Cocky Billionaires: A Contemporary Romance Box Set

by J. P. Comeau

  Did I hear her right? “Come again?”

  Her gaze found my stare. “I said, you make sure to set this up correctly. I don’t want to end up married to you after this is all said and done.”

  “Wait, are you saying…?”

  She nodded. “I hope you can deliver, too. Because I heard some insane stories about Clint last night.”

  I smiled brightly. “I promise you I could outdo all of them before the weekend is out.”

  “I don’t know. It sounds like you might need a full week to do that.”

  “You name the time frame, and I’ll make it happen.”

  She nodded softly. “One week of your time, in a honeymoon suite, complete with the fake marriage ceremony. And champagne. The good kind, too.”

  And without hesitating, I sealed my precious fate.

  “Done.”

  7

  _____

  KELLY

  ONE WEEK LATER (FRIDAY)

  I stared at Roxy as she came out of her bedroom. The black dress she wore fell off her shoulders and accented the sparkling diamond necklace that settled itself perfectly against her bosom. The white belt around her waist accented the curves I was very envious of, and her long legs poured forth from beneath the flowing black skirt that danced with intricate white flowers sewn into the skirt itself. Her diamond bracelet matched her necklace, a set she got two years ago from our father on her birthday. And as her heels clicked across the floor towards me, the wonderful berry smell of her body spray wafted up my nose.

  “I’m pretty sure the rule isn’t to outshine the bride,” I said.

  She smirked. “Well, get married for real one day, and I won’t try to.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, like that’s going to ever happen at this rate.”

  “Hey, you’ve got a man fake marrying you today. That’s more than what I’ve ever gotten.”

  “Says the girl who’s gotten more gifts from men than from our own damn father.”

  She looked down at my bag. “That’s all you need?”

  I peeked at it. “What?”

  “You’ve only got two.”

  “Well, yeah. Why?”

  “You’re going to be in a penthouse honeymoon suite for a week, Kelly. You need more than two bags.”

  “I’m pretty sure the point is to be in as little clothes as possible for the week. Right?”

  She grinned. “You freaky little thing, you.”

  “What?! Roxy, the whole point of this--.”

  “Girl, I’m just messin’ with you.”

  But, it didn’t stop her from putting her hands on my shoulders and looking directly into my eyes.

  “Don’t ask again. I’m tired of answering the question,” I said.

  “One more time. For me, okay?” she asked.

  “Fine. Ask.”

  “Are you sure, without a shadow of a doubt, this is what you want?”

  I nodded. “Yes. It is.”

  “And you don’t have any reservations?”

  “None whatsoever.”

  “And you two have talked about this? Extensively?”

  “All this past week, every single day, and sometimes multiple times a day. He didn’t make a single decision without asking me first.”

  “And you’re sure about that?”

  I sighed. “He did say he was going to get me a wedding present, whatever that means.”

  “But you don’t know what that is?”

  “Roxy, I trust him enough to let him surprise me with some stupid gift. Okay?”

  She cupped my cheek, playfully sniffling. “My little girl’s growing up so fast.”

  I shrugged her off. “I hate you.”

  “You love me.”

  “I hope you get hit by a car.”

  “I knew you loved me.”

  I walked over to my closet. “I hope you scuff your heels today, walking down that aisle.”

  She gasped. “Why, I never in all my life--.”

  I started laughing. “Get over here and help me figure out what the hell I’m going to wear today.”

  Roxy started rifling through my clothes. “Well, think of it this way: after all of this is over, you’ll be ready to move forward and find a guy you can be confident in having a relationship with.”

  “This has nothing to do with men. This has to do with me. I’m tired of this fear, and this one little thing controlling every decision I make with a man. For once, I’d like to relax on a date. I’d like to not lie to a guy when I say ‘I don’t have sex on the first few dates’ without feeling like I’m withholding this dirty little secret. I’m tired of carrying that weight around.”

  She held a pink dress up to me. “Well, I’m proud of you.”

