Page 38 of Marrying a Billionaire

After a long hot shower, Reed dressed and made his way back to the kitchen. When he rounded the corner, he groaned. Lillian had made her way back up to the house and was now sitting at the bar. Thankfully, she was showered and dressed as well. No more siren swimsuit to muck up his brain. He was going to have a word with his sister when he saw her tonight.

Lillian turned when he entered the room. She was eating an apple. When she saw him, she covered her mouth with her hand. A sheepish expression passed over her face.

“I hope you don’t mind that I helped myself,” she said.

He shook his head. “Of course. Take what you need.” He walked over to the oven where he turned it on.

Before he could say anything, a phone rang. Lillian shifted around until she pulled her phone from her purse.

She glanced down at it and then over to Reed. “I’m going to take this outside,” she said. Her skin was pale as she pressed the phone to her cheek and stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind her.

He tried to busy himself in the kitchen while Lillian paced the deck. She paused every so often, holding her stomach with her hand and then a look of agitation would cross her face and she’d begin pacing again.

It took all his strength not to head out there to rescue her. He wanted to tell off whoever was making her upset and pull her into his arms and comfort her.

He flexed his hands as he fought in internal battle. Thankfully, a few seconds later, she hung up her phone. He watched her, hoping she’d come inside, but she didn’t. Instead, she remained on the deck with her arms crossed in front of her. The wind blew, ruffling her skirt.

Unable to keep to himself, Reed forced each relaxed step as he made his way to the sliding door and out onto the deck.

“Food’s almost ready,” he said as he approached her. He hoped that she bought that him telling her was the reason he’d come out.

Her gaze was fixed onto the water in front of them. There was a sadness to her expression that squeezed his heart. She closed her eyes and nodded. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I’m not that hungry.”

He had to lean closer to hear her before the wind picked up her words and whisked them away. Before he could stop himself, he opened his mouth and asked, “Is everything okay?”

She chewed her lip as she nodded which slowly morphed into her shaking her head. “No. Joshua is looking for me.”

“Your ex?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He leaned closer to her, placing his hand on the small of her back. He wanted her to know that he was there. That she could count on his support. There was no way this Joshua character was going to hurt her again. “Why do you think he’s looking for you?”

She turned toward him, putting her face only a foot away from his. She looked so small and fragile. His heart ached from the pain that emanated from her gaze. “He’s seen whom I’m marrying.” She nodded toward him. “At least that’s my guess. And he wants in on it.”

Anger boiled in his stomach. He knew what that was like. A person only caring for him based on how many zeros were in his bank account. He grasped her shoulders and turned his expression serious. “Lillian, look at me.”

She raised her gaze until it met his.

“There is no way this man is going to bother you. He has nothing over you.” He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t let him hurt you,” he said as he cradled her head in his hand.

A sob escaped her lips. “I just wish that my past would leave me alone,” she said. Her voice as muffled by his shirt.

A sentiment he was all too familiar with. He wished that as well. He pulled back so he could look down at her. She glanced up at him through her red eyes. Letting his instinct take over, he reached down and wiped an escaping tear from her cheek. “That man is a fool to think that he could ever hurt you again. He doesn’t know who he is messing with.” He leaned closer to her. “Orson will bury him in legal fees if he thinks that he can get a penny from you.” He needed her to know that he would take care of his fake wife.

She hesitated. “No matter what?”

He laughed. There was nothing in her past that would allow Joshua to lay claim on anything Reed owned. The man was a fool to try to attempt anything. “No matter what.” He met her gaze with as much force as he could muster.

“Thank you,” she whispered, another tear slipping down her cheek.

He nodded, cradling her cheek in his hand and wiping the tear with his thumb. “You’re going to be my wife in a few short hours. I will protect you. I promise.” He let his gaze slip down to her lips. The only thought on his mind was how much he wanted to show her that she could trust him. His arms ached to pull her close and press his lips against hers.

She stiffened and pulled away. “I believe you,” she said, wrapping her arms around her stomach and turning her gaze back to the ocean. “You’re a good guy, Reed. Any woman would be lucky to have you as their real husband.”

His heart squeezed as he watched her turn away from him. Why was she acting like this? Was he completely misreading what was happening between them? She seemed so happy one minute just to have her move away the next. Why couldn’t he figure her out?

Perhaps, he was a fool. Was he just wishing so hard that she cared about him, that he forced himself to see it? He wouldn’t put that past himself. He swallowed, forcing down his feelings. What an idiot he could be sometimes.

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