The Cowboy's All-Business Bride (Billionaire Cowboys Book 5) Read online

  “How are you really doing?” he asked.

  “I’m great. You?”

  It was way too quick of an answer.

  “No. Really.” He stopped walking and turned to face her.

  Under the dappled shade of saplings, Leyla angled her chin up and looked into his eyes. A wall had been erected in her dark irises.

  “It’s strange, thinking about having an actual wedding. I knew that we would. I just didn’t expect to have it this soon.” She flipped a hand. “But it’s no big deal.”

  “We don’t have to have a wedding at all.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? You want to just say we’re married? Isn’t that super easy to uncover?”

  He glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone in the garden. “No. I mean, we can go to a courthouse and have it done there.”

  “Ah.”

  “It doesn’t matter to me. I want you to be happy with the decision.”

  In the silence, she weighed his comment, trying to decide how much truth was in it.

  “Or we can have a big wedding,” he continued. “A small wedding. A wedding with or without friends. Anywhere you want.”

  “It’s your wedding, too.”

  Kane pushed his fingers through his hair and exhaled. How did he tell her this without making it sound like he was hopelessly in love with her?

  Maybe he couldn’t.

  “I never dreamed about my future wedding,” he said. “So it’s really not important to me.”

  “Oh.” She turned and started walking again, going in the direction of a pond full of orange koi. Kane kept stride.

  “It’s not important to me, either.” She stopped and studied the fish. “It’s just a day. Whatever makes us look more believable, I think we should do.”

  It felt like he’d been punched in the gut. It shouldn’t have, but it did.

  “Maryum wants this,” he said, thinking out loud. “And it could be fun. Being in Sharrain. Having a wedding with a Middle Eastern edge.”

  “And it gives you more time to negotiate your deal,” she whispered.

  By that, she meant more time to butter up Mabrouk. Judging by the way he’d been treating Kane and Leyla, though, that deal was likely as good as done.

  He pressed his tongue against his front teeth, wanting to say something more. The conversation felt far from done.

  But he couldn’t be fully honest. That would mean telling her about his growing feelings, and, honestly, they were freaking him out. Falling for his fake bride hadn’t been part of the business plan.

  So, he settled with more acceptable words.

  “We’ll do it, then. We’ll get married here.”

  “Sure. Sounds like a plan.” Leyla started back for the palace.

  With a couple steps, he caught up. “And you can make all the decisions. The cake. Venue. We’ll go with what you want.”

  “Okay.”

  Still no enthusiasm whatsoever. Did she understand he was trying his hardest to make her happy?

  Maybe he needed to give it up. Leyla wasn’t looking for a man to fill her needs. She’d pushed all that to the side in order to make the money to produce her movie.

  The check had been signed. They were playing their parts.

  She didn’t need or want him beyond that.

  Chapter 17

  Leyla

  She’d lied to Kane.

  Of course her wedding day meant a lot to Leyla. How could it not? She wasn’t a robot.

  But it wasn’t like she planned on telling him that. He’d already done so much for her.

  And maybe it was better if their wedding resembled nothing like the one she actually wanted. It could be easier that way.

  “Do you have a guest list finished yet?” the wedding planner asked.

  She was a woman not much older than Leyla, with perfectly done hair, makeup, and nails. Despite being in her early thirties, she carried herself with the air of someone who not only was an expert at their job but who also knew it unequivocally. They’d met her in her office in Sharrain, a big open space with windows showcasing a view of skyscrapers and a secretary and an office dog.

  “We have nothing yet.” Maryum threw her hands into the air with a laugh. “What are you thinking, Leyla? Small with family and friends? Or would you like to make it a larger affair?”

  “What would be a larger affair, exactly?” Leyla sipped tea from a china cup so delicate it would probably shatter into a thousand pieces if she set it down too hard.

  “There are varying degrees,” Maryum explained. “We could invite mine and Mabrouk’s associates. Delegates. Politicians. Both from Sharrain and beyond. Typically, royal weddings are thoroughly covered by the media. Some couples choose to have cameras there.”

  The office dog, a little animal with curly white fur, trotted into the room and sniffed Leyla’s leg. She offered the dog her hand and, once received, scratched it behind its ear.

  A weight tugged on her stomach. She missed Sharkie. Missed London. Missed her apartment and Austin. Missed everything that was normal and screamed of home.

  And she hadn’t even been gone two days, yet.

  “I imagine the groom must have a lengthy guest list,” the wedding planner said. “Judging by his role in the business world.”

  Leyla fought a frown. She couldn’t remember the wedding planner’s name. They’d only met a few minutes ago. It shouldn’t have been that hard.

  “Kane wants Leyla to have the wedding of her dreams.” Maryum squeezed Leyla’s hand. “He has turned over all the decision-making to her.”

  Leyla squeezed her cousin’s hand back. She and Mabrouk would be two good things at the wedding, at least.

  “I’m fine with having it broadcasted,” Leyla decided. “Any number of guests is good, and journalists are okay with me.”

  If this were a real wedding, one taking place out of love and not material pursuits, she’d want it to be small and quiet. But that wasn’t the case.

