Chapter 14
HALLIE
The dress Frankie sent was gorgeous. And completely terrifying.
I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror, barely recognizing myself. The dress was black, a color I truly loved. And yes, black was a color. My love for black clothing started back in high school when I was told it was slimming.
I didn’t know about that, but I did feel confident in black, and it just kind of worked for any occasion.
The soft fabric hugged my curves in a way that made me feel both powerful and exposed.
It had long sleeves that ended in delicate points over my hands, and the neckline was a sophisticated scoop that showed just enough cleavage.
The dress cinched across my waist with ruching that was always very flattering.
God bless whoever invented pleats.
The waist flowed into the skirt, flowing out a little and ending just above my knees. It made my body look like an hourglass instead of the pear shape I usually saw in the mirror.
I had paired it with the heels Frankie sent—black stilettos that added three inches to my height and made my legs look longer than they actually were. I swore, the dress made me look twenty pounds lighter. Frankie had a damn good eye.
My hair was down, falling in loose waves over my shoulders. I’d done my makeup carefully, with smoky eyes, nude lips, and just enough blush to give me color without looking overdone.
I looked like I belonged in Colt’s world. The thought made my stomach twist.
“You almost ready?” Colt called from the living room. “Our reservation’s in twenty minutes.”
I took one last look in the mirror, straightened my shoulders, and opened the bathroom door.
Colt was standing by the window, his back to me as he adjusted his cufflinks. He wore a charcoal suit that had clearly been tailored to his mouth-watering body. His dark hair was styled perfectly, and even from behind, he looked like he’d stepped out of a magazine spread.
It was pretty easy to understand why he was so damn cocky. A man that looked as good as he did kind of had the right to be that confident.
He turned when he heard the door and his eyes widened just a bit. Then his gaze dropped to my toes and slowly traveled up my body, lingering in places that made my skin heat.
“You clean up nice,” he said finally.
“So do you,” I admitted grudgingly. “Although you compliments leave room for improvement.”
“Noted.” He offered his arm. “Ready to perform?”
I took it, trying to ignore the way my pulse jumped at the contact. “As I’ll ever be.”
The restaurant was everything I’d expected and worse. Intimate lighting. White tablecloths. Crystal and silver gleaming on every surface. A pianist in the corner playing something classical and romantic. And so many people, all dressed to the nines, all turning to look when we walked in.
The ma?tre d’ practically fell over himself welcoming us, leading us to what was clearly the best table in the house. Center of the room. Maximum visibility.
Of course.
I felt every pair of eyes on us as we walked. Heard the whispers start immediately.
“Is that Colt Jesson?”
“Who’s the woman with him?”
“I heard they’re engaged.”
“I heard she’s got giant fingers.”
That last one stung more than it should have.
Colt pulled out my chair, playing the part of the attentive fiancé for our audience.
“Relax,” he murmured near my ear. “You look like you’re about to bolt.”
“I am about to bolt,” I whispered back.
“Please don’t. I’d have to chase you, and these shoes are new.”
Despite myself, I almost smiled.
The waiter appeared with menus and wine recommendations. Colt ordered for both of us without asking what I wanted, which should have annoyed me but somehow didn’t. He’d chosen well, the salmon I’d been eyeing and a wine that sounded perfect.
As the waiter left, a couple at the next table leaned over.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” the woman said, beaming at us. “We saw the announcement online. You two make such a beautiful couple.”
“Thank you,” Colt said smoothly, reaching across the table to take my hand. His thumb traced circles on my palm. “When you find the right one, you just know.”
I had to remind myself it was all for show.
A waiter passing by did a double-take when he saw me.
“Oh my god,” he said, his eyes widening. “Are you—I’m sorry, this is so unprofessional, but are you a Kardashian? I could swear I’ve seen you on TV.”
Colt’s eyebrows shot up. I could see him about to correct the poor guy, but something made me lean into it. Maybe it was the wine, maybe the absurdity of the whole situation.
“Yes,” I said seriously. “I’m the plus-size Kardashian. They keep me hidden. Family secret.”
The waiter’s eyes got even wider. “I knew it! I knew there had to be—”
Colt made a choking sound. I glanced over to see him desperately trying not to spit his wine out, his hand pressed to his mouth.
“I’m kidding,” I told the waiter quickly. “I’m not a Kardashian. Sorry. I was just having a bit of fun with it.”
He laughed, embarrassed but good-natured. “Right, of course. My mistake. Enjoy your dinner.”
As soon as he was gone, Colt let out the laugh he’d been holding in. It was genuine and unguarded, transforming his entire face. He looked younger when he laughed like that. More human.
More like the boy I’d known in high school.
“The plus-size Kardashian,” he repeated, shaking his head. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all week.”
“I couldn’t help myself.”
“Clearly.” He took a sip of wine, his eyes still dancing with amusement. “You’re full of surprises.”
The moment felt easy. Natural. Almost real.
Then I remembered where we were. Who we were pretending to be. And the easy feeling evaporated.
“Is it always like this?” I asked, looking around at all the people still sneaking glances at us, phones held not-so-subtly under tables as they snapped pictures. “The attention?”
His expression sobered. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
“I thought you’d love it. The whole celebrity thing.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Why would you think that?”
I shrugged. “Because you have an ego the size of Texas.”
