Page 11 of Marrying a Billionaire

Reed smiled. “I told her our situation. You can trust Cas. She’s amazing. She’ll take good care of you.”

Lillian glanced up at him. “You’re not coming in? You don’t need a strapless body suit?” She pointed to the black velvet full body suit that the mannequin had on.

Reed laughed and shook his head. “Not today.” As he studied her, a strange feeling brewed in his stomach. Was it wrong that his heart skipped a beat that she wanted to spend some time with him? He cleared his throat and forced a smile. That was ridiculous. She was just his fake wife. Nothing more. She just didn’t want to be stranded in an unknown store.

“I’ve got a ring to buy.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Big night planned. Mom wants there to be cameras and everything. She wants this to look genuine. So, get a nice dress while you’re in there.” He waved his hand toward the interior of the store.

Lillian followed his gesture with her gaze and then took a deep breath. “Okay, here I go.” She made her way into the store and Reed let the door shut behind her. She wandered around a few displays, reaching out and brushing her fingers against a few shirts.

Then he remembered her card in his back pocket. Can’t have her shopping without money. He pulled open the door and called out her name.

Lillian turned and made her way over to him. “Coming to rescue me?”

Reed shook his head. “Nope. But, I figured you needed money so. . .” He pulled out the charge card and handed it over.

She took it and turned it around in her hand. “This is mine?” she asked, running her thumb over her name that was embossed with gold on the front.

“All yours. As per the agreement. Unlimited clothing budget. Well, actually there’s $50,000 on it. But don’t go too crazy and spend it all here.” Her skin paled and he noticed she was staring a bit too hard at the numbers across the card. Worried, he ducked down to meet her gaze. Had he said the wrong thing? “Are you okay?”

She pinched her lips together and nodded. “It just feels surreal. I can’t believe this is happening.” She leaned forward with a twinkle in her eye. “I almost want to get a lottery ticket. I feel strangely lucky.”

Relieved that she wasn’t upset, a smile twitched on his lips. He liked Lillian. She was modest and humble—two qualities that were sorely lacking in all the women he dated before her. It was nice. “Well, with what you are getting for helping me out, I think we’ve got you more than covered. Besides, I think the odds of winning the lottery are about a hundred million to one.”

She nodded as she slipped the card into her pursed and turned. “Well, I should get some shopping done, and you have a ring to buy.” She smiled at him. “I have the very important decision to make between that mohair vest and a pair of suede pants.” She wrinkled her nose as if that decision was a very strange one.

He saluted her and then turned on his heel and headed towards Tiffany’s. He slowed his gait the farther he got. For a moment, he contemplated going back into the store to be with her. He enjoyed her company. But he stopped himself before he went too far down that rabbit hole. He was being ridiculous. She was perfectly capable and probably didn’t even want him there. She just asked to be polite. He pulled out his phone and located Cassie’s photo. He hit the message button.

Lillian is at Jezebels. Where are you?

He hit send and waited.

Five minutes away

He sent a thumbs-up and continued down the sidewalk. Lillian would be fine. Besides, he had a ring he needed to pick out. His mom was adamant that they had to get this right. They needed the whole world believing that their love was real, or his grandfather would never buy it.

If they blew this, then there was no other option. Mason would inherit the company and Reed would be stuck working for his half-brother and ex-fiancée for the rest of his life.

Muscling down any doubt he had about this arrangement, Reed crossed the street and pulled open the door to the jewelry store. He stepped inside and smiled at the saleswoman behind the counter. She had a sharp bun and a pinched expression.

“Good afternoon, sir,” she said as she rested her manicured nails on the glass case. “What can I get for you today?”

Reed took a deep breath as he peered down at the rings arranged in neat rows and uttered the words that he never thought he’d say again. “I need to buy an engagement ring.”

Chapter Five

Lillian stood in the shop, glancing around. She had never felt more out of place then she did right now. Wearing her clay-stained t-shirt and jeans was not the smartest move. But when she’d woken up this morning, packing had been on her agenda. Not shopping at some high-end boutique in New York.

She sighed as she watched Reed slip around the corner and disappear out of sight. There was no going back now. The only person she knew was gone, and she doubted that the valet would let her collect Reed’s car so she could high-tail it out of here. And the thought of abandoning Reed made her stomach twist, so she pushed all thoughts of running away from her mind. She was stuck in a store that she most definitely didn’t belong in, might as well make the best of it.

“May I help you?” a stern voice asked from behind her.

Lillian let out a yelp as she turned to see a severe-looking woman staring at her. She was a good foot taller than Lillian and had a plunging v-neck dress. Her bangs were cut straight across and her nose was long and came to a very defined point at the end.

“I”—Lillian swallowed—“am just looking,” she said, grabbing a dress off the rack to hold it against her body. She tried to look busy as the woman continued to inspect her.

Just as she pressed the dress to her stomach, the woman let out a disgruntled sound. “Your clothes aren’t wet, are they?” She motioned to the stains on Lillian’s shirt.

Lillian let out an uncomfortable laugh and hung the dress back up. Of course, this woman singled her out. She no doubt looked like a homeless person who had stumbled in there from off the street. Lillian fought the urge to explain that it was clay stains and not who-knows-what. “No. My clothes have been washed and dried.”

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