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“It’s moissanite. Lab-grown, but tests as real. No impurities in that.”
Heat climbed into her cheeks. Just feeling the band around her finger had her heart tripping in ways she never expected, and definitely not thanks to a fake fiancé.
She dropped her hand and gave a nonchalant shrug. “I’m glad you did your homework, I guess. But why do these people need to think we’re together?”
“Fewer people will fuck with you.”
“You mean you’ll scare them off.”
The hard set of his jaw told her she was right, even though she already knew it.
She looked around his broad shoulders and spotted the person she’d come here to see. “Oh! It’s Miles Morgan. I have to speak to him.”
Jace brushed his fingers over her arm. Leaning in, he rumbled, “Stay close to me.”
A small thrill hit her system, a wave that lifted and fell, leaving her feeling jittery and as though someone had cranked up the heat in the winery.
She nodded and they drifted over to the group of men and women surrounding Miles Morgan. He was the perfect match for her new software. The one person she would choose to help her distribute it to hospitals and research labs. He was her reason for wanting to attend the trade show in the first place.
Her original idea was to take the microphone, present her software and wait for Morgan to come to her. But since Jace shot down that plan, a closed group at a wine tasting was the next best thing.
Bronte wasn’t raised to worry about social strata, but she had to admit her nerves jangled at approaching the billionaire mogul. If he decided to partner with her, Artemis stocks would skyrocket.Everythingwas on the line.
Suddenly, the wine in her stomach churned, leaving her feeling sick. She stopped on the edge of the group and listened to their conversation. The topic was on solar technology. She hadn’t heard of Miles Morgan dabbling in solar, but the man seemed to have a finger in every pie in the industry.
To her pleasure—and horror—the man spotted her on the edge of the group and focused on her. “Miss Burns from Artemis. I’m glad to see you joined us.”
Nerves skittered through her body to settle in her stomach. She smiled and moved forward to shake his hand.
“So nice to finally meet you, Mr. Morgan.”
“Call me Miles.”
She smiled and nodded. “And you must call me Bronte.”
“Such an interesting name. One you don’t ever hear.”
“Thank you. I have very literary parents.”
At her side, Jace quietly cleared his throat. It took her a beat to realize he expected an introduction.
How was she going to do that?
He’d given her the answer—hadn’t he?—when he put that ring on her finger.
She swallowed. “Miles, this is Abel. My…fiancé.”
“Congratulations! I hadn’t heard the news. Word hasn’t spread about your engagement yet.”
The men shook hands. She saw Jace’s knuckles whiten briefly as he squeezed the CEO’s hand.
“It’s relatively new,” she hurried to break them apart.
“And a lovely ring too, I see.”
She quickly shifted to take the focus off the ring that left her feeling so conflicted.
Why, though? Because of how highhanded her bodyguard was?
