Page 52 of Pretend for Me

I keep my expression neutral, knowing she thinks we’ve been together for far longer than we have before, giving her a short nod.

The truth is, beyond this arrangement and the minutiae of living together, I don’t know much about my fiancé. Sure, I know trivia-level things, thanks to the media and Wikipedia, like his number of degrees, his almost permanent status as the world’s most eligible bachelor, and the tabloid drama about his split with his long-term girlfriend. The speculations about that breakup ranged from reasonable to wild; a few magazines even claimed she’d become a nun because she’d found a ‘higher calling’.

I’d almost choked on my coffee when I read that one morning. No offense to the Almighty—I mentally cross myself—but who in their right mind would want to leave a man like Dev for any path that wasn’t leading directly to his bed? Given thatI knowthe man is packing enough heat in his pants to make a firefighter blush—what with meaccidentallygrinding over him in the pool—I’m positive he could show any woman the pearly gates of heaven every time he was inside her.

Noticing Claire’s tea, untouched and fairly cooled, I close the jewelry box and lift the cup, urging her to drink.

Her hand wobbles as she takes a sip before placing her hand on top of mine. “You’re a sweet girl, Piper. I can see how much you love and care for my son. And while I wish we could have had more time to spend together,” her eyes shimmer as she blinks back the tears, “I couldn’t have picked a better person for him myself.”

My heart sinks as I work to keep my expression schooled, the complexity of my strange feelings for Dev, the weight of Claire’s praise, and even just her sincere approval making me feel like both a fraud and a coward.

“Thank you,” I whisper hoarsely.

“I know I shouldn’t ask for more . . . You both are already giving me a chance to be at your wedding well before you probably would have planned it, had it not been for this situation, but if I could?—”

“Anything,” I say hastily, gently tightening my hand on hers.

“Take him salsa dancing.”

I sputter out a laugh, even though my heart feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. “What?”

Claire chuckles. “What I mean is, make him see that you can’t live life sitting on an office chair. You can’t live life flying across the world to a beautiful new city, only to come back not having seen a single thing outside of a conference room. That, no matter how much money is in your bank account, you won’t care for a dollar of it if you’re lying on your deathbed without having enjoyed all the moments that you let fly by.”

I nod as a tear escapes through my lids unbidden.

She squeezes my hand. “Drag him out of his office and out of his shell, kicking and screaming if you have to. Take him to a concert, or salsa dancing, or hell, enter him into a karaoke contest if you have to.” She chuckles softly. “Just make himlive, Piper. Make him laugh. Show him there’s a world beyond that damn laptop screen of his.”

I nod again, surprisingly calm under the weight of her unexpected request. Perhaps it’s the fact that having fun, being adventurous, and truly enjoying life has never been a chore for me. Perhaps the idea of getting Dev out of his shell doesn’t feel like a hurdle, but an exciting challenge. Or perhaps a part of me just wants to hear his laughter rumble out of his chest, to see that dimple dance against his cheek, and to have those intense eyes trained on me while he does it.

“I promise,” I say, surprised at how much I mean it.

twenty

piper

Maybe Rub Up Against His Leg

Unknown number

Any chance you’d be up for meeting your old man tomorrow? I can be wherever you want. Or I can come to your salon.

Me

Unless you’re looking for your ass to land in jail, do not show up here.

Unknown number

Oh, well, hello there, daughter! I figured that was the only way to get you to respond to me. Fine, if I’m not allowed in your precious place of business, then tell me where and when.

Me

No. Leave me the fuck alone, Dad. I have nothing to say to you.

Unknown number

It doesn’t matter if you have anything to say to me or not, Peppercorn. I have some things to say to you. In fact, I have some things to ask of you. Where and when?

Unknown number

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