Page 92 of A Billion Dollar Romance
I squeezed his hand in mine, and felt him squeeze back, the warmth of the gold band around his finger.
We’d had to fight Bridget and Lyle on it–they’d still wanted to work the marketing angle–but we’d skipped the elaborate society wedding in favor of a small, private ceremony, just our closest friends. I of all people should have known how much work went into getting a draft ready for publication, but it snuck up on me nonetheless–and as I looked at the stack of books in the center of the shop, I was happy to have done so. It meant that the name on the cover readEdie Martin.
“This is better than a wedding,” I whispered to James, and he did look down at that.
“I should be offended,” he scoffed.
“But you’re not.”
“No, sweetheart, I’m not. And we’ll have the most gorgeous first anniversary party this city has ever seen.” He pulled me in front of him, pressing his front to my back, and holding up one hand in front of us. “Just imagine–a ballroom, filled with candles. A hundred thousand hot house blooms. A string quartet, and–you’ll never believe who’s in attendance.”
“Who?” I asked, giggling.
“Lord–no, sorry, now he’sDuke–James Martin, back from a trip around the world, finally ready to find a wife–”
“Ah, so youhavefinished that one!” Flora exclaimed.
“Hey, Flora,” I said as she approached, but her focus was on James. We’d had a night to ourselves last night, celebrating with too much candy and a rom-com we’d watched a million times before, staying up to watch the clock tick over to midnight, and the official release of my book:A Billion-Dollar Romance.It wouldn’t make me a billionaire, butIcertainly felt like a billion dollars at that moment, with Flora squeezing me tight and my phone buzzing with a text from James.Congratulations, Mrs. Martin, you made Miss Taylor’s dream come true.
“I have,” he said tentatively, his chin brushing my hair as he nodded.
“And?” she prompted.
“I liked the rogue Earl better.”
“I knew you would,” Flora grinned, a roguish smile on her own pretty face. “Everyoneloves a reformed rake.”
“Is that right, Edie?” he asked, his voice a low rumble against my back.
“It is,” I confirmed.
“You would know,” Flora said, and I rolled my eyes. “Now, me,” she continued, “I prefer fewer dramatics. I like a rich, lonely widower, perhaps, in want of a female’s companionship–perhaps for a young ward–oh, and a bookish governess…”
James laughed. “Let me guess–that’s the next book?”
“The Earl’s Temptation, yes,” Flora replied seriously. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Fine, I’ll read it. The things I do for you, Edie,” he said, but I just raised my eyebrows, turning in his arms so I could see his face.
“I don’t think so, James. I know you don’t do anything you don’t want to do. You’re reading these for fun.”
“Because youlikethem,” Flora added. “Don’t lie. You do.”
“They’reinteresting,” he hedged, and Flora waggled her eyebrows back at me. “And they give me so many good ideas…”
“James,” I hissed as he bent his head, planting a kiss on my cheekbone.
“And that’s my cue to leave you two to yourselves,” she laughed.
“Bye, Flora,” I sang as James’s lips moved to my jaw. “You know, anyone who saw us would think we were really married. Little do they know this is all a promotional stunt for my debut novel.”
“Ha, ha,” he said, but I could feel his smile against my skin. The bookshop was warm and cozy, and I was in James’s arms, looking at a stack of fresh paperbacks, at Flora, chatting with Charlie and Ryan in a corner of the room. Probably trying to get them into romance novels, too. The warmth in my chest was almost unbearable.
“Thanks for doing this for me, James,” I said, wriggling loose, turning around to face him.
“Once again, I didn’t do anything, I just moved the manuscript from your desk to Sam’s–”
“Not that,” I said. “I mean–planning to have an anniversary party instead of having a big, elaborate wedding. Throwing me a party tonight…”
