The Wife Situation: A Billionaire Age Gap Marriage of Convenience Romance (Billionaire Situation Book 1)

Birthday countdown: 30 days

Since meeting her: 16 days

Company takeover: 37 days

We take the trail that leads from the house to the barn, so neither of us has to worry about driving. Lexi hooks her fingers with mine as we walk down the path.

“We should’ve pregamed,” she says.

“I only do that when I plan on fucking around and finding out,” I tell her with a smirk, and she laughs.

“Exactly,” she says.

I shake my head. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Apparently, you’re gonna make me your wife,” she quips.

“Damn straight.”

“Sooner rather than later, okay?”

“I’d marry you tomorrow,” I admit, meaning every fucking word.

I think I hear her breath hitch.

“Soon, soon then.”

“Twenty-nine days. So, yeah.”

In the distance, the barn is lit bright and light leaks out from both sides. Chatter and laughter echo as we look up at the stars. Someone says something inaudible over a loudspeaker. Not long after, country music spills out into the pasture. Neither of us says a word as we move toward the party, but we don’t have to. There’s no other place I’d rather be right now.

“Ready?” she asks with a smile as I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

She fully interlocks her fingers with mine, and I’m so damn tempted to kiss her.

“As ever,” I say, and we walk in through the large entrance.

All heads turn in our direction. Lexi glances at me, leading us toward the birthday girl. Everyone returns to their red cups full of beer as country music blares through the sound system.

When we’re close, Lexi gives her a hug. “Happy birthday. I’m going to send you something when I get back to New York.”

“Don’t. You’re enough,” Remi says, nodding her head at me as I stand to the side.

My eyes wander around the room with all the smiling faces. Couples are dancing, friends are chatting, and everyone seems like they’re living life to the fullest.

Moments later, the lights are lowered and someone turns on a colored disco light to set the mood. It smells like leather and fresh hay. There’s a beer-pong table in the corner, and Lexi leads us over to it.

“We’re next,” she tells the table as the last ball sinks into the cup.

Beckett and Harrison give each other high fives.

“You’re both goin’ down,” Harrison screams, pointing at us, grabbing the woman next to him to kiss her.

“His wife,” Lexi says. “Took a lot for them to get together.”

“It’s usually not easy.” I meet her eyes. This easy.

“Apologies in advance for kicking your ass,” Beckett offers with a nod.

Lexi turns to me with the ball in her hand and clanks it against mine. “You know how to play? Keep your elbow behind the table and don’t bounce—only bitches do that.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Sorry, I thought you would’ve been busy playing croquet or something.” She can’t fully get the words out of her mouth before she snorts, tossing a ball and sinking it into a cup.

“I was more into polo,” I admit as we toss again.

“You ride?” She gives an overhead throw and makes it.

“Yes.” I make mine too.

She turns to me. “Okay, so you are perfect.”

“For you,” I say.

Six more cups, and we’ll win.

A small smile plays over her lips as she throws again and misses.

I make mine, but it’s not enough.

Beckett and Harrison both make balls in our cups and rethrow them. Lexi and I tap the red plastic together and drink the warm beer.

She makes a face, and so do I.

“That was awful,” she hisses.

Beckett and Harrison don’t seem to notice or care, but I have a feeling this isn’t the first round they’ve played because of how much shit they’re talking. They clear out all but two cups.

“We’re gonna skunk your asses,” Harrison says, giving Beckett another high five.

“You suck,” Lexi says when Harrison flicks the ball and it lands in the last one. She begrudgingly drinks it, doing a little wiggle, like it helps it go down easier. It doesn’t.

“Boo-hoo,” Beckett mocks. “You lost, Lexi. I bet that stings.”

She laughs and flips them off. “I hate losing to them. They rub it in.”

“Aww, you’re cute when you don’t win,” I say, brushing my thumb against her cheek. “Want a drink?”

“Not if it’s hot, shitty beer.”

