up, of course. ” Rock avoided my gaze as he twiddled with his napkin.
“ Papers? ” I wasn't going to make this easy on him.
“ Yeah. As in that this...isn't real. It will be for show if it does go through. We'll quietly dissolve it once everything blows over and I find out what I want to know. ”
“ Right. ” My voice was brittle. I swallowed back tears.
What a fool I am.
“ In fact, I'm going to announce that right now. Come with me. ” He took my arm, a current tingling between us.
Rock led me out on the dance floor. He had a word with the band that was playing, and the music ground to a halt as he stepped back to my side, sliding his arm around me.
That was a good thing because my legs were shaking.
“ I have another announcement to make. Some of you might have noticed that I was so enraptured with my beloved that I didn't slip a ring on her finger. ” Rock grinned, and everyone laughed softly.
Blood pounded in my ears.
What is he saying?
I hadn't even thought of a ring. I realized he hadn't either, or at least he had forgotten whatever he'd brought for me to wear.
Because this is a sham...
My face grew hot.
“ So, I want to do this again. ”
Rock knelt on one knee, holding my hand in his as he slipped a box out of his pocket. “ Lacey Pate, will you marry me a week from now in California? And will you wear my ring? ”
I nodded, unable to speak as he slipped a glittering platinum band on my finger. The diamond was so large, I had no idea what size it was.
“ Well? ” He winked at me.
“ Yes, of course. Yes. ”
Rock stood and kissed me then, his arms going around me. There was nothing fake about the way his lips claimed mine.
“ Huzzah! ” s omeone shouted, and everyone clapped.
“ Not the smoothest engagement twice over in the world, but it will do, I think. You'll all receive invitations here in Venice, but the wedding will be back in California a week from tonight. ”
I gasped for breath as the room seemed to close in on me.
“ Are you all right? ” Rock murmured in my ear, sending chills through me.
“ Yes. ”
“ You look...I don't know. Shocked. ” He smiled, lifting my chin as he gazed into my eyes.
“ That ring... ” I trailed off, not knowing what to say.
“ What man would screw up and not give a ring to the woman he'd asked to marry him? ” Rock whispered the words in my ear as he led me into a slow dance, every inch of his body pressed to mine.
“ I don't know. ”
“ Well, it certainly makes it look real. Doesn't it? Does the ring fit? ” He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing it and admiring the gems sparkling under the lights of the ballroom.
“ I think so. ” My hand was shaking. I couldn't get over the dazzle factor of this thing.
“ Good. I didn't see how your finger was bigger than a size five. ” He stroked my hand, and I closed my eyes, a wave of desire rushing through me. “Now, back to our public.”
“ Thank you all for being here and sharing our joy. Goodnight and party on...at least till four o’clock when the band leaves.” Rock laughed, and everyone cheered as they floated back onto the dance floor, surrounding us.
“ I want to go. I've had enough.” I pressed against him.
“ Me too. And we will. Very soon.”
I kissed him lightly on the lips, reveling in the illusion my life had become. “I hate to say it, but I have to pee really badly.”
He laughed. “Go then. Come right back. We have another hour and we can be out of here, I'd say...earlier than everyone else. But I think they'll understand.” Rock winked, and I let his hands go with some reluctance.
I strode out of the ballroom again, this time not at the frantic pace with which I'd fled earlier.
I wonder if Rock's plan is going to work, and if so, what does that mean?
My stomach twisted with anxiety.
The hallway looked empty, and I had to hunt for the restroom for a moment. It was tucked away down a side corridor.
Right before I reached it, a hand
“ Papers? ” I wasn't going to make this easy on him.
“ Yeah. As in that this...isn't real. It will be for show if it does go through. We'll quietly dissolve it once everything blows over and I find out what I want to know. ”
“ Right. ” My voice was brittle. I swallowed back tears.
What a fool I am.
“ In fact, I'm going to announce that right now. Come with me. ” He took my arm, a current tingling between us.
Rock led me out on the dance floor. He had a word with the band that was playing, and the music ground to a halt as he stepped back to my side, sliding his arm around me.
That was a good thing because my legs were shaking.
“ I have another announcement to make. Some of you might have noticed that I was so enraptured with my beloved that I didn't slip a ring on her finger. ” Rock grinned, and everyone laughed softly.
Blood pounded in my ears.
What is he saying?
I hadn't even thought of a ring. I realized he hadn't either, or at least he had forgotten whatever he'd brought for me to wear.
Because this is a sham...
My face grew hot.
“ So, I want to do this again. ”
Rock knelt on one knee, holding my hand in his as he slipped a box out of his pocket. “ Lacey Pate, will you marry me a week from now in California? And will you wear my ring? ”
I nodded, unable to speak as he slipped a glittering platinum band on my finger. The diamond was so large, I had no idea what size it was.
“ Well? ” He winked at me.
“ Yes, of course. Yes. ”
Rock stood and kissed me then, his arms going around me. There was nothing fake about the way his lips claimed mine.
“ Huzzah! ” s omeone shouted, and everyone clapped.
“ Not the smoothest engagement twice over in the world, but it will do, I think. You'll all receive invitations here in Venice, but the wedding will be back in California a week from tonight. ”
I gasped for breath as the room seemed to close in on me.
“ Are you all right? ” Rock murmured in my ear, sending chills through me.
“ Yes. ”
“ You look...I don't know. Shocked. ” He smiled, lifting my chin as he gazed into my eyes.
“ That ring... ” I trailed off, not knowing what to say.
“ What man would screw up and not give a ring to the woman he'd asked to marry him? ” Rock whispered the words in my ear as he led me into a slow dance, every inch of his body pressed to mine.
“ I don't know. ”
“ Well, it certainly makes it look real. Doesn't it? Does the ring fit? ” He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing it and admiring the gems sparkling under the lights of the ballroom.
“ I think so. ” My hand was shaking. I couldn't get over the dazzle factor of this thing.
“ Good. I didn't see how your finger was bigger than a size five. ” He stroked my hand, and I closed my eyes, a wave of desire rushing through me. “Now, back to our public.”
“ Thank you all for being here and sharing our joy. Goodnight and party on...at least till four o’clock when the band leaves.” Rock laughed, and everyone cheered as they floated back onto the dance floor, surrounding us.
“ I want to go. I've had enough.” I pressed against him.
“ Me too. And we will. Very soon.”
I kissed him lightly on the lips, reveling in the illusion my life had become. “I hate to say it, but I have to pee really badly.”
He laughed. “Go then. Come right back. We have another hour and we can be out of here, I'd say...earlier than everyone else. But I think they'll understand.” Rock winked, and I let his hands go with some reluctance.
I strode out of the ballroom again, this time not at the frantic pace with which I'd fled earlier.
I wonder if Rock's plan is going to work, and if so, what does that mean?
My stomach twisted with anxiety.
The hallway looked empty, and I had to hunt for the restroom for a moment. It was tucked away down a side corridor.
Right before I reached it, a hand
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