Page 17 of The Billionaire's Wife

The boat docks at the Bahamas the next day in the early afternoon. I stand on the deck watching as we near the island, the palm trees and perfect white sand visible from far away. I watch in awe, taking it all in. After docking, Marcus and Julia suggest that we go ashore and enjoy some time on a private beach nearby. So, after changing and gathering our things for the day, we all disembark, taking a taxi to a beach with cabanas and a gorgeous stretch of sand and pristine water.

I immediately make a beeline to the ocean, wading through the waves and sinking in. I float, closing my eyes and soaking up the sun and waves. Lilly joins me for a while, and we bob with the waves while the others lay about on covered loungers.

“So, that kiss yesterday …” Lilly says with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. “Yeah, that was …” I laugh.

“Sorry about Aiden joining in on the egging on, by the way. I definitely chewed him out later for that.” She shakes her head.

“Oh, it’s fine. It’s what I signed up for. We are ‘married’ after all,” I tell her.

“You’re being a good sport about this whole thing.”

I shrug. “Yeah, what can I say? I have a high tolerance for cruising through Caribbean waters and chilling in the Bahamas.”

Lilly chuckles.

We spend the rest of the day on the beach, and while I filter in and out of the water, joining the others from time to time, I can’t help but notice something just a bit off about Alec. Is it just me, or is he avoiding me? Unlike his brothers, he doesn’t save a seat for me under the cabana, and he doesn’t make room for me when I approach. He’s also been avoiding the water like the plague. Is it because that’s where I’m spending most of my time, or is he just some sort of germaphobe or something?

Either way, I decide not to let it bother me on what might possibly be the best day of my life. I’ve never seen water this color of turquoise before. I spend hours striding along the shoreline searching for shells, stooping to inspect small sea creatures, and tossing pebbles into the water.

As the sun begins to slowly descend upon the horizon, I turn to see Olivia jogging up the beach toward me. I hadn’t realized how far I’d wandered from the group.

“Hey,” she says when she gets within earshot. “We’re all heading back to the boat now. We’re going to change and grab dinner at a nice restaurant Marcus knows.”

“Sounds good,” I say, and we fall into step side by side as we head back to the others. After a few steps, I summon the courage to ask, “Is Alec okay? He seems off today.”

“More off than he’s been the whole trip?” Olivia asks with a chuckle.

I offer her a questioning look.

She smirks. “He’s definitely off. Whether it’s nerves about being able to pull off this charade or nerves about something else, I don’t know.”

Something else? What else? Probably the whole merger with Marcus’s company, I decide. And maybe I’m just imagining things about today in particular. It’s not like we know each other that well. Or at all. Who am I to say Alec is acting weird?

We take a car back to the yacht and make our way to our rooms. Once inside, Alec silently opens his suitcase, pulling out what appears to be dress slacks and a button down. “Wear one of the nicer dresses I sent you,” he says over his shoulder. “It sounds like this place is one of the nicest on the island.”

I nod, rummaging through my bag until I find one. I choose a deep red dress that falls just below my knees. I head to the bathroom. I take a quick shower, quickly blow drying my hair just enough so that it will dry with some loose curls, and put on a bit of makeup—mascara and some lip gloss.

Then I grab the red dress. I slip it on, the satin silky and soft against my skin. I turn from side to side to view myself in the mirror. It’s a cute dress—a gorgeous dress, actually. I have to admit that Alec has good taste. I reach behind me to pull up the zipper. I make it halfway up my back before realizing there’s also a corset-style tie that needs to be woven along my mid back. I turn around, craning my neck over my shoulder to try to see my reflection in the mirror, struggling with the ties.

After a few moments, I sigh in frustration. There’s no way I’m going to be able to tie this up myself. Which only means one thing.

I suck in a deep breath and exit the bathroom hesitantly.

Alec is standing in the room already dressed, fiddling with a watch on his wrist. I look him up and down. He looks showered.

He turns to me. Noticing my quizzical gaze, he says, “I used the shower in an empty cabin next to us.” Then he takes in my dress, his eyes slowly devouring the length of me. I try not to let myself blush.

“I, uh … actually, could you help me fasten the back?” I ask timidly.

Is it just me, or do Alec’s eyes widen slightly? Either way, his expression is immediately back to neutral, and he simply nods.

I spin around, holding the front of my dress to my chest and waiting patiently for him to tie me up. He steps up behind me, and I can feel his breath on the back of my neck. I shudder instinctively.

He reaches for the ties of my dress, his fingers gently brushing against the bare skin of my back. He clears his throat. “This is a ridiculous design for a dress,” he comments.

“You’re the one who bought it.”

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