I pull a flask from my pocket and hand it to her.

“Gotta love a man who comes prepared.”

She takes a long drink, hands it to me, and I do the same. We stand off to the side, people-watching, laughing about nothing as we get buzzed like we’re teenagers.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispers.

“I am too,” I say.

She takes my hand, leading me toward the back of the barn and down a dark hallway. She twists a knob. We’re inside a small office. After she closes the door, Lexi pushes me against it.

Her mouth is on mine as I rest my hands inside her pockets. We’re a speeding bullet, soaring through the wind. The person I was before meeting her no longer exists.

“I need you,” she whispers, palming my cock, which is hard for her.

I reach behind me, locking the door. I slide my hand inside her shorts and panties, my fingers sliding down her slit.

“You’re already so wet for me,” I growl in her ear, rolling circles against her clit.

“I wanted you before we left,” she admits.

Pleading moans release from her as I slide one finger, then two deep inside of her. She sinks down to my knuckles, grabbing my biceps to steady herself as I move back to her bundle of nerves.

“So greedy.”

“Easton,” she says, her head falling back on her shoulders. It releases from her mouth like a prayer.

“I love hearing you say my name,” I say into her ear, knowing she’s already hanging by a string.

Lexi peels her shirt up above her perfect breasts. No bra. Her nipples are hard as pebbles.

“Did you hear me that night?”

She gasps as I dip down. I take her hard peak into my mouth, continuing to give her pussy what it begs for.

“Yes,” I admit, and her breathing increases.

She likes that I heard her. She wanted me to.

“I’m so close,” she says.

“Come for me,” I whisper.

She nods, tucking her bottom lip into her mouth as she chases the orgasm to the very end. I give her clit just enough pressure with my thumb as I slowly finger-fuck her.

“Yes, yes,” she whimpers, and when she finally spills over the edge, she screams out into my chest. Her breathing is ragged as she keeps her body resting against mine. I pull my hand from her panties and she laughs. “I can never get enough of you.”

I place my fingers into my mouth. “Fuck, you taste so goddamn good.”

She smiles like she’s pleased. “Let me take care of you.”

I kiss her hair. “I can wait, darling.”

She tucks her hands inside my jeans, tugging me closer to her. “Don’t you want me?”

“I want you every fucking second of every day, Lexi.”

“Then, please let me have you when I want you. I insist, Mr. Calloway,” she mutters, dropping down to her knees, taking full control.

My hands are fisted through her hair, and she works me so damn well that my knees nearly buckle. Guttural groans release from my throat when she cups my balls.

“This cock is mine.”

She kisses up and down the shaft. Her emerald eyes meet mine as I lean against the door, knowing if she keeps up this pace, I’ll lose it. She takes me to the back of her throat, her hand twisting as she licks and sucks me to oblivion.

“Fuck,” I groan when she slides her hands up my body, under my shirt, and tweaks my nipples.

“Lexi,” I growl, my muscles tensing.

One of her brows quirks up as I shoot warm cum in the back of her throat. She creates space, allowing me the pleasure of watching silver strands land on her perfect tongue. She swallows me down, licking up every drop as my heart nearly pounds out of my chest.

I feel like I’ve transcended realities as I look down into her bright eyes.

“Mmm. Thank you,” she breathlessly says, standing up.

I tilt my head at her, readjusting my clothes and myself.

“Thank you,” I whisper as she slides her mouth against mine.

“You’re like a drug.”

“Hate to break it to you, babe, but there’s no rehab,” I say.

“Good,” she whispers. “We should probably get out there before people start wondering where we are.”

I check my watch. We’ve only been gone for thirty minutes. “They probably haven’t noticed.”

“How do I look?” she asks.

I trace her bottom lip with my thumb. “Guilty.”

“Always.”

She smirks and grabs my hand, leading me down the dark hallway and back to the main area, where nothing has changed. People are still dancing. There’s a beer line at the keg. Beckett and Harrison are still ruling the beer-pong table. I wrap my arm around her as we enter and hand her the flask.

