Page 33 of Billion Dollar Vow (The Lincoln Brothers #4)

“I would say don’t wear white,” Eden says, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Her gaze flickers to Mr. Warne, and a knowing smile passes between them.

“I slipped on the grass once, and received some interesting looks while walking to the restaurant.” Her eyes roll dramatically, and a giggle escapes her lips as she sweeps her gaze around the table.

I find myself warming to her even more. Despite her obvious wealth and status, there’s something refreshingly unpretentious about Eden. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and I appreciate how she’s trying to make me feel better about my own mishaps.

Oliver’s hand rests on my thigh, his thumb tracing small circles. His warmth seeps through the fabric of my skirt, grounding me as I lean into him. “You’re not alone,” he says softly, his voice low and reassuring.

Feeling a bit of the tension ease from my shoulders, I flash him a genuine smile.

I want to return the favor, remembering something Oliver told me about Mr. Warne’s teasing remarks about him “pretending to enjoy art.” An idea forms in my mind, and I decide to share a story that will help Oliver’s case while maintaining our cover.

“Dan, you should see how good Oliver is at painting,” I announce suddenly, earning a sharp intake of breath from Oliver. His surprise ripples through me, but I press on, undeterred.

Mr. Warne’s bushy gray eyebrows shoot up, curiosity dancing across his face. “I didn’t realize you painted,” he says, his tone genuinely intrigued.

“I d—” Oliver begins, but the words dissolve into a strangled yelp when I squeeze his thigh… or at least what I thought was his thigh, but is actually his cock. His sudden noise draws every eye at the table. My stomach plummets when I realize my mistake.

Oliver leans forward, his face flushed, breathing deeply as I quickly release him.

“Are you okay?” Liam asks, amused. He sits close enough to have noticed everything, and the glimmer in his eyes confirms it.

“He’s just embarrassed and doesn’t like to talk about it,” I say quickly, shooting Oliver a glance to ensure he’s alright. He meets my gaze, a mix of amusement and disbelief written all over his features, but he says nothing, allowing me to steer the conversation back on track.

I pull out my phone and scroll through the photos.

“What did you paint?” Liam snorts, clearly trying to stifle his laughter.

“It was a tree with blossoms,” I reply, ignoring him as I swipe. Finally, I find the photo and hand the phone to Mr. Warne. His keen eyes narrow on the image and says he saw it online, but Eden gasps.

“Wow, Oliver, it’s beautiful,” she says.

I smile, letting my pride show. “He’s really talented.”

Oliver leans in. “Having a good teacher helps,” he murmurs before pressing a kiss to my cheek. The gentle gesture sends a flush of heat over my skin, leaving me momentarily breathless.

“I might need some lessons,” Liam chimes in.

My stomach tightens at his tone; there’s something unnerving in the way he’s looking at me.

“I can give you a referral,” I reply coolly.

“I want you.” His smirk deepens, and Oliver’s hand tightens slightly on my leg. I glance at Paige, who seems to have checked out of the conversation, staring at her phone beneath the table. Her disinterest in Liam’s flirting makes me wonder if this is normal behavior for him.

“Unfortunately, she’s not available,” Oliver says, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits as he glares at Liam.

“Boys,” Mr. Warne interjects enough to silence them both. “Enough.”

Eden, sensing the tension, lightens the mood. “Maybe you should sell your paintings, Oliver,” she says.

“He should and try different classes,” I add quickly, eager to shift focus. The tension between Oliver and Liam feels like it could snap at any moment. “I didn’t know I loved watercolor—” I stop short, suddenly remembering no one here knows the full truth about me.

“So you can learn different things?” Paige asks.

“Yeah, there’s heaps,” I reply, my smile returning. “Drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking…”

“Do you do them all?” Mr. Warne asks, his gaze steady on mine.

I shake my head softly, letting out a small laugh. “Not anymore. I focus on drawing and painting.”

We are interrupted by the waiter. Oliver takes the opportunity to whisper, “Thanks.”

We enjoy our meals: small dishes that look like art on a plate.

I have no idea what they're called. I just ordered exactly what Eden did, figuring she'd choose something good.

The food looks nothing like anything I've eaten before.

Tiny dots of colorful sauce, chicken placed on top, with little green herbs sprinkled around like delicate decorations.

Each bite feels like a surprise, more like a fancy experiment than a regular meal.

I take my time, savoring every piece until my plate is clean.

“Are you ready?” Eden looks at me and Paige.

I tilt my head.

“It’s spa time.”

Paige darts out of her chair so fast she doesn’t finish her meal. The eagerness in her movement makes me wonder if she’s been waiting for an escape from this tense lunch all along. Eden follows.

I rise, and as I’m about to step away from the table, Oliver’s hand grabs my wrist and brings me to him.

“You forgot something.” He gently pulls me to him, bringing his lips into an unexpected sweet kiss.

My toes curl. He pulls away, leaving me gasping, and a little disorientated. “Now you can go.” He winks, knowing exactly what he’s done.

Eden gushes at how cute we are as I walk beside her and Paige. I’ve lost my words and can only mumble in agreement.