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Yeah. It’s bad.
It’s really bad.
And now? Well, and now I have to spend the next few weeks in Malta pretending to be her husband, and not exercise any of the rights that go with that.
I adjust the overhead vent. “I’m turning the air off. You’re shivering.”
“Oh, thanks.”
Back in my seat, my gaze seeks out hers and I say, “Seems you need to work on not reacting, too.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You damn near jumped out of your shoes when you thought I was about to touch you, Peyton.”
Her green eyes are stormy, like the warm Mediterranean Sea stirred up during a squall. “You took me by surprise is all,” she says, throwing my words back at me. But we’re both smart enough to know what’s going on here.
I grin. “Yeah, okay.”
“You say that like you don’t believe me,” she shoots back, and weariness fills my bones. I’m done bickering and answering questions. I reach into my pocket and pull out a small velvet box. Her eyes widen and her hand goes to her chest.
“What...what is that?”
I open the box and present a ring. She gasps, her startled gaze flying to mine. “Roman?”
“This is why I was late last night. I was having issues getting this from my safety deposit box. There was some kind of mix-up.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t understand.”
“What’s not to understand? If we’re going to pretend we’re married, we have to cover all bases. Presenting you with my grandmother’s ring is the first base.”
Don’t think of first base, Roman.
I’m thinking of first base.
My gaze drops, my mind back on her lush breasts.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” I respond with a grin, wanting to lighten things up a bit. She frowns, and I don’t miss the way she inches back. “What?”
“I don’t want to wear your grandmother’s ring.”
I nod, a measure of disappointment gathering in my gut. For some reason, I thought Peyton might have reacted differently than my ex, that she’d respect and appreciate tradition. “It’s a family custom... I just thought.” She closes her hand over mine just as I’m about to snap the box shut.
“You don’t understand, Roman. It’s weird for me to wear the ring you gave your ex. I don’t feel right about it.”
My throat thickens and I give a humorless laugh. “It wasn’t on her finger very long, Peyton. She said it was old and not her style. She wanted something newer, something shinier.”
Her eyes widen. “Was she out of her mind?”
I actually think I was the one who was out of his mind for getting swept up in the proposal, for allowing my family to make decisions for me. I’ll never allow that to happen again.
I take the ring from the box and hold it out to her. She lets me slip it on her finger, and for the briefest of seconds this feels all too real. I’d be wise to remember it’s not, and she’s completely off-limits.
“I’m committed to this, Peyton. You will be teaching children English,” I say. “The full-time position is as good as yours. I promise, and I never break my promises.”
“No, you just go around breaking hearts,” she mumbles so low under her breath I’m not sure I heard her correctly.
