Page 5 of Accidentally Marrying the Billionaire

He sighs. “So let me get this straight. You want me to escort a royal bride across state lines while you’re being wined and dined in Japan.”

“I want you to protect her,” I say firmly. “It’s what you do. It shouldn’t be that different from your regular assignments, right?”

There’s a beat. I know that silence. It’s the one where he’s already said yes and is rearranging his life around it. Because my younger brother is a stellar human being.

“Will you do this for me?” I ask. Then, quieter, because this matters more than pride, “Please.”

That’s the word that seals it.

“You know I will,” he says. “Send me her details.”

Relief loosens something in my chest. “Thank you.”

“I need to call Greyson,” he adds. “Make arrangements.”

“We can make it official,” I say. “I can pay, if that needs to happen. Just let me know.”

He scoffs. “Let’s see what Grey says.”

The plane begins to move, engines roaring. The flight attendant gives me a dirty look.

“I’ll be on my way to Houston in less than an hour,” he tells me.

“I owe you,” I say.

“I might take you up on that.”

The call ends, and I sit there staring at my phone longer than necessary. I send out a few quick texts, including the one to my brother with my “bride’s” name and flight details. Then I power off my phone.

Mitchell’s not wrong when he says I’ve never been interested in marriage. Our dad is a serial marrier, and his cavalier attitude kind of soured me on the whole idea. Add that to the fact that over the last few years, my business has grown and I’ve amassed quite a fortune.

It makes dating completely transactional when you’ve been named one of Austin’s most eligible bachelors and hit a Forbes list in the same month. Word gets out. Women don’t see me anymore; they just see my black card with its limitless shopping.

A knot forms in my stomach I can’t quite explain.

I don’t know this woman. I don’t know what kind of fallout our marriage will have with her country. With my reputation.

But one thing is certain.

By the time this is over, my life will be very different.

And for reasons I refuse to examine too closely…

I’m not entirely sure that’s a bad thing.

chapter

three

Evelyn

I’m still riding the high of sitting in first class for the first time. Then Finley sent a town car to pick me up, fully equipped with a man in a black suit with a professional sign emblazoned with my name on it. There were gourmet chocolates waiting for me in the back of the car, along with my choice of a variety of beverages.

I’m very much looking forward to finding out my character too. Finley said the package includes all the extras. She really is the bestest friend. Not because of the financial extravagance, just because she knows me. She sees me. And she knew—better than I did—that I needed a small break from my life.

Now I’m waiting in line at the registration desk of the swankiest Las Vegas hotel. I’ve got to admit I’m pretty damn excited about the weekend. Meeting new people can be stressful, but a decade of being an elementary school teacher has desensitized me to strangers. And loud noises. And bright colors. So far, Las Vegas is like an indoor Field Day at my school with only taller Kindergartners.

That makes me chuckle to myself.