Page 26 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

ISAAC

E arlier, I had stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my shirt for what felt like the hundredth time.

The suit was simple—dark, tailored, and had no tie.

I wanted to look good but not like I was trying too hard.

Mina deserved someone who could match her effortless elegance without looking like he’d spent hours preening.

The truth was, I had spent hours preening. Or at least thinking about it. I’d gone through three different shirts before settling on this one, and even now, I wasn’t entirely sure it was the right choice. But it didn’t matter. Mina would make anything look good just by standing next to me.

I checked my phone one last time. The reservation was confirmed, the car was waiting downstairs, and the surprise was set.

I’d been planning this for days, ever since I realized how much she’d come to mean to me.

It wasn’t just about the fun anymore—though God knows we had plenty of that.

It was about her. The way she laughed, the way she looked at me like I was the only person in the room, the way she made me feel like I could be more than just the troublemaker everyone expected me to be.

She didn’t know what I had planned, but she trusted me enough to go along with it.

That trust meant more than she probably realized.

I slid into the backseat of the car I hired for the trip to the Duvall estate.

Hectar had been keeping his distance since the meeting at my dad’s place.

He wasn’t going to intimidate me or get me to back off. I was in this now.

The drive, knowing I was about to kidnap Mina Duvall for forty-eight hours, felt like it was taking forever. I wasn’t worried she was going to push back. That was the thing about Mina; she was up for just about anything.

The driver pulled to a halt outside the gate, hitting the buzzer. “Bancroft,” he said into the speaker.

I half-expected to be denied entry. I wasn’t sure if or when Hectar was going to put his foot down.

He thought I was a bad influence on his daughter.

He was the one that started this thing. And honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was the bad influence or she was.

That was what made it so fucking fun to hang out with her.

The driver pulled the car to a stop in front of the entry. I climbed out and leaned against the car hoping I looked dashing. I held the bouquet of wildflowers that reminded me of her—wild. Free. Growing and thriving with the freedom to go anywhere.

Mina stepped out and stopped when she saw me.

She laughed and started toward me. I forgot how to speak.

When she smiled up at me, I lost a few brain cells.

She was breathtaking. The deep sapphire blue dress clung to her curves like it had been made just for her, the thin straps framing her shoulders and revealing just enough skin to make my fingers itch to touch her.

The fabric flowed around her legs as she walked, catching the light in a way that made her look like she was glowing. Her hair was down, cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, and her lips were painted a shade of red that made it impossible to look away.

But it wasn’t just the dress or the way she looked—it was her.

The way she carried herself, like she knew exactly who she was and didn’t care what anyone else thought.

That confidence, that fire, it was intoxicating.

And when she smiled at me, it wasn’t one of those polite society smiles she’d been trained to give.

It was real. Warm. Like I was the only person in the world who mattered.

“Hi,” she said, stopping in front of me.

“Hi,” I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. I held out the bouquet of wildflowers, suddenly feeling like an idiot for bringing them. “These are for you.”

She took them, her fingers brushing against mine, and brought them to her nose. “They’re beautiful,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

I cleared my throat, trying to get my brain back online. “You look… incredible.”

She laughed, a sound that made my chest tighten. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

I leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek with my hand brushing up her arm.

“Well,” she said. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope,” I said, managing to open the door for her like a halfway competent human. “You’ll find out when we land.”

“Land?” Her brows lifted as she slid inside.

“Land,” I said with a wink.

“As in we will not be on the ground?”

“Nope. Planes fly in the air.”

“Plane?”

“Private jet I think is the technical term,” I replied. “Come on. Your family has a few of them.”

She laughed like I was ridiculous, and maybe I was, but I wasn’t backing down. I got in on my side, told the driver to go, and reached for her hand. “You trust me?”

“I probably shouldn’t,” she murmured. “But I do.”

Good enough for me. I was only hiding one thing from her, and it would kill the mood if I brought it up now. I wanted her to have a good time, not drag her back down again.

The car pulled up to the private hangar, and Mina’s eyes widened as she caught sight of the sleek jet waiting on the tarmac. The Bancroft family crest was emblazoned on the side, gleaming under the floodlights. She turned to me, her lips parting in surprise.

“You Bancrofts aren’t shy, I see,” she said, looking at the side of the jet.

