AllFreeNovel
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I scoff.
Violet’s eyes dance with mischief. “Unfortunately, I only do nude portraits. But if that’s something you’re up for, Gage...?”
The idea of being naked in front of Violet goes straight to my dick. I fumble for a thought that doesn’t have anything to do with being naked, or Violet, or being naked with a thought.
“Okay,” Tom interrupts. “Dinner time.Now.”
“Yes. That.” I usher the other men out in front of me before turning back to point a finger at Violet. “Behave. And put some clothes on.”
She fiddles with the button on my suit jacket. “I don’t know. This is kind of growing on me.”
I back out of the apartment before she can do anything else to destroy my sanity.
* * *
Traffic’s shit,so we decide to walk the handful of blocks to our favorite pub.
Jaylen’s regaling us with some near disaster at work when we pass a high-end jewelry store. I’m immediately distracted by a ring in the window. I’ve been looking for rings for Violet online, but it’s not the same as seeing them in person.
I glance at the hours posted on the shop door and see it closes in half an hour.
“Hey, I’ll meet you at the restaurant,” I interrupt. “I need to pop in here for a bit.”
Jaylen groans. “Gage, you donotneed another watch.”
“He’s not shopping for watches,” Tom says. “He’s shopping for a fake engagement ring. Right?”
My silence is all the confirmation they need.
“Just go on ahead,” I repeat. “I’ll catch up.”
Tom sighs heavily. “For the record, I think this fake engagement is a terrible idea. You and Violet are both using each other, and I’m annoyed at both of you. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you buy an engagement ring by yourself. You have terrible taste.”
“Hey,” I say, indignantly. “Violet liked the necklace I got her.”
“Violet has terrible taste too,” Tom says.
“You bought a fake girlfriend real jewelry?” Jaylen asks, confused.
I open my mouth to explain the whole secret-courting thing, but somehow I don’t think either of them would understand. If my friends knew how many hours I’d spent this week thinking about how to make Violet feel treasured and seduced, they might get the wrong idea.
“Look, are you helping me or not?” I ask, feeling annoyed.
Jaylen and Tom look at each other. And then in unison they say, “Helping” and head into the jewelry shop.
I trail after them, exasperated.
“How can I help you gentlemen?” a perky saleswoman asks.
Jaylen jerks his thumb at me. “He needs an engagement ring.”
“Excellent,” the woman beams. “Would you like something that comes with a matching wedding band?”
“No,” Tom says. “They’re not actually getting married. Just engaged.”
“Okay,” the saleswoman says, looking deeply confused.
“Do you work on commission? Because if you do, you should sell him the most expensive ring you have,” Jaylen says. “Take him for all he’s worth. He’s a billionaire. He can afford it.”
