Page 21 of Marrying a Billionaire

She hesitated but then nodded. “Sure.”

They walked next to each other the one hundred feet from the kitchen to the guest bedroom. She paused and nodded toward the door. “This is me.”

He reached past her to get the door handle, bringing his chest inches from hers. He could smell her perfume and the feeling of her body so close to his almost paralyzed him. When he turned the knob and pulled back, he glanced down at her. She was right in front of him. It would be so easy to lean down and kiss her again. Was it wrong that he wanted to?

She gave him a small smile and then ducked her head. “Thanks for walking me to my place.”

Reed chuckled as he watched her walk into the room. He leaned one arm against the door frame, not wanting to leave her presence. When she turned, she met his gaze.

A sudden need to say something washed over him. “Thanks for doing this.”

Lillian scoffed and motioned to the room. “I should be thanking you. This is the best place I’ve ever lived in.” She pinched her lips together as her cheeks turned red.

“Well, you’re doing me a huge favor.” He pushed off the door and gave an exaggerated bow. “So I owe you.”

Lillian laughed again. “Any time.”

Reed grabbed the door handle and began to close the door. “Have a good night, Lillian.”

“You too.”

Just before the door was shut, Lillian said his name. Reed hesitated, wondering if he’d heard right. His mind was swimming from everything that had happened tonight. It was possible he’d imagined her speaking.

“Reed?” her voice was low as she appeared in the slit of the door.

He had heard her. He pushed open the door. “Yes?”

“Do you mind helping me with my zipper?” She turned slightly and motioned toward the back of her dress.

His heart hammered in his chest as his eyes widened. Had she really asked him for that? Before she changed her mind, he nodded. “Sure,” he said. His voice had come out lower than he’d intended.

Get a grip, Williamson.

Lillian turned so her whole back was to him. He couldn’t help but stare at how creamy her pale skin on her neck and arms looked. He reached out and grasped onto the top of her dress, letting his fingers linger against her skin. A fire ignited in his stomach.

She tensed and tilted her face toward him. Reed cleared his throat as he focused on the task at hand. It was as if everything was moving in slow motion. He grabbed the zipper and slid it down. Lace from her undergarments became exposed and Reed forced himself to step back. This was not where he was supposed to be. He needed to leave.

“There,” he said, moving out into the hall.

Lillian turned, holding the front of her dress against her body. “Thanks,” she whispered. Her gaze held his for a moment.

He gave her a smile, nodded and then grabbed the door handle and pulled the door closed.

Now alone, Reed leaned against the wall and blew out a breath. What was happening to him? He scoffed as he pushed off and headed to his room. He was losing his mind, that’s what was happening. Somehow, this woman had turned him into a babbling idiot.

Scrubbing his face with his hand, he closed his bedroom door. He needed to get a grip. All of this was fake. She was leaving, and if he didn’t get a hold of himself, he was going to end up hurt. And that was something he’d promised himself that he would never do again. Only an idiot would allow feelings for a woman who was contracted to be with him.

And he wasn’t an idiot.

* * *

The next morning, Reed’s phone buzzed next to his bed, waking him up.

He groaned and slapped his nightstand, trying to find the offender. Once he found it, he hit the talk button and then flipped onto his back. “Yeah?” he asked, draping his elbow over his eyes.

“Mr. Williamson?”

“Um hum.”

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