Page 13 of Who Needs a Billionaire

“Marry me, and I’ll give you the money you need for your business.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Wh—why would you do that?”

“To prove to my family that I’m capable of change. I want to be a part of my family’s company again, and that won’t happen unless they believe I’ve settled down and that I’m serious about my future. That I prefer boardrooms to bars, as my dad once said to me.”

A laugh escaped her. “And a wife will show them that?”

“I think it will.”

She shook her head. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to agree to this.”

“It would only be for a year. I think that’s long enough to seem legitimate so I’ll be welcomed back into the company, and then we can say we’re having problems and part ways when the year’s up.”

“A year? You expect me to spend a year married to you? What if I meet someone?”

Gus snorted.

“Hey, it could happen.”

“Then I guess you can take a lover on the side.”

“You are an idiot.”

“Come on. It’s a win for both of us. I get back in my family’s good graces, and you get the money you need to take your company to the next level.”

She let out the deep breath she had taken and rocked back and forth on her heels, seemingly deep in thought. “Again, why me and not one of those lovely ladies at the bar? I’m sure any one of them would be happy to marry a man for his money.”

“I need someone different, someone that would impress my parents.”

Her eyebrow lifted. “Was that a compliment?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “You’re clearly intelligent enough to have started your own company and made something out of it. That will earn big points with my dad.”

He could see the gears turning in her brain, and he hoped that meant she was seriously considering this.

“What do you say, Merritt?” Gus dropped down to one knee and opened the box again.

Her eyes darted around the alley and toward the sidewalk out front. “Get up, you moron!”

He cracked up laughing as he stood and waved the ring in front of her face. “Plus, you get to wear this huge rock on your finger for a year.”

“Do I get to keep it when we split?” she asked, reaching out to touch it.

He snapped the box closed at the last second. “Are you saying yes?”

“I want a written contract drawn up by a lawyer. I want everything spelled out legally. If I agree—and that’s a big if—I want the money. I don’t want to end up screwed when all of this is over.”

“Nobody will be getting screwed.” Gus lifted his eyebrows flirtatiously, aware of his very obvious double entendre.

She tilted her head and pursed her lips in disapproval. “You’re right about that.”

He shrugged and let out a laugh.

Her gaze went from his eyes to the ring as he took it from the box and stepped closer.

Reaching down, he took her wrist, causing her to flinch. He nodded toward the ring, then lifted her hand and slipped it onto her left ring finger. Her hand was warm in his, her eyes fixed on the diamond, sparkling on her slender finger. He’d never been this close to her before, and he noticed the flecks of gold in her big brown eyes. She was wearing a deep brown shade of eyeshadow on her eyelids with a swipe of shimmery gold under her brows, and her lashes were long and thick with mascara, making those beautiful eyes stand out more.

Beautiful eyes?

---