Alpha Billionaire Series
Just Pretending Chapter 13

HARLEIGH

I finished my makeup, styled my hair up, and put in my earrings all before I even looked at the dress. This was either the final nail in my coffin or the door opening wide to new adventures. I was nothing but nervous energy. Holding my breath, I unzipped the "Oh." I pressed my fingers to my mouth and sat on the bed. It was beautiful.

garment bag.

Perfectly white, and covered with a fine polka-dotted tulle, the dress was formal enough to be recognized as a wedding dress, but not so opulent to obnoxiously stand out if Devin took me out afterward. The bodice of the dress looked strapless with the tulle overlay covering the shoulders and creating the appearance of a high neckline. I hadn't packed a strapless bra.

I fished my spandex shapewear from my suitcase and shimmied in. In the very bottom of the garment bag, I found a package of stockings. They were the kind that needed garters. I didn't own a garter belt, so I tucked the top edges of the stockings under the thigh edge of my shapewear.

It was time to put the dress on.

"It had better hide my bra straps, or that's gonna kill the look," I mumbled.

I laughed with glee when I found hanging behind the dress a strapless bra in my size. I was beginning to see the appeal of a personal shopper. I stood in my stocking feet and underwear staring down the dress. I shouldn't have put my makeup on before trying on the dress. I grabbed a tissue and dabbed at my eyes.

I took a deep breath and put it on. It fit perfectly. I pressed my breasts out of the way to look at myself. There was no bunching of extra fabric between my breasts and my waist. And the skirt skimmed over the tops of my hips as it flared out. The skirt swirled around my knees as I shifted from side to side. I couldn't tell if I was crying because the dress was so beautiful, and it made me look like a princess, or if getting married suddenly was a reality, or because of any number of other things. I grabbed more tissue hoping the tears didn't take away all of my makeup.

Nervously I looked at the clock, unsure how much time I had taken. I fumbled with my grandmother's pearl bracelet that I had received from my mother's estate.

"Screw it," I cussed as my overwhelmed emotions embraced and amplified the frustration I was feeling at not getting the hook.

I knocked on the door. "Is it safe to come out? Are you dressed?" I asked.

"I'm dressed," Devin answered.

I stepped out of my room and saw Devin, he was facing away. He turned and stopped, pausing long enough for me to admire how perfect he was. He didn't look like a model, he was more dangerous, sexier, more handsome than a model could ever be. Devin wore a standard black tux, yet he looked like some movie spy. It fit his shoulders as if it had been made for him. I don't know why that surprised me. My dress fit my extreme extra proportions as if it had been custom made as well.

I don't know how long we stared at each other. Devin moved first.

"Harleigh," his voice sounded rough as if he hadn't used it for a long time.

"Do you like it?" I twirled, showing off my dress.

I held my wrist and my bracelet up and took a step forward. I didn't have to say anything before Devin crossed the space between us and held my wrist in his hands.

"You look amazing," I said.

I watched his face as he fastened the bracelet. The sexy dark scruff he had been sporting off and on since the past few weeks was gone. His hair was slicked back, and curled ever so slightly at his collar. He looked so perfect I wanted to kiss him again. He lifted his eyes to mine, and I felt a stab of deep-seated desire rip through my body. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't speak.

"I can't recall another time I've ever seen you look as beautiful as you do now." His lips lifted into a sexy smirk, and I forced myself to swallow.

"I have something for you. Don't tell, but I borrowed this from the old man's safe." He removed a flat velvet box from his inner pocket. "Something old, something new, something borrowed," I began to recite.

"And something blue. I see you are wearing pearl earrings. This will be perfect then."

I gasped slightly when he opened the box. I knew the jewelry Daddy kept locked up was something impressive, but I really had no idea.

The sapphire was huge, like a bird's egg. The surround was made of diamonds. It was the centerpiece of a pearl choker with seven strands of perfect pearls.

Devin lifted it from the box and stepped behind me. His arms came around my head, and he draped the piece on my neck.

My fingers immediately went to the large stone.

"Your father's first wife was apparently obsessed with the late Princess Diana. She was known for wearing large sapphires. He had several pieces recreated."

"I know nothing about his first wife. I did know he was trying to replace her again, that's something my mom said once. He would never be happy with another woman until he accepted that," I shared the kindest parts I remembered from that argument. Mostly I remembered the yelling.

