Alpha Billionaire Series
Hot Mess Chapter 16

NICK

"Did I see Lydia's van? Are you seeing another stylist?" Grace, my current go-to stylist asked.

"Isaac called in another one for my date. It was last minute."

"And he didn't think to call me?"

I shrugged.

"Who is doing hair and makeup? Carly?"

I nodded, "I like her, she's been great."

"Good. So, when your date tells you Lydia was a total bitch, you'll actually let me dress you both next time."

"You'll need to talk to Isaac about that."

"Isaac loves me. I always make you look good. So, you won't say anything if I accidentally on purpose bump into Lydia's van?"

I shook my head. "I know nothing." I looked down and shook my leg. "I don't like these pant legs."

Grace looked me up and down. "I agree, not with your build. If you were leaner, but... Your shoulders have gotten wider, haven't they? Captain Wonder did that. You didn't use to be quite so broad. Good thing I go by measurements, and not memory." Grace looked at the rack of tuxedos and pulled out a black velvet jacket with satin lapels.

"I like the looks of that. What are the pants like?"

Grace flipped her pointer finger around. That was my cue to slip out of the pants I had on and try the satin ones that she handed me.

"Nice, nice," she said admiring the fit. When she brushed a hand over my hip and ass, I knew it was in professional assessment of the fit, and not to cop a feel.

"Put these on." She held out a pair of velvet dress slippers.

I slid my feet into the shoes. They fit perfectly.

"I am a genius. The pants don't even need to be hemmed."

With my suit all set, Grace left to go dress another client, and I continued getting ready. It took all morning and most of the afternoon.

I was uncharacteristically nervous standing by the door waiting for Kayla to make her big entrance. Isaac had kept me on pins and needles all day. Even though he was in the house, he was holding Kayla's hand through the whole process, and keeping me away. All I knew was that Kayla was wearing purple. I wasn't prepared for the vision of perfection she was. The rich jewel tone of her dress set off her alabaster skin. Her hair was a crown of dark fire.

"You are stunning," I managed to say.

She reached up and touched the coils of her hair. "You think so? I feel like a princess ready for the ball."

"I'm sorry I'm not taking you to a ball."

She gave me a little shrug and twirled around in her dress. "I guess I'll have to be satisfied with looking the part."

"My lady, our coach awaits us." I opened the door and gestured for her to step outside.

The limo driver stood next to the open car door. I held Kayla's hand and helped her to the car.

She stopped at the door and looked at the open door, and then at me.

"How am I supposed to get all of this, and me into the back of this car?"

I laughed. "I actually don't know." I gestured at my tux. "I don't have nearly as much to fight with."

"Excuse me, if I may?" the driver asked.

I gave him a nod.

"I assist with this all the time. Getting in is awkward, you have to plan your exit. You'll need to arrange your skirts, so your feet are not covered and ready to step out of the car."

Kayla looked nervously up at me. "Do we have time for me to practice?"

I glanced at the driver; eyebrows raised.

He nodded. "Of course. It's not a bad idea."

He proceeded to talk Kayla through picking up her skirt and tucking it just so. I had to restrain myself when he got close to her and adjusted her skirts around her legs. I didn't want anyone touching her. I felt possessive, even though I didn't have that right. "Let's give it a try," he said as he closed the door.

He opened it and waited.

All I could do was stare at Kayla surrounded by swathes of purple silk. She stunned my thought processes.

"A little help, I can't see the ground," Kayla announced.

"Of course." I cleared my throat and stepped up, extending out my hand.

Kayla wiggled out of the car and stood.

"You're going to want to slide your feet to the very edge of the floor before stepping out. And try to scoot your backside to the edge of the seat before the door opens," the driver coached. "Okay," she said, "let's try it again."

"When you stand up, don't fuss with your skirt. Adjust it once and be done."

Both Kayla and the driver were good sports as we practiced getting out of the car several more times.

"It's time to go, or we will risk getting caught in traffic."

