7. Vivienne #2
"Thanks for sending the car," I reply, playing along as I take his hand. The moment our skin connects, that now-familiar current runs between us.
He helps me out, then pulls me into a brief embrace. "Cameras on the hill," he murmurs against my hair. "Smile like you're happy to see me."
I pull back, giving him my most convincing adoring look. "Always happy to see you."
Lily bounces on her toes. "Did you bring your hair stuff? Can we do braids again?"
"Of course," I tell her, genuinely touched by her enthusiasm. "I promised, didn't I?"
Jaxon reaches for my suitcase, but the Uber driver has already removed it from the trunk. "I'll get this," he says, turning to the driver. "Thank you for bringing my fiancée home safely."
The word 'home' hangs between us as the car pulls away. Such a simple word, but loaded with meaning neither of us is ready to unpack.
"Come on," Lily says, grabbing my free hand. "I'll show you where you're staying. Uncle Jaxon had them clean the blue room for you. It has the best bathroom."
"Lily," Jaxon cautions, but I shake my head.
"Lead the way," I tell her. "I trust your room recommendation completely."
As we enter the mansion, I'm struck again by its scale. Soaring ceilings, sweeping staircase, art that probably costs more than my annual salary decorating walls that have witnessed generations of Hart family drama.
"Your home is beautiful," I say, aware we've shifted into more private space, away from prying cameras.
"It's just a house," Jaxon replies, something tight in his voice. "Andrew renovated extensively after our parents died. I haven't changed much since..."
Since becoming Lily's guardian. Since inheriting his brother's life, along with all its complications.
"The blue room is this way," Lily announces, tugging me toward the staircase. "It's next to mine. I told Uncle Jaxon you should have it because then we can have sleepovers."
I glance at Jaxon, who gives a slight shrug. "The blue room is a guest suite on the family wing," he explains. "There's a connecting door to Lily's room, but it locks on both sides."
"Sounds perfect," I say, following Lily up the stairs, acutely aware of Jaxon behind me, carrying my suitcase with effortless strength.
The "blue room" turns out to be a gorgeous suite with pale blue walls, a king-sized four-poster bed, and a sitting area overlooking the gardens. The adjoining bathroom is bigger than my entire bedroom at home, with a soaking tub and shower that could fit four people comfortably.
"This is lovely," I tell Lily, who beams with pride as if she designed it herself.
"The closet has lots of space," she informs me, sliding open double doors to reveal a walk-in closet bigger than my kitchen. "Uncle Jaxon said you might bring more stuff later, so he made sure there were enough hangers."
I glance at Jaxon, who sets my suitcase on a bench at the foot of the bed. "Very thoughtful," I say, wondering how we got from 'strategic arrangement' to discussing closet space so quickly.
"Dinner will be ready at seven," he says, hands sliding into his pockets in a gesture I'm beginning to recognize as slight discomfort. "Nothing formal, just us and Mrs. Patterson. Thought it would be good for us to... settle in before the Entertainment Tonight interview tomorrow."
"Interview tomorrow?" This is the first I've heard of it.
"Luke set it up. Here at the house, mid-morning. Thought it would be best to control the narrative early." His eyes hold a question. Is this moving too fast?
"Sounds perfect," I say with more confidence than I feel. "I should unpack and freshen up before dinner."
"Can I help?" Lily offers eagerly.
Jaxon puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let's give Vivienne some space to settle in, Lil. You can show her the rest of the house before dinner."
Lily looks disappointed but nods. "Okay. But don't forget we're doing braids later."
"I won't forget," I promise, touched by her continued fascination with me. "And maybe you can show me your unicorn collection?"
Her face lights up. "I have seventeen! Dad started it for me when I was four, and every birthday he would..."
Her voice trails off, the mention of Andrew bringing a shadow to her bright expression.
"I'd love to see all seventeen," I say quickly. "I've never seen a unicorn collection that big before."
She smiles again, but it's dimmer now. "Okay. I'll come get you before dinner."
After they leave, I sit on the edge of the enormous bed, suddenly overwhelmed by the magnitude of what I've done.
I'm in Jaxon Hart's mansion, playing fiancée to a man I barely know, forming a connection with a grieving child who's already lost too much, all to advance my career and help Jaxon keep custody.
What seemed like a practical arrangement this morning now feels fraught with emotional landmines.
I unpack methodically, taking comfort in the mundane task. Hanging clothes in the empty closet. Arranging toiletries in the palatial bathroom. Setting my laptop on the writing desk by the window. Small acts of domesticity in a situation that's anything but domestic.
True to her word, Lily comes to collect me before dinner, giving me a whirlwind tour of the parts of the mansion she thinks most important: the kitchen ("Mrs. Patterson makes the best cookies"), the media room ("Uncle Jaxon lets me watch movies here even though Dad said the screen was too big"), the library ("mostly boring books but some have cool pictures"), and finally, her bedroom.