63. If

Genre: Paranormal romance, drama

Type: Series
Characters: Leigh, Jesse, Ruth

Prompt: 71. If

Word Count:  1620+

Warning: mature content, nudity, coarse language, heavy on text, and colorful shots

Rating:  M- (coarse language, adult situations, nudity. N.B-Applies to the whole series)

Summary: Ruth is determined to have things her way.

71. If

________

Barnacle Bay, present day...

While Beau made plans to return to Bridgeport, a couple, not too far from his cabin, was making plans to get hitched. But it wasn’t a blissful period for the bride-to-be.

“What do you mean we have to get married? I agreed to be your pretend fiancé for the weekend, and I think the performance was convincing. You shouldn't have let her push you into a corner Jess!” Leigh hissed in the direction of Ruth’s bedroom door...

They had arrived in Barnacle Bay earlier that afternoon, and they’d played their parts very well, kissing at every opportunity they got, holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes like real love-birds do.

Ruth had said so herself, on more than one occasion, that they made a fine couple and she was thrilled to see her grandson so happy. She’d warmed to Leigh almost immediately, while they sat at the poolside and got to know each other.

The old bat had even encouraged them to take a dip in the pool, Leigh had been hesitant but after much persuasion from Jesse, she’d ended up giving in and admittedly she had had loads of fun. She’d only wished it was guilt-free fun though.

Dinner had been a pleasant affair,until Ruth had politely asked the dreaded question: When were they getting married?  But before Leigh could say anything, Jesse had already replied “soon”, leaving her shocked and bewildered.

Soon after that they’d retired to the cozy living room for a nightcap; Ruth had retold the Williams’ family history while Leigh had leafed through stacks of family albums. Conversation had eventually made its way back to the mysterious wedding, with the old lady dropping hints about how happy it would make her to see Jesse get married soon, it was her dying wish to be at her only grandson’s wedding before the inevitable happened. Leigh had almost told her there and then there would be no wedding, but when she saw the mournful look in Ruth’s eyes, she didn’t have the guts to break the old lady’s heart.

But when it’s all said and done, she had enjoyed almost every moment of the charade because one, it had kept her from thinking about Krisis, and two, she loved finding out new things about Jesse. There were times though, once or twice, when she’d felt bad about lying to the old lady, but quick, reassuring smiles from Jesse had firmly put her on track  again and she’d given what she thought was an award winning performance…

“Keep your voice down, will you? She can hear you!” Jesse hissed, before closing their ‘bedroom door’, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

“Look Jesse, I’m sorry. I agreed to the weekend, and that’s all I’m willing to give. My life is complicated as it is, and I don’t need the added drama of being a pretend wife now,” Leigh explained as calmly as she could.

She shed off her dress, and threw it on the armchair, before tearing through her luggage bags for her pajamas. She wasn’t shy about undressing in front of him, after all he was her best friend, and he’d seen her half- naked plenty of times.

“Please, just give me six weeks. She’s barely hanging on, and it will make her so happy,” Jesse pleaded, his voice just above a whisper.

“You mean it will make you and Shaun happy when she does change her will? If she does change it!” Leigh cried. She had not signed up for this. It was getting messy and complicated, and she wanted out.

“She’ll change the will. I know she will. She’d never cut me off after seeing the way we were today…Besides, I just want to make her happy; she's the only person in my family who didn't shut me out after I came out. Making her happy is all I want...In fact, I don't even care about the money. Ruth's been really good to me...” Jesse tried again to persuade her, fumbling with his own clothes.

“I don’t know. Can’t you convince her we are serious about each other without resorting to marriage? I won’t be here in six weeks Jesse.”

On their way to Barnacle Bay, she’d made up her mind to return to Bridgeport. Fine, Krisis didn’t want her, she’d made peace with that, but she didn’t see why she couldn’t be with her family. She missed her brother and Eloise…Screw the voice telling her she could never return home, she still hadn’t figured out where it came from or who it belonged to, and it worried her that her mind drew blanks every time she thought of that night. But returning home was top on her ‘to do’ list.

