Be My Babygirl A Billionaire Romance - Jane Henry Page 0,41

flower head is one, tiny yellow petal, just beginning to grow when the flower was picked.

He loves me!

Darius sleeps beside me in his plush chair, but I find myself snuggling down at his side, careful not to wake him. He murmurs sleepily, “There’s a good Katie Kat.” His heavy arm slides out from beneath my ribcage, and he wraps it around my shoulders like a blanket of protection.

The night he chased me down changed things. Before then, he was aloof, detached, and I wondered if I was anything more than a commodity to him. But now... now I’m not sure what to think. In some ways it was easier when he was just the aloof billionaire.

I lay my head on his shoulder and listen to the sound of his deep, heavy breaths.

He loves me.

We are halfway across the country, flying to Peach Orchard, Georgia. This is as far away from home as I’ve ever been. I’ve always lived in Nevada, I’m one of the residents that’s actually from there, who knows how to pronounce it. I’m a Nevadan, and we say, Ne-VAD-uh.

I’ve never been to the South before. Will it be that different from where I’ve grown up? Based on what I’ve seen, I’m thinking it will be. I’m excited, but apprehensive. What will his family think of me? I wish I could sleep, or at least rest my eyes, but I stare straight ahead, worrying... what if they hate me?

Or, what if they don’t believe me to be his fiancée? What if they take one look at me, short and curvy with blonde hair that hasn’t even been professionally highlighted, a young woman with no real career, and wonder to themselves No way, un huh is that Darius’s fiancée. Or, how did he end up with her?’

How could they not?

Certainly, they’ll at least think I’m some gold digger, after him for his money. Engaged, with plans of a prenup and a lavish wedding followed by a brutal divorce after which I steal half of his wealth. My chest rises as I heave a sigh so loud that it wakes him.

Yawning and stretching, he pulls his arm from me. “Something wrong? Why aren’t you sleeping? I’d think after the night you’d had you’d be passed out.”

Should I tell him the truth, or play tough? Who am I kidding? Tough isn’t in my nature.

I take a deep breath and go for broke. “I’m... worried. What if they don’t like me? Or figure out we’re not really engaged?”

“Is that what has your brow furrowed in that cute way?” My heart pitter-patters in my chest. Oh, I like this side of him.

I look down at my left ring finger. “I mean, look. I don’t even have a ring.” I waggle the lonely little plain finger.

“Hmm. That is a problem.” Darius shifts in his seat, pulling something from his right pants pocket. He holds it up to me. It’s a red leather box with gold swirling words on it: Bachman’s Jewelers. “I ordered this from New York for you. It’s the finest jeweler on the East Coast. I have a friend there who helped me pick the perfect ring.”

He hands me the box to open.

As I hold it in my hand, my fingers begin to tremble. He bought me a ring?

He nudges me. “Go ahead. Open it.” He seems eager to see my reaction, his gaze hanging expectantly on my face.

I don’t know why, but I close my eyes as I flip open the lid. When I pry my eyelids open, I find a princess-cut sparkling diamond cushioned between two smaller diamonds, set in a silver band. I know nothing about jewelry, but the center rock, it must be over three carats—and flawless to the naked eye.

It’s gorgeous. Exactly what I would have picked if I was shopping for my fairytale dream ring. A fantasy come true.

I’m too afraid to remove it from its box fearing my touch will tarnish it in some way. “But it’s fake, right?”

Fake relationship, fake ring. He loves me not.

Ignoring my question, he takes the box from me, slipping the ring from where it's nestled in its little cushion. “Here, let me.” Gently, he takes my left hand in his, and slides the ring onto my finger.

It’s a perfect fit.

I can’t speak. I can’t breathe. All I can do is twist my finger beneath that little overhead light and watch the rainbows shoot out from the world’s most beautiful diamond. Finally, I find my voice. “This... this is for