Love Contract (Bride of the Billionaire)

“This party…” I say as I stand and follow Ruth to the dress rack. “What does Winter expect from me?”

Ruth shrugs as she takes a look at the first dress, flowing and turquoise, very ostentatious. “Smile. Look good, but more importantly, make him look good.”

“Bat my eyes and say how amazing he is?”

“Something like that,” Ruth replies as she holds the dress up to me. We both shake our heads.

“You’re gorgeous enough,” she says. “Why don’t we go for something classic?”

Have I stepped into a dream? Now Ruth’s calling me gorgeous? This has to be the most compliments I’ve ever received in one day…in one year.

Ruth holds up a sleek black dress with a slit on one leg and nods. “This is it. And you can go for the Angelina Jolie leg reveal if you are feeling bold enough.”

“I won’t be,” I assure her as she starts to help me into it. I may not be bold, but as she’s zipping me up, a very naughty fantasy begins to play out in my mind: what if at this party that’s going to be filled with the world’s elite, Winter and I were to sneak off to a bathroom somewhere, or a hidden stairwell, and get it on?

The thought is so absurd I can hardly believe I’m having it. Get what on? I’m a virgin, for crying out loud! What am I going to do? Let Winter Wellington pop my cherry as a quickie while we’re hiding from the rest of the guests?

That would be insane…

But it would also be so hot.

But I did tell him that I’d only marry him if I was guaranteed I wouldn’t be expected to have sex with him. I may have married him for money, but I’m not a prostitute.

But is it really prostitution if I want to have sex with him?

“Ugh…” I groan as I shake my head, trying to clear the thought from my mind.

“You all right, hun?” Ruth asks as I turn to face her.

“Fine,” I lie. “Just getting my shit together.”

“Time to go.” We both turn as Winter steps into the room. He’s wearing a suit – an amazing suit that looks like it was made for him and probably was. When we first met, he looked like a rich guy, but now he looks like a mogul. I try not to let him see how I’m feeling.

Again, his eyes scan me up and down, but this time I actually am nervous as I wait for his reaction. Never in my life have I worn anything even remotely like this. I wasn’t asked to prom, and my homecoming dress was cheap and pink and covered with rhinestones.

His eyes narrow, and I brace myself.

He’s going to tell me to change, isn’t he?

“She looks good, doesn’t she?” Ruth asks. I feel each of my heart beats heavy in my chest and ears. Winter is used to gorgeous women. This isn’t going to be anything special to him.

“I’ll be the talk of the party,” he says with a smile that melts some of the anxiety from my body. He cocks his head and motions for me to follow. “Now come on. We’re already fashionably late.”

He turns and walks away, expecting me to follow. I glance nervously at Ruth, who smiles and pushes me on the butt. “Go on, girl. And have fun!”

Fun. Yeah. There are countless adjectives I could use to describe my day so far: shocking, infuriating, invigorating, surprising, terrifying. Fun wouldn’t be one of them. At least not yet.

My lack of practice wearing heels makes itself apparent as I wobble at the top of the stairs and almost tumble face first down them. Thankfully, Winter catches me. His strong hands wrap around my waist and he holds me like it was nothing. My body responds, sending a warm glow to my extremities.

“Not used to the shoes?” he asks. He knows I’ve never worn them before. I hate that he knows that. “Don’t fall on your face at the party. That wouldn’t be very lady-like.”

“Don’t worry about me, hubby,” I retort, prying his fingers off my waist. “I’ll be fine.”

Winter winks. “You already are.”

So corny. I want to roll my eyes, but a smile takes over and forces my lips to curl. Luckily for me, he’s already turned away when it happens.

“Now when we get there, don’t worry about making small talk,” he tells me. “Most of these guys won’t want to chat with you anyway. Just look pretty, elegant, don’t stuff your face with shrimp and lobster, and when you meet my father, act like you’re in love with me. Can you do that?”