  I held my arms out. “I think that’s a bit too much.”

  “Yeah, me too. Let’s try that navy blue one? Do you still have it?”

  “You don’t think that shows too much boobage?”

  Her face fell. “You’re getting fake married so you can get for-real laid. No such thing as ‘too much boobage’ for something like this.”

  “Hey, I still want to be classy.”

  “You don’t have anything white in here you want to wear?”

  I paused. “I feel like actually wearing white might make it seem…”

  “Too real?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  She smiled softly. “I really am proud of you, Kelly. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you take charge of something other than your own fashion line.”

  I turned to face my closet. “You know what, I think I still have that red dress. The strapless one? Remember that?”

  “Oh, girl. Red on a wedding day. I’m all about it.”

  As the two of us dug through my extensive closet, I tried to shove my thoughts off to the side. But I couldn't help but remember what might have been with Brenden and myself. I’d been harboring that crush on him for years now. Ever since I first met him. It was my freshman year in college. All that time, I had hoped and prayed that his eyes might finally turn my way. That he’d cast off his womanizing ways and finally see me for what I was: a girl who’s head over heels for him and wants nothing but to make him happy.

  But, if this was all I’d ever get off him, I’d take it.

  “Found it!” Roxy exclaimed.

  She pulled the red strapless dress out of my closet, and I smiled. That was it. That was my dress for the night. No bra required, and I could surprise Brenden by not wearing panties, either. I had matching red heels with bows on the back that would be too cute with the dress as well as a set of real onyx jewelry Mom had gotten me for my sixteenth birthday.

  The ensemble was perfect.

  “I could keep the makeup tapered down, too, with something like this,” I said.

  Roxy tossed the dress onto my bed. “Got that onyx set Mom gave you?”

  I nodded. “I was just thinking about it.”

  “Always in sync, you and I.”

  I paused. “Why did you say that in the tone you just did?”

  “What? What tone?”

  I slowly turned around. “Don’t give me that shit. You had a tone to your voice. Like, I don't know. Like something was ending.”

  “Girl, you really don’t think I know how you feel about Brenden?”

  I froze. “What?”

  She giggled. “You’ve been in love with that man for years. Trust me, your doing this deal with him doesn’t shock me in the slightest. I was just kind of hoping you wouldn’t do this to yourself.”

  “I’m not following.”

  She sighed. “I know you, Kelly. You’re going to do this, and you’re going to fall even harder, and he’s just going to go back to being your friend, and it’s going to break you.”

  “Can you give me a bit more credit than that?”

  “No, I can’t. Because I see how you light up whenever you’re around him, and how distraught you look when he walks in with some new girl. I see you compare yourself to her. I see t
hose cogs turn every time he turns up with some new flavor. He hurts you over and over. And he’ll hurt you again. It’s why I wanted you to do this with Clint.”

  “Well, thanks for that update now.”

  “Kelly, I--.”

  I waved her way. “I’ve got this. I’ll see you at the chapel. And you can text Karina to make sure she’s got the address?”

  “She’s actually downstairs, waiting for us?”

  My head popped up. “What?”

  “I kind of rented you a surprise limo to take all three of us to the chapel. You know, to have a bit of fun and really make it feel… real.”

  I wish it were real. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”

  “I’ll leave you to it, then. You’ve got around an hour before we have to head out. I’ll take all two of your bags downstairs.”

  “Thanks.”

  Everything was a blur. Slipping into my dress seemed more like a motion than a moment. Pulling my hair back seemed more like a requirement than a picture-perfect idea. Roxy’s words kept turning over in my head. Even after I slipped into my heels. Even after Karina shoved a flute of champagne into my hand. Even after we arrived at the chapel. Even after we got out and got ourselves positioned.

  It wasn’t until Roxy kissed my cheek that I snapped out of it.

  “You’ve got this. You're in control. Never forget that,” she whispered.

