out of eight of your grandsons married, isn’t that enough? Alonso added. That’s more than an eighty-seven percent success rate. I’d say you should be proud.

Not until I get the other thirteen percent, grandson, Toni played along. I don’t want to depart this life without seeing you settled down, Alonso. You boys have come along so far. I told you marriage...

Is the best thing that could happen to a person, Alonso finished his grandfather’s sentence in jest. I really don’t need to hear it, Gramps. Besides, not everyone’s meant to be hooked up like that.

Look at your brother, Zack, Toni continued. "Who would have ever thought he’d end up married?"

You do realize I’m still in the room, right, Gramps? A questioning grin touched Zack’s face.

Yes, yes, Toni dismissed.

Gramps, listen up here, Alonso said, trying to sound as gentle as he could, knowing his grandfather only wanted the best for him and his brothers. I really appreciate you and all you’ve done for the guys and me. We would be nothing without you. And I often agree with everything you say, but not this time. I will never get married or settle down. Women and I just don’t...well, it never turns out the way I expect it to. My commitment is to my work in helping others.

You’ll change your mind, Toni assured, a smug grin on his face. I know what this is about, Alonso. You keep losing people close to you but I’ve lost your grandmother and she is now with the Lord, but I got married again since then.

Yeah, five times after that! Alonso bit his lip. Sorry, Gramps.

No. Please don’t be. We’re all grown men here. I expect honesty. I know I’ve made some mistakes, marrying those younger women. But look at my dear Shelly. You guys never liked her because she was my young nurse. But look now. So many years later and we’re still happily married. Nothing beats love, Alonso. Please don’t give up.

It’s not that easy, Gramps.

I know. You’ve lost your mother. That was very painful, I know. Then you lost your best friend in school and then you lost your girlfriend in college.

Stop there, Gramps. I’m not going there, not today.

Alonso felt his heart shrivel in his chest. All the people in his life he loved died and there was nothing he could do to bring them back. Nothing. He’d attended so many funerals as a youth it wasn’t even funny. He’d begun to feel as if he was just bad luck when it came to close relationships. First, his mother, then his childhood girlfriend, Juliana—to whom he’d proposed, then his girlfriend Jennifer in college.

He’d become so numb and never wanted to get close again. He drew in a deep breath and tried to keep control of the conversation.

I think you will change your mind, Grandson. I just know you will. I see the way you care about others. You have so much love to give. It’d be a shame to not have that special someone to love and those darling little children to bring into the world.

Are you betting me, old man? Alonso lovingly teased his grandfather.

Yes! Toni’s smile widened. I’ll bet you’ll get married by the end of the year.

What are you going to do? Set me up on a blind date or something?

The old man shrugged.

Well, all right then, Alonso agreed. If I end up getting married within a year from today, I’ll give up my practice and give up my work as a doc. How’s that?

Toni looked stunned for a moment but then his expression shifted slightly. I know you love your work, Alonso. What are you saying?

I’m saying that I’m serious about not getting married. Ever. It’s not for me. But if you feel I’ll change my mind, then fair enough. I’ll give up my dream of expanding my vision in medicine.

Fine then. Toni seemed to hesitate at first but finally gave in. It’s a deal.

Get ready to lose, Gramps. I’m not getting married. And you can quote me on that.

Chapter 1

Dr. Alonso finished his dictation in his office and logged off his computer. The thought of having to take off three weeks work for a much needed vacation, according to his chief of staff, irked him. But truth be told, he was a workaholic and burn out wouldn’t do him any good. He hadn’t taken a real break from work for the longest time. But he would have to get away and leave his clinics and his patients to the care of his associates. He could only do so much. He just wanted to make sure his patients would be well taken care of.

Don’t you have any hobbies? an associate once asked him.

Yeah, taking care of people.

No, really, man. You need a life. Or a wife!

I don’t think so, Alonso had said. And he meant it. He was married to his passion—helping to build affordable healthcare for everyone. His own mother lost her battle to cancer when he and his brothers were young and their parents were too poor to be able to afford her medications. That tragic loss fueled his desire to save lives and help those who couldn’t afford excellent medical care. But he was also a businessman, much like all the Romeros. And buying rundown clinics and transforming them was his dream.

Alonso yawned and stretched. He’d had what felt like the longest shift of his medical career. He had just spent the day fighting in court for one of his patients, Bria, to get the unconventional medical treatment she needed. His mind drifted back to the conversation he’d had with his grandfather and brothers. Good on them for getting hitched. His medical career was his relationship. He was never getting married.

How could a woman possibly understand him not being home nights and being on call practically twenty-four hours a day? Yeah, money wasn’t everything. Sure, he had enough wealth to own his own island and an empire but there was more to life than material gain. Like doing good. That’s how he got his kicks and no woman was going to take that joy away from him.

Alonso heard shuffling in the reception area after he powered off the lights and walked out of his office, closing the door behind him.

He saw a dainty woman who had the curves of a love goddess in the reception area though she was dressed much more humbly, wearing a lavender cardigan that hugged her body and a simple pencil skirt that covered her knees. She gazed at him with an unreadable expression, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how to say it. Her soft grayish brown eyes were mesmerizing against her high cheekbones and tanned skin. Her dark hair cascaded down her back. He had the sudden urge to run his fingers through it.  He was captivated by her.

Can I help you? he asked, caught off guard by her stunning beauty.

Yes, I think you can. The woman’s voice was smooth like velvet, and oh, God, sexy as hell. His groin reacted. That never happened before. Not so instantly with a stranger.

Who was this woman?

Do you know who I am? she asked, pointedly.

Oh, heck. Was this one of the women he’d dated in the past? Please tell him she was not carrying his unborn child—or had a surprise kid at home that shared his DNA. Alonso never took chances and always used a condom. But he also knew that condoms could sometimes fail, if not carefully used.

No, he said, eyeing her carefully. He never forgot a face. And this one he just plain didn’t remember. Should I?

She stared at him as if he’d done something to her. The woman looked crestfallen and hugged herself. Tears reddening her fatigued yet still lionesque eyes.

What is it? he asked. Are you okay, ma’am?

She shook her head. I was hoping you would know.

Know what?

My real identity. I don’t know...who I am. I was a patient at one of your plastic surgery clinics. I had some minor reconstructive surgery done a while back. I thought you’d have the key to my past, but I guess I was wrong.

Plastic surgery clinic?

She turned to leave and something inside Alonso pulled him to her.

Whoa there, wait a minute, he said, going after her. You mean the Janissa Clinic for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery? He had taken over the clinic from renowned surgeon Dr. Miles Worthrop and converted it into one of his Romero Health Centers.

Was this woman part of a witness protection program?

He’d offered many special services, including those for witnesses involved in high-profile organized crime cases whose lives were in grave danger and required complete changes in their appearances. Those cases were rare but happened, nonetheless.

Yes, that clinic, she confirmed solemnly.

"Were you in one of the programs?" Alonso hinted he understood she may not be able to go into detail.

She