Page 5 of Accidental Fake Billionaire

“That’s okay, thank you,” I whispered.

Jared worked carefully, unfastening the row of buttons straight down my spine to the curve of my lower back. Because of the neckline, I wasn’t wearing a bra. It was strange, feeling so naked with my entire back bare for this man I scarcely knew.

When he finished, I felt his fingertips sweep the tendrils of hair away from the bottom of my loose bun, then his lips came to rest at the back of my ear.

“Tara, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You were incredibly brave to let me kiss you for the cameras. Would I be a terrible man if I asked for one more kiss just for me?”

Turning slowly, my breath caught as his fingertips trailed lightly down my back. Before I even realized I was doing it, my hands stretched up around the back of his neck, pulling his lips down to mine.

Such a soft, delicate caress. He was so gentle, as if I were a work of art that he was afraid to break. The pressure of both of his palms running along my back made me moan.

“The softest skin I’ve ever touched,” he murmured, breaking off our kiss but keeping our foreheads pressed together. “Tara, I think we need to get to know each other much better.”

“I think you’re right,” I said softly.

His lips lightly brushed mine again, making my knees unsteady. Then he reached into his pocket, pulling out a phone that was covered in some super high tech protective case.

He unlocked the phone and made a new contact, taking down my number, then stepped back. “Do you need any more help undressing?” he asked. One thick eyebrow raised as his nose crinkled naughtily.

“Thanks, but, um, I think I should hurry.”

“I’ll hover out here in case you need me,” he said, closing the curtain flaps so that I was well concealed.

Slipping the dress off carefully, I pulled on a t-shirt so that at least I was half dressed before arranging the huge gown in its garment bag. Once I pulled on my jeans, sweater and shoes, I threw open the curtain to see Laura.

“Hey,” she grinned, “I see you’ve made a friend.”

I must have looked blank, and she began laughing. “Jared said sorry he had to run, but there was some meeting or something he was called in for. You should have seen the fancy car and driver that picked him up. Holy crap.”

She took the dress from me so that I could grab my purse, and we went back to the chaos of the after-party.

Jessie came bouncing over, grabbing my shoulders and spinning me around. “Oh my god, you were incredible!” she screamed. “Everyone is gushing about that romantic kiss, and the crazy bouquet toss!” She twirled away again, as Laura hung the dress on one of the long hangers. Clearly everyone was going for broke with the champagne.

“Congrats on the show,” I said. “I guess everything went well?”

“Thanks to you,” she said, reaching out to give me a quick hug. “I saw you freeze up. I’m so sorry. But it turned out great.”

“Thank goodness for that Jared guy,” I said. “As soon as he was beside me, I managed to hold it together.”

“You looked incredible with him,” she said, her eyes rolling to the ceiling as she clutched her heart. “Seriously. It was ridiculous. And that kiss!”

“I don’t even know his last name,” I whispered.

She laughed. “That’s Jared Ralston. Jessie’s big brother. He’s always helping her out.”

Someone across the room hollered her name. “Are you staying for the party?” Laura asked.

“No, I’m going to go home and recover from that weird bout of stage fright.”

“You mean recover from that kiss,” Laura laughed. “Take care.”

Jared Ralston. As I slipped out the side door and walked to the nearest bus stop, I held the name in my mind like a charm.

Even the name sounded classy. They must be a rich family, which would explain why Jessie had the money for wedding dress fabric, unlike the other students who were making do with denim and second hand store finds.

It was unbelievably sweet that he helped me out on the catwalk, but it was likely more for his sister’s show than for me personally. An impressive man like that would want a lot more than a twenty-one-year-old nobody like me.

I loved that he was such a take charge kind of guy. It made sense – a rich man would be commanding in all aspects of his life, wouldn’t he? He could have whatever he wanted. Whoever he wanted.

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