Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Music filtered out from the ballroom, the melody light and fresh. I checked my watch, hoping Luna was all right. She never took very long to get ready, but maybe she’d gotten nervous? Tonight would be the debut of our fake relationship, and after the kiss we’d shared, maybe she was having second thoughts?
A pit opened up in my stomach with the thought, and I knew it had more to do with Luna’s nerves than with me losing time with the owners.
“I’m here!” Luna called out, and I spotted her hurrying across the hallway toward me.
Holy fucking shit.
I swallowed hard, my eyes trailing the length of her body. She wore a simple, elegant black gown that hung down to her ankles, the neck a deep V and with only two thin straps holding it all up. Her red hair was gathered on one side, a perfect wave rolling through the strands, and her lips were a bright crimson, all full and pouty. Fuck, she looked like Hollywood royalty from the twenties, all luscious curves and smoky hazel eyes.
“I know, I’m late,” she said once she reached me. “I’m sorry. This wave thing is a lot harder to do than the girl on YouTube made it look.” She motioned to her hair, flashing me an apologetic look.
“You nailed it,” I said, finally finding my voice. “You look gorgeous.”
A flush raked over her cheeks, her eyes quickly finding the floor. “Thanks,” she said, almost too soft for me to hear.
Anger sliced right through the need barreling through me. Her ex had done way more damage than I’d even known about. She could barely take a compliment without trying to make herself smaller.
Asshole.
I stepped closer to her, offering her my arm. “You ready to have some fun?”
She brightened at that, slipping her arm through mine. “So ready.”
I grinned down at her, guiding her through the opened double doors of the ballroom, instantly transporting us into the welcome party that was kicking off in full swing. Couples were already dancing, while some stood around high-top tables with drinks and food.
Pride made my chest puff out just a fraction as we walked around the room, so many eyes were on Luna with appreciative gazes. I fucking loved that she was on my arm. Loved that even if it was pretend, she was mine tonight.
“So, what’s the official plan?” Luna whispered into my ear when I stopped at an empty table.
I grabbed two champagne flutes from a waiter passing by, and slid one to her. “Once I see an opening with the owners, we’ll go over and introduce ourselves.”
Luna nodded, taking a quick sip of champagne. “Oh,” she said, her eyes flaring wide. “That’s good.” She took another drink.
I smiled at her, taking a drink myself.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked. “Besides be…”
“My fiancé?” I finished for her.
“Right.”
“Just be yourself,” I said, but my chest warmed a bit knowing she wanted to help me seal this deal.
She didn’t have to do this. Hell, she didn’t even have to take an interest in it. I’d dragged her into this situation, and she could just as easily tune out and just enjoy the free vacation, but that wasn’t Luna. She’d always cared about my interests, and it meant more to me than she knew.
“Myself,” she said, almost like she was asking a question. “You want me to be myself?”
“Always,” I said, furrowing my brow.
“Like my fashion-obsessed, dessert addict, romance novel devouring self?”
“Yes,” I answered. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m pretty fond of you.”
She held up her flute. “Okay,” she said, clinking her glass against mine. “To being ourselves, only…engaged.”
“That reminds me,” I said after taking a sip of the drink. I sat it down on the table, reaching into my suit jacket pocket. “I meant to give this to you earlier.” I took her left hand with my free one, and slid the ring onto her ring finger discreetly, not that anyone was paying attention to us.
“Omigod,” Luna gasped, her features pure shock as she looked down at the ring.
It was a simple gold band with a square-cut emerald in the center, but from the way she looked at it, I could’ve just handed her the biggest diamond in the world.
“Brad,” she said, her eyes fluttering from the ring to me and back again. “It’s…it’s…”
“Is it okay?” I asked, suddenly nervous I’d picked the wrong one. I mean, yeah, I knew this wasn’t real, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have something she actually liked to wear while we were playing pretend, right? “I know you’ve always liked emeralds more than diamonds, but if you hate it we can swap it—”
“It’s perfect,” she cut over me, and I swore there were tears in her eyes. But that couldn’t be right. “I love it. It’s exactly what I would’ve picked if…” She shook her head, a wide smile shaping her lips. “I might have a hard time giving it back at the end of all this.”