Page 116 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

She has a matching bag. That’s where the package for our PI is. With the DNA samples. As soon as he gets them, he’ll rush them to two separate DNA labs.

It’s silly, really; I doubt even she thinks anything will come of it, but it’s fun. It’s play. At least for her it is; I have a more serious intent. Am I ripping a page out of Tabitha’s book? Wrapping serious things in a layer of bright fun?

It wouldn’t be the first thing I learned from her.

“Wish they’d step it up,” I grumble over the hum of the motor.

“Don’t we have until five?”

“That’s according to website hours. A lot of businesses in these parts run on island time,” I grumble.

“You hate when people don’t hop to when you snap your fingers,” she jokes.

“Then why am I hanging out with you?”

“We know why you’re hanging out with me,” she says.

Marvin is quizzing everybody on their plans for the island. The island has two villages, one on the east side and one on the west side. Eventually the question comes around to us. If Marvin’s asking, I’m not telling. I slide an arm around Tabitha’s shoulders and say, “It’s a romantic surprise.”

Tabitha beams at me.

“Where areyougoing?” I ask him.

“Winging it,” he says.

I nod.

Tabitha catches my gaze. She thinks he’s being suspicious, and she’ll make a big deal out of it later.

Two of the women start talking about the focus group and Tabitha’s ideas. They’re excited.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” Marvin says.

“Girls only,” Tabitha says.

Marvin’s tight smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. She kicks my foot.

We embark on the island. I buy her an orange Fanta in the little dockside shop while people sort themselves into taxis, including Marvin.

“Tell me that wasn’t so weird!” she says when they’re finally gone. “He wanted to know what everybody was doing, but he wouldn’t say what he was doing.”

“Maybe he wanted to see where the cool group was going?” The young cousins seem to have formed a cool group.

“He’s onto us.” she whispers. “The jig is up!”

“I think you’re just teasing me now.”

“Oh, yeah?” she says.

I hook my finger around the tie of her wraparound dress and pull her to me, wishing that we were alone. “I think it’s a way you manage people. It’s how you manage me.” I lower my voice. “I think you have a fun strategy.”

She tilts her head. “Is that so.”

“I think it’s how you manage life. You’re a serious person with a fun strategy in life.”

She looks surprised. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say.

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