Page 23 of Marrying a Billionaire

“Stay safe. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Lillian nodded. “You too.” Then she tilted her head. “I mean, stay safe.”

He leaned down and brushed a kiss on her cheek. Then he turned and left the kitchen before he saw her response. Once he got into his room, he walked straight into his bathroom and started his shower. He needed to get out of here. He was enjoying this fake relationship situation a bit too much.

Chapter Nine

The early morning sun crept into Lillian’s room, waking her up. She stretched out on the bed as she stared up at the ceiling. Her body ached from all the shopping Cassie made her do yesterday. From the moment Reed left until nine o’clock at night, it was nothing but store after store, trying on this and that.

It was exhausting but in a good way. While trailing behind enthusiastic Cassie, Lillian began to wonder if this was what it was like to have a sister. And she didn’t realize how much she longed for it. Tamara was great, but her job forced her to be gone for weeks on end. With no one else in her life, Lillian was used to being alone.

But being around Reed and the people in his circle, she found herself enjoying all the company. It made her realize how much she wanted a family and a place to belong.

A flutter raced across Lillian’s stomach, grounding her in the present. She reached down and rested her hand on her stomach. Realization of what that meant settled in around her. She was nearing month six. That meant, if she went into premature labor, there was a chance that the baby could survive.

Survive.

The word echoed around in her mind and caused her heart to pick up speed. For a moment, she allowed herself to hope. But then, she pushed that ridiculous notion out of her head and pulled her covers off. She was made to be alone. Hoping for a life outside of what she was destined for was ridiculous. It was time for her to stop wishing and get moving.

Boxes of unopened decorations were scattered throughout her room. She hadn’t had any time to hang anything up. As soon as she got back from shopping, she went straight to bed.

She climbed out of bed and shuffled over to her door where she paused. She could hear faint singing. Who was here?

Twisting the door handle, she peered out of her room toward the kitchen. The light was on and someone was opening and closing cupboards all the while singing a song in a language Lillian didn’t recognize.

“Hello?” she called out, making her way toward the intruder.

The noise stopped and suddenly, a woman with dark, curly hair appeared. “You must be Ms. Lillian,” she said, crossing the space between them and wrapping her into a hug. After a few uncomfortable seconds in the arms of this stranger, the woman pulled back and kissed both of Lillian’s cheeks. “I am Desiree. I came yesterday but you weren’t here.” She waved Lillian toward the kitchen.

Lillian hesitated but followed. “I’m sorry. I was out with Cassie, shopping.”

Desiree laughed. It was deep and throaty. “That sounds like Ms. Cassie. She’s always shopping.” Desiree motioned toward the table where a plate was sitting. “Sit. I made you breakfast,” she said.

Lillian complied and took a seat. Desiree appeared and dished her up a portion of a quiche.

“I hope you like eggs.”

Lillian nodded. “That works.”

She ate while Desiree whirled around the kitchen, putting dishes away and mopping the floor. It seemed strange that this woman was already cleaning an impeccably kept house, but what did she know? The wealthy lived very differently than she did.

“How long have you known Reed?” Lillian asked as she took another bite.

Desiree paused and began tapping her fingers. “Well, it was about a year before he met Hannah, so. . .” She glanced toward the ceiling. “Seven years.”

Lillian swallowed sharply and a piece of crust scraped her throat. She coughed as the pain of the bite radiated in her chest.

Desiree looked concerned, but Lillian just waved her away.

Once her coughing fit was done, she took a sip of the water that Desiree had placed in front of her. “They were together that long?”

Desiree had returned to mopping. “Yes. They’d known each other since high school. That’s why what she did to Mr. Reed was just awful.” She spat on the ground but then mopped it up.

Huh. “He must have really loved her,” Lillian said, taking another bite.

Desiree nodded in time with the rhythm of the mop. As silence fell around them, Desiree glanced over at Lillian. A sheepish expression passed over her face. “I mean, he did. But he’s moved on.” She gave Lillian a wide smile. “With you!”

Before Lillian could respond, there was a knock. Desiree motioned for her to remain seated as she made her way over to the door. There were some muffled voices and then Desiree nodded and shifted to the side.

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