Page 10 of Marrying a Billionaire

Reed turned his attention back to the road. “You’re in for a nice surprise then. I like to keep my flat nice and cool.”

He flipped on his blinker and pulled off the freeway.

After he’d read over the contract that Orson had put together, his mother came waltzing into the room, proclaiming how relieved she felt now that everything was settled. Reed wanted to shake some sense into her. Just because she forced a girl into contractually marrying him didn’t mean that his grandfather was going to sign off on the marriage.

Poor Lillian had to go along with this ridiculous idea even if it did nothing for Reed’s benefit. She was now a part of this messed up agreement. He glanced over at her. She was so quiet.

He could tell that there were things about her that she wasn’t telling him. Who wants their entire apartment donated? What could have possibly happened in her past that gave her no sense of home?

He wanted her to be able to tell him these things. But she was closed tighter then a ship. And he didn’t blame her. For all she knew, he was some crazy guy. Which, after what his mom did, he was beginning to think that perhaps he was.

“You okay?” he asked. He couldn’t just let it lie. He wanted her to know that he was here. They were going to be man and wife, after all.

She glanced over at him. There was a confused look in her eyes. Like she didn’t know how to answer him. “I think so.”

He twisted his hands on the steering wheel. “It’ll be over before you know it and then you can move on with your life.”

Lillian snorted.

He shot another glance her direction. What did that mean?

Her cheeks reddened as she leaned back in her chair. “Sorry. It’s just you said life like you assumed I have one.”

“You have no life?” He rested his wrist on the steering wheel as he relaxed on his seat. “Well, I would beg to differ. Your apartment seemed tidy. There wasn’t an excess of cats. And you wear jeans, not sweatpants, so you’re ahead of most shut-ins.”

Lillian laughed. “There you go again. Thinking that hermits and serial killers wear their status on their sleeves. We’re sneaky. We only allow people to see what we want them to see.”

Reed leaned closer to her. “Should I be worried that you keep referring to yourself aswe?”

“Yeah, you should be.”

He pulled back as he flipped on his blinker and pulled off the freeway. Ten minutes later, he stopped in front of Jezebels and let the car idle.

“What is this place?” Lillian asked, peering out of the window.

“This is where we are going to get clothes,” he said as he opened the car door.

When he rounded the hood and handed his keys off to the valet, Lillian was still sitting in the car. She looked pale. He shot her an encouraging smile and walked over to her door.

“You can do this. It’s just shopping,” he said as he held out his hand to help her.

Lillian stared at it and then back up to him. “But. . . This isn’t where I normally shop. What does a place like Jezebels sell?”

Reed shrugged. He honestly didn’t know. All he did was ask his kid sister, Cassie, and she told him that this was a trendy store. “Trust me, I have it on very good authority that this is the place to shop.”

Cassie had almost blown out his eardrum the night before when he’d called her to tell her about the contract and marriage. She went on and on about finally getting back at Mason for what he did. She said something about fate smiling down on them. Cassie wasn’t shy about her dislike for Hannah. Reed appreciated his sister’s support, but he was ready to move on and wished Cassie would do the same.

Lillian hesitated but then set her hand in his. Once she was on the sidewalk, he shut the door and the valet drove his car off. He led her over to the front doors of the shop—reveling in the feeling of her hand clasped in his. Was it bad that he was enjoying it?

They paused, and Lillian peeked through the windows. “I’m not so sure. These really don’t scream me.” She waved to the flowing skirts and sleeveless dresses.

“I’m sure you’ll look great in whatever you pick out.” He pinched his lips together when he realized what he’d just said. Lillian heard it too and turned to look at him with her eyes wide. He needed to get out of her presence so he pulled open the door and nodded toward the inside. “Cassie said she’d met you here at twelve-thirty. That’s in ten minutes. Go in and look around. I’ll text her and tell her you’re here.”

“Cassie?”

Reed nodded. “My kid sister. She’s coming to help you navigate New York’s fashion world. She’s ecstatic to meet you and make you over.” He winced at the phrase Cassie had said. It definitely did not sound natural coming from his lips.

“Really. How does she know about me?”

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