“I liked the same ones you did.”
He studied her. “Bri. I want you to be comfortable and confident in the clothes you choose.”
“You’re paying for it, and unfortunately I can read numbers on price tags,” she whispered.
The saleswomen were now gathered around the counter, watching the two of them. Colt smiled at them, but pulled her gently away. “Bri, I don’t care what the prices are. I want you to get whatever you like.”
“All of the ones you wanted are far too much.”
He ignored that. “But was there anything I didn’t pick that you liked?”
She glanced down. “There was one dress.”
“Grab it. Which one?”
She looked at the saleslady. “Can you please get the sleeveless white with the small black polka dots?”
The lady’s face lit up. “The fit and flare. I loved that on you.” She hurried back to the changing room, returning with the dress.
Colt remembered the dress too. “I loved that on you too,” he murmured near Bri’s ear.
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I loved everything on you. Should we buy it all?”
“No!” She blushed; then she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
The gesture was sweet and innocent, and her gratitude made him fall just a bit deeper for her. Obviously, she hadn’t had much money in her life, and she’d been so cute throughout the modeling show. They waited while the ladies totaled and bagged the clothes. The clerk started to say a total, but Colt cut her off with a quick shake of his head and thrust a credit card into her hands.
He was loaded down with bags as they walked out into the sunshine. “Now I get to watch you model swimsuits.” He pumped his eyebrows. “This is the best shopping trip ever.”
Brikelle rolled her eyes at him. “I can choose a suit quick. I bet I won’t even have to try it on. You’ve spent too much on me already.”
“I’d be happy to break the bank if it made you happy.”
“Who knew you were a big old softy?”
“Don’t let it get out. My crew would riot.”
She laughed. “We still need to find you clothes.”
“Naw. I can wear whatever.”
She pushed at him. “You liar! You claimed you needed this shopping trip.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her, then sighed. “My sisters would say I definitely do. Okay, here’s the plan. You model suits, then we eat at Cheesecake Factory. After that, we’ll run into Hugo or Nordstrom and buy me some stuff.”
“I get to sit in the chair and watch you model, then.”
“I don’t think it will be nearly as fun for you as it was for me.”
“Think again.”
He laughed. “I wish I could set all these bags down and kiss you right now, my amazing wife.”
“You’re getting way too comfortable with that.”
“Kissing you?”
“No. Wife.”
“Just practicing, pretty girl.” He winked and followed her into the swimsuit store.
Chapter Seven
The next week was busier than any Brikelle could remember. The cleaning crews finished with the house and Joshua declared it was ready for Brikelle Monday afternoon. All the furniture and decorations were delivered Tuesday morning, and she spent every minute hanging, arranging, eyeballing, and beautifying. Emma came by often with several assistants to help Brikelle position bigger items. It was a lot of fun, but exhausting. Colt brought her takeout every night—sandwiches, pizza, Chinese food. They’d talk until she forced herself to get back to work.
“So the big party is tomorrow,” he said as they sat on the back patio in the plush furniture Emma and Brikelle had chosen.
She nodded, the orange chicken catching in her throat.
“You nervous?” he asked.
Swallowing, she took a long drink of water. “Yes. You?”
“Naw, people just naturally love me.”
She laughed.
“And if they don’t love me, I’ll bring Ike around and they’ll be sold.”
Brikelle pushed a hand at him. “Oh, yeah, that big puppy dog is the ticket, that’s for sure.” She grinned. “That’s what drew me to you, no doubt about it.”
He pushed his food away and turned to her. “Are you drawn to me?”
Brikelle nodded. “You didn’t think I was?”
“We don’t really talk seriously. I know you’re pretending all of this for work, but I keep hoping that it’s developing into something more, because it definitely is for me.”
Brikelle’s throat was suddenly thick and she couldn’t swallow. “I feel the same,” she managed to whisper.
