Marrying the Billionaire - Macie St. James Page 0,41

would have to be very convincing as she pretended everything was hunky-dory with Donna’s son.

Otherwise known as her fiancé.

“See you in a little while.” Brooke gave Charlie a wink as she let Justin lead her off to their table, all the way in the back corner of the room. The only people Charlie really knew here may as well have been in another ballroom, they would be so far away.

“Hey.” Nicholas appeared out of nowhere, moving in next to her and holding out a glass. Charlie looked at the glass and realized it was most likely her signature diet soda. At least he was still looking out for her.

“Hey,” she replied, taking the drink he extended to her. They had a couple of hours of this, so she may as well make the best of it.

“Ready to sit down?”

“Yes.” Charlie nodded. “I’m starving.”

“I guess we haven’t eaten since breakfast. Wait, did you even eat breakfast?”

Charlie shook her head. “No. Just coffee. And I think you only had a muffin.”

“It’s been so crazy, I didn’t even realize we forgot to eat. I should’ve taken you for lunch. I knew how long this day would be. I’m not a very good boyfriend.”

“Fiancé,” she corrected, adding a teasing smile.

His smile faltered slightly. “Right. Fiancé.”

He gestured for her to follow as he headed to the table. Charlie trailed along, but she was trying to figure out where she’d gone wrong. She hadn’t imagined the smile faltering, had she?

The table was mostly empty when they arrived, but the first face Charlie saw there was Caroline’s. She was staring at the two of them again, a semi-smile on her face.

“Bread!” Nicholas said, grabbing the basket as he sat down. He pulled out a piece and took a big bite out of it while both Charlie and Caroline looked on.

“He’s a little hungry.” Charlie shrugged. She felt the need to apologize for him. Not only due to his behavior but also to establish herself as being with him. It was a strange, territorial move that surprised even her.

But Caroline was still watching. “I guess the two of you are getting some good ideas for your own wedding.”

“We’re doing a destination wedding,” Nicholas said before taking another bite of the roll he’d pulled from the basket.

Since his mouth was full, Charlie felt the need to finish for him. “After seeing all the work that went into this, I’m more determined than ever to let someone else handle it.”

“Where are you getting married again?” Caroline asked.

“The South of France,” Charlie said just as Nicholas answered, “France.”

“You said you had an events venue picked out. What’s it called?” Caroline’s eyes narrowed as she asked that. She was testing them, digging for information. Charlie had no idea why or how, but somehow Caroline had figured out that the two of them weren’t really a couple, and now her goal was to trip them up.

Maybe they should let her. She could just spill the beans on the whole thing and Nicholas could admit, once and for all, that he’d done it because he hadn’t wanted his mom to matchmake him anymore. Or, heck, maybe he liked Caroline and things would work out for the two of them. But Charlie was too exhausted to continue to take on an uphill battle right now.

In other words, if Caroline chose to push it, Charlie would fold. For now, though, she went along with the story they’d concocted.

“Chateau Something-or-Other.” Charlie lifted her soda to her lips and took a sip. “I don’t speak French.”

“It’s on the beach,” Nicholas added.

That got a slow nod from Caroline. Charlie fully expected her to drop it at that point. She didn’t.

“You’ll be honeymooning there, I assume?” she asked.

“Every day’s a honeymoon when you’re as in love as we are,” Nicholas said, putting his arm around Charlie and pulling her toward him.

She sighed, wishing this were genuine. As she looked at him and saw he was staring at her with an intensity that made her feel melty inside, she realized her mistake. She’d fallen for the act. Everything from the kiss on the dance floor to the way he looked at her now—it had all been just to fool everyone. If he knew she’d fallen for him for real, he’d be mortified.

“How did you two meet again?”

Caroline’s question made both Nicholas and Charlie’s heads snap around so they were facing her. But they were fortunately saved from answering by Nicholas’s mother, who made a very loud arrival to their table.

“Wasn’t that