  So, she might as well milk it. The publicity could be good for her career, no matter that the thought made her insides squirm. She’d never imagined herself to be someone who used tricks in order to get by and boost her image. It was her talent she wanted to be known for.

  Things had changed a lot in the last few weeks. The only choice was to make the best of the situation.

  They finished ironing out the details, from color scheme to dinner, from the dress fitting to the wedding arch. By the time they had a finished list, Leyla’s head spun. It was hard to imagine planning such an extravagant wedding without a professional to take the helm.

  “That was fun,” Maryum said, as the two of them left the wedding planner’s office and walked down the staircase.

  “And nerve-inducing.”

  “Don’t worry. Everyone gets pre-wedding jitters. Distract yourself by imagining how wonderful it will be to be married to the love of your life.”

  Leyla’s hand tightened on the railing. Even though she’d just met Maryum, it felt horribly wrong, keeping a big secret from her. She and Mabrouk were her only family. Leyla wanted to be able to confide in them.

  Unfortunately, the agreement she’d signed meant full transparency was off-limits. Other than London, no one knew that the engagement was a scheme.

  And no one ever would.

  Ack. Signed agreements. In between the one she had with Kane and the one she still considered with DeHaan, it felt like they ran her life.

  “I’ll try that,” Leyla said through tight teeth. “Thanks.”

  Maryum’s personal bodyguard waited at the front door to the office building. At their approach, he gestured at another security team member outside.

  “One moment, Your Highness.”

  Maryum took the pause to smooth and pull on her white gloves. Leyla touched the sides of her hair, self-conscious. Her cousin was sophisticated in every way, and she already felt like she couldn’t keep up.

  “What are we waiting for?” Leyla
whispered.

  Maryum rolled her wrist. “Oh, it is very normal. They are making sure the path to the car is secure.”

  Leyla nodded like she understood, but it was yet another aspect of Maryum’s life that eluded her. Did she have stalkers? Crazed fans that bordered on dangerous? Or was it merely an ambush of hugs and autograph requests that her security team protected her from?

  The bodyguard cocked his head, listening to something coming through the earpiece he wore. After a moment, he nodded at the women. “At your leisure.”

  “Ready, Leyla?” Maryum asked.

  She hesitated. Walking to a car had never caused her such anxiety.

  The second the bodyguard opened the door, though, she understood. A group of people had amassed on the sidewalk. As Maryum emerged from the building, they shouted her name and waved their arms frantically.

  Wearing a casual smile, Maryum waved and walked. People held their cell phones high to get pictures of her, and the combination of several flashes made Leyla see spots.

  Keeping close together, the two women climbed into the back of the car idling at the curb. Once behind the tinted windows, Leyla let out the breath she hadn’t known she held onto.

  “That’s crazy. Is it always like that?”

  “Not always. At events, yes. Or when someone has sent out a tip that I’m somewhere. That’s likely what happened.”

  At least no one had tried to break the line and lunge at Maryum or anything. Leyla didn’t know what she would have done. She didn’t take spooking well and might have even jumped between the stranger and her cousin.

  The car pulled into traffic, followed by another one with tinted windows. Altogether, Maryum’s entourage included four, with a driver and her personal guard in the front seat of her car, and two other bodyguards trailing them in the second.

  When Maryum had suggested a “quick trip” into the city, Leyla hadn’t imagined it would be like this. She should have known better. Maryum, although not a queen or princess herself, was still royalty. On top of that, she was beautiful and charming. All of Sharrain probably watched her every move.

  “How do you deal with it?” As Leyla spoke, she recalled asking Kane the same question not too long ago.

  “You have to see the positive side of things.” Maryum removed her gloves and laid them on her lap. “My position in the spotlight, although taxing sometimes, allows me to do a lot of good. If there’s a charity I’m interested in, it’s rather easy to get others interested in it as well. You’ll see.”

  “You think Sharrain will care about me?”

  Maryum laughed. “Yes, my dear. Of course. Your existence was never known, but now that you’ve arrived… Yes, it will cause quite the stir. Mabrouk is meeting with the royal publicist today, in order to discuss how to present the story.”

  Leyla felt oddly numb. “That sounds stressful. I’m sorry if I’ve caused any trouble.”

  Maryum gasped. “No. Do not say that. You are no trouble at all. You are…” Her eyes became misty. “You are the best thing to happen to Mabrouk and me in a very long time.”

  “Finding you is the best thing to happen to me, as well.” She tried to say more, but felt too choked-up to talk.

  “You deserve happiness, Leyla. Especially after what you went through, caring for your mother and losing her.” She wiped at a tear. “I am dreadfully sorry I wasn’t there for her last days.”

  “Don’t be. It’s okay. You didn’t know.”

  “And yet… my closest friend died, likely thinking I despised her.” Maryum looked out the window, lost to another time and place.

  Leyla’s lips shook. She bit hard into the bottom one. The pain distracted her enough so that she didn’t burst into tears.

  She needed to ask Maryum what happened with Maira, but they were out of time. They’d already reached the palace gates.

  Another time. Soon.

