How To Wed A Billionaire (How To... Book 3)

by Layla Valentine

  Voices float from the kitchen. At the sound of the front door closing, they stop. Tina and Aaron’s producer friend Dan, who was at my audition, appear in the doorway.

  “There you are,” Tina says with what sounds like an exasperated sigh. “You didn’t answer your…” Her gaze slides over to me and she stops talking.

  “I know Aaron has a phone,” I say. “I know everything.”

  Hopefully, because I don’t think I could handle the revelation of any more secrets.

  “Oh,” Tina says. “Okay, then.”

  Dan rubs his forehead and sucks air in between his teeth. “We need to talk.”

  Aaron’s arms are crossed tight, his jaw tense and flexing. “I stand by what I told you on the phone, Dan. I’m not going through with the last day. This is completely my decision. Not Rachel’s.”

  I open my mouth to correct Aaron, but the intensity in his eyes tells me to stay quiet. And then, I understand. He’s taking the heat for me so that I don’t get in any trouble or pick up a bad rep for this.

  It’s the most selfless thing anyone has ever done for me. No way can I let someone that kind take all the blame.

  “No, it’s my choice as well,” I say, stepping closer to Aaron. “I don’t want to do the last scene.”

  Tina and Dan glance at each other.

  “Well,” Tina says, “it could be that’s for the best.”

  “Huh?” I blink in confusion and look between the three of them. No one offers an explanation, and Aaron looks as puzzled as me.

  “We didn’t come here because you said you’re out.” Dan’s looking at Aaron, his face pinched. “We came here because there’s something you need to see.”

  “What?” Aaron asks.

  Dan walks toward the kitchen, gesturing for us to follow. On the breakfast table is a laptop. He picks it up and hands it to Aaron, whose gaze rakes over the screen.

  “We just got word from CPD Labs,” Dan says. “Your match…” He cringes. “There was a problem with the software. The two of you didn’t match up at all.”

  “It was some kind of fluke in the system,” Tina says.

  “What?” I gasp. “So Aaron and I aren’t supposed to be paired together?”

  “No.” Dan’s face has turned red. “Pure Chemistry got it wrong. In fact, it didn’t come up with any perfect matches. I’m sorry, Aaron. It looks like there’s still work to be done on your software.”

  Aaron stares at the computer in his hands, his expression blank.

  “So,” I say, “that means it was chance that we were paired up?”

  “It would seem so.” Tina shakes her head. “I’m sorry. This is awful.”

  I tense, my attention drifting to Aaron. He’s still staring at the computer like he’s trying to make sense of the data there. The room is quiet. It’s questionable whether anyone is even breathing.

  Then…

  He bursts into laughter. Laughter so intense his eyes squint and he has to put the computer down so that he doesn’t drop it.

  Dan and Tina look nervous, like they’re not quite sure what to do. I get how they feel.

  “Aaron?” I ask in a small voice.

  He wipes a tear from his eye. “We weren’t supposed to be matched up.”

  “I know,” I whisper. “I heard.”

  What does this mean for us, now? We revealed all to each other on the beach, but here’s a surprise that could change everything.

  Aaron believes wholeheartedly in his app. He proved as much by committing to marry a stranger a piece of software said was right for him. If that same software tells him I’m actually the wrong girl…

  Aaron’s laughter subsides. “But who cares?”

  Dan scratches the back of his neck. “So, this project is officially canned.” He looks at Tina. “Sorry.”

  “It happens.” She sighs.

  I must look worried still, because Aaron places a reassuring hand on the back of my neck. “I thought I needed science to help me find the love of my life, but I was wrong.”

  I stand straighter at that. “Yeah?”

  “Yes.” He kisses the side of my head, and I nestle into his chest.

  “Aw,” Tina says. “That’s sweet.”

  “It’s true,” Aaron answers.

  “Back to the drawing board.” Dan picks up his laptop. “You know, I have this other marriage concept that involves lumberjacks. Girls from cities get matched up with outdoorsy men.”

