Page 148 of Pretend To Be Mine

I almost laughed at the shock on the faces of those that had apparently missed the media about Dash’s show.

It was beautiful. A tribute to the man who’d built this empire.

We watched from the wings, Adrian’s arms wrapped around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. Between looks, he’d press kisses to my neck, whisper things that made me blush.

“This is perfect,” I said softly. “Everything you built is perfect.”

“It’s not perfect yet,” he murmured against my hair. “But it’s getting there.”

When the final model walked, all four brothers went out on stage together. Mimi joined them. She looked so elegant and proud. The crowd gave them a standing ovation that went on for minutes. It was their triumph. I was so glad to get a front row seat to it all. They were a family that had lost their patriarch and found a way to honor him.

I watched Adrian up there with his brothers. They were all grinning as they basked in well-earned applause. I was so proud of him. Of all of them. They felt like my family. I had known them less than a few weeks, but I hoped I might get to call them my brothers one day.

He’d done it. They’d done it. Fashion of Love Week was a massive success despite every obstacle, scandal, and complication.

Adrian caught my eye from the stage. He winked and mouthed “I love you.”

I mouthed it back. His smile could have lit up the entire city.

When they finally left the stage, Adrian came straight to me, lifting me up and spinning me around while I laughed and told him to put me down.

“Never,” he said, but set me on my feet anyway. “You’re stuck with me now.”

“I can live with that,” I said, and kissed him again, because I could now. Because this was real and he loved me and I loved him and the whole world knew it.

“Come on.” He took my hand, lacing our fingers together. “Let’s go celebrate. Assuming you can handle this rowdy group.”

“I can handle it,” I said. “As long as I have you.”

“You have me. Always.”

Backstage was chaos—the good kind, where everyone was riding the high of a successful show. Models were stripping out of final looks, makeup artists were packing up kits, and crew members were already starting to break down the set. The energy was electric, everyone talking over each other, reliving their favorite moments.

I felt Adrian’s hand squeeze mine as we navigated through the crowd. People kept stopping us and offering their congratulations. I smiled and thanked them, still feeling like I was floating somewhere outside my body.

“There she is!” Dash’s voice boomed across the backstage area. He bounded over and pulled me into a hug that lifted me off my feet. “The woman who made my brother finally act like a human being with actual feelings.”

“Put her down before you break her,” Adrian said, but he was smiling.

Dash set me down and grinned at me. “Welcome back, Elizabeth. We missed you. Well, mostly Adrian missed you. He was unbearable without you.”

Adrian narrowed his eyes at his brother. “I was not unbearable.”

“You were,” Sebastian said, appearing with two champagne flutes. He handed one to me and kept the other. “Completely unbearable. Moping around, checking your phone every five seconds, sighing dramatically.”

“I don’t sigh dramatically.” Adrian shook his head.

“You absolutely do,” Briggs added, joining our growing circle. “Elizabeth, I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you gave him another chance.”

“Me too,” I said softly.

“Boys, give her some room to breathe.” Mimi appeared, elegant as ever, and the brothers immediately stepped back like chastised children. She came directly to me, taking both my hands in hers. “Elizabeth, dear. I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Thank you, Mimi. I’m sorry for leaving the way I did.”

“Hush. You had every right to be upset.” She squeezed my hands gently. “What matters is that you came back. And that my stubborn son finally told you how he felt.”

“I’m standing right here,” Adrian protested.