  My eyes danced around the wedding chapel, and it made me snicker. Twinkling snowflakes hung on strings as if it were snowing. I looked down at the carpet that my heels settled into, and it was a crisp, clean white. Something blinked in the corner of my eye, and I turned my head, smiling brightly at the white Christmas tree that twinkled with warm lights.

  “Christmas,” I whispered.

  “Your favorite.”

  Brenden’s voice dawned upon my ears, and every single part of me woke up. Every time he entered a room, I felt more alive than before. I smiled at him as he approached me, and I couldn't take my eyes off him. The white tuxedo jacket he wore contrasted with the black pants he picked out. His brown eyes sparkled with yellow flakes, and, somehow, my red dress brought out the dark auburn highlights of his hair.

  I grinned. “I thought the groom wasn’t supposed to see the bride until the wedding.”

  He offered me his arm. “She’s not supposed to walk down her wedding aisle alone, either.”

  My heart skipped a beat as I threaded my arm around his. But, when the music started playing, I snickered. I rolled my ruby red lips around my teeth, trying so hard not to laugh. However, as I watched Karina and Roxy process down the white-carpeted aisle to the Whoville song from The Grinch, I couldn't contain myself.

  I bent forward as laughter fell from my lips.

  “Yah-hoo-ray-moo-blah-dee-doo-poo-Welcome-Christmas-something-else!”

  Brenden sang the made up words at the top of his lungs as he helped me upright, then the two of us moved down the aisle. I rested against him, seeking out his strength as Karina and Roxy cackled at the end of the aisle. Because right there, before my very eyes, stood the old man who was ready to marry us.

  And he was dressed like fucking Santa Claus.

  “Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Wedding Day!”

  My head fell back as I started wheezing, I was laughing so hard.

  “Skip to the good stuff, Mr. Claus. I’m ready to make this woman mine,” Brenden said.

  I snorted. “I’m sure you are.”

  He growled softly, and it stirred something within me. Something that had laid dormant for so very, very long. I clung to him as Santa Claus laughed with his ‘ho ho’’s and recited the traditional wedding vows.

  Then, Brenden looked down at me.

  “I do,” he said.

  Wait, did I miss it?

  “And do you, Miss Kelly Brown--.”

  Roxy whispered. “Crown.”

  “Oh, oh. Yes. My apologies. Do you, Miss Kelly Crown, take Brenden Hearthstone to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  I smiled. “I do.”

  Santa snapped his Bible closed. “Then, by the power vested in me by the State of Nevada and Father Time Himself, I pronounce you man and wife! You can kiss your bride, Mr. Hearthstone.”

  I had prepared myself for many things: sleeping with Brenden, having to part ways after the week, simply going back to being friends. But, I hadn’t prepared myself for our first kiss. His eyes closed, and I watched his perfect lips come down to mine. I felt my knees weakening, and I braced myself for impact, leaning softly against him. His arms cloaked my back. His strength held me up. And when his lips touched my own, fireworks burst in my mind.

  I’m in deep, deep, deep shit.

  I almost moaned against his lips. But, the second I felt my legs flying out from underneath me, I squealed. My bouquet of fake roses fell to the ground as Brenden carried me up the aisle while that stupid Whoville song kept playing over the loudspeakers. The girls clapped, and Zane whistled from the back row. I didn’t even realize he was there until we passed by him, and I heard his laughter. All I knew was Brenden’s warmth against me. All I smelled was his oaky cologne, robust and earthy. Pulling me in as he walked me out of the chapel and towards his car.

  “Where to next?” I asked.

  He set me down onto my feet. “To our wedding reception, of course.”

  I paused. “Wait, our what?”

  He opened his car door. “We’re all going to dinner for our reception. We’re even going to have a little dance. And I suggest you fill that stomach of yours because you’re going to need the energy.”

  And as I dipped myself down into his car, electricity buzzed through my body. I was ready for it. I was ready for him. Come hell, or high water, or even a broken heart.

  “Wait, wait, wait!” a woman cried out.

  Brenden looked behind him as I peeked around his body, only to see a pudgy woman making her way down the stairs in heels that were much too big for her feet.