  Tina’s eyes sparkle. “That sounds great. I’d watch it.”

  “Now that you have the experience on this show, you’d be perfect for something like that.”

  She thoughtfully taps her finger against her chin. “How about taking it a step further? Instead of matching the girls up with lumberjacks, we find out what their fantasy is and match them from there. Firefighter. Cowboy. You name it.”

  “That’s good.” Dan jabs an excited finger in the air. “That’s really good.”

  “Some pairings would be real reality checkers. Especially the lumberjack one, like you said.”

  “Exactly. You see where I was going with that. Pretty city girl goes to live in the middle of the woods. Sure, she’s got a hot guy chopping wood, but there’s no running water and she has to use an outhouse.”

  Tina takes a seat at the table, pulls a notepad and pen from her purse, and starts taking notes. Dan scoots a chair up next to her and they continue firing ideas at each other.

  From where I’m still in Aaron’s arms, I look up at him.

  “Are they having a pitch meeting right here and now?” I whisper.

  “Yeah. Looks like it.” Aaron raises his voice. “Can you guys take that somewhere else? As in, out of this house?”

  Tina frowns. “Oh, right.”

  Dan closes his computer and clears his throat. “We’ll call you both tomorrow with more information.” He looks to me. “Of course, we’ll need to give you your phone back. As your contract states, since the show is ending prematurely through no fault on your end, you’re still entitled to full compensation.”

  “Cool.” I hug Aaron tighter. I’m down with whatever right now. Aaron just called me the love of his life!

  We follow Tina and Dan into the foyer. They’re still talking about their new show idea as they leave the house. It’s not until the door clips closed behind them that there’s real silence.

  Wrapping both arms around me, Aaron nuzzles his face in my hair. “Guess what?”

  “What?” I breathe in the comfort of his musk.

  “There’ll be no production crew waking us up tomorrow. That means no rush to get dressed.”

  A delicious shiver runs through me. The scene he’s describing sounds like heaven.

  “Perfect,” I purr. “That should leave plenty of time for all the making up we have to do.”

  “I dunno. Are you sure fourteen hours will be enough?” His lips brush my ear, and before I can answer, he’s scooped me into his arms.

  I squeal as I end up over his shoulder, my ass in the air.

  “You’re such a caveman,” I shout. “You don’t have to carry me around like this, you know.”

  “Do you want me to put you down?”

  “Mm…” I pretend to think about it. “No.”

  “Good answer.” A light spank lands on my behind, causing me to shriek with glee again.

  Aaron takes the stairs two at a time, climbing them like he’s not carting around any extra pounds at all. In our bedroom, he sets me on the mattress and climbs on top.

  His weight presses down on me, and I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle my nose into his stubble. It pricks at my skin, but it’s a comforting prickle. It’s familiar.

  It’s Aaron.

  The love of my life.

  His lips are hot on mine, fast one minute then slow the next, alternating between claiming and worshipping. I’m lost in the kiss, swept up in an avalanche of emotions and possibilities.

  I don’t know what’s going to happen once we leave this
house tomorrow, but we’ll be together. No matter what, I’ll have an amazing man by my side.

  “I love you,” I say against Aaron’s lips, only because it feels so good.

  “I…” He kisses my cheek. “Love…” A kiss on my neck.

  Aaron lifts my shirt and kisses my belly, right where I’m ticklish. Laughing, I squirm against him. He joins in with his own chuckle.

  “You.” He laughs.

  I sit up, shucking my shirt as I do. It lands on the floor, and the rest of our clothes soon follow. Our arms slink around each other, and we nestle into the folds of the sheets, skin on skin everywhere we can make it happen.

  Aaron pushes the hair back from my face. In the moonlight coming through the big windows, I see the intensity shimmer in his eyes. We’ve laid ourselves bare, and there’s nothing left to hide.

  We’re resting on our sides, facing each other. His swollen length edges between my legs. Closing a hand over my ass cheek, he pushes into me with one slick move.