"He had the entire set recreated, there are earrings, and the ring. I had hoped this would help you feel like a true bride today. You mentioned wanting to be a princess for the day. With such short notice, this was the best I could do." Devin's fingers lingered at the nape of my neck. His touch sent a shiver down my spine. I spun in his arms. And put my arms around his neck.

"It's beautiful, thank you."

I hoped he would kiss me. Instead, he touched a spiral of hair curled into place above my brow and smiled.

"We should go."

I smiled through the hotel and into the car. Once in the back, I started to quiz Devin where he was taking me. "It's a surprise."

I couldn't stop laughing when the driver pulled into the drive for the Little Chapel of Elvis.

"Elvis?" I asked.

"If we are going to have a quick Vegas wedding, we should do it right," Devin said with a rakish smile.

Our Elvis impersonator serenaded us with 'Can't Help Falling in Love with You! And when Elvis told Devin to kiss me quick, before he would, Devin laughed and pressed his lips to mine.

"You may be the king, but I'm the husband. She's not kissing anyone else ever again."

The knots in my stomach twisted. I was thrilled, scared, and nervous. Devin played the jealous new husband part like a seasoned actor. I couldn't tell he was pretending.

I kissed Elvis on the cheek for one of the pictures the chapel's photographer took. We signed papers, and before I knew it we were back in the car and headed down the strip.

I sat in the back and stared at the ring on my finger. It looked entirely too realistic for this to be fake. I knew the simple gold band was real. It wasn't a question of the quality of the jewelry, just of the marriage.

"I was able to arrange for a convertible to take you cruising the strip on such short notice. I know how much you would have liked that." Devin reached across me, pressing into me, driving me back against the seat. He lowered the window.

"I instructed the driver to cruise up and down so you can look at the lights before returning us to the hotel."

I placed a hand on his cheek and dared to tip my lips up to him for a quick kiss. He smiled at me. I guess that was better than him backing away.

"I have another surprise for you," he said as we got out of the car back at the Bellagio. "I have arranged for a photographer for an hour, so we can have wedding pictures."

"Oh, can we have our pictures taken in front of the fountains?" I eagerly asked.

"I thought you would like at least one under the Chihuly ceiling. You seemed pretty enamored with that."

I couldn't help myself, so I hugged him. He kept me next to his side with a firm hand around my waist until we met with our photographer.

Knowing the best places for pictures, we followed the photographer into almost hidden areas of the hotel. Devin kept kissing me for the pictures. I wasn't going to complain. He was doing his best to give me a real wedding, with all the excitement, and kisses I could imagine. When our hour was up the photographer gave Devin the information on how to access our pictures.

I sighed, I didn't want the evening to end. I wanted to drink champagne all night long so that in the morning the hurt I would feel was from a hangover and not from the disappointment I knew would slam into me. We would head back to the rooms, and we would go to bed. I would be married on paper only.

"Now what? Shall we play some slots? Find a show?" I asked.

Devin shook his head. "We have a full day tomorrow." He loosened his bow tie, and undid the top few buttons of his shirt.

"I want more champagne," I whined. What I really wanted was to kiss his neck.

"I'll have some brought up. It's later than you think."

I pouted as he led me by the hand up to our room.

Devin had more than just some champagne sent up to the room. He had also arranged for the room to be filled with dozens of red roses. Soft music filled the air. I stood frozen like some idiot when we stepped back into the room.

Devin was next to me and trailing the back of his hand down the side of my face. "You deserved the wedding of your dreams. Instead, you got rushed into something you didn't want. I hope that my efforts have made it tolerable for you."

I wrapped my hands around him and held tight.

"You've given me something truly memorable."

I kissed him again, and this time I imagined it wasn't for pretend. I grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him to me. I didn't want him to stop.

His arms tightened around me. All the desires that had been suppressed came roaring into my body.

"Harleigh, we should stop before something happens you'll regret."

"I won't regret anything, Devin," I said.

"You're tipsy. We've been drinking all night." He tried to pull my arms from around him.

I didn't try to hide my tears. "I know you don't want this, don't want me, either. But can we keep pretending for a little longer? Consummate the marriage. I know it's not real, but please give me my wedding night." I couldn't bring my voice up past a whisper. I couldn't beg any louder, as if my shame would be less if I didn't say the words loudly. My desperation was for Devin's ears alone.