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“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served if you would like to follow me into the dining room.”
Maybe Barrett was right. I could get a lot worse than Francesca. I watched her sashay her hips in an over-the-top seductive way that pulled my gaze. She was trying very hard to get my attention, and I feared that turning her down at the charity ball had turned her attempts up a notch.
Lourde was busy chatting with Francesca throughout the entrée of lobster thermidor. It appeared they were fond of each other, but then again, Lourde could make friends with an inmate on death row. Even if she didn’t like someone, she’d make them feel welcome and at ease. That was our upbringing and the Diamond charm.
By the time dessert had rolled around, Francesca was growing impatient with me and my ear-splitting avoidance tactics.
“So, should we talk about our living arrangements now the announcement is out?”
“Sure. I’m living on my own. You can have the house they’re gifting us.”
“What?” She dashed her hand off the table.
“Till we’re married,” I clarified.
“But what about now?”
“Now, I need to focus on running the Diamond empire. You understand that, don’t you, Francesca?”
“I guess.” She sighed. “Maybe we can have a brief engagement?”
“We will fit in with Lourde’s plans. I don’t want to take away from their wedding preparations. Lourde’s dreamed of this day forever.”
“And so have I!” Francesca let out a huff, scissoring her leg on top of the other.
“Really?”
“Yes, is that so hard to believe?”
“I just thought that because you knew we had an arrangement, the excitement wouldn’t be there.”
“Like it is for you?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Exactly,” I said, taking another sip of my whiskey.
“We’re good together,” she purred, her hand on my leg discreetly under the table.
I closed my eyes for a minute.
Pepper’s eyes stared back at me.
I shook it away.
“Connor? Are you okay?”
“Perfect,” I said, struggling with her touch on my thigh.
Gretchen appeared with a tray of diamond rings and brought it around, placing it in front of her. Francesca removed her hand and clapped together in glee. Instantly, I felt at ease knowing her hands weren’t touching me.
She let out a yelp. “Momma, look!” Her eyes were as wide as the rocks in front of her.
Mom nodded in my direction, and I mouthed, “Thank you.”
A ring.Jesus, that definitely made it official.
“Oh, Connor, thank you!” she squealed, trying on one after another.
“Sure.”
