Page 60 of Bride Under Contract

She was like no one he’d met.

And the clinical proposal was a little nicer than he’d intended, what with the candles putting themselves to bed around them, fizzing out one by one, and her chest still flushed from orgasm and her soft, naked breasts a diversion for him as she stared at the selection.

‘Choose one.’

‘We haven’t even spoken to the lawyer.’

‘The marriage application is in; you need a ring.’

It wasn’t just that. The meeting with the lawyer could very well end them, Carter knew.

Grace was proud, and he wanted her to have something. Something she could sell. And this was the best he could come up with.

He flicked on the lights, hoping that would help. But now he could see the pucker of her areolae, so he moved his gaze up and saw that plump mouth.

‘What one would you choose?’ She met his eyes then. ‘After all, I’ll be returning it to you in twelve months.’

‘You get to keep it.’

‘Why?’

‘Gifts,’ he said. ‘Jonathon will explain.’’

He watched her fingers hover over the diamonds, the rubies, as the lights caught the precious gems and they sparkled beguilingly. And then he watched her pause over a magnificent teardrop emerald. It was beautiful, yes—stunningly so. But if she was thinking of her future...

‘The diamond next to it is exceptional.’ He pointed to it, several carats worth, and the one she was supposed to select. The one every other bride marrying for money would swoop on like a magpie.

‘It’s too big,’ Grace said, then frowned, because of course the emerald was even bigger, yet just so gorgeous. ‘Anyway, we’re not for ever,’ she said.

And, selection made, she took out the emerald ring, looking at the beautiful stone set in white gold, and felt as if she’d been struck in the throat.

She had never thought that selecting a ring for a fake engagement would cause her heart to implode—that she might have to keep her head down so he wouldn’t see the tears that filled her eyes as she examined it.

‘It’s beautiful.’

Her voice was a tremble as she looked at the stone, at the flashes of yellow and green, like tiny fireflies, and for a second, she was transported back to a time when all she had wanted was one night. Deep in the jungle she’d felt on the edge of for ever, utterly alone with him and without agenda.

‘I love it.’ She told him the truth. ‘I’ll want to keep it for ever.’

‘Don’t get romantic,’ he told her.

‘No, but I’m allowed to adore it.’

‘Grace, you’re going to sell it. For now, though, if it’s too big it can be resized,’ he said, taking her hand.

He looked at the gorgeous ring, slipping a little on her slender finger, and he felt something deep inside. What he felt, he didn’t quite know—but it was unwelcome.

Was it the painful thaw of black ice cracking?

It wasn’t desire, yet it was laced with it...

He did not want to care.

Not too much.

He snapped the box closed. ‘If you change your mind, they’re not going back till tomorrow.’

‘I shan’t change my mind.’

---