Page 35 of Faking It with my Small Town Billionaire

It takes a minute, but I finally calm down a little at a time.

“I’m all right now. Honestly.”

Lily nods and moves back to the chair she was sitting on. It’s only then that her earlier words hit me.

“I should have talked this through with you, instead of letting my feelings rule me.”

What feelings? Did she mean what I thought she meant? Had she been jealous when she came home earlier? I can’t know without asking, and I can’t ask without crossing a line.

I make another mental note to deal with Marcus Riley, and then I turn and look over at Lily.

“What about that Chinese?”

14

Lily

We’re still the talk of the town, even though we’ve been “married” for seven weeks. I hear there are bets on how long we’re going to last. Maybe I should get in on them. If I wager that we’ll last four months, I could totally clean up.

At this moment, however, I’m not really thinking about the town or the nosy, judgmental people who live here. Maybe because I’m being driven out of it. I mean, literally. Orson is driving, and I’m enjoying the view of the suburbs where Jake Capaldi lives.

I’ll be honest; I was surprised when Orson told me we’d been invited to a dinner party at his house.

“I didn’t realize you guys were still that close,” I said when he asked.

He raised his eyebrows and gave me a half smile. “Are you kidding? He’s the only reason I made it through high school alive.”

Orson also told me that Jake was doing pretty well for himself, and by the looks of the houses we’re driving by—monumental buildings with huge manicured gardens and double garages—it appears he wasn’t exaggerating.

We pull into the driveway of one of these huge houses, and by the looks of it, the others who have been invited are already here because there are four cars up ahead of us. Jake might be doing well, but I can hardly imagine he needs four cars.

“Are you ready?” Orson says when he brings the car to a stop.

I look at him nervously. “I think so.”

This is the first time we’ve really been up close and personal with other people. Wandering down the street holding hands is one thing. Having to act like we’re married in such close quarters is something else entirely.

“Just remember what we talked about at the apartment,” Orson says calmly. “We’re playing a role. That’s all. You know the way you smile at Cindy Caldwell, even though you want to wring her neck?”

I burst out laughing. “I do.”

He grins. “This is no different. Just don’t jump out of your skin if I drape my arm around your shoulders. I don’t want them thinking I’m a wife beater.”

I take a deep and shaky breath in. “All right.”

Orson looks at me for a long moment. “But you know the most important thing I want you to do tonight?”

I shake my head.

He smiles widely. “Enjoy yourself, Lily. Just relax and have a good time.”

When we get to the door, I brace myself for whatever the evening might bring.

“Lily!” Jake throws his arms open wide and gives me a bear hug like we’ve been best friends forever. I’m a little taken aback, but Orson seems to be amused.

The men embrace in a hug that expresses they have, indeed, been friends forever, and then we’re introduced to everyone else. Tara, Jake’s wife, is a beautiful woman with oval eyes of deep brown and swarthy skin. Her smile is wide and genuine.

Then there’s Peter and Phylis, who prefers Phil. Peter is small and stocky, whereas Phil is slender and petite. Gary and Wendy are the last couple we’re introduced to. Gary has super light blond eyebrows that match his hair and looks like he comes from a Nordic country, while Wendy is a plump redhead with a beaming smile that makes her face light up.

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