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“Too late.” When his gaze narrowed in on her, Gaia added, “No one said it was supposed to be a secret. You’re going to ask her, aren’t you?”
He sighed. “Not with you standing here.”
Gaia’s face lit up with excitement. “Oh. Okay. I’m out of here.” She let out a squeal of delight. “This is so exciting. Yaya is going to be so happy.”
He pressed his hands to his sides and gave his cousin his most intimidating glare.
“Okay. Okay. I’m going.” She gave him a brief hug. “Good luck.”
Once Gaia was gone, he glanced around to make sure no other family members were lurking about. The coast was clear.
He returned to Stasia. “Sorry about that.”
“What has your cousin so excited? Or was she celebrating her nuptials early?” Stasia hand signaled that Gaia might have been drinking too much champagne.
Roberto shook his head. The time had come. He withdrew the ring box from his pocket and held it out to her. Stasia didn’t move as she stared wide-eyed at the box.
“My grandmother gave it to me for you.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “And now everyone in my family thinks we’re getting married.”
“Married?”
He nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. “I think they all have wedding fever because of Gaia.”
Stasia’s astonishment reflected in her eyes.
He opened the box for her to see the ring.
“It’s gorgeous,” she said.
“You can put it on.” When she cast him a questioning glance, he said, “They already think we’re engaged. You should have a ring.”
He withdrew the ring from the cushion of black velvet. “May I?”
She lifted her hand. As he slipped the ring on her finger, he noticed her slight tremble. It fit as though it had been made for her. They both stared at the diamond as it sparkled in the last rays of the setting sun.
“Roberto, what are we doing?”
The earlier happiness and fun had been replaced with tension and uneasiness. “It’s only for a few more days.”
Her gaze searched his. “I never thought it’d go this far.”
“Neither did I. But I don’t want to cause a scandal with it being Gaia’s wedding. But it’s up to you. We can end this here and now.”
“I... I need time to think.”
“Of course.”
She walked away and his gaze followed her. He understood how much he was asking of her. After all, she hadn’t signed on for a surprise engagement.
* * *
Had that really happened?
Stasia replayed the events of the day as she made her way back to her cabin. She was constantly checking that the heirloom ring was still on her finger.
Roberto had no business giving her something so precious. He should have saved it for the woman he truly loved. And then she realized there was nothing stopping him from doing just that once their charade was over.
Her gaze moved to the ring. This ring was absolutely stunning. The white-gold band had a unique and delicate design. A couple dozen diamonds surrounded a large square-cut diamond. It was fit for royalty—or the woman Roberto truly loved.
The thought of another woman wearing this ring gave her an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She quickly dismissed the troubling thought.
Once she stepped inside her cabin, she leaned back against the closed door. She closed her eyes and expelled an uneven breath. What was she doing?
Her mind replayed scenes from the day. There were images of Roberto smiling at her and holding her hand. Stasia’s heart raced. And then there was the kiss—the very stirring kiss.
Her eyes sprang open, vanishing the thoughts. Instead her attention moved to the diamond ring. It was dazzling. Its setting was so feminine and delicate. It was the type of ring she could imagine being worn by a princess.
But it didn’t belong on her finger.
She slipped it off and moved to the bedside table. She gently placed it next to the lamp. Then she sank down on the edge of the bed.
The last rings she’d worn had been the ones Lukos had given her. Her heart squeezed with the familiar pain of loss. What would he think of the mess she’d gotten herself into?
He had been a lighthearted guy. There wasn’t much that got to him. That was one of the things she’d loved about him. Would he understand about this? Would he insist on fixing it for her as he’d done for her time and time again? Or would he shake his head and ask what she’d been thinking?
