Just Pretending: Chapter 19

It was like a scene from a movie, or maybe I thought movie because of the gossip rags showing stars from so many gala events on red carpets. There was no flash of paparazzi cameras, just a doorman and a luxurious red carpet cascading over the marble entry steps of the museum.

They wanted people to know that a prestigious event was taking place, even if the news and gossip papers wouldn’t do anything more than give it a mention somewhere on a back page.

I felt like Cinderella stepping out of the carriage. Devin was the one to open my door and extend his hand. As much as I didn’t want to think of him as my prince, there he was, being the embodiment of handsome charm in matching accessories to my dress.

My stomach did a flip when he tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow. Typically, even at the most important cocktail parties, we didn’t touch. But tonight, it felt like he wanted me by his side. He patted my hand, and at one time he even placed and held his hand over mine. Like a possessive clamp, holding me in place.

Of course, the nerves in my stomach could have been from a lack of food. I had been running late, so I didn’t have my typical bowl of soup before heading out. It wasn’t until Hannah suggested, before some party, that I have a big bowl of hearty vegetable soup before I leave so that I have fuel to carry me through the evening in case there wasn’t a meal. That I remembered my mom always having soup. At the time I thought she just really liked soup. After all this time I learned it was so that her stomach didn’t growl, something that would have distracted from her good looks.

Devin reached out for a champagne flute. I shook my head. “Not until I have a canape,” I said.

“I’ll find you something to eat.”

He leaned in close and whispered the words in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. His hand trailed down the length of my arm as he left. It felt like he didn’t want to leave. I wanted him not to.

Standing on my own, I took in my surroundings. The Museum of Antiquities was designed to resemble an ancient temple. We had entered between columns, and the main room of the event was in what would have been the pronaos, or front room, of a temple. A few large recreations of pedimental sculpture lined the walls, while authentic relics were placed in glass enclosures. I hadn’t been inside in years, I forgot how impressive it all was.

I continued to turn and look at everything until I bumped into someone.

“Oh!” I jumped as I realized what I had done. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why, Mrs. Hopper. I didn’t expect to, quite literally, bump into you this evening,” the older gentlemen in a classic tux said.

I quickly scanned his frizzy white hair and leering smile before I recognized him as president of the board. “Mr. Smith, how are you this evening?”

“I am doing well. I haven’t seen Devin this evening.”

“He went off to find something for me so that I don’t get light-headed from the champagne.”

“Ah, the dutiful husband, hunting down sustenance for the wife. Should you be imbibing in your condition?”

With a blink, his eyes darted to my middle before returning to my face. I could tell he thought I hadn’t noticed.

“Condition? Excuse me, I think I see Devin across the room.” I did my best to run away from the awkward situation Mr. Smith had created. With one glance and a few words, he had managed to insult me and remind me that my ever dutiful husband was nothing but a farce. I was a plus-sized curvy woman, I wasn’t pregnant. The only condition I was experiencing was embarrassment.

I hadn’t seen Devin at first, but while making my escape I found him.

“Dance with me,” I said.

“Why? I thought you wanted a snack?” he held out a canape on a napkin for me.

“Thank you,” I said as I took the small bite of food. I was finished with it before Devin had a chance to mention he saw me talking with Smith from the board.

“Did he say something to upset you? Why are you agitated?”

“Let’s dance. I’ll tell you.”

He smiled at me as I pulled him out to the dance floor. It wasn’t crowded, but enough people were moving about that we didn’t stand up. Neither of us said anything at first as we moved to the music. The song changed and the music slowed. Devin pulled me closer.

I sighed as I leaned into him. I hadn’t been this close to him, with his arms around me since our wedding night. I felt safe as he held me.

“What’s the matter Harleigh?” Devin’s voice was low and gentle.

“He said something that hurt my feelings. It wasn’t anything intended. I just… I don’t like him very much.”

“So you came to me for protection?” I didn’t miss the sarcasm in his chuckle.

“Any port in a storm.” I stopped dancing. I wanted him to be a safe harbor and not just a false sense of security.

“Thank you for the dance,” I said.

