CHAPTER EIGHT
Billie didn’t know what poor banker Tyler had rousted out of bed in the middle of the night but she had fifty thousand dollars in her bank account first thing in the morning. He’d taken her seriously when she’d asked for it as soon as possible. She had been thinking a few days, but clearly he’d been thinking a few hours. Maybe he was afraid she’d back out, but she’d made her deal with the devil and she’d see it through no matter what. Of all the rotten things that could happen to a broke, aspiring actress in this town marrying Tyler Gaylord wasn’t the worst. Heck, it wasn’t even in the top one hundred of crappy stuff she’d seen. She believed him when he said he’d take care of her but she also knew that sometimes things happened in this life that he hadn’t intended.
Padding into the kitchen, she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the back patio of the little cottage to listen to the morning birds as they sang. The air was warm and dry but the sun felt good on her skin. It had snowed yesterday in Wisconsin. If she still lived there she’d be wrapped up from head to toe freezing her ass off.
At least now she could try and help her sister out. Maybe…just maybe…Sierra would finally leave the bastard and start a new life. Like Billie had.
Pushing thoughts of the past away, she instead thought about her new future. Replaying last night’s conversation with the man that might just become her husband, she was more than a little mortified that Tyler had brought up the time she’d told him about her dream wedding. She’d lied to him last night. She did remember saying it. It had been when she was still starry-eyed and in love with him. She’d been his date for a wedding and they’d jokingly talked about what they wanted when they tied the knot. Tyler had said he wanted a beach ceremony and she’d said that she wanted a fancy wedding with all the trimmings like the ones she’d seen on television.
It had all seemed so glamorous, especially from her humble background. A big ball gown of satin and lace. Tons of flowers. A tiered cake taller than she was. A huge diamond ring and a handsome groom. An exotic honeymoon that would never end. She’d been a hell of a lot younger and less wise then. Now she was more worried about the man she’d marry than how she’d do it.
And she could do this. It wasn’t how she’d planned her life but she’d learned long ago that sometimes fate took a hand. It had brought her here to this little abode and to Tyler. That had turned out better than she could have ever hoped. Now it was taking her in a different direction.
She truly did want to help Tyler, and she wanted to help her sister. This would accomplish both. All she had to do was keep her head on her shoulders and her feet firmly planted on the ground.
I can do this.
She just wished…
Tyler simply didn’t understand her reluctance. When she’d imagined getting married – even engaged – it hadn’t been a business deal. Marriage wasn’t a game to be played with the press and the movie studios. It was serious. The good Lord knew she’d seen her mother take the commitment rather casually and that had been a disaster. How many men had wandered in and out of Sharon Oliver’s life over the years? Dozens, at least. Some good but most of them had been losers, drinking just as much or more.
Billie simply wanted one good man that loved her more than anything. If she had that she wouldn’t care about the ceremony or the reception.
The sound of familiar feet stomping through her house pulled her back to the present and her reality. She was officially engaged to Hollywood’s biggest playboy. A man-child wrapped in a sexy shell. It was anyone’s guess whether she and Tyler would even be speaking to each other in six months, let alone still be friends. But she hoped so.
“You didn’t knock again,” she said with a sigh as he stuck his head out of the sliding glass doors to her tiny kitchen.
“You’re right I didn’t.” Scowling, his gaze raked her head to toe. “You’re not dressed.”
That wasn’t precisely true. She was wearing a pair of soft cotton pajama shorts and a tank top along with a pair of white socks because her feet tended to get cold at night.
“I know I’m going to regret asking this but dressed for what? Did we have something planned today?”
Tyler had that look in his eyes. The one that said he did indeed have a day of activities planned and she simply had to go along with him. Except this time she couldn’t really say no because…she did have to go with him. He was her fiancé.
He lifted her from the chair and placed her on her feet. “We have a busy day, babe. We need to get you an engagement ring and then start making a list for the wedding. Plus, we have to call my parents and tell them the news. They’re going to be thrilled. They adore you. Then we have a meeting with Garrett to talk about some photo ops to get the public warmed up to the idea of me being a married man.” Bopping her on the nose, he took her now empty coffee cup from her. “And we can’t do any of that in your pajamas. You get dressed and I’ll get you more coffee.”
A ring. His parents. Photos. She’d known it was all coming but somehow she’d thought she might get a day or two to get used to the idea. No such luck. When Tyler did something he did it all the way. Full out and balls to the wall.
“I doubt your parents are going to believe this. Why don’t you tell them the truth? Surely they deserve to know.”
“They wouldn’t understand but this will make them really happy. They’re always telling me I should marry you.”
To Billie’s horror, they often did it while she was sitting right there. Still, it was nice that they weren’t going to be upset about the engagement.
I still can’t say wedding or marriage yet. I’ll stick to engagement for awhile.
He led the way back into the house and poured her another cup of coffee, his expression wary. “Is there…is there anyone that you want to tell? You know…back home? Maybe an old friend or a distant relation?”
She’d never told Tyler about her family, content to let him think she didn’t have any. It was far easier and she’d never wanted his pity. He came from loving parents and had a middle-class upbringing while her early years hadn’t been nearly as idyllic. Billie was pretty sure he didn’t even know where “back home” even was. She’d referred to the Midwest and her childhood in the vaguest of terms and he’d allowed it, seeming to understand that she didn’t want to discuss it.
She had a few friends she wanted to tell and eventually she’d tell Sierra. If her sister was even speaking to her, which at this moment wasn’t the case.
“Everyone can find out when the photos of you buying me a ring hit Twitter.”
He looked like he might argue but then he nodded. “Whatever you think is best.”
She took another fortifying sip of her coffee. There wasn’t enough caffeine in the world for what they were going to do today. This was going to cause a frenzy in his fandom.
“Give me thirty minutes to get ready and then we’ll go.”
As if half an hour would prepare her for what was about to happen. All hell was going to break loose.