The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad boys #1)(60)

"Filler," Alex answered. "So the board doesn't think this is a setup."

"Penelope's idea?" Reese guessed.

"She's sharp. Single?"

"Don't even think about it."

Alex chuckled, then his eyes went past Reese. "Ah, and here are the rest of them."

Merina's parents walked onto the patio. Merina, who was carrying a glass of white wine and standing next to Lilith, cast him a wide-eyed look from across the yard.

The desperate gaze told him she needed him to stand with her when they said hello. To feel needed, to be needed by her was as welcome as her needing him in every other way.

"Better greet your outlaws," Alex joked, lifting a glass. "If you only win two people over today, it should be them." His raised eyebrow told him Alex didn't believe that the Van Heusens were convinced.

But the real problem was that Reese wasn't convinced he was faking any longer.

* * *

Things had been strained between her and her parents since the wedding. Mom had tried to accept Reese without judgment and her father rarely brought it up. She hadn't prepared for seeing them today, but Merina was determined to make the best of it. After a few months of scrutiny during a marriage "for show," the strain was wearing on her in a way she was afraid had begun to show.

Thankfully, Reese was gliding her way, staggeringly powerful even dressed down for a faux casual cookout. As she'd learned since she set foot in the yard this afternoon, this get-together was anything but casual. Big Crane entertained his guests, his eyes lingering whenever they landed on Reese and Merina. He was watching the board and watching them in equal measure.

"You didn't tell me," she said as Reese looped an arm around her waist and turned with her to face her incoming parents.

"I didn't know," he replied. "Penelope."

In other words, this shebang was courtesy of their own personal public relations department. At least she had Reese. That thought struck her a little dumb. She'd come to rely on his presence. Lean on it, even.

Before those warning bells could trigger an alarm, Jolie and Mark sent a few uncomfortable glances across the lawn. They were nervous in the obscenely wealthy crowd, and now Merina was one of the flock. She'd fulfilled the whole "leave and cleave" order with a billionaire husband and her parents came an inch away from filing for bankruptcy.

Merina's heart ached for them. She wanted to assure them that they would be working at the Van Heusen as they liked. That they wouldn't have to change a single thing. Soon, she would.

"Well, this is quite the party," Jolie said as she approached. She was dressed in a floral dress, cut to flatter her plump-around-the-middle figure. Mark wore khakis and a golf shirt, trying but not quite hitting the fashionable mark.

"Hi, dear." Mark nodded at Reese next. "Reese."

Reese greeted them by name and pulled Merina flush to his hard, warm body. She rested her hand on his stomach, not realizing she'd done it until her father's eyes dropped to her hand, then raked up her dress and locked on her tattoo. His mouth frowned.

Right. The tattoo. Today was fun.

"I didn't know you were coming," Merina said. "I would have thought you'd have mentioned it at work on Friday."

"Well we were only invited this morning," Jolie said.

"I insisted we attend. I have something to talk to Reese about," Mark stated.

"About what?" It had better not involve Reese's intentions or she'd die.

"Don't worry," Mark said with one of his calming Dad smiles. "It's business not pleasure. Unless there are cigars?"

"There are cigars," Reese confirmed, his tone much more friendly than on the drive over here. "I prefer business with my pleasure."

His comment paired with the subtle slide of his fingers along her side. Merina felt her cheeks go up in flames, her mind retreating back to the many pleasurable encounters they'd had, all thanks to the business of this marriage.

"I'm sure you and your mom would like to eat while we talk," Reese said, his voice a seductive murmur. He pressed a kiss to her waiting lips, and then whispered into her ear, "If I don't come back in an hour, run."

She swallowed a smile and saw he was wearing one when he backed away. Several layers of gloom had lifted from him, and she'd like to think she had something to do with his improved mood.

"We'll be fine," Merina said for all of their sakes.

"Jolie, I highly recommend the artichoke dip," Reese said, then turned to Mark and gestured for him to follow.

Merina watched her husband walk away in that strong, long-legged swagger she'd grown accustomed to before facing her mother. "What was that about?"

"You know your father. He needs to be involved." Jolie's expression was calm and accepting. "Let's let the boys take care of that and you can show me to that dip."

More secrets. Merina put her arm in her mother's and led her to the chilled buffet bar on the patio, wishing she could tell her mother the truth about her and Reese. Though she wasn't sure what the truth was anymore. She'd married him for ownership of the VH, but now she was enjoying the perks that came with their marriage.

The biggest of which was Reese himself and who she was when she was with him.

Later, Mark and Reese emerged with smiles and scotches in hand, and Jolie and Merina mingled with the various women present who either worked for Crane or were friends of the family.

After her parents left, Tag arrived late, which was not surprising in the least. He nodded at Merina but beelined for his brother, and he and Reese hung at the bar on the patio. One by one, women turned their heads to take in so much sexy testosterone in a small space.

Lights on strings and soft music playing through speakers had drawn the dwindling crowd to the patio. The board members had gone, and the remaining few consisted of Alex's family, his assistant, and another older couple. Tag and Reese were chatting so Merina made a trip to the bathroom, catching sight of a cozy side room on her way back. Curious, she veered into there instead of going outside right away.

Too bright to be a den, the room featured a pair of French doors leading out to a flower garden with a bench in the center. The blooms were fresh, as if they were purchased recently, but for all Merina knew, Alex had a full-time gardener tending to every inch of this place.