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A grin blooms on her face, and her cheeks redden ever so slightly. “Okay, then.”
“Okay, then,” I echo. Then I think of something. “Shouldn’t you have like, I don’t know. A ring or something?”
“Ooo, good point.” She holds up her hand and flips it so I can see the ring she wears on her right ring finger. It’s simple—white gold with a large circular diamond and nothing else. “Will this work? It was my grandmother’s.”
“Seems like it would.”
“Great.” She slips it off her right hand and hands it to me. “Want to do the honors?”
No, absolutely not. “That’s all right. You can.”
Shrugging, she pushes the ring onto her left ring finger. “Voila! We’re official.”
“Great.” I draw out the word. My stomach chooses that moment to rumble. Good. I need a distraction from staring at her hand, with that ring … and what it supposedly symbolizes. “Don’t suppose you’ve had lunch yet?”
“I haven’t. Let’s go to The Green Robin where Lucy works. There’s a bacon cheeseburger on the menu that I’ve been eyeing.”
Have I mentioned how attractive I think it is when a woman has a healthy appetite? “Sounds fabulous.”
“And then after that, maybe we can visit some of the wedding places to get the planning started. Hopefully find a venue. That kind of thing.” The distracted look is back on her face. She’s even twirling a piece of her hair around her forefinger. Chloe’s in planning mode, and it’s a brilliant sight to behold. “Yes, lots to do.” Now she’s talking to herself, a trait I find completely adorable.
“Let’s get to it, then.” After all, her schedule is my schedule and I follow where she leads.
For better … or for worse.
five
CHLOE
It’s only been mere minutes, and I’m already questioning what I’ve gotten myself into.
As we walk the busy boardwalk toward The Green Robin, I peek at Frederick. He’s scanning the landscape, this way and that—probably assessing for threats, just like his training dictates. The initial confusion over what’s happening has apparently worn off, and he’s back in full bodyguard mode.
My heart aches just watching him.
I was so focused on Topher and Lauren’s day, on having the perfect “disguise” by pretending to be the bride, but I forgot to factor in one little thing when I went along with Lucy’s misunderstanding and concocted this harebrained idea.
How hard it would be to pretend to be engaged to the man I love—when he has no idea I love him.
Yeah, if you haven’t guessed yet, I’m completely mad for the guy. Have been since the moment he found me oh-so-gracefully hurling into a rose bush in my slinky dress and heels after yet another party and, instead of scolding me as my brother might have, simply helped me to my room.
Sure, I’d thought him handsome all my life, back when he was just Mr. Shaw’s son who I’d see at the annual Christmas ball, or even Topher’s royal army buddy when they were back during leave. But being five years older, Frederick never looked at me as more than a little girl playing dress-up.
So I kept my crush a crush, directing my attention toward guys my own age who didn’t deserve said attention, but who were more than willing to see me as a woman. Guys like Troy.
But that night in the garden, Frederick didn’t just see Kentonia’s “partying princess.” He sawme, and what he said changed my life. Changed how I felt about him too. Infatuation turned to love.
And he doesn’t even know it.
Can’t ever know it, either. Because it was the spark in the powder keg that led to my greatest mistake—falling for a man I can never have.
Thankfully, the next week and a half are all about pretending. I grit my teeth. Yes, we can do this. We have to do this. For Topher and Lauren.
We’ve arrived at the restaurant and Frederick opens the door, peeks around inside. “All clear.”
Oh, boy. This might be more difficult than I imagined. Because what I need right now is a fiancé, not a bodyguard. “Thanks, Muscles,” I tease with eyebrows raised. Maybe he needs a reminder of what we’re doing here.
His tight jaw flexes and he’s silent as I sigh and turn to the hostess, a young twenty-something who’s sitting on a stool behind the greeting podium and staring at her phone. It takes Frederick clearing his throat for her to look up, and when she sees him, she does a double take.