 “It’s just a few weeks. Please. That’s all I ask. We’ll have a simple wedding, just close family and friends, and we can get it annulled as soon as-” He couldn’t bring himself to say it, but she knew what he meant. They’d get the marriage annulled as soon as Ruth died. But what if she didn’t die? What then? Would she be forever married to man who didn’t love her while he continued his clandestine affair with his bisexual lover?

She would do anything for him, but marriage was a no-no.

“Please? Do you want me to beg? Leigh, I’ve never asked you for anything before. You and I know it’s not real. This is to make Ruth happy. This is her dying wish, to see me married. Please?” Jesse pleaded, the tears in his big grey eyes smashed her heart to pieces, and she found herself nodding, agreeing to the madness.

“I’ll do it. We’ll get married, in name only. I don’t love you, not in that sense and you sure as hell don’t love me either. Six weeks is all I’m going to give you, and then I’m going home. I miss my brother Jesse, and Eloise. I can’t stay away any longer, so you have to make sure Ruth changes her will before she dies. I hate lying to her. I hate doing this. But you’re my friend, and…” her voice trailed off.

Was she really agreeing to this? Could she stand in front of everyone and take wedding vows she had no intention of keeping? What would Devon say? And Eloise? She was convinced any second now God would send lightning to strike her dead.

“Thank you. Six weeks it is. After that I won’t ask you for anything. You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know Leigh,” he kissed her gently on the lips, and she kissed him back, slipping back into their acting roles. At least that’s what they told themselves.

“Six weeks, Jesse. Nothing more…After that I’m done. I don’t think I can keep up with the lie indefinitely!” She slipped under the covers and turned off the side lamp. Her only comfort was the fact that the sham marriage would be annulled. It would be as if she was never married… No one would find out…No one had to know…

“There’s something else,” Jesse murmured as he joined her under the covers.

“What’s that?” Leigh asked, bracing herself for more drama.

“You can’t tell anyone it’s not real Leigh. Everyone has to believe we are in love. If Ruth suspects anything, it will kill her,” he explained.

“I thought that was the point, get her to die quickly.” She laughed at her own joke, but stopped immediately when Jesse didn’t join in.

“I’m sorry, that was lame. I promise I won’t tell anyone it’s a pretend wedding,” she mumbled softly.

“Good. Thank you.” Jesse switched off his light too, and it wasn’t long before he was snoring peacefully beside her. Hours after Jesse fell into a peaceful sleep she was still awake, thinking about her deception, stewing in her guilt.

No longer content with just tossing and turning, Leigh made her way outside. Barnacle Bay was as breathtaking at night as it was in the day.

She gently kneaded her nape, remembering a pair of cool hands caressing her aching breasts with such sheer sensuality Krisis had instantly sent her on the brink of an orgasm. God she missed him, his scent, his strong arms around her, his body covering hers, the way he’d called out her name in the throes of passion, oh she missed the way he had worshipped her body; missed his hardness inside of her, his deep lustful thrusts, their hips grinding sensuously against each other…

No! She mentally shook herself. No point in yearning for things long gone. He was her past. He didn’t love her. Never had, never will…

The rest of the weekend went well. Ruth was thrilled with their announcement to wed as soon as possible, and she was happy to foot the bill for the wedding, provided they had it in Barnacle Bay. And so they extended their stay, and that’s why a week later, she was still there, running around the pirate town, trying to book a venue, find caterers, and search for the perfect wedding dress.

They were still sticking with a small ceremony, only close family and friends. But Jesse knew his family would come out in numbers now that word of him “marrying a woman” was out. Shaun would serve as his best man. Leigh’s side of the venue would be empty of course. There was no way she was telling Devon or any of her friends about this…