“I’ll be the first to admit we have a flair for the dramatic, but I actually voted against adding the crest,” I replied, grinning. “Real power is quiet. Insecurity is loud.”

I stepped out of the car and offered her my hand. She took it, her fingers warm against mine, and let me help her out.

“Um, I didn’t pack a bag,” she said as I handed my little suitcase to one of the attendants.

“I know,” I said close to her ear. “I was hoping to keep you naked for the next forty-eight hours. People say I don’t plan ahead, but I’ve thought this through extensively.”

She giggled softly. “Then there better not be any clothes in your bag either.”

“I can make that happen, no problem. And I’ve already arranged to have a few things delivered to the hotel. In case we absolutely have to leave the bedroom.”

“Where are we going?” she asked as we climbed the stairs.

I waggled my brows at her. “To a little place I like to call Fun Town.”

She cocked her head and frowned. “Is that in Michigan? Vermont?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” I said with a wink.

“Okay, I’ll come, but our destination better not be a golf course in Palm Springs.” She eyed my face like she was searching for my reaction.

“It’s not. I promise.”

The flight attendant, Gloria, greeted us at the top of the stairs with a warm smile and a pair of champagne flutes. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Bancroft. Miss Duvall. Captain says we’ve got clear skies all the way.”

Mina took a glass and nodded at Gloria. “Would you be so kind as to tell me where we’re heading?”

I nodded at Gloria. “Go ahead. Tell her where I said we’re going.”

“Fun Town,” Gloria said with a smile and rolled her eyes.

Mina growled adorably and threw her hands up. “I can’t tell if this is a romantic getaway or a kidnapping.”

“Only one way to find out,” I said, knowing she couldn’t resist a challenge.

“Fine.” She headed toward the seats. “One ticket to Fun Town.”

I followed her in. The cabin was spacious and luxurious, with plush leather seats, a polished wood bar, and soft lighting that gave it an intimate feel.

She sank into one of the seats and let out a low whistle. “I think your jet is nicer than my family’s. We’re still on the ground but my buns are already in a cloud.”

I laughed. “I glad you like it.”

“Like it? I’m taking this seat with me when I leave.”

“It’s yours,” I said, sitting across from her and raising my champagne. “Only the best for you.”

She clinked her glass against mine, her eyes sparkling. “I like the sound of that.”

The hum of the engines filled the cabin as we taxied down the runway.

Mina’s fingers tightened around her glass as the jet lifted off.

Her gaze fixed on the window as the city shrank below us.

I watched her, the way her lips curved into a small, private smile, the way her shoulders loosened as we climbed higher.

She looked very relaxed. Like the weight of everything—her father, Sampson, the expectations—had been left behind on the ground.

“So,” she said after a moment, turning to me. “Are you going to give me any hints about where we’re going?”

I leaned back in my seat, swirling the champagne in my glass. “I’ve already given you hints.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, but there was no real annoyance in it. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Maybe,” I admitted with a grin. “But you’ll like it. I promise. If not, I’ll fly you anywhere in the world.”

She sighed dramatically, but I could see the curiosity burning in her eyes. “Fine. But if this is some elaborate prank, I’m pushing you out of this plane.”

“Noted,” I said, laughing. “But trust me, it’s not a prank.”

The flight attendant reappeared with a tray of hors d’oeuvres—tiny, delicate bites that looked almost too pretty to eat. Mina popped one into her mouth, her eyes widening in surprise.

“These are amazing,” she said, reaching for another. “What is this? Truffle something?”

“Truffle and goat cheese crostini,” Gloria supplied with a smile before disappearing again.

Mina shook her head, laughing softly. “You really outdid yourself.”

“Thanks, but I didn’t make these or anything. I just made sure to break out the good stuff.”

Despite playing it cool, I was absolutely trying to knock her socks off.

But trying to impress the Duvall Princess was no easy feat.

She’d grown up in the lap of luxury. Money alone wouldn’t blow her skirt up.

For me to impress her, I really had to pull out all the stops.

I liked the challenge. Although I knew she would have been just as happy going to eat at a taco truck.

It was the spontaneity that did it for her, and a little thoughtfulness went a long way as well.