Colt gave her a soft smile. “Thanks. So, tomorrow, just stay close to me. It’s all going to be great, and if anybody acts like they aren’t sold on us, you just smile at them and they’ll be as hooked as I am.”
She smiled, hoping he really was hooked, and packed up her uneaten food. “I’d better get the final touches done.”
“Okay.” He stood and pulled her against him. His body was firm and warm and she felt like she’d come home. “I’m proud of you.”
Brikelle looked up at him. She was proud of him too. They made a great couple. If that’s what they really were. She didn’t want to dwell too much on what tomorrow could bring. Emma might discover their deception and want nothing to do with them. Originally they’d talked about admitting to her they weren’t married, but it felt like it’d gone too far at this point.
“Don’t pull that concerned face.” He gently pressed his fingers against her wrinkled forehead. “It’s all going to be great.”
“Okay, I’m trusting you, because right now I’m not so sure I’ll make it through breakfast tomorrow without puking.”
“Now that would make things interesting. It’s a good thing you’re cute.”
“What does that mean?”
Smiling, he shrugged. “It’s just an expression I use sometimes, but what I mean is you’re so impressive you could puke and everyone would still love you.” He kissed her softly, then released her. “Go finish your work. I’ll pick you up in the morning.” He grabbed all the garbage and stuffed it into the plastic bags.
“Thank you, and thanks for dinner.”
He bent down and gave her a more lingering kiss. “You can thank me tomorrow night when we’re staying in that big old suite together.”
“Colton Jepson!” She gasped and swatted at him. “You stop it.”
He chuckled. “That’s what married men do, sweetheart.”
“Tease their wives?”
“No, love them and be there for them.” He winked and walked away. Brikelle sat there, dumbfounded. What did that mean? That he loved her a little bit, or that he just wanted to cheapen their love? The nerves fluttered in her stomach again, and she realized the job opportunities and hanging out with socialites at some weekend party were a pretty minor part of her worries. Staying alone in one of these big, gorgeous suites with Colt had her jumpy as a frog in boiling water. What had she gotten herself into?
Chapter Eight
Colt grinned as he drove to pick up Brikelle the next morning. He was going to spend the entire weekend with the most impressive woman he knew, and the best part was they got to pretend they were married. Well not really pretend but partially.
His momma had threatened him since he was a teenager that she would beat him if he ever pushed boundaries before marriage. He’d developed his own morals by now and recognized that staying clean before marriage would not only prevent a lot of heartache and disease, but ensure a stronger bond of trust with the woman he finally gave himself to.
He hurried down to Brikelle’s door, fingering the ring box in his pocket. She swung the door open seconds later.
She was dressed in the polka-dot dress she’d loved and some red sandals. The only problem he could see was she looked so good that all the men would be ogling her and he’d probably be in a fist fight by
lunchtime.
He yanked the box out of his pocket and handed it to her. It was more important than ever that he claimed her as his.
Her delicate eyebrows arched up. “Colt?” she squeaked.
“Open it,” he murmured. He should get down on one knee or something. He was doing this all wrong and his brothers would have a heyday if they found out about his lack of decorum, but he was frozen and awkward.
She popped the box open and her eyes widened. She glanced from the ring to his face several times before saying, “This isn’t a cubic zirconia.”
He chuckled. “No.”
“You can’t return these things.”
“I didn’t buy it,” he hastened to reassure her. “It was my grandmother’s. I explained the situation to Momma and she thought you should wear it this weekend.”
“Momma isn’t concerned about us faking a marriage or me wearing this huge rock that’s also a family heirloom?” Her voice pitched up and she was clutching the ring box tightly.
“Momma likes you.”
Brikelle stood there, staring at the ring for a few more seconds. When she glanced up at him, her eyes were bright. “It’s so beautiful.”
