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There’s never going to be safe time in my life.
“You’re safe because I won’t allow anything to happen to you, Billie. I thought I could easily forget you, but I was wrong.” I grab my plate and hers and bring them to the sink, dropping them in. I grab a mug from the cabinet and pour a cup of hot coffee for her.
“You didn’t forget me.” She leans back in her chair. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ve waited long enough to stop wanting you.” I put her coffee down in front of her then grab the sugar bowl and a spoon along with the creamer from the fridge. After placing all of it on the table for her, I pull out a small black satin box from my pocket and put it on the table in front of her.
“What’s that?” She points to the jewelry box.
“Your engagement ring. My mother’s engagement ring, but it’s yours now.” I go back to the coffeemaker, needing a strong cup this morning.
“I can’t… my gosh, it’s beautiful.” She stares at the ruby set inside a circle of diamonds. “You shouldn’t give this to me.”
“You’ll wear it.” I bring my coffee to the table and move to the seat right beside her. “We told Yefim that it was at the jeweler to be fixed. Try it on to see if it needs to be sized.”
“Can’t we just use an old ring, or a fake one?” Her fingertip brushes over the ruby, carefully, as though her touch could hurt it.
“You think I’d let you wear a piece of garbage on your finger?” I pull the ring from the box and gently grab her hand. “No. Mymalyshkawears my family ring.” I slide it over her knuckle, settling it on her finger. It’s the perfect fit.
She brings her gaze up from the ruby to my eyes.
“It’s too much.” Her protest comes on a whisper.
“No, Billie, it’s exactly right.” I kiss her palm. “Now be a good girl and give Daddy a kiss before I take you home.”
The little blush blossoms on her cheeks again but she doesn’t fight me. She leans over and kisses me on my lips. A sweet kiss that quickly turns deeper. She nips at my lower lip, and I glide my hand around her neck, not letting her go until I’ve gotten my fill of her—for the moment.
Something I’m not sure will ever happen long term.
“Thank you for the clothes,” she says when I release her. “It definitely makes the walk of shame easier.” She smiles.
I shake my head. “No shame, Billie, not between us. Not ever.” I kiss her once more than get to my feet. I have to get across town to meet with Maxim, and if I don’t take her home now, I might not do it at all.
“I’ll get my purse,” she says as she gets up from the table.
When I’m alone in the kitchen again, I contemplate not letting her go at all. Maybe I should just keep her here with me. Why let her have the pretense that the ring she has on her finger means anything less than what it does?
Billie is mine.
Forever.
Billie
Hanna gaspson the other end of the phone after I finish telling her what happened on Friday night.
“I’m not telling you again.” I reach up and pull the bell for the bus driver to know I’m getting off at the next stop. “Go on, have a good laugh.”
“I’m not laughing at all, Billie.” Fake engagement to Roman Romanov? It’s so insane, how can it not be hilarious?
I move to the front of the bus and onto the sidewalk. “I thought you’d find this hilarious.”
“This is Roman, Billie. He wouldn’t just pretend to be engaged. If he put that ring on your finger, and he admitted to other people that he’s engaged to you… well…” She scoffs. “Then you’re engaged to Roman Romanov.”
I step off the curb to maneuver around a puddle, then step back up to the sidewalk. The rain over the weekend has left puddles after melting the snow. I wish the weather would make up its mind. Is it winter or not?
“You’re not getting it.Isaid that we were engaged. The whole thing is just a mess, and all my fault. Once he finishes whatever business he has with these people, it will blow over. We’ll break up.” I turn the corner and head toward Roman’s property, where I’m going to be working today. There’s still a few staffing issues and maintenance schedules that I need to finalize.
“Break up with Roman? You’re fooling yourself.”
