Page 15 of Wolf Promise

Regie blushed. Her wealth came with great perks, like the apartment with a twenty-four-seven concierge and a killer view, but increasing her fortune had never been for her. At least not to spend on herself. She had to make up for her father's folly and honor and award her employee's hard work. The generous bonuses she paid them had her people working hard and staying with her for years. "I'm not used to wearing such ostentatious jewelry."

Bolt frowned. "If you don't like it, we can get you something else." He reached for the box. "Your dossier said you liked platinum."

Regie snatched the gorgeous ring away from his hand. "I do. I love the ring. I just..." She didn't know how to explain. "I just don't know how to handle a fake engagement."

"Maybe that's something we can learn together, Regina." His smile was gentle. "I'm new at this game too."

That word bothered her.

She didn't know how to play games.

She never had.

In her business life and in her limited personal life, she tried to be as honest and straightforward as possible. That made things so much easier because she didn't have to keep track of lies or half-truths. Somehow, knowing fake engagements weren't standard procedure for him made her feel better, though. "Well, the first thing you should know is that everyone who works with me, and my friends, call me Regie."

He frowned. "Your background file says I should call you Regina."

"That's probably because my grandfather helped prepare that file, but he's the only one who calls me my actual name. As a little girl, I told him I hated nicknames, so he’s always called me by my proper name." She slid the ring onto her finger and held it out in front of her, letting it sparkle in the sunrays shining through the window. "He does have good taste in jewelry, though."The ring looked like made to rest on her finger. She never wanted to take it off, which would eventually be a problem, but for once, she decided to worry about that later.

“Um,” Bolt cleared his throat. “The file only said you liked platinum. I picked out the design.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know what to say. He’d picked the perfect ring, something she would have chosen for herself. The silence stretched between them.

“And do you still hate nicknames?” Bolt finally asked, a glint of mischievousness in his eye. “Because I think we need terms of endearment for each other. Isn’t that what couples do?”

She hesitated, not knowing what to do with this new playful side of him. “I think ‘Regie’ will be just fine.” No need to tell him that she didn’t have much experience being in a couple. She’d had boyfriends before, but usually, the relationships fizzled out after a few months. Either because the man thought she worked too much or wouldn’t get emotionally close. Both of those things were usually true from their perspective. But she’d always discussed with them upfront how much she worked and how much she could afford to share. Why men always thought she’d change once they were in a relationship baffled her.

He shook his head. “No, if that’s what everyone else calls you, I’m going to call you ‘Babe.’”

She groaned. “That sounds way too condescending and objectified. Pick another one.”

“Nope. Since I’m not intellectually your equal, that’s the best I can do.” He grinned at her.

“I knew Grandfather’s words would come back and bite me.”

Bolt laughed again, the sound starting as a deep rumble in his chest before cascading out and filling the room. The sound made her happy, and she couldn't help but join in.

That caused a major danger alert in her mind.

This man, this fake fiancé, had her emotions going up and down like on a rollercoaster.

She didn’t like rollercoasters.

Especially not one with hills and valleys as steep as this one.

Regie felt unprepared to spend more time with him. At least not right now. She needed some more time to distract herself with work before she had to spend another night under the same roof as him. “Although Payel said I had time for lunch, I actually don’t. I have so much email and other stuff to catch up on.”

Bolt’s raised eyebrow showed he noticed her stalling tactics. “Unfortunately, you don’t have a choice this time. Think of our meal as part of building our cover story.”

“What do you mean?” Surely, she didn’t have to eat lunch with the man every day for people to believe they were a couple. She definitely didn’t have time for that.

“We’re having lunch with two other people from Heimdall Shield. The story is that they are our friends in common who introduced us.”

Great. Now she had fake friends as well as her fake fiancé.

This drama turned more complicated by the hour, and Regie had never been any good at acting.

CHAPTER 8

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