Page 27 of Faking It with my Small Town Billionaire

I knew about her mom’s dementia, her father’s death, and where her sisters live now. Lily has told me all about her family, but I knew before that. I’d looked into her as soon as I left that first meeting.

“Martha was about to move out, and Dad wanted a last family vacation together,” she continued, “so he took us to San Francisco. It was hard, with Mom needing constant attention, but we still had a blast.”

Her words stumped me. Not because her last vacation was in San Francisco, but the fact that it had been so long since she’d had one.

“Why?” I asked. “Why have you not been away since then?”

She looked at me like I was an idiot. “I have a business to run. Remember?”

“There’s more to life than work, Lily.”

“Oh, talk about the pot calling the kettle black,” she laughed. “You live for your job, and don’t you dare deny it.”

I shrugged and smiled. I couldn’t deny it. She was right.

But now, I was motivated to make this weekend a vacation she would remember. Which is why I made so many calls this week.

When I pull up to the bakery and climb out of the car, Lily meets me at the door. I give Jasmine a wave and say hello.

“Now, you take good care of that girl, Mr. Donovan. Make sure she doesn’t wander off and get lost.”

I laugh while Lily rolls her eyes. “I’m right here, you know.”

“Then get going,” Jasmine says playfully.

Outside, I take her small suitcase from her hands and put it beside mine in the trunk. Lily’s already opened the passenger door, but I’m quick enough to close it for her before I jump in the driver’s seat.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“As I’ll ever be,” she replies.

“Good.” I start the engine and pull away from the curb feeling an excitement in my stomach.

I’m not particularly excited about the trip. My vacations are regular and frequent. I’m excited for Lily because I know—or, at least, I hope—that she’s going to love it.

After the first hour passes, the questions start.

“So, how far away is it, this place that we’re going?”

“Can’t say for sure,” I lie.

I don’t want to tell her it’s a four-hour drive in case she figures it out. Though I’ve come to realize that Lily Harper is pretty smart, so I don’t imagine we’re going to make it all the way before her suspicions are validated.

I make conversation during the second hour to pass the time. I tell her how much better college was for me, and that I hadn’t realized that was what a learning environment was supposed to be like. I tell her about Jake and his success, which delights her completely.

We stop for a break halfway through the third hour. I need it, and we both need to use the restroom and get something to eat. We take a half hour, and then we’re on the road again.

“Seriously,” she says when I start driving again. “Where on Earth are we going?”

“Somewhere on Earth,” I joke. “Specifically, somewhere in the US.”

“Oh, well, that totally narrows it down. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I reply, smirking at her.

Not long after that, we begin to see the road signs, and I hear her gasp.

“Are we going to Lake Tahoe?” Lily cries, her eyes as wide as saucers.

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