Page 26 of Marrying the Billionaire

Oh my God, I can’t actually do that.

Right?

But if that kiss the other day was any indication, I need to up my game. The simple fact is, I want more. Sitting next to him in that concert hall Tuesday, the subtle musk of his cologne filling my nose, his hand right there on the armrest just a few inches from mine… Is it ridiculous to be twenty-seven years old and still crushing like this on someone? Especially when it’s your fake husband?

I mean, I guess I could consider Claire’s advice. There’s that Victoria’s Secret over in midtown that’s on my way home. It wouldn’t hurt to check out what they have. And Archer did give me a credit card yesterday. I said I’d use it for emergencies, but a crisis of our marriage could be considered an emergency, right?

“She’s a really sweet girl.”

What now? Oh, right. The dog. “She’s always one of my favorites to walk. Very responsive to commands. Her last home must have taken a lot of time to teach her.”

“Why did they give her up?”

“They were moving overseas and couldn’t bring her with them. It was hard for her the first couple weeks when they didn’t return, but she’s bounced back.”

She bends down to stroke Sandy’s silky ears, and the dog preens under her touch. “And no one else is interested in adopting her?”

“People get distracted by the cute puppies when they come in. But Sandy here is already housetrained and doesn’t have all that crazy energy a puppy does.”

She continues to pet her, a quiet moment that seems to be the start of a beautiful partnership. “Could you let me know if anyone else comes in to look at her? I want to bring Ava and see how she likes her.”

“Of course.” I keep my grin to myself, loving when a dog worms its way into a person’s heart.

We return to the shelter where Claire fills out some preliminary paperwork just in case she does adopt Sandy, and I’m left with plenty of paperwork of my own upstairs at my desk. I need to figure out more grants to apply for, and more than ever, actually put on that fundraising benefit I’ve been meaning to. At least I allocated money in the budget for it. And it theoretically should net us more in return. I should also stop by Mackenzie’s shop and see what she can do for me to plan it out.

But for now, I have some other shopping to do.

---