Stranded with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #1)(50)

All she kept thinking about was that it could have paid her rent for a year. Fed a family of four for a year. Purchased a small car or two. Instead, it was just sweaters and skirts and matching earrings. For the amount of money they’d spent on her shoes, they should have been gold-plated and given her a foot massage as she put them on.

She and Logan hadn’t discussed closets, and she didn’t want to be presumptuous, so she filled a closet in one of the spare rooms. Once her things were put away, she took a long, luxuriant bath, pulled her hair into what she hoped was an elegant upsweep, and began to apply her makeup.

A half hour later, she was ready, and anxious. Bront? examined her appearance in the mirror. The designer dress she’d chosen for that night was a deep wine shade. It was made of gathered jersey that clung to her curves and outlined her figure in an elegant drape. The back was a low, daring cowl that swooped all the way to the base of her spine and made her feel just a bit scandalous. She’d paired it with dangling silver earrings and nude Manolo Blahniks (since Audrey had insisted) and examined the final picture.

Not bad. She didn’t look a thing like herself, but she didn’t look bad.

Bront? slipped off her shoes and sat on the edge of one of the couches in the living room, waiting anxiously for Logan to return. When watching the door didn’t work, she moved to the window and watched the skyline slowly light up. She was fascinated by the city. It was more interesting viewing than TV.

The sun was setting behind the sea of buildings when she heard a click at the front door. She turned just as Logan entered, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

He stopped at the sight of her, his gaze sweeping up and down over her body. A grin crossed his face. “You look gorgeous, Bront?.”

She smiled at him. “I look expensive, you mean.”

“You do, but it’s perfect for the party tonight.” A slow smile curved his mouth, and his gaze again roamed over her body approvingly. “You’re perfect.”

Bront? flushed under his scrutiny, secretly pleased. Audrey had been right after all. She made a mental note to hint that his assistant needed a raise. “I didn’t know you were going to work so late,” she began, feeling awkward as he continued to admire her.

He grimaced and held the flowers out to her. “Note my apology. I had a few meetings that ran late. If I’d have known you were so incredibly gorgeous while waiting for me, though . . .” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her neck, his hand sliding down her nak*d back. “I like this part.”

She took the flowers and slunk out of his grasp. “What time does the party start?”

“About a half hour ago.”

Her eyes widened, and she gave him an anxious look. “So we’re late? Please tell me this isn’t a dinner party.”

He shook his head, moving to the bedroom. “Just a mixer,” he called back to her. “Some close friends and business associates. Nothing to worry about.”

It didn’t exactly sound like nothing to worry about. The whole “business associates” part was exactly what she was worried about.

His eyes gleamed as he gazed down at her. “I think your dress needs something.”

“Does it?” She glanced down at the material, then twisted to see the back—or lack of back—on her gown. “I thought I looked pretty good, myself.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a long, blue velvet box, holding it out to her. “See if you like this.”

Bront?’s tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth. “Oh, Logan. You shouldn’t have. Really. Whatever you spent, it’s too much.”

“Look at it,” he said, a twinkle in his eye. “I tried to find one like in the gift shop. Now that you know that I have money, I can give you these things.”

She gave him a skeptical look but opened the box. And gasped.

The necklace in the box was way more expensive than the one at the hotel gift shop. Where that one had been a delicate chain of diamonds, this one was a thick wreath of dripping jewels. The matching earrings were encrusted. It looked as if it had cost more than her college education.

It was gorgeous. And it made her incredibly uncomfortable.

She snapped the box shut and tried to hand it back to him. “I can’t take this, Logan.”

“I want you to wear it, Bront?. You’ll look beautiful in it.”

“It’s too much. I’m already wearing stuff that’s way more expensive than it should be. You’re spending too much money, Logan. I don’t like it.”

Ignoring her protests, he flipped the box open again and pulled the necklace out. “Turn around.”

She made a frustrated noise in her throat, but it died with Logan’s smile of pride and the gorgeous sparkle of the necklace. “Do you always get your way?”

“Always,” he told her with a pleased expression. “Turn around.”

She did, and put a hand to the necklace as he clasped it around her neck. The it was heavy, decadent. “Thank you, I think.”

“You’re welcome.” He leaned close and nibbled at her ear. “I think.”

***

A half hour later, they emerged from Logan’s sedan in front of an unfamiliar building. Bront? gave a nervous smile to the doorman who held the way open for them, but she couldn’t avoid the sick feeling in her stomach. This was like high school all over again. No, worse. It was like those nightmares she had where she was pushed out onto stage and didn’t know her lines. A thousand worries flew through her mind. What if someone asked what she did for a living? Should she lie? Act coy? Would the truth embarrass Logan? What if they had to eat something and she had no idea which fork to use? A small giggle escaped her at the thought of their horrified faces if she used a salad fork on her dessert.