  “We need to make the invitation list.” Maryum nodded at the doorman. “Join me in my office for that?”

  “Great. Um, where is your office?”

  Gigantic as the palace was, she’d barely found her way to breakfast that morning.

  “Oh, don’t worry. It’s easy to find. Second floor, off the main hall, in the east wing, through the first set of double doors.”

  “Right.” She nodded. “I think I can remember that.”

  “Let’s meet in twenty. I need to freshen up some. And then, after that, we can have lunch. Do you need anything? A drink? A snack?”

  Maryum set her hands on Leyla’s shoulders and looked her over. The touch made her want to melt. It had been a long time since she’d been mothered. In the last months of her mom’s life, the roles had been reversed; she’d been the one doing all the caretaking and worrying.

  “I’m okay. Thank you. See you in twenty.”

  On the walk up to her room, she wondered about Kane. The conversation in the garden a few hours before had been a strange one. It seemed like he’d been trying to get a specific response out of her, but what it was she wasn’t sure.

  Staring at the ornate rugs as she walked, she didn’t notice someone up ahead—until she bumped right into them.

  “Oh!” Teetering on her heels, she reached her hands out to grab hold of something stable, but someone’s hands were already on her arms.

  “Steady, there,” Kane’s deep voice rumbled.

  “Sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

  He still held onto her, and she didn’t feel any urge to shake him off.

  “Where have you been?” she asked.

  “Working.” He nodded his head back in the direction he’d come. “Mabrouk set me up with a temporary office. It’s nice.”

  He seemed to only realize then that he still touched her, because he swiftly dropped his hands, cleared his throat, and took a half step back.

  “How was the meeting with the wedding planner?”

  “A little overwhelming.” She sighed. “But thank goodness we have her. You don’t mind a public ceremony, do you?”

  He raised a brow. “What does that mean, exactly?”

  “Journalists. Maybe. Maryum said that’s the usual royal way.”

  Kane’s jaw flexed. He’d said she could have any kind of wedding she wanted, but maybe this was crossing the line.

  “If you don’t want to do it—”

  “No,” he said. “Let’s do it. It’s a good idea.”

  “Yeah?” She lowered her voice. “I thought it would help sell—”

  “Exactly.” He smiled, but it felt cold and didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Great. So, I’ll tell her.”

  “Wonderful.”

  It didn’t feel wonderful. Leyla felt empty. Alone.

  At this point, it should have been a sensation that she was used to. The thing was, she didn’t want to get used to it. She shouldn’t have had to get used to it.

  “Well, I’ll see you around,” she said. “Maryum and I are about to make the guest list. Can you bring me your list?”

  “It’s short. My mom and my closest friend, likely. Some relatives. A couple people from ClayFuel.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, avoiding her eyes. “I’ll text it to you.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  With that, they went their separate ways, him heading downstairs and her going to her palace bedroom. The second she closed the door, tears filled her eyes.

  “Stop it,” she whispered, swiping at them.

  This was what she’d wanted. No point crying about it.

  She’d forgotten her phone when leaving the palace and went to where it sat charging on the bedside table. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, she checked it for messages.

  There was a missed video call from London, from only two minutes before. Getting more comfortable on the bed, Leyla called her back.

  After a couple rings, London picked up. “Hey!”

  She was in bed, a blanket around her shoulders. In the corner of the screen, Leyla could make out a sleeping Sharki
e. Behind them, the curtains were closed against the night. The sight of the two of them made her want to cry all over again.

  “How are you?” London asked. “What’s going on over there? Is that, like, real gold in that headboard?”

  Leyla laughed. “Dunno. It’s quite possible. And there’s a lot going on over here. Kane and I are getting married in Sharrain in two weeks.”

  “What?” London shouted. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No. Maryum suggested it, and we decided to go with the flow.”

  Leyla had texted over a few short updates, saying that her long-lost family had welcomed her with open arms and that Sharrain was a beautiful place. Other than that, they hadn’t talked.

  “Two weeks, though?” London asked. “Why that soon?”

  “It’s when Maryum and Mabrouk are available. It seems to be a big deal to her.” She couldn’t stop her sigh. “It feels bad to lie to them, London. Really bad.”

  “Aw. I know. But it’s what has to be done. Part of the reason you made the decision to marry Kane was so that you could meet them. It’s not like you want to lie to them.”

  “Yeah.”

  The argument didn’t feel like it mattered. A lie was still a lie.

  “What kind of wedding is this going to be, exactly?” London asked. “Is your best friend in the whole world invited?”

  “Sharkie? Of course he is.”

  London stuck her tongue out. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

  “Sorry.” She laughed. “Yes. Please come. I need you here.”

  “And I’ll be there, babe. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Thank you.” The weight on Leyla’s chest lightened some. “It’s going to be a big deal. There might be journalists there.”

  “Wow. It’s gonna be, like, broadcast on TV?”

  “Oh. I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that.”

  With everything going on, there was little room to think about anything new.

  “It’s like a fairytale wedding.” London’s eyes sparkled. “And you’re the princess in it.”

  “Except I’m not really a princess.”’

  “You’re royalty, now.”