Devin nodded. “I should probably go find Smith.”

“Yeah probably.” I stepped back as he left.

I took a slow stroll around the edge of the party, my focus more on the relics than the people.

“I see you admiring the art more than almost anyone else here. Am I right in assuming you are not one of our stakeholders?”

I looked up and across the display a man with a beard and in round glasses smiled awkwardly at me. He wore, what I assumed to be, his best suit. For the fit and the fabric, I figured he too wasn’t a stakeholder.

“Do you work for the foundation?” I asked.

“What gave me away?” He pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. “I’m James Sully, I work in outreach programming.”

“That explains why you’re here,” I said.

“But you haven’t told me why you’re here.”

I pointed at the cuneiform tablet on display. “I’m here for the art.”

“I don’t know if I’d call a brick of mud with scratches in it art. Developmentally important, sure. But art? If you want art you should see the Sumerian pieces.”

He stepped around the display and placed a hand on my arm to lead me toward a different display.

“So tell me about your program. Give me your pitch.” I said.

“I thought you weren’t here for all of that?”

“Who says I’m not influential?”

“You are an intriguing woman.”

I started to laugh. It was nice to talk to someone who wasn’t more interested in what I could do for them than they were in me.

“I can’t let you out of my sight, can I?” Devin said through his teeth, looming over us.

I let out a startled squeak and began giggling. “Devin, you startled me,” I turned my smile to him. As soon as I saw his face I lost the need to smile. He looked dangerous, feral. It was an expression that for some reason had my heart racing with excitement.

“James, have you met Devin? Devin Hopper, this is James Sully. James does program development for the outreach program.” I quickly introduced them. “Devin is—”

“Harleigh’s husband,” Devin growled, cutting me off.

Devin wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me in close to his side. It was a very territorial move. I didn’t understand why Devin was doing that. Did he want James to notice that the tie Devin was wearing was the same color as my dress?

“Nice to meet you.” James shook his hand out. “Didn’t realize you were married.”

Devin released his hold on me and swung his arm over James’s shoulder. They turned and took a few steps away. Devin lowered his head toward the other man. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but his expression was threatening.

James’s eyes went wide and he began nodding furiously.

I crossed my arms and waited for Devin to turn his glare on me.

“Is this going to happen every time I talk to a man?” I asked when he returned to my side.

“What are you talking about?” He shot his cuffs and I straightened his tie as if nothing had happened between the two of them.

“Devin, every time you see me speaking with a man, you have to come over and threaten him.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. Can you at least pretend you’re my wife when we are at events like this?” He stepped in close, claiming the space by my side. “Don’t be so friendly, tell them you are married. Try not to flirt.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. With a little shove, I pushed him away.

“I wasn’t flirting. You’ve been doing this for years, Devin. You freaked out when I was talking to that lawyer after the funeral. You used to do it if you saw me out in public with a date. I don’t need you to save me.”

“Maybe, I want other men to stay away from what is rightfully mine.” He stepped in close. His breath was warm on my skin.

“I’m not yours,” I whispered.

“You are my wife,” he growled. “You are most assuredly mine.”

“Then why do you always leave me alone? Why do you want me to only pretend we’re married?” I closed my eyes and pressed my hand against my temple. “It’s too warm in here, I need air.”

I wrenched out of the grasp he had on my arm and walked out the front door.

“If you don’t want to be alone, why are you walking away from me?”

The air was chilly on my skin. I suddenly felt feverish and lightheaded.

I held up a hand to keep him back. “I’m confused. I don’t know what’s going on between us. You can’t have it both ways, Devin. I can’t be your wife, and this not be real at the same time.”

He wrapped his hand around her arm again and pulled me hard against his chest. His gaze flicked between making eye contact and staring at my lips.

Nervous and very aware of the way Devin stared at my mouth, I licked my lips reflexively.

“What do you want from me, Harleigh?” His face was against mine, his nose nudging at my jaw.

Tears welled up. I blinked them away. I could barely speak. “I don’t want your pity. I want this to be real.”

He leaned down and claimed my mouth.