Page 62 of The Billionaire Land Baron

Shelby felt herself wavering and guessed that Jake did too, because he placed his hands loosely on her hips. She didn’t fight him. His touch somehow disarmed her anger and made her feel giddy. She blew out a breath.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” His face lit up and he grabbed her in another crushing hug. Then he took her hand and led her back out to Maria, who looked evenly at them both, as though nothing had happened.

“I have a selection of dresses, casual wear, and bathing suits.”

Shelby looked to Jake for the telltale blush as it lit his cheeks. “Uh,” he said. “I’m going to leave you to it. Why don’t you pick a bathing suit, something more casual, and then a nicer dress for dinner?”

“That’s a lot. And I have a bathing suit,” Shelby said.

He waved a hand. “Get another. One special day. I’ll jump in the shower. Maria, set aside whatever you think would be best for me. I don’t need a bathing suit. Just a suit for dinner and maybe something casual for daytime.”

Jake excused himself to take a shower and Shelby found herself standing alone with Maria, suddenly shy again. Was this normal life for Jake? Ordering boutique clothing up in a suite bigger than Shelby’s house?

“He said that you were petite, but some of these might even be too big,” Maria said, eyeing the rack and then looking Shelby up and down. Shelby crossed her arms over her chest. Maria pulled a few things off the rack and handed them to Shelby. “Why don’t you start with these? You can try anything, of course, but these would be my personal recommendations for your body shape and skin tone.”

Shelby nodded and smiled brightly, though she had never considered things like skin tone or body shape when shopping. Maria was good at her job. Shelby never would have picked the silver one-piece bathing suit, which looked flashy on the hanger, but somehow once it was on, seemed more sophisticated. There was also a light blue sundress that Shelby loved and a short black cocktail dress which fit well and had a skirt that lifted when she twirled. The fabric of the dresses felt luxurious, not like anything she’d owned.

When she had all three pieces off, she took a breath and looked at the price tags, wishing she hadn’t. Her throat felt tight. She couldn’t accept this kind of a gift. The bathing suit alone was probably more than she had spent all last year on clothes.

He wants to, she told herself. But then thought of Matt, who had also wanted to do a lot of things like drive her around and any other favor small or large. Because he wanted more.

What did Jake want? What did she want?

Sighing, she went back out to Maria. Jake was holding a suit jacket, but hung it back up. He and Maria looked expectantly at Shelby. “Well?” he said.

“I love all three,” Shelby said. She tried not to smile, but couldn’t help it. Jake grinned back. He seemed more energized out of Lucky, more open. Maybe fancy suites were more his element than Airstream trailers and small towns. Shelby felt a little unsteady.

Shelby was entering into a sort of dream world of denial. Jake would leave her. She would have to go home.

But if she could stop thinking about those things, today could be beautiful. A tiny, delicate joy-filled blip in the center of a life that was otherwise falling apart.

STOP IT, she told herself. That mess at home ain’t going anywhere. It will still be there when you get back. Shut up and enjoy this one day.

Maria asked her shoe size and said she would send someone back up with shoes and intimates. Jake blushed at that and it made Shelby laugh. He was so adorable when blushing. Which seemed to be just about all the time.

A few moments later, Maria was gone, the silver cart of clothes along with her.

Jake still had a wide grin on his face that made it hard not to smile back. “What, you goof?” she said.

“I’m just really happy you’re here. And we’ve got options for today, so tell me what you want to do first. It’s all about you.”

Shelby felt a nervous excitement. This was so strange—to have choices of things to do. Just for her. He rattled off a list of activities like the spa, the pool, golf, gambling on the casino floor, or eating.

“I highly recommend the spa, though. Have you ever been to a spa?”

He had to know the answer to that. She resisted the urge to answer with sass, Do I look like I’ve been to a spa? He was being so kind. Instead she simply shook her head.

“That would be good after a swim if you’re up for it. They’ve got great pools here. Or…anything really. It’s up to you.”

Shelby thought about the list of things he’d mentioned. Other than swimming, she hadn’t been gambling or to a spa or golfing or to a fancier restaurant than Outback Steakhouse in Orange. Instead of feeling excited, she oddly felt pressured, like she needed to make the right choices. What would he want her to choose?

He loved swimming, obviously and wanted to do the spa. Maybe some gambling and then dinner? She listed these off and was glad to see his big smile get bigger.

“Sounds like the perfect day—date. The perfect date.”

“A date, huh? I don’t remember being asked on one.”

Jake laughed, then got down on a knee, grabbing both her hands in his. Though she knew it wasn’t a proposal, the sight of him on one knee made her happier than it should. Her cheeks flushed.

“Shelby, will you please go on a date with me today?”

Her cheeks were going to hurt by the end of the day from smiling, she could already tell. “I will.”

When he stood, she hoped he might kiss her, but instead he wrapped her up in a big hug again, his lips close to her ear, sending tingles down her body. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said. “Though I prefer ‘I do’ to ‘I will.’ Now go get on your bathing suit.”

He released her with a gentle shove toward the bedroom as her mouth hung open. He was joking about marriage. But hearing him joke and seeing him down on a knee stirred up an ache for something she hadn’t even considered for her own life: truly falling in love. Marriage. A happily ever after.

It had seemed too cruel and an impossible scenario for her with her father and knowing basically everyone in Lucky. But now Jake had busted into her life, shaking everything up. Tomorrow was really going to hurt.

---