The Billionaire's Pretend Girlf - Leslie North Page 0,42

can,” Blake said. Grayson laughed, which seemed like a success. They’d distracted him at least for a minute.

The wedding planner stepped over to them then, signaling the groom and his groomsmen to begin their walk over to the front of the gazebo. The violin music shifted as soon as they stepped out, and all heads turned their way. Once they were tucked in place, Mila’s mother came down the aisle, escorted by her son Philip. Grayson’s mother followed a moment later. Then came the bridesmaids, one by one.

A murmur rippled through the seated guests and Grayson stiffened. Mila was near—she had to be. Even still, he sought out Jackie. Waiting for her to look his way and send him a smile. Instead, she twisted in her seat, avoiding his eager gaze once more.

When the trio of violinists suddenly changed to the “Wedding March,” everyone whooshed to their feet. Daniel caught the big grin that erupted on Grayson’s face, his whole demeanor relaxing, and that’s how he knew that Mila had stepped into view.

The bride appeared at the end of the aisle, wearing a shimmering white dress and a white headpiece with a 1920s flair, her arm hooked with her father’s. Daniel was all smiles, looking between Mila as she approached and Grayson as he beheld her.

Once Mila arrived at the gazebo and her father had given her a tiny kiss and taken his seat, the violinists quieted. The officiant got things moving quickly—Grayson and Mila had specifically wanted a short and sweet ceremony—and before he knew it, the newly-wed couple was exchanging their first kiss as husband as wife.

The fifty or so people in attendance burst into applause then, and Daniel and Blake whooped their approval from Grayson’s side. One newlywed kiss turned into a second and third while Grayson cupped his wife’s growing belly. Everyone cheered.

Mila lifted her small bouquet of lilies and together, she and Grayson walked down the aisle, pumping their fists in the air as the violin trio resumed their music. Daniel smiled as he watched them walk away, then he and Blake filed down behind, paired off with the bridesmaids.

The newlywed couple and the wedding party formed a line under the hibiscus-lined veranda to greet guests. Friends and family began to leave their seats, filing toward the wedding party with grins and cheers.

A flurry of handshakes and greetings and warm hugs emerged then. By the time Jackie made it his way, the line had stalled slightly due to a chatty couple taking more time than normal with Mila and Grayson. Jackie pushed up onto her tiptoes to give Daniel a small kiss.

“You did wonderfully,” she said.

“Thanks, princess.” He wrapped his arms around her, searching her gaze. Blake leaned in.

“All right, you two. Your turn at the gazebo will come another day.”

Daniel laughed, gauging Jackie’s reaction. She smiled, but hell if he could tell what she was thinking anymore. The bet had been clear-cut, but the very real emotions that sprang up between them as a result just made everything murky.

“Have you had a good week, Jackie?” Blake asked.

“The best,” she said, flattening her palms against Daniel’s chest. She fit perfectly in his arms. It was something he noticed every time she was there. “Just not looking forward to next week.”

“The fantasy ends, huh,” Blake said.

“Yep. Everything will go back to normal,” Daniel added. “Unfortunately.”

Jackie’s face went stony just as the photographer came to grab them. It was picture time. The photographer led the wedding party and the parents to a different part of the vineyard, an expertly manicured knoll with a stunning view of the vineyards rolling away into the distance. With the blue, cloudless sky, all the greenery around them, and their closest loved ones gathered around, Daniel already knew that Grayson and Mila would cherish these photos forever.

Group photos turned into singles which turned into a re-do of group photos because of a lens issue. With each minute that passed, Daniel was more anxious to find Jackie and spend the rest of the evening by her side. By the time they were formally dismissed to the reception, Daniel was practically running.

“Dang, Daniel,” Blake teased. “You can’t wait to get to that open bar, can you?”

“More like Jackie,” Daniel clarified, sending his friend a side smirk. The friends speed-walked toward the reception, the air growing cooler as they headed down some stairs toward the unique venue. Their footsteps echoed down the smooth sandstone tunnel, which then opened up into the spacious, backlit cavern this