Page 243 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

I started to speak, but he cut me off with a shake of his head and a wave of his hand. “Save it. I’m aware that’s not you. Quality over quantity.”

I grinned and whacked him one on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”

“What are best friend assistants for? I think you’d best get along and go tell Megyn what’s happening.”

Looking at the time, I realized he was right. 6 p.m. wasn’t all that far away. I probably should have requested a later time, but it was too late now.

“You’ll be fine without me?” I asked, already heading for the door.

“When am I not?” Brian called after me.

I texted Megyn while riding the elevator down, letting her know the details and that I was on my way over. I first had to stop by my house to pick up my prince outfit, and then I made my way to her house. My house now, technically.

The street as clear, the night air cool. A single light was on in Megyn’s house, shining from her bedroom.

I bounded up to her porch and let myself in. “Megyn, I’m here!”

“I’m in the bathroom.”

“I’ll wait.”

“No,” she laughed. “I’m just putting my makeup on.”

Lugging my suit along, I went in search of her and found her already in her costume, looking so sweet and adorable in her ruffle-y body-hugging dress. She slid a tube of lipstick over her lips, painting them deep plum-red. Her hair hung around her shoulders still.

I went up behind her and slid my fingers in her hair, and softly kissed the back of her neck. “Hey, Cinderella.”

She smiled at me in the mirror and rubbed her head on mine. “Hi, Prince Charming. This is crazy.”

“Yes, it is. But necessary.” I shucked off my suit jacket, undressing so I could put on my own costume.

Megyn watched me in the mirror, her brown eyes going hazy with a mist of lust. “I just hope no one will be too disappointed when mice don’t run out of my house.”

I laughed and started putting on my costume, wriggling in the fitted trousers and shirt. “Your evil stepmother also isn’t here.”

“Thank goodness for small favors,” Megyn sighed. “I can do without being fully accurate to the source material.”

“Well, in the original story, you have sisters who try to cut off part of their toes to fit in the glass slipper you leave behind.”

Megyn started laughing and whisked her fingers over my chest. “You think Suzie wouldn’t take hedge clippers to her toes if she thought it would work?”

I laughed and hugged her tight. “I guess she can take the role of the evil stepsister, sure.”

We finished dressing just in time for a knock on the door, announcing the arrival of our so-called guests. I motioned for Megyn to go and sit on the couch and answered the door for her.

A rather polite, professional-looking young woman with blonde hair and big blue eyes stood on the porch, backed up by a much larger man who would have looked more at home in a Louisiana bayou. He was vast in all meanings of the word, in possession of a huge belly and almost tall enough to knock his head on the top of the doorframe.

The young woman smiled shyly at me and held out the hand not holding a small backpack. “Mr. Bryant? I’m Iris. We spoke on the phone.”

As soon as she spoke, I recognized her voice. I shook her hand warmly. “Just call me Carter. I’m sorry for how brisk I sounded before.”

Iris seemed to relax. “Carter, then. This is my cameraman, George. He had a crash course in producing before coming here with me, so I suppose you could say we are in good hands.”

I think I like this kid.

“Come inside. Come meet Megyn.”

Megyn got up from the couch and shook Iris’s hand, and gave George a big smile. He grinned and winked at her from behind his camera.

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