I stare at it in shock, opening and closing my mouth like a fish, trying to figure out the words to describe how I’m feeling, but all sense of the English language has floated from my brain.
Rather than speak, I turn to Luciano, completely flabbergasted.
I want to cry with what I know will be happy tears that bleed into devastation. I want to squeal with excitement before screaming in rage.
And through it all, I wonder why the hell he actually purchased a ring for me.
As though he has a hidden talent as a mind reader, he shrugs. “You told Moreno your ring was being resized, and that was what, two weeks ago? You can’t show up in Spain without a ring, so I bought one.”
“But it’s everything I’ve always dreamed of,” I manage, and instantly regret my words. He didn’t need to know that I’m holding my literal dream engagement ring.
Then, as my heart catches up with my brain, a sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach.
Luciano bought my dream engagement ring for a fake engagement. This is all for show, and when it’s over, I’ll have to give it back.
I’ll never receive my dream ring from a man I love—a man who will be my husband.
Luciano just ruined it for me.
“I—”
“Typically,” he cuts me off. “This is the part where one person gets on their knee, and the other says yes, but considering it isn’t really up for negotiation, I think the appropriate thing to do now would be to put the ring on, Raina.”
The frigid tone of his voice forces a fresh new wave of tears to the brim of my lashes, and I quickly look back down at the stunning piece of jewelry cradled in my hand.
He resumes his typing, and I can’t help but feel utterly devastated that he’s given me this. Gritting my teeth, I force myself to combat the tears that are threatening to fall.
“How did you know?” I ask in a whisper, still admiring the ring with sadness plaguing my heart.
“Know what?”
“Everything. My size. My style.”The exact ring I’ve had picked out for years as the one I’d want if I ever found the love of my life.
“Call it a lucky guess.”
The rest of the flight is silent, and I stare out the window, clutching the engagement ring as though it's my lifeline. I don’t reach for him when the plane starts to descend, even though I’m absolutely terrified and am screaming on the inside, begging for death because it would be faster than the potential fiery crash at the bottom if the wheels malfunction.
Why would I lean on him for support? I’ve already made a fool out of myself at takeoff. No need to repeat the mortification.
As the plane rolls into the gate, I can breathe again.
Slipping the ring onto my finger, I carefully place the box in my carry-on before rolling up my blanket into a little burrito to fit in my bag, not even pausing to admire the sparkling piece of artwork on my finger. When I’ve finished packing up my things, I give the luggage to Luciano as he waits with his hand outstretched.
Then I try to get into the mental headspace of pretending to be the future Mrs. Paladino for the next seventy-two hours.
At least while Javier is around.
Luciano pushes open the door of our suite at the Four Seasons Madrid and gestures for me to walk in first. The room is spacious, and I immediately gravitate to the window, looking out at the incredible view of the city.
Behind us, the bellboy enters with our luggage on a shiny gold cart and begins to unload it. Luciano hands him a folded bill before he leaves, taking the cart with him.
“At least Moreno sprung for a decent room,” he says as his eyes sweep over the space we’ll be sharing for the next three nights. “One bed though.”
“He thinks we’re engaged.”
“Should have asked the front desk for two,” Luciano mutters, glancing at me with an irritated expression as he picks up his small suitcase.
He’s infuriating.
