Page 63 of Who Needs a Billionaire

He nodded politely, but he could tell Merritt was freaked out, just as she had been on their wedding day and the times they’d been out with Adelia. “You okay?” He wrapped his arm around behind her, pulling her into his side.

“Yeah.” She didn’t sound very convincing.

When they entered, he felt Merritt relax. The hostess greeted them and led them to a seat. He wished it wasn’t out in the middle, where the photographers could see them through the window, but it was quite busy, and they were lucky to have gotten a spot at all.

“Maybe we should’ve gone through the drive-thru at In ’n Out,” she said with a nervous smile.

“We can go if you want.”

She shook her head. “It’s fine. It’s just weird when the cameras are on me.”

He reached over and touched her cheek. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. This is a part of your life, and I knew what I was signing up for.”

He scooted his chair closer to hers, lay his arm across the back of her chair, and leaned close to her ear. “Maybe if we give them what they want, they’ll go away.”

“And what is it they want?”

He pulled back to look her in the eye. “The money shot.”

“Isn’t a picture of us together enough?”

“We haven’t been out on the town much since we got married. If we sit across the table from each other, they’re going to think there’s trouble in paradise.” He grinned.

“What are you suggesting?”

“Lean closer,” he whispered.

She rolled her eyes.

“I won’t bite.” His crooked grin was quickly wiped from his face when she leaned close, her shoulder pressing into his side, her soft floral scent overwhelming him.

“I might.” She winked.

He knew she was teasing, but his mouth went dry as a desert.

“Now what?” she whispered.

“Turn into me and lay your hand on my chest.” His pulse picked up pace as she did as he asked.

“Now what?” Her voice sounded shaky.

“Move your hand up to my neck.” He heard the rasp in his own voice, and he felt light-headed as her fingertips slid slowly up his chest, tickling across the skin of his neck on their way to the nape. He swallowed hard as she played with the hair there.

Her warm breath caressed his face as she looked up at him, inches separating them. “Now what?”

He looked her straight in the eye. “Kiss your husband.”

She was the one to swallow hard this time. Hesitation crossed her face for an instant before she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. It was soft and gentle, but it sent the blood racing through his veins. She pulled back and smiled up at him.

“Again,” he told her.

Her eyebrows raised.

He lifted his hand, his thumb brushing over her cheek then traveling slowly across her bottom lip. “Kiss me, Merritt.”

“Gus.” She seemed unsure.

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