Colt didn’t dispute it, which I appreciated. He rotated his wine glass, watching the liquid catch the light. “I liked the attention once. When I was younger and stupider. Now it just feels… invasive.”
I studied him, surprised by the admission. “But you court it. The paparazzi, the public appearances, the whole spectacle.”
“Because I have to.” He met my eyes. “I have it all, Hallie. The money, the company, the lifestyle everyone dreams about. But I also have too much. Too many eyes on me. Too many people with opinions about how I should behave, including who I should date. They all have ideas about how I should run my father’s company. ”
The rawness in his voice caught me off guard. Colt wasn’t faking that.
“Do you ever regret it?” I asked quietly. “Taking over Valenteen?”
He was quiet for a long moment. “Sometimes I have doubts,” he admitted. “About whether I’m the right person for it. Whether any of this is actually helping clean up my image or just making things worse.”
“You’re doing fine,” I said, and was surprised to find I meant it.
“Am I?” His laugh was hollow. “I hired a fake fiancée because my investors think I’m too much of a playboy to represent a company built on eternal love. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of my life choices.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. This vulnerable side of Colt was unexpected. Uncomfortable. It made him seem human beneath his prickly outer shell.
I took a thorough sip of wine and asked what I was wondering. “Why are you such a man slut anyway?”
He almost spit his wine out for the second time at this table, and I silently congratulated myself. “You don’t pull your punches, do you?” he asked.
“It might be the wine, but screw it. I can’t figure it out. Quick hookups, different woman every week. What’s the appeal?”
His expression shuttered slightly. “It gets the job done.”
“The job?” I shuddered. “If that’s what you call sex, maybe you’re doing these women a favor with these one-night stands.”
The cocky smile reappeared on Colt’s face. “Most of them have left smiling. Of that, I am confident.”
“Most?” I asked, smirking.
He shrugged and glanced away. “Everyone has an off night from time to time. But my point is, my physical needs are met. No complications. No expectations.” He let out long breath. “I don’t have time to care for someone other than myself. Or Frankie, I suppose. But no one else.”
His eyes flickered with shadows I couldn’t quite read. Pain, maybe. Something that suggested there was more to the story than he was telling. Was he a puzzle worth solving? I still wasn’t sure.
Don’t fall for it, I warned myself. Don’t let yourself care about what might be broken inside him.
I didn’t know how to fix broken men. Hell, I barely knew how to keep myself alive some days. And besides, how bad could a billionaire possibly have it? He had money, power, freedom. Whatever cage Colt felt trapped in, he had built it around himself.
But even as I thought it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being too hasty. It was possible there was more beneath his cocky surface. And Frankie had said there was more to her big brother.
I took a sip of wine and changed tactics. “Tell me about your dad. What was he like?”
The transformation was immediate. Colt’s entire face softened, a genuine smile touching his eyes.
“He was tough,” Colt said, his voice warm with memory. “But fair. Never let me get away with anything, but he also never punished me for things I didn’t do. He was honest—sometimes brutally so—but clever too. He knew how to get what he wanted.”
“Sounds like you take after him.”
“In some ways.” Colt leaned back in his chair. “He never lied, but he was a master at bending truths. Finding the angle that worked in his favor without crossing any lines. It was an art form, watching him negotiate.”
“Was he always in the jewelry business?”
“Always. Started from nothing and built Valenteen into what it is today.” Pride colored his voice.
“He could be severe as a father. Demanding. Expected perfection and didn’t accept excuses.
But he had a soft spot for Frankie. I used to envy that sometimes, the way he’d light up when she walked in a room.
The way he’d let her get away with things he’d never let me slide on. She was truly his little princess.”
“That sounds kind of unfair to me,” I said, narrowing my eyes.
“It was what it was.” He took another sip of wine. “I understand it now. He was priming me to take over the company. To have a seat at the head of the table of our legacy. Can’t do that if you’re soft. He was preparing me.”
“Was it lonely?”
“It was an honor,” Colt corrected, but there was something hollow in the words. Like he was reciting a script he’d told himself for years.
Our food arrived, and we ate in silence for a few minutes.
The restaurant continued to buzz around us, people still watching, still whispering.
But in our little bubble, it faded into background.
I did my best to remember all the manners I never used.
I did not want to be on the front page of some magazine with my elbows on the table, chewing with my mouth open.
“Maybe the old man wasn’t perfect, but damn, do I miss him,” Colt said suddenly, his voice rough.
I looked up to find his eyes had gone distant, unfocused. He cleared his throat, visibly pulling himself together.
“We should get out of here,” he said abruptly. “Away from all these prying eyes.”
I looked down at my half-eaten meal. It was so good, but the man sounded desperate. I knew that feeling. I could empathize.
“Where would we go?”
“I don’t know. Anywhere but here.” He signaled for the check. “Unless you want to stay and get stared at like we’re zoo animals.”
“God, no.”
Our server rushed over.
“Check, please,” Colt said.
“Sir, is there something wrong?”
“Check. Please.”
“Yes, sir.”
I got to my feet. I could see his desperation to get out of the restaurant. I didn’t know what happened, but clearly something was bothering him. He helped me with my coat and guided me out of the restaurant.
For just a moment, I saw the man Frankie was trying to tell me to look for.
And God help me, that made him harder to hate.
Don’t fall for it, I reminded myself as we stepped out into the snowy night.
Take his money. Break his heart. Get even.
The mantra felt weaker now. Far less conviction.