The Virgin Billionaire: Switched at Marriage Part 2 (8 page)

He laughed. "Eighty-three point three three million."

"You know that off the top of your head?" I asked. Had he been expecting that question?"

"I'm good with math in my head."

Genius, more like.

"FYI, I have more than one billion. In net assets." He leaned into me and whispered in that deep, sexy voice of his that was still startling to hear, "Don't get any ideas. A deal's a deal."

Oh, darn. I wasn't going to get another twelfth of a billion out of him in the form of a ring.

"Going with the salary thing isn't to your advantage," he said. "I take a small, really small salary. Based on that—"

"Shut up!" I squeezed his hand. "There's no way I'd wear any eighty-three-million-dollar ring on my finger anyway. Do they even make rings that expensive? Can you imagine? I'd be a ready target for someone to rob and hit me over the head with a lead pipe to get my ring. I have no intention of dying because I'm wearing your ring."

He smiled. "Good. We're on the same page."

He stopped by the dessert table and grabbed a chocolate. I was too excited to eat anything. We wandered around, looking at trays of rings. They were all gorgeous. And obviously expensive.

Jus didn't know that when I talked to May earlier, I asked her not to show us anything over twenty-five thousand. Yeah, I wasn't out to get his billions. The rings she'd selected were all gorgeous. I stopped in front of a tray that caught my eye and tried a few on.

Maybe it was gauche, but Jus asked the natural question. A guy had a right to know how much he was spending. "What do these start at?"

"Twenty thousand." May looked apologetic, but her eyes leaped with hope. Maybe Jus would be up for spending more than my limit. "We can order out for more expensive rings if you like. Or design something custom—"

I shook my head. "These are perfect. I don't need more."

Jus grinned at me, egging me on. "Money's no object. Up to a point. I was thinking of spending more like a hundred thousand."

I shook my head. "I'm not going around with the equivalent of a small house on my finger. As I said, I don't want someone bashing me over the head for my jewelry."

"What kind of neighborhoods are you planning to go to?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'll keep you safe." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

"My hero!" I laughed.

"Babe, do you want people thinking I'm cheap?" He was playing devoted groom too well. "My love for you knows no limits. Especially not dollar limits."

He was such a tease.

"I don't
care
if they think you're cheap. I want them to see that I didn't marry you for your money." After being accused of that all day long, not looking mercenary was becoming increasingly important to me. I'm sure it sounded desperately romantic to anyone who overheard. "I married you for you."

I looked deep into his eyes, really putting it on. "I love
you
. Not your money." Maybe I could fool at least one innocent bystander.

Even though she stood to lose out on a bigger commission, May got teary-eyed. Gullible, but I liked her for that.

Jus grinned and gave me a quick kiss. "I love you, too."

I smiled back at him, thinking he understood. "The average guy spends about four thousand on a wedding set. Five or six times as much as that should be sufficient. That's the price of a small car. And the most almost any groom spends. That's way more than I need."

"Kay," he said. "I hate to point this out, but you could just as easily be hit over the head for a small car."

"I thought you were keeping me safe?"

He laughed and kissed me again. I was actually enjoying myself. After debating for less than half an hour, I picked a set that outshone any of my married friends' rings. And was, quite frankly, the ring of my dreams. I'd been to enough weddings in the last four years to know.

May promised to have it sized and sent by courier to us Thursday morning. "Would you like the engagement ring soldered to the wedding band?"

I opted not to. "No. I think there will be times when I'll want to just wear the simple diamond band."

She turned her attention to Jus' ring, looking me in the eye. "How much would you like to spend on the groom's ring?"

Oh, crap. That was part of the deal—the bride bought the groom's ring. And I had no money. If I told her a couple hundred, would she laugh me out of the store?

Jus came to my rescue. "A simple gold band is all I want."

She measured his ring size and called for another tray, this time of men's rings. Jus picked his. "Add it to my tab." He pulled out his credit card and handed it over before I could protest. He seemed practiced at picking up the tab over others' protests. Probably mostly feeble protests, as mine was.

I pulled May aside and asked her to share a picture of my ring and the specs with the waiting press.

And then we were done. The cars were waiting for us when we stepped out of the store. I relaxed on the way home, eager to get back to the penthouse and collapse. I'd had enough stress for one day. Enough pretending to be in love with a guy I barely knew. Enough being on my guard, smiling for cameras, and having flashes go off in my face. Enough of not being who I really was. Of my life being a play lived out in the real world. Enough of blending into Jus' life while putting mine on hold. I just wanted to kick back, be myself, and decompress.

I let myself into the penthouse and tossed my purse on the console table before kicking off my shoes. I was looking around for Magda when I spotted a dark-haired woman sitting in a chair with her back to me. There was something familiar about her.

"May I help you?" I said.

She spun around and I knew immediately who she had to be. My heart dove for my stomach and my smile wobbled.

"Diana Green. Justin's mom." Her words were like ice. "We need to talk."

T
he story continues
…

If you liked
The Virgin Billionaire
, you’ll want to read
To Have and To Hold
, Episode 3 of
Switched at Marriage
, right away!

Should a decoy bride have in-law problems?

R
ELATIONS AFTER THE ALTAR
…

Justin's mom is out for blood. Even though Justin is her least favorite child, no one messes with him. Mama Green is out to defend her baby boy and protect him from predatory, gold digging wives, namely Kayla. And Kayla's parents aren't making the situation any better. Not only that, but Justin has secrets. And Kayla's single friends are full of marital advice. Where is a girl to turn?

C
an
a marriage of convenience survive an attack of the in-laws?

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ant to know
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till can’t get enough
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S
witched at Marriage
, a Romantic Comedy Serial Romance

Part One—
A Wedding to Remember

Part Two—
The Virgin Billionaire

Part Three—
To Have and To Hold

The Rushed Series

Rushed

Crushed

Hushed

The Reckless Series

Reckless Longing
—FREE

Reckless Secrets

Reckless Together

G
ina Robinson's
books have delighted readers and received positive reviews in
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, and
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.

A voracious reader and fan of all types of romantic stories, she writes romance and women's fiction across a wide variety of subgenres—new adult, contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense. Her love stories are infused with a happy blend of romance, adventure, a bit of mystery, and humor. Readers are drawn to the light touch she gives even serious topics and the fast, fun, easy-to-read pace of her books. From college campuses to Seattle to Las Vegas to England, her settings become almost characters of their own, driving the story.

She believes in the power of true love and passion, and that every great romance should have a happily-ever-after. To get an email when Gina releases a new book, sign up to join her VIP list by visiting her website at
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