Page 48 of The Billionaire's Fake Fiancée

I think Gail’s going to drop the subject, but then Marvin chooses this time to show up at Gail’s side. “What’s nothing?” he asks. Has he been listening in?

I grit my teeth, monitoring his eyes to make sure he doesn’t leer at Tabitha; I’m more than ready to back him off if he so much as looks at her wrong.

“My box,” Tabitha says. “I had things a little mixed up, though, so never mind.”

“It’s nothing, really,” I say. “But this duet! Gail!”

“I’d been meaning to ask where you found them,” Clark says, perfectly in sync with me, as usual. “They really are talented.”

“Boston,” Gail says, and what she really means isBoston Philharmonic.“I get them when I can.”

I say something about having met a one-man-band guy at the launch toast, and she explains that’s for the kids. “He’s playing on the kids’ deck tonight. There’ll be pizza followed by a make-your-own-sundaes dessert buffet.”

“And then they’ll hopefully burn off all that sugar in the bouncy castles,” Marvin adds. “Or their parents will have our heads.”

Gail gives him a warm smile. “Yes, they will.”

How close have these two become? Did Marvin actually help create the activities? Has he moved into her home? But then, I suppose they have a lot of time to make up.

Gail suddenly turns to Tabitha. “Rex tells me you own a hairstylist business. My stylist and I tried this new cut…I’m not sure…”

Tabitha’s eyes go wide. “It’s nice.”

“Come on, now,” Gail says. “This guy’s new for me, and I’m not sold on what he did.”

Tabitha tilts her head. “It’s a quality cut,” she says. “But if you don’t like it, that’s what matters.”

Gail laughs. “You don’t want to dog one of your peers. I get that, but come on now, what do you think? Because I’m not so sure I like it, but I don’t have the words for why.”

Tabitha has the words—I can tell by her eyes—there’s a certain bright energy in them. “I think if someone were to thin it out by your ears, it would make your cheekbones stand out more.”

“You think it’s too fluffy on the sides? Is that what you’re telling me? Because I kind of think that might be it,” Gail says. “And don’t you bullshit me, now.”

Tabitha bites the side of her lip. “I’m just saying what I’d try. Every hairdresser has a different vision.”

Gail’s nodding. “I think I want your vision. How hard would it be?”

“Well, not hard…but only if I had my shears.”

I frown. And what about her wrist injury? Isn’t she supposed to be resting her wrist?

“Well, we have a fully stocked hair salon here,” Gail says. “You think you would have some time on this trip to do your magic? Not to put you to work when you’re a guest here—”

“I love cutting hair! And this change on you would be…” She pauses, eyes sparkling. “Chef’s kiss,” she says—instead of simply doing a chef’s kiss with her fingers. “But…” Tabitha looks over at me. As though I might forbid it.

“Oh, you can let your girl out of the room for a bit now, can’t you?” Gail says to me.

“Why not?” I say, having exactly zero choice.

“Great!” Tabitha grins at Gail. They’re talking schedules.

I stiffen when I catch Marvin’s eyes on Tabitha. I shift a little to let him know I see him. Gail’s nephew or no, a man doesn’t stare at another man’s fiancée. Or at least notmygoddamn fiancée.

“So you’re not going to tell us what’s in the box?” Marvin asks.

“No,” Tabitha says. “It’s for maybe tomorrow.”

I sling an arm around her, eyes on Marvin, who has wisely removed his gaze.

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