Page 23 of Billionaire's Fake Wife: A Single Mom BWWM Romance

I thank him again, and he chuckles. The sound sends a shot of warmth straight to my heart. A smile forms on my lips.

"Well, listen here, too: you're amazing."

My smile widens.

He carries on, "I also learned some new cool things I never did before...especially shibori? I appreciate that you didn't make me feel and look like an idiot in front of my mother. Actually, I want to ask you for a favor and am hoping you'd say yes."

Well, color me intrigued. "What is it? I'll be honest with you, I'm not gonna say yes if I'm not sure I can do it."

"Relax, we're not going to do anything illegal."

"Uh-huh. You saying that makes it all the more suspicious," I reply to him. I'm sure he's grinning.

"We'll just hang out, eat out, and get to know each other better. It'll help us be more comfortable with each other and help sell our story better to my dear mother."

Right. Gloria Fields isn't an easy woman to please, nor is she someone who's easily fooled. Those are some of the things I admire about her. Her years in this cutthroat industry have taught her well, and she's someone a lot of people, including me, look up to.

"Okay. I mean free food and a chance to get out of the house again? Sure. And did I mention free food?"

We laugh together at that. I am still in stitches when I remember something. Or rather, someone.

"Well, I really want to go, but let's check first if anyone can look after my baby girl. Lauralee, bless her, has an independent streak, but she's still too young to be left at home. And I don't want anyone calling child services on me. I'm not sure if her usual nanny's going to be there."

"Oh, about that," Grant begins. I hear shuffling on the other side; sounds like papers being moved around. "I actually want her in on our date, if that's okay with you. There's a circus being set up not far from the office, and I've already seen great reviews about it online. I bought three tickets."

My heart is beating fast. I'm slowly getting nervous about this, but not entirely in a bad way. I'm happy that he wants my daughter to tag along, but...this feels a bit too...too...

"It'll also be a way for you and her to bond, except I'm also there," Grant says, chuckling. "I want her to feel that she's part of everything you do, even if it's just this made-up thing between us."

He goes on and on, not noticing that I am quiet.

"I know you trust her, and I want to show her that she can trust me around you. That you're safe with me."

This feels a bit too intimate. Grant, me, and my daughter going out? Well, it sounds like a family day. I just tell him that I'm fine with it and will ask Lauralee.

He thanks me, "I owe you a lot, Sonya. Thanks for agreeing to this. I can't wait. I think Laurelee will enjoy this."

"Yeah."

"By the way...how do you like your new office?"

He's teasing me. I may not see his face but I can hear it in his voice. Besides, I'm getting antsy again because of the reminder.

It's like if I look into a mirror, there'd be a huge neon letter P on my forehead blinking at me.

"It's fine. Actually better than fine, but now that you've brought it up again, my anxiety has spiked through the roof."

What is it with this guy? Why am I comfortable being vulnerable when talking to him?

"Why?" he asks.

A sigh leaves me as I move around the table and settle on the high back swivel chair. "I don't know; it's weird. I've wanted this for so long, but now that I've got it, well..."

I trail off, not sure how to phrase my exact feelings.

"What if I mess up?"

He's quiet for a few moments. I bite my lip, tapping my fingers on the surface of my chair's armrest.

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