She wanted to wear the ring, he could see that. He wondered if she’d consider wearing it permanently. The truth was the two-and-a-half-karat round diamond set in a simple wide gold band had always been meant for his future wife. Grandpa had given it to Grandma on their fiftieth anniversary and she’d always muttered about it being too big. She’d given it to Colt after Grandpa’s funeral, just a few years before she passed. Momma had kept it in the safe until late last night, when Colt stopped by and spilled his guts and Momma had suggested he offer the ring to Brikelle. The mischievous look in Momma’s eyes said she wouldn’t mind Brikelle keeping it on her finger either.
“Brikelle Manwaring … would you do me the honor of wearing my ring?”
Brikelle arched an eyebrow at his wording. He couldn’t say fake wife and it couldn’t be real yet, but he had to say something or Grandma would probably come down from heaven and throttle him. “Yes.”
Colt gently took the box from Brikelle’s hand, pulled the ring out, and slid it onto her finger. His gut tightened. It fit, and it looked really good there.
Brikelle simply stared at it. Finally, she whispered, “Thank you. I’ll be really careful with it.”
Colt nodded. “It looks good on you.” Then, because he was afraid he was going to beg her to be his wife for real, he rushed out, “You ready?”
“I have a problem.”
“What?” The problem better not be she wanted to end the marriage act.
“I don’t have a decent suitcase.”
He laughed, and his neck muscles relaxed. That was a problem he could solve. “Why didn’t you call me? What do you have the clothes in?”
“They’re all still in the shopping bags.”
“Okay. Grab them and we’ll stop by Momma’s on the way.”
Brikelle sprang into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re the best!”
“Don’t you know it.” He stole a quick kiss before she pulled away and ran back into her apartment. Colt followed her, taking the clothing bags she shoved into his hands and hauling them to his truck. She came after him with the purse he’d bought her jammed full of stuff. His chest swelled with pride. This was his wife and she was fiery, funny, and absolutely adorable. Okay, it was all a hoax right now, but did they have to keep it a hoax? He was old enough he knew what he wanted, and he wanted Brikelle. He wondered if she’d run the other way screaming if he told her, Let’s forget telling Emma the truth and just make it the truth. People eloped all the time. It was a great idea. Maybe after this weekend they’d be close enough he could ask.
He got her door and they drove to his mom’s house. “I’ll just run in and grab the suitcase.”
“I’d better come say hi to Momma.”
“She’d love that.”
They walked in without knocking, but Momma was nowhere to be seen and didn’t respond when he called for her a few times. His dad grunted from his chair.
“Hey, Dad.” Colt approached his chair and gave his dad a brief squeeze, then straightened and gripped his dad’s hand. There was no return pressure. “I’m going to steal one of Momma’s suitcases.”
He grunted again, his eyes alight with understanding.
“The suitcase is just upstairs,” Colt told Brikelle, wondering if she’d want to come with him or wait outside. He knew it was awkward for some people around his dad.
“You go. I’ll just sit by your dad.”
“Okay.” Sometimes his sisters or nieces and nephews would sit by his dad and talk to him, even though he didn’t really respond verbally. His dad would lean closer to them and his eyes would light up. Colt tried talking to his dad all the time, but it was hard and he’d lapse into awkward silences that Momma filled for him. It hurt so much that his dad didn’t seem to be there anymore.
Colt pumped up the stairs. He quickly found the nicest suitcase in the extra bedroom closet and carried it back down. He was only gone a minute or two. When he made it to the big room, his steps faltered. Brikelle had a hold of his dad’s hand and was massaging it.
His dad was completely focused on her angelic face. Brikelle took his hand and held it up to her cheek and said, “Bri. I’m Bri.”
“Bri,” he muttered, and his weathered old face broke into a smile.
Colt stopped in his tracks. His dad. Pronouncing a new word and … smiling?
He didn’t want to interrupt the moment, but his dad turned to him and smiled, pointed at him, then looked back to Bri. “Colt. Son.”