  With our hands all over each other, Aaron makes love to me in a way that goes beyond heartfelt. We feel and see each other to a new degree.

  His fingers threading through my hair, I kiss the edge of his mouth. His lips capture mine, on them the kiss that promises a hundred things: love, trust, laughter, security, and so many other possibilities that can’t be easily labeled.

  Euphoria fills me, and I start giggling, my face against his jaw.

  “What’s funny?” he rasps into my ear.

  I wiggle against him, and once he’s up, I push him over so that he’s on his back and I’m straddling him. The moonlight reveals his smoldering smile.

  Taking his hands in mine, I lace our fingers together.

  “Nothing’s funny, really, but have you ever been so happy all you could do is laugh?”

  “Hm.” He brings one of my hands to his lips and kisses it. “I have a feeling I’m about to be.”

  Epilogue

  Eleven Months Later

  My phone blares from the other room. I pause as I’m stepping into my dress and look in the direction of the doorway.

  “What?” Molly asks.

  “I think maybe I should see who it is.”

  She shrugs. “Okay. Go for it.”

  Going into the bedroom portion of the rented suite, I find my phone on the bedside table. It’s my new agent calling.

  “Hello?” I answer. “Erin?”

  “Rachel. You answered.”

  “Yeah, I figured it would be pretty important.” Taking the phone with me, I walk over to the window. We’re on the second floor, and the view of the rocky Northern California coast is breathtaking.

  “It is. Are you ready for this?”

  “I don’t know.” I laugh nervously. “I have no idea what you’re about to say.”

  The tone of her voice has my heart racing. She knew I would be out of town this weekend, and if she’s calling me today, then it must be pretty important.

  “Kal Geer wants you.”

  It takes a few seconds for the words to sink in. I open my mouth, but what can I say? Erin’s just blown my mind.

  “For the…the action movie?”

  “Yes. It’s set to be one of the biggest blockbusters released next year, if the first one in the trilogy is anything to go by.”

  “Oh my God.” I shake my head in disbelief. These films are big. Like blockbuster big.

  When I went in for an audition a few weeks ago, of course I hoped to be picked. It’s not like I held my breath and waited for that to happen, though. I considered myself lucky to even be called in for an audition.

  “What do you think of that?” Erin asks.

  “That’s amazing,” I say.

  “I know this is already a big day for you, so you don’t have to answer now. You have until Monday, and until then, I’ll be working on the specifics. I can get a pay rate and tentative schedule—”

  “The answer is yes,” I say. “Are you kidding me? Yes.”

  “Excellent.” I can hear the smile in her voice. Erin is a well-respected agent with lots of years in the field, but an agent having one of their actors in a film like this can only serve to boost their power.

  “I wasn’t even sure they liked me,” I say. “Especially after the last reading.”

  After the initial audition, I’d gone in for two callbacks, and the director, Kal, had been polite, but there didn’t seem to be any sign that he was particularly interested in me.

  “Of course they liked you,” Erin says. “You’re extremely likable. You take the girl next door image to a whole new level.”

  “Thanks,” I say, though the specifics of what she’s getting at still elude me.

  Maybe a part of being likable is not knowing why you’re likable?

  “Anyway,” Erin says, “I’ll let you go. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.”

  We hang up, and I feel like I’m glowing from the inside out. A Kal Geer action movie!

  The part is a supporting one, the friend of the main character, and that’s fine with me. The movie will be in theaters all over the world. There will be very few producers and directors who won’t see it.

  It’s funny, because before Erin’s phone call, I was already thinking that things couldn’t get much better. Even though the reality show Aaron and I met on almost a year ago was pulled and never made it to TV, tons of people saw me in the pre-screenings.

  That led to a number of auditions and meetings, one of which helped me get signed with Erin. From there, everything happened extremely fast.

  One week, I was booking a three-episode recurring role on a top television show. The next week, I got a part in an indie film. And then, because of the festival buzz surrounding that film, investors took a new interest in Record Time.

