The Pretend Girlfriend (A Billionaire Love Story #1)(99)

It was nice to be out of that wrinkled dress. Gwen liked the feeling of new clothes, so crisp and sharp, not dulled or stretched from use. Looking back at the mirror, she had to agree with Aiden's assessment. There was nothing quite like finding a pair of jeans that really made your waist look small and your butt cute.

And then it was his turn. She had to pull him away from the racks of suits and tie display tables. They'd be expecting a tall guy in a dark suit.

What they got instead was a tall guy in a sky-blue, tailored button down that really set off his eyes, a pair of deep navy boot-cut jeans, and brown dress shoes to match his belt.

"Are these bell bottoms?" he asked with suspicion, inspecting one ankle and then the other.

Gwen stood back so she could get a really good view of him. She looked upon her work, and it was good. The tailored shirt really displayed the breadth of his shoulders, and leaving the top button undone in that casual way so that you got the barest hint of the nice pecs beneath left her hot and a little faint. Maybe I made him too sexy, she thought, smiling at the irony. Every eye was going to be on him on the street.

"No, they're boot-cut."

"But I'm not wearing boots?" he said.

"That's okay. Now let's get out of here," she said. She couldn't wait to be alone with him again. It was funny; she'd spent all that time picking out the clothes for him, admiring him in them, and now all she wanted to do was tear them all off.

The checkout was a fun experience. The cashier, an old lady with curly hair the same blue as cigarette smoke, just stared at them when they came up. She had to come around the till with her little blinking scanner gun as Gwen and Aiden searched their clothes for tags she could scan.

They did get a bag, though, for their old stuff. When the cashier saw the label on Aiden's suit jacket, her eyes bulged. Gwen knew she had to think they were crazy. That jacket alone cost more than their entire purchase. Several times over, actually.

They began walking away, shiny Macy's bag slung over Gwen's shoulder, when the cashier said, "Hey, you look familiar."

Aiden flinched, turning the expression into a smile when he faced her. "Let me guess, I look like a young Brad Pitt? I get that a lot."

Gwen's smile became forced. He deserved a poke in the ribs for that, but that would probably just rouse the cashier's suspicions even more.

"No..." the old lady said, squinting at them, "Were you two on one of those news shows?"

Gwen glanced at the ceiling, sending a silent prayer to any higher being that might be listening. It would be just the thing to have this brilliant escape plan ruined by some old woman's curiosity.

Then Aiden glanced around conspiratorially. "You got us," he said, offering his hand.

"Hey!" Gwen started. What was he doing?

The cashier accepted, falling right into his trap. Immediately, Aiden held her hand with both of his. She looked down, alarmed. "What... what's this?"

"You're right. We host one of those programs. We were just... snooping around, maybe looking for a good candid no-makeup shot, or a surprise interview. Our viewers just adore those!"

"I knew it!" the cashier said, concern spreading across her face as she realized that he wasn't about to let her hand go. Then she eyed them both again. "Where's your camera?"

Gwen came to the rescue, pulling her cell out of her purse, "Right here! It looks like a normal phone, but it's actually got a really nice camera. Want me to take a picture of you? We could probably get it up on the show, or the website." Her pulse pounded against her temples.

The cashier's eyes became two large saucers, "On the interweb? Me?" she said, fear adding a quiver to her voice. "No, that's fine, really. I think I should get back to work..."

"It's really no trouble at all. Are you sure?" Aiden said.

"Yes, thank you. Have a nice day!" the cashier said.

"If you insist..." Aiden said, freeing her hand from his grasp. She snatched it back and massaged her palm with her thumb.


They made their retreat after that. Out on the street, Gwen looked up at the portion of the Empire State visible over the facades of the other buildings, feeling nostalgic about their time alone up there. After all this stuff with the paparazzi was over, she hoped he took her back there.

His hand on her shoulder pulled her from her daydream. "Let's get off the streets."

So they took their third taxi that morning. Aiden wanted to go to a hotel. She expected the Waldorf or the Plaza. Instead, he asked the driver to take them to the NYLO hotel.

They checked in at the front desk as Mr. and Mrs. Bond. Gwen's idea. The auditor asked them why they didn't have any luggage, and Aiden quickly added that the useless airline had lost it.

The sympathetic auditor then upgraded them to a corner suite with a nice with of Broadway. Gwen flicked on the flat screen mounted to the wall and then plopped down on the king-sized bed with its many pillows while Aiden sat in the wingback next to the window.

The news played in the background as the two of them came down from high created by their recent (mis)adventures. Luckily for them, the news was CSPAN, so it didn't really mention any celebrity gossip.

The bed was definitely nice. Gwen found she liked king-size. Especially when you had company. It gave you the room to really spread out.