"Do you think you'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine. I'm winging it, right?" Kayla gave me a nervous smile.

I slid into the seat next to her. Her voluminous skirt took up as much as a third passenger.

"I feel like I have mastered getting in and out of the car. Isaac had me practicing walking and standing. Other than hovering in the background, what else do you expect me to do?"

I was going to sound like a dick, but... "Don't talk to anyone. Smile."

"But what if they ask me questions?"

"For the most part, they won't. Do you know the name of the designer of your dress?"

"Yes, Isaac made sure I knew I was wearing a Valentino."

"Good. Mostly, if they ask you questions it will be who you are wearing. If anyone asks your name, and I'm not with you, you can give them your first name only. Try to avoid making eye contact with the paps, if you aren't looking at them, they won't bother you much."

"Paps?"

"Paparazzi, the gossip columnists. The entertainment reporters. Try to ignore them."

"Isn't that rude?"

I shook my head. "It's not rude to ignore them, they are after information. You don't have to give it to them." I looked up and out the window.

"Looks like we're here."

Kayla gasped. "That's a lot of people."

"You'll be fine. We've practiced getting out of the car. We walk in, we sit around and eat the food and listen to the speakers, and then we leave. It will be over before you know it."

Kayla slid out of the car like a pro. She was stunning. I couldn't have asked for a better companion. She was lovely and poised. I didn't like how the paps focused on her, but what did I expect? She was gorgeous. I could barely take my eyes off her myself. The red carpet went smoothly, even though I wanted her by my side, we had agreed that she wasn't going to pose with me. She was there to keep the studio off my back. Our relationship was going to stay shrouded in mystery until further notice. "That was nerve-wracking," she said.

I slipped her hand into the crook of my elbow. The carpet gauntlet was behind us. No more paparazzi.

"You did good," I said as I patted her hand. "Now it's just dinner, a lot of speeches."

I had been completely wrong when I told her the event would be over before she knew it. The food was cold and rubbery, the speeches interminably long. I laughed when appropriate and applauded when they ended. It felt like hours before everything ended and we were headed back out and waiting for our car to be called.

Kayla was too beautiful. It seemed like a shame to waste her beautiful dress on walking down a hallway and sitting around. She deserved to dance in the dress that made her feel like a princess and look like a queen.

Music was being pumped in from somewhere. I didn't want to stand around waiting. I took her hand and found a small open area of the floor.

"What are you doing?" Kayla giggled.

"I'm sorry I didn't take you to a proper ball, but you look like you've been wanting to dance in that dress all evening." I pulled her to me and wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her in close, but not crushing her against me.

At first, we swayed to the music, and then I remembered the basic foot pattern of the waltz. We didn't have much room, not enough to swing her skirts out. But enough to twirl her around for a bit. We couldn't have been dancing for long before someone was standing sour-faced near us, watching.

"I am willfully ignoring you," I said as we danced past.

"Your car is ready when you are, Mr. Sadler."

I gave him a nod, but I wasn't ready. I knew once we were back in that car, I had to be hands-off, and that was the last thing I wanted, to take my hands off Kayla.

"Thank you for the dance, Nick. We should go. People are staring."

"They are looking at how beautiful you are, and how good we look together."

"You, sir, are a tease." She stopped dancing.

I had to give in. The evening had taken forever, and yet the moment I had her in my arms vanished in a blink.

Getting into the car wasn't nearly as complicated as it had been earlier, and Kayla didn't need to worry if she looked awkward climbing out once back at my place. I followed her inside.

"I'm going to change, and then I'll head back to my hotel. The stylist is supposed to come back here and pick the dress up in the morning. I had an interesting evening. Thank you for the dance."

I stepped in close.

"I can help you take that off." I couldn't take my eyes off her lips. Her mouth was so fucking kissable.

I dipped my head and pressed my lips to hers.

Her breath caught and she leaned into me.

I pulled back. "Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I'll leave you be."

Walking away from her was harder than expected.