Colt’s eyes welled up. What in the world? The therapists had made some progress with Dad after the stroke, but not a lot. His brothers claimed that Momma talked too much and never gave him a chance, but he hadn’t been verbose before the irreversible damage to his brain. How had Bri gotten him to warm up so quickly?
Colt walked to his dad’s side, bent down, and gave him a hug. “Love you, Dad. We’ve got to go, but we’ll come by Sunday night and see you again.” He looked to Bri for approval, worried that she wouldn’t want to be committed to visiting his father. She simply nodded, her eyes shining.
Her dad squeezed Bri’s hand, then lifted it up and placed it in Colt’s hand. It felt warm and small and perfect in his grip. “Bri. Colt. Love,” his dad forced out with difficulty.
Colt’s heart slammed against his chest. “Thank you, Dad,” he managed, feeling like his dad had just pronounced a blessing on their union. It was the advice and love he’d needed so badly.
He focused on Brikelle. She bit at her lip and then gave him the sweetest smile. He was pretty sure his eyes were shining brighter than Brikelle’s. A tear spilled out and ran down his cheek. He brushed it away, grinning like a sentimental fool, but he didn’t care.
Brikelle gave his dad a hug and a kiss on the cheek; then they said their goodbyes and made their way outside with the suitcase.
Colt stopped her on the porch. “That was amazing. How did you—? Why did you—?”
“My grandpa had a stroke when I was a teenager. I remember sitting by him and massaging his hands, and he would absolutely love it because it’s hard for them to get the mobility back in their fingers. That’s all I was doing, but then he was looking at me with those eyes that are so much like yours, so I wanted him to know my name.”
“You are amazing. Have I told you that lately?”
She ducked her head. “Once or twice.”
“Well, you are. Amazing and beautiful and talented. Let’s go rock this party, sweet wife, and then we need to get serious about some things.” He lifted the suitcase into the back seat and started transferring clothes from the bags into the suitcase. The nicer dresses were tucked away in dress bags, so he just left them hanging.
“Get serious about what things?” Brikelle said by his side.
Colt just smiled. He didn’t want to scare her away, bu
t he felt they had a chance to be more than just a fake proposal. It was crazy how fast things were developing for him, but he hadn’t felt this way about a woman since Cally.
Brikelle’s nerves had completely disappeared when she sat with Colt’s dad. He was the gentlest man, simply being there with his calm aura and a warmth in his blue eyes she hadn’t seen when she’d met him before. She found herself falling in love with him, and when he’d said so clearly, “Bri. Colt. Love,” it was like a prophecy or something. Like his dad loved both of them and they should love each other. If only it could be that simple.
She had to concentrate just like Colt had said on getting through this party. From the moment they pulled into Emma’s circular drive, she felt like she was in an alternate reality. A valet was waiting to take Colt’s truck and a bellhop took their bags up to their suite. Emma greeted them at the door, all smiles and hugs. “You’re here! Come in, come in.”
They followed her into the foyer. She gestured around. “Brikelle, you are a genius. I love everything!” She looked at Colt. “Can you believe how talented your wife is?”
Brikelle could feel her face growing warm. “Thank you,” she tried to say graciously. Her eyes were drawn to the huge diamond on her left hand, then up to Colt’s handsome face. She could really get used to this wife gig.
Colt’s arm wrapped around her waist in that move that he’d perfected with her. She snuggled into his side, seeping his strength in. “I feel blessed to have her,” he said to Emma.
Emma beamed. “I see good things with you two. I hope you enjoy all the people you meet who will want to hire you both, but please plan on fitting me in your schedule first.” She winked at Brikelle and linked her arm through hers. “You look gorgeous in that dress. Doesn’t she look fabulous, Colt?”
Colt nodded. “She takes my breath away.”
Brikelle sighed and smiled up at him. Was he for real? She glanced at the breathtaking diamond on her finger, then back at Colt. She was growing much too attached to him and the entire marriage situation. How was she going to walk away from him after this weekend? Maybe she didn’t have to.
How to Design Love Page 8