  “My apologies. I’m so sorry. I just need your signatures on these documents, and we’ll be ready to go!” the woman exclaimed.

  I furrowed my brow. “What documents?”

  Brenden plucked the pen from the woman. “The waiver that states this isn’t actually real.”

  The woman paused. “Wait, what?”

  I held up my finger. “Why does she seem so confused?”

  He handed me the pen. “Just sign at the bottom. I’ve already dated it for you.”

  I looked over at the woman, and she quickly put a smile back on her face. I wasn’t so sure about everything, though.

  “Just here, at the bottom,” she said.

  I looked up at Brenden, and he smiled at me. And his smile melted my insides enough to go ahead and get the waiver signed. I scribbled my name on the paper before reaching for his coat. Then, I pulled him into the car beside me.

  “Come on, handsome. We’ve got a reception to get to,” I said.

  The woman waved at us. “Have fun! Congratulations!”

  And even as Brenden pressed another kiss against my lips, the smallest part of me wondered why her ‘congratulations’ seemed so…

  So…

  Sincere.

  8

  _____

  BRENDEN

  “Come on. Let me at ‘em,” I said.

  Kelly backed up. “No, no, no. You've carried me enough places.”

  “And what kind of man would I be if I didn’t carry you across the threshold of our honeymoon suite?”

  “You’d be the exact kind of man you were before all of this happened. Trust me, I’m hooked. You’ve got me on the line.”

  I grinned. “That doesn’t mean I can’t spoil you, though. I mean, what newly-wedded man doesn’t want to spoil his wife?”

  She sighed playfully. “Well, if you’re insisting.”

  She jumped with a squeal, and I caught her as the elevator doors opened. The carpeted flooring ushered us down the empty hallway before two men standing on either side of the doors opened t
hem for us. The sweet smell of wildflowers wafted up my nose, but it was nothing compared to the wondrous perfume Kelly decided to wear for our fake wedding day.

  I was ready to devour her.

  “Welcome to your honeymoon suite,” I said.

  She gasped. “Holy shit, Brenden. This is amazing.”

  I set her down. “Only the best for my bride.”

  I looked back and nodded for the two men to close the doors. Then, I turned back and watched Kelly walk into the middle of the living room. The grand foyer greeted us with a crystal chandelier and a round, handmade wooden table topped with a large vase of wildflowers. Sprinkled with fake snow, just as I requested. I smiled as Kelly took in the sights. The double french doors that led out to a private terrace with a pool and a hot tub. The plush furniture with ornate wooden outlines that made it not only fashionable but sturdy. I walked over to the bottle of champagne resting in an iced silver tin on top of the minibar. I popped it open and poured us two flutes of champagne, then carried one over to her.

  I stood beside her as she gazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and surveyed the expanse of Las Vegas.

  “Wow,” she whispered.

  I sipped my drink, grinning. “You like?”

  She shook her head. “It’s… incredible up here.”

  “I know.”

  “The view is beautiful.”

  My eyes fell down her body. “I know that, too.”

  She looked over at me and swatted me playfully, but I meant what I said. That damn red dress she had on hugged her in all the right places. Her heels accented her long, slender legs. Legs I couldn't wait to feel wrapped around my waist. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun I wanted to let down so I could run my fingers through it.

  She looked like my own little slice of heaven.

  And I was ready to indulge.

  “To us, for the week,” Kelly said.

  Her voice ripped me from my trance. “To us, for the week.”

  Then, we clinked our glasses together and took our first sip alongside one another in our honeymoon suite.

  I didn’t expect anything to happen the first night. With the ceremony and the dinner and the live band that played music for us until we couldn’t dance a second longer, I knew we’d both be tired. But, I didn’t realize we’d both fall asleep in our wedding clothes because of it. My eyes fell open as sunlight drifted through the massive tinted windows. I raised myself up, groaning when I saw the wrinkles in my pants and my tuxedo jacket.