Except Miles.
I’m still thinking about it when Story lets out a loud yawn. “Okay, everyone, I think it’s time to head out. Max needs to go to bed, and so do I. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“We do.” Miles turns to me. “C’mon, future wife, can’t have you being late to the altar.”
I twist my whole body toward him, one eyebrow raised. “After tomorrow, what are you going to call me?”
He shrugs, and the corner of his mouth quivers. “Wife?”
“I don’t think so.”
“We’ll work on it. Now”—he stands and holds his hand out to me, while Hendricks signs the check—“come with me.”
Leading me outside, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box.
“As we’re getting married, you need a ring.” He nods toward the box, gesturing for me to open it.
Inside is the biggest stone I’ve ever seen. A pink one. And the first thing I think is, has he been walking around with this in his pocket all night?
“It’s a ruby.”
I tear my gaze away from the box to look at Miles. He’s staring at me like a little boy desperate to please and be told he’s done something good, and it’s heart-aching.
“A ruby for Ruby. I don’t normally like them, but this is pale pink, and I thought it was pretty, plus the shop assistant told me it was rare. I thought it suited you.” He gently eases the box from my hand and removes the ring.
I barely breathe as he lifts my left hand and slides it down my fourth finger. Except it gets stuck on my knuckle, as the afternoon of drinking and carrying shopping bags has swollen my fingers ever so slightly.
Before I can stop him, Miles slips my finger into his mouth.
A million thoughts run through my brain, and not one is appropriate. My finger’s encased in wet warmth, the sensation of him circling his tongue over the knuckle has my heart pounding in my chest and thighs clamping together. Adrenaline rushes through me until it takes all my concentration and energy to hold in the tremors.
I can’t take my eyes away, and when he slides his mouth off with a soft pop, the ring is sitting prettily and sparkling far too innocently.
“Husbandly enough for you?” He winks.
His words are a cold shower on my libido.
Shit, he’s good. I almost forgot this was an act.
In fact, this ring was probably forty bucks at Target. Ihopethis ring was forty bucks at Target.
But deep down, I know that Miles Burlington doesn’t do fake, which is what makes his acting all the more impressive.
I just pray my skills are up to the same level.
CHAPTER 7
Miles
“Ijust realized something.”
I finish rolling my sleeves and find Hendricks’s reflection in the mirror. He’s lounging on the bed, arms behind his head as he keeps me company. I’m transported back to when we were growing up in Burlington, and he used to do the same thing while I got ready for one polo tournament or another.
His presence calmed any nerves zipping around my belly. They still do, though Hendricks is rarely around in the same capacity. These days, he meets me on the sidelines or watches from the stands where he continues to be my biggest fan. I’ve learned to deal with the nerves differently, and usually with the help of a groom or two.
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“You”—he grins wide—“are the first of us to get married.”
