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Matthias POV

three weeks earlier...

I should have been having a blast instead of feeling as if I were facing the most important decision of my life.

It was one of those rock and hard place decisions. Damned if I did and damned if I didn't.

"I need a drink," I mumbled.

"I'll get you one, sweetie." A pretty blond woman sitting on a leather couch across from me quickly jumped up to do just that.

Zach looked at me and smiled. "That was easy."

It hadn't exactly been what I meant. I needed a drink, but I didn't expect her to fetch it for me. She was a guest. She returned a minute later with a margarita, the rim of the glass-lined with salt. It wasn't exactly the drink I had in mind, but it would do.

"Thank you," I said, unable to remember her name.

She smiled. "Any time, Matthias. If you need anything, you only have to ask."

I smiled and nodded my head, ignoring the flirting. I wasn't in the mood to flirt, which was out of character for me.

"Can you ladies give us a minute?" Zach asked. Zach Bailey, my best friend in the world and the guest of honor at this little shindig on the Pacific Ocean, a few miles off the coast of Los Angeles, had been telling me to loosen up for the past hour.

The four women who had followed us downstairs quickly jumped up to leave us alone.

"Dude, relax," Zach said from his seat beside mine. "Get loose. This is my birthday party, and you're killing the vibe.

"

I shrugged. "I'm relaxed," I lied. "I needed a minute out of the sun."

"You're not relaxed.

You're walking around as if you are personally responsible for holding up the world."

I chuckled.

"Sorry. I don't want to be a downer.''

"Are you still upset about your dad's will?" Zach asked.

I shrugged. "Not upset, a little stressed."

He laughed. "I think that's the same thing."

I pushed back a chunk of my unruly brown hair from my forehead and turned to look at him.

"I understand.

I wouldn't expect you to. I think you need to decide what is more important to you."

I groaned. "I don't know. I like my life the way it is. A wife would just add a dose of drama. I don't want a relationship. I don't want the hassle of checking in with someone."

"Or getting in trouble for cheating or having a wandering eye," Zach added.

"Exactly. I like my freedom. I like the luxury of flirting with an attractive woman if I want to."

He sighed. "Your yacht, your condo, the beach house, the cars? Aren't all those things worth a ball and chain?"

I glared at him from behind my dark, thousand-dollar sunglasses. "I don't know. That's the problem."

He laughed. "It's a wife. It isn't a death sentence."

"You don't want to be married any more than I do."

"You're not going to lose everything. You're too damn smart for that. Relax."

I shook my head. "Easier said than done."

"Okay, so you have to make a decision within the next couple of months. Nothing changes today. Right now, you're on your beautiful yacht-filled with gorgeous women who would all love the chance to help you unwind. We'll worry about all the other stuff tomorrow."

"What if I can't find a woman to marry me?" I asked, voicing one of my many fears.

Zach scoffed. "You know you are one of the hottest bachelors in the country. How you managed to get so damn tall is beyond me. Women are drawn to that whole tall, dark, and devasting thing, which I hate you for."

I turned to face the opposite end of the yacht, my elbows resting on the railing behind me. I stared at the people milling about. I didn't know most of them. I had put out an open invitation. My gift to Zach for his birthday was a party packed full of gorgeous women.

"Somehow, I don't think my wife is one of these women."

He shrugged a shoulder. "It's the searching that will be the fun part."

I looked around the yacht and the luxurious furnishings. If I didn't find a woman to marry within the nine months, there was a good chance I wouldn't be able to afford all this.

The Lekas Foundation loaned me over the amount of money that my father gave after he passed away. I have a short amount of time to use and inheritance the money for good and continue his legacy in the Lekas Headquarters.

If I didn't get hitched, the inheritance would be divided up between several charities, and that would make the news. It wouldn't be long before my very extended line of credit dried up.

"I'm going to get another drink. Join me. Let's have some fun."

I shook my head. "I'll be there in a second."

He walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. I turned around to face the water and thought about what my life would look like at this time next year. I would either be here on my yacht with a wife or no yacht and no wife.

I heard Zach's voice behind me. "Ladies, this is Matthias Lekas. He could use some cheering up."

I turned to see who he was with.

The blonde-hair girl had her arms looped through one of his bent elbows.

I gave them each a cursory smile. A tall blonde-haired girl with blue eyes standing next to her black friend.

She was short, five-four, five-three maybe. Silky-black hair with gorgeous honey eyes that reflected from the lights and her lips were wet; which looked scrumptious to plant my lips on.

I was naturally drawn to the black girl, but she had that empty look about her. Resting Bitch Face?

Throwing my usual standards to the side, I looked at her and gave her my best charming smile.

"Good afternoon, ladies."

''Afternoon handsome,'' The blonde girl said to me.

She arches her brows in curiosity to see if I was paying attention to her. She looked at me then looked back at her friend who was timid and placed her head down.

''What is your name?'' I asked, walking to them, taking my sunglasses off.

''--Maya,'' the blonde girl cut off from me when I was actually talking to the black girl.

''Not you, her,'' I replied and Maya scoffed.

''Josephine. But, I go by Josie.''

''Josie, it's nice to meet you.''