  That little film that I was half-convinced my career would die with is on its way to opening in all major US cities next month. The possibilities for me, it turns out, are anything but dead. They are well and thriving.

  Molly was right. The exposure the reality show brought me made a major difference—and it never even had to air!

  Which is really good, because neither Aaron nor I wanted that.

  There’s a soft knock on the door, and Molly pokes her head in. “All good? Was that your mom? Did you tell her it’s the room at the very end?”

  “I haven’t heard from her.”

  “Good. Hopefully, that means she and Annie aren’t lost.” Her eyebrows knit. “Wow. You are smiling big time.”

  “Because I got the part in that movie!”

  “What?” Molly’s jaw drops, and the next thing I know, we’re holding each other’s hands and jumping up and down and screaming.

  “This might be the best day ever,” I say once we calm down enough to catch our breaths.

  “Why do you say that?” She pretends to be perplexed.

  I poke her in the side. “Very funny. And, yeah, my mom and sister should have been here by now. Let’s go find them.”

  “Um, Rach?”

  I freeze with my hand on the doorknob. “What?”

  “You’re not wearing anything.”

  I gasp as I realize she’s right. There’s not a stitch of clothing on me except for my white lace bra and panties.

  “I should get dressed,” I say.

  “Yes, but then you need to stay in here. We can’t have the bride running around the resort in her wedding dress. The groom might see her, and then we’d all have bad luck for a hundred years.”

  “Is that how it works?” I chuckle, going back to the dress I was about to put on when my phone rang.

  Molly’s helping me with the last clasp on the A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline when there’s a rap on the door.

  “Who is it?” she asks.

  “Room service,” calls a voice that’s unmistakably my little sister’s.

  Rolling my eyes, I cross the room and open the door. At the sight of me, Annie’s mouth opens in a silent scream. My mom appears behi
nd her and ushers Annie inside.

  “Look at you,” Mom coos. “What a lovely dress.”

  “Thanks.” I smooth the skirt, still watching Annie, who seems to have been struck mute.

  Finally, my sister blinks and wipes at a tear. “I can’t believe you’re getting married today,” she murmurs.

  “Aw, Annie.” I wrap my arms around her and squeeze tight. She’s the most precious and sweetest thing in the world. There’s no way I could ever hug her enough.

  “How’s everything going out there?” Molly asks. She’s wringing her hands.

  I touch her shoulder. “It’s okay. Things don’t have to be perfect.”

  “It’s your wedding day, Rachel. They should be.”

  That makes me roll my eyes again. God, I love these women.

  “The catering company is still setting up,” Annie says, “but everything else is good. The tables and chairs are under the tent. The flowers are out. The guests are chilling and having drinks with the groom’s party. Was there anything else?”

  “Nope,” I answer, looking purposefully at Molly. “See? Perfect.”

  When Aaron asked me what kind of wedding I wanted, my answer was “simple.” It took a bit of convincing before he accepted I was telling the truth and not just trying to be easy, since he—as he often reminded me—could afford to give me almost any kind of ceremony I dreamed of, but he eventually came to understand that I meant what I said.

  A big, fancy party with a hundred-plus guests I barely know doesn’t sound like my idea of a good time. Give me an intimate experience followed by some dancing and cake.

  Oh, and make it on the beach while you’re at it.

  Not just because that’s a tongue-in-cheek nod to the first time Aaron and I were married. I really have always wanted to get married on the beach.

  “Who’s doing your hair?” Mom asks, gesturing at my loose locks.

  I tuck a strand behind my ear. “I’m keeping it like this.”

  I half expect her to say something about how I absolutely need to pin my hair up—because what bride has her hair down—but she only shrugs. Behind her, Annie winks at me.

  That’s another thing that’s changed in the past year. Even though most of my interactions with my parents are done on the phone, they seem to have gotten a little less worried. It might be because I feel like I’m reaching my potential more and so I’ve been more carefree when talking with them, which in turn puts them in good moods, but I feel like we’ve all been more relaxed.