Page 97 of Who Needs a Billionaire

Adelia stared at her. “You don’t?”

Merritt stopped pacing. “No.”

Adelia stood for a few long moments, deep in thought. “But marrying him has brought you this far. Not only has it helped your business, but you’ve found the man you love. I know it was a crazy plan to start with, but you wouldn’t be in love with him now if it hadn’t happened this way.”

“I know. I just wish it had been real from the beginning so we wouldn’t have had to deceive people. I love his family, and I feel horrible for all the lies.”

“So, what do you want?”

“I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want him to love me back and want to be married to me for real. I want to walk down an aisle like Genevieve did with Sebastian today. I want to write my own vows and promise to love him, for better or for worse, for the rest of our lives. That’s what I want. And I want it all with Gus.”

Adelia’s face lit up, and she threw her arms around Merritt. “I’m so happy for you.”

“You’re getting a little ahead of yourself. I don’t even know if he feels that way about me.” She stepped back and looked at her friend. “But I am going to tell him.”

“No time like the present.”

Merritt straightened her shoulders. “You know what, you’re right.”

Adelia gave her a nod of encouragement.

Merritt turned on her heel and left the horse stall in search of her husband, calling over her shoulder, “Wish me luck.”

THIRTY-THREE

Marrying Gus feels like a huge mistake, and I wish we’d never done it.”

Gus’s stomach bottomed out at Merritt’s words. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop when he went looking for his wife. He’d seen Adelia pull her away and went after her, determined to heed Sebastian’s earlier advice. Tell her how you feel, Gus. Don’t let her get away. But he reached the horse stall just as she’d said those words. After everything they had been to each other, after the kisses they’d just shared … a mistake?

“I don’t want to be married to him like this anymore,” Merritt admitted.

“You don’t?” Adelia asked.

“No.”

His heart tightened in his chest, and he turned and walked rapidly toward the exit before they spotted him, leaving the warmth of the barn rather than heading back to the party. His dress shoes crunched on the freshly fallen snow as more fat flakes fell from the sky and landed on his nose and eyelashes. But he couldn’t feel the cold. Not now. He felt nothing.

His mind reeled, doubting every moment of their relationship until he was spiraling out of control. She had certainly been convincing when kissing him back earlier. His chest ached because he had thought that kiss was real. He had thought it was about them showing each other how much they really cared, but maybe that’s not what it was for her. Maybe she’d gone along with it for show. And he felt like a fool for believing she might actually love him back.

Gus walked past the house and down the long driveway. He knew people would probably start to wonder where he had run off to, but he couldn’t go back there and face her. Now that he knew how she really felt about their marriage, he needed to figure out what to do next.

As he walked, the emotions overwhelmed him and spilled out with his tears. Before this night, he had never known what a broken heart felt like. Every part of him seemed to be affected—head pounding, throat tightening, heart aching, stomach churning. He would’ve preferred never to experience any of it. This was why he had steered clear of love for so long. But with Merritt, it couldn’t be avoided. They don’t call it falling in love for nothing. He fell, all right. And now he was suffering the fallout.

By the time he returned to the house, he knew what he had to do. He didn’t bother returning to the reception. He went into the house, shut himself in their room, took out his phone, and dialed.

THIRTY-FOUR

Bright sunlight shone through the bedroom window, waking Merritt from sleep. She rolled onto her side, again disappointed to see an empty bed and even more disappointed about the way last night had ended.

So determined to tell Gus how she felt, she had searched every room in the barn with no success. When she finally turned in around midnight, he wasn’t in their room, and she wasn’t sure what to make of his disappearing act.

She sat up and stretched, glancing out the window at the fresh blanket of snow. It was beautiful but just the sight of it gave her the chills. She much preferred sunny California. Their flight was set for the afternoon, and while she loved being with the Schultzes, she was ready to go home.

Merritt looked at the clock on the nightstand, realizing she’d slept in a little later than usual. She rose to get ready for the post-wedding brunch with the family and noticed Gus’s packed suitcase near the door. In the bathroom, all of his toiletries were gone from around the sink. He must be just as anxious as she was for home.

When she came out of the room, she found everyone scattered about the house. Harriet, Ida, and Rhonda were in the kitchen, preparing the meal, while Skylar and Adelia set the table. Ephraim was relaxing in the great room with a mug of coffee, chatting with Grandma Mabel and Genevieve’s grandparents. Franky and Ivy were snuggled up on the love seat, and Merritt could see Skylar was doing her best not to look over at them.

“Can I help?” Merritt asked as she stepped into the kitchen.

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