We chatted a bit about nothing in particular during the flight, with her occasionally trying to get me to tell her our destination. I kept the secret for as long as I could, but as soon as we flew over the Grand Canyon, she figured out the surprise.

She arched an eyebrow. “Vegas?”

“When’s the last time you’ve been?”

She thought about it for a minute. “Honestly, probably not since I was twenty-one. Did the whole girls’ trip and of course got wasted and caused trouble. I’m not even sure I’m allowed in Nevada.”

I laughed. “I’ll make sure you behave.”

“Yeah right.” She snorted. “That’s like the fox guarding the henhouse.”

I grinned and shrugged. “I guess we’ll both have to look out for the other. Don’t want to spend one of our two nights here in the clink.”

“Two nights?”

“Do you have plans?” I questioned.

“Nope. I’m all yours.”

The way she said it hit me square in the chest.

The jet touched down smoothly, and within minutes, we were whisked away in a sleek black SUV toward the heart of the Strip. We pulled up to the Bellagio. The heat hit us in waves the second we stepped outside.

“Shit, I forgot how hot Vegas was in the summer,” I groaned. I couldn’t keep the jacket on. I stripped it off and held it over my arm as we checked in. After, I looked at her, taking in our surroundings. “So, what do you think?”

She turned to me slowly, an incredulous little smile playing on her lips. “I think you’re absolutely unhinged.”

“You love it.”

“Maybe.”

We stepped in the elevator and went up to the suite I had booked. Mina walked in and looked around. It wasn’t the best suite in the place, but it was nice and the couples’ soaking tub was going to be a fun perk.

“We can do some shopping, but I did have a few things delivered,” I said casually.

She arched one perfect eyebrow. “Yeah?”

I winked and led her to the bedroom. The bags were on the bed. She pulled out the lingerie and laughed. “You know this isn’t actually clothing?”

I flashed a grin. “It’s my kind of clothing.”

“You’re impossible.”

She pulled out the shorts, blouse, and comfortable shoes along with the two bikinis. She nodded with satisfaction. “These will do.”

“Alright, ready to hit the Strip?” I asked.

“Seriously?”

“What? You’ve never just done the Vegas thing? Walk up and down the Strip, stopping in the shops and carrying around a ridiculously large drink?”

She scrunched her nose. “Actually, no.”

“You’re in for a treat. Think you can handle it in those heels?”

“Baby, I can go hiking in these heels,” she retorted. “I’ve been wearing heels since I could walk.”

We stepped back into the elevator, the doors closing with a soft chime. Mina leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, a smirk on her face. “So, what’s first? Gambling? A show? Or are we just going to wander aimlessly until we find trouble?”

“Trouble usually finds us,” I said, grinning. “But I thought we’d start with a little shopping. You know, get you something sparkly.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out into the bustling lobby of the Bellagio. Mina’s heels clicked against the marble floor as we made our way toward the shops.

The first store we walked into was a high-end jewelry boutique.

Mina’s eyes immediately lit up as she scanned the glass cases filled with glittering diamonds and gold.

She paused in front of a display of delicate necklaces, her fingers hovering over one in particular—a simple silver chain with a small sapphire pendant.

“That one,” I said, pointing to it before she could say anything.

She glanced at me, surprised. “You don’t even know if I like it.”

“You’ve been staring at it for thirty seconds,” I said. “And it matches your dress.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re too much.”

The sales associate behind the counter smiled warmly as she retrieved the necklace from the case. Mina held it up to her neck, turning to face me. “Well?”

“We’ll take it,” I said and handed over my card.

“You don’t even know how much it is,” Mina said. “I’m sure they are overcharging,” she added in a low voice.

“I don’t care.”

She took my hand without hesitation and didn’t let go once. We continued to wander in and out of shops and casinos, watched a group of tourists in full costume take shots off a tray balanced on a sword.

“Oh, look at that!” Mina gasped.

It was a virtual reality setup. It looked cheesy, but if she wanted to do it, I was up for it. I bought two tickets and we stepped inside. It was haunted house themed. She laughed hysterically instead of being properly terrified.

Afterward, we ate every bit of junk food we spotted that looked good. We were doing absolutely nothing and I was having the best time doing it. This girl had me wrapped around her finger.

I’m starting to think that maybe Hectar Duvall did me the best favor anyone ever has by forcing me to marry his daughter.