Page 7 of The Bride's Billionaire

“I say we go.”

“What?”

He pointed to the limos. “I think it’s a shame we were left off that invitation list, something we should rectify immediately.”

She laughed and then stopped. “Are you serious?” His eyes showed that he was. She looked down indicating her sundress.

“Okay, clothing.” He turned his head, looking up and down the street. “Easily fixed.” He led her four doors down to a boutique, held the door open, and followed her inside.

The shopkeeper immediately hovered.

Tyler mumbled in her ear, his breath tickling her neck and sending new waves of awareness through her. “This is on me.”

Before she could protest, he said, “We are in immediate need of some formal wear.”

The eyes of the shopkeeper lit, and he directed them toward the back of the store.

Tyler grinned. “The only catch is: I choose your outfit and you choose mine.”

She raised her eyebrow, secretly loving everything about this whole idea. “Oh really, where’s the fun in that for me?” She reached for the suit coats. “This blue jacket or that black one?”

“Oh, come now, surely you can be more creative…”

Her eyes searched the area and then a slow grin began to grow. “You are so on!”

After a surprisingly short amount of time and a few outfits tried, they both left the store looking amazing. She wore a short white dress, a lace sheath, tall white heels, and a small wrap against the night air.

She grinned every time she looked at him. She’d picked a conservative light-tan jacket, matching suit pants, an aqua shirt, and a bright floral tie.

“You keep looking at me like I’m looking at you. Does that mean you approve, or are you laughing inside at my expense?”

“No way; you’re hot. You wear aqua and flowers like no one I know.” And she meant it. He could model that outfit, and she’d believe he was paid to do so.

He paused on the sidewalk, pulling her up against him. “And you look amazing. This dress. Mmm.” His eyes traveled up her body, and she warmed under his gaze along their trail across her skin. “It’s like it was made for you.”

“Thank you for the dress. I do admit, it’s gonna be a favorite.” She’d made quick use of the store’s bathroom to refresh her makeup and pull her hair into an updo of sorts. She thought the pair of them pulled off formal pretty well.

He stepped away again, and they made their way to the hotel. Limos were still arriving and people exiting.

Her heart rate picked up. “What if they kick us out?”

He shrugged. “Then we’ll go somewhere else to appreciate our new clothes.” He stood taller as they drew near, and she watched with fascination as a new mask fell over his face. A sense of power, importance, surety emanated from him, and she followed his example, pasting on her boardroom face.

“Whoa.” He stopped and held her hand up. “Now, that’s a woman I don’t want to cross in a meeting.”

She laughed. “I was just thinking the same about you.”

His eyes sparkled with appreciation. “If work wasn’t such a taboo subject tonight, I think I’d be really interested to hear what you do for a living.”

They approached the entrance and he returned his power expression to his face. They followed closely behind a couple who had just exited the limo, hoping to not even be stopped.

But the man at the door asked to see their invitation. “Convite, por favor.”

“Convite. Não.. We don’t have.Deixa passar.”

The man eyed them.

Tyler glanced at his watch, eyeing the man until he shrugged. “Seja bem vindo.”

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