“Will you dance with me?”

“Lead the way,” I say, following her into the crowd of people.

I can still taste her on my lips, and I smile. My hands rest on her hips as she twists her fingers behind my neck. It’s like everyone and everything in the room disappears, and it’s only us, slowly spinning together.

When I meet her eyes again, her lips part and I dip down to devour her mouth. The taste of pleasure mixes on our tongues.

The sound of a deep voice calling her name over the music pulls us away.

Lexi turns her head. “Beau?”

“I heard you were in town and rushed over here,” he says, moving closer. “Can I talk to you?”

“No,” Lexi says, placing her hands on her hips. “I have nothing to say to you.”

I can hear the anger in her voice.

He tries to reach for her hand, and I grab him, wanting to break his fucking wrist.

“Don’t. Touch. Her. And if I were you, I’d take a step back.”

He looks into my eyes and recognition flashes. I let him go as Brett and Chris step to my side, and they’re more feral than me. Didn’t think that was possible.

I cross my arms over my chest as a crowd forms around us.

“Why are you fucking him?” Beau screams at her, pointing at me.

I stay calm, knowing I’ll beat his ass if I have to.

Lexi’s mouth falls open. “You cheated on me!”

“Are you in love with him?” Beau questions. “Tell me that, Lexi.”

She glances over at me, and it’s like no one else in the goddamn room exists. We hold a silent conversation, and I see the sparkle in her eye, the one I said I’d never miss again after the first time we saw one another in the park.

She glares back at him.

“Yes,” she states. “I am. But that’s none of your goddamn business.”

“Liar.” He seethes.

“You have the audacity to call me a liar after everything you put me through? You’re a cheating bastard!”

She’s angry. I’ve never seen her this mad. Lexi takes a step forward and whispers something in his ear before returning to my side. He looks like she slapped the shit out of him, and I give her a smirk, curious as to what she said.

My grandfather once said that a person shouldn’t fight with violence, but with words, because it’s the only weapon that can cut so deep. Lexi proved that for me.

Quiet chatter fills the space and I glance around, knowing this is getting out of hand. The last thing either of us needs is this spreading around town or to the gossip columns.

The crowd parts, and Remi stands in front of Beau, her birthday crown on her head and hands on her tiny waist. Cash follows behind her, and so do Harrison and Beckett. She’s brought her own personal army.

“You won’t be ruining my birthday, Beau. Please leave.”

Beau’s mouth falls open like he wants to say something, but Lexi stunned him silent.

“Out you go,” Beckett says, putting his hand on Beau’s shoulder. Harrison grabs his other one, and they lead him outside.

I take Lexi’s hand and we walk outside. There were too many eyes on her, and I could see that she was lost in her head.

We’re on the opposite side of the barn, the one that faces the open land. Without the music playing, we can hear every word Beau says to the Valentine brothers.

Lexi sits on the ground with her back resting against the barn wall and leans her head on her knees. I place my hand on her back as they argue with one another.

Harrison raises his voice. “She’s moved on. She’s fucking happy. Sometimes, you win, and sometimes, you lose. You lost, Beau. Should’ve married her when you had the chance and not been a cheating cunt.”

I’ll have to tell him thank you for that later.

“She doesn’t love him,” Beau tries to reason.

“She doesn’t love you either,” Beckett says. “Now, leave.”

“I dated an idiot,” Lexi whispers, shaking her head.

“Leave,” Beckett yells, and I can hear how agitated he is. “I’m gonna call the sheriff. I didn’t want any trouble tonight from anyone. And here you are, fucking up my beer-pong record!”

I hold back my laughter.

More mumbles fill the space, an engine cranks, and gravel kicks up. Five minutes later, the microphone comes on, and it sounds like Harrison has it shoved halfway down his throat.

“Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen; I thought we said pricks weren’t invited! Let the good times roll,” he says.

Everyone laughs, then the music continues like nothing happened.

“Are you okay?” I finally ask, rubbing her back.

She sits up and turns to me. “You know, for months, I asked myself how I’d react if Beau confronted me. I replayed the scenario a few times and didn’t know how I’d feel when I saw him again. But … when I looked at him, it was like staring at a blank page. There was nothing there.”

“I’ve been there. It’s freeing. And awkward.”

“It is,” she says. “I told him I’ve never had to fake it with you and that you give the best orgasms I’ve ever had.”

A howl of laughter releases from me. “I was curious, but wasn’t going to ask.”

“Nothing I said to him was a lie.” Her eyes soften.

I think back to her saying she was falling in love with me. Could that even be possible? I hope it is.

She crawls onto my lap and I hold her. I want to stay like this for a lifetime.

“Lexi,” I whisper “There’s no other woman I want to do this with. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and while it scares the fuck out of me, I’m ready.”

She smiles and kisses me. “This will be the adventure of a lifetime.”

“Guaranteed.”

I think Lexi needs more time to realize the kind of life we can have together, but time is something we’re running out of. I hate the invisible clock that’s hanging over us, but I wonder if we’d have taken the risk without it. There’s no way of knowing.

She studies me. “I think I want our ceremony to be intimate—our special moment.”

I smile and tuck loose strands of hair behind her ear, studying every feature so I can draw this moment later. “And what about the vows?”

“Still written,” she says. “Convince me you’re worth staying with forever.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” I tell her, enjoying the idea of telling her exactly how I feel.

She laughs against my mouth. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”

“Honeymoon preference?”

“Surprise me,” she says. “You’re the only person on the planet who can, apparently.”

“Oh, almost forgot.” I dig into my pocket and pull out the black velvet box with the Calloway Diamonds logo.

“Please marry me. You really do make me a better man, and I’d be honored to call you my wife,” I say when I open it.

An audible gasp whispers through the still night air between us. “Easton, I—I didn’t expect this.”

“My fiancée needs a ring,” I mutter close to her, where only she can hear. “I designed every detail specifically for you.”

She gives me her left hand and I kiss every single knuckle before sliding the pink emerald-shaped diamond onto her finger.

She covers her mouth, staring down at it. “This is too much.”

“Not for my fiancée,” I say, moving her hair from her face.

Lexi grabs my cheeks and softly paints her lips against mine. I wrap my arms around her, our tongues twisting together, and my body is on fire.

“You’ll be my wife,” I whisper, and it’s an admission.

“I like the thought of it,” she says.

Movement happens in my peripheral vision as two people come around the barn. The girl pushes the guy against the wall and her hands run through his hair. They’re desperate. Greedy.

“Remi? Cash?” Lexi says on my lap with swollen lips.

They turn to us with eyes wide.

“You didn’t see us,” Remi says, walking away.

Cash shrugs and shakes his head, then follows her.

Lexi turns to me, smiling. “She’s always had a thing for him.”

It makes me wonder if anyone else knows about them. I meet her eyes. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Yes,” she says, standing.

“Would you like to tell everyone goodbye?”

She smiles at me. “Nah, we’ll visit again.”

“Anytime you want.”

Lexi grabs my hand and we take the trail that leads back to the B & B.

“So, before we get married, I’d like you to meet my parents,” I say.

She stops walking. “I just got super nervous.”

“Billie already likes you, so you’ll do fine. She has never approved of anyone I was into.”

“Really?” She laughs.

“Only you.” I smile. “Are you free tomorrow?”

“You know I am.”

“Great. I have a dinner planned for us. It will be a big family get-together.”

She lets out a ragged breath and I wrap my arm around her.

“They’ll love you,” I say, kissing her hair.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because everyone else already does.”

“Everyone?” she insinuates with hooded eyes.

“Everyone,” I confirm, knowing she understands I’m included.