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Holy hell. He was engaged.
This isn’t real.
So why did it feel so important?
“It’s beautiful.” She smiled, her gaze landing on his once more.
A feeling of pride hit him unexpectedly, and he cleared his throat to push it away. “Good. You’ll be wearing it for a few years, so that’s good. Good.”
Blake ran his hand through his hair and took a step away, walking over to the kitchen.
Fuck, he felt all out of sorts.
Proposing to someone for the first time, which should be the only time, was a big deal. He’d underestimated the impact this moment would have on him.
Probably because he’d tried to do it the right way. Which, in hindsight, was the wrong way given their fake relationship. Now they were both standing in her apartment, emotional and engaged when it was nothing more than a business deal.
With benefits.
“Sorry, that was awkward. I should have just given it to you.” He shook his head and when he turned back, Blake found Bella staring down at the ring again.
Which was what women did. Right?
“Bella?” he asked.
She sniffed and nodded, keeping her face lowered. “No, it was fine. It’s nice. Thank you for taking care of that. I’ll reimburse you.”
The fuck?
Was she joking? It was an engagement fucking ring. You didn’t pay a guy back.
“Don’t offend me, Bella,” Blake said, walking back across the room angrily.
“It’ll come out of the trust. I’ll have it listed as an asset. Your asset. In the contract,” Bella said, drawing in a long breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Then her gaze lifted and rested on his, and she gave him her best fake fucking smile.
Ouch.
Except she was right. The ring was a product required to fulfill the business partnership. It was an asset.
What had he expected? For Bella to swoon and confess how much she wished this marriage was real. How wonderful it was to be marrying him.
“Fuck, okay.” Blake shook his head. “I’m sorry. This whole thing really is a mind fuck.”
“It is.” Bella let out a little chuckle, and he smiled at her.
God, she was beautiful.
It made him remember one fine point about all of this. He took a step closer and took her hips in his hands.
“This might be a fake engagement, but let me be clear, my attraction to you isn’t. Nor is the desire I feel rolling off you whenever I am near.”
“Is it that obvious?”
Very.
“Yes. Without slipping inside your panties.” Blake smirked. “Which is good. We need to make sure everyone believes us. So let’s show them our desire for one another. A clean version of it, at least.”
