Page 366 of The Christmas Wife

"You said you have a surprise?"

I hold out my hand, palm face-up. She looks at it warily.

"I promise, I won’t bite."Yet.

She places her left palm in mine with reluctance. I slide my other hand into my pocket, pull out a ring, and slide it onto her ring finger.

"Oh, my god, is that… Is that a?—"

"Engagement ring."

She swallows, then slowly raises her hand. She tilts it this way and that. The light from the window bounces off the sapphire in the center. The diamonds surrounding it reflect the blue. Together they deepen the color of her eyes into a shade you’d only find in the depths of the Mediterranean.

"It’s gorgeous." Her chest rises and falls. "And it fits."

"Of course, it does."

She looks up at me. "How did you know my size?"

"You are mine. I know everything about you."

The skin at the corners of her eyes crinkles. She scrutinizes my features like she’s trying to solve a puzzle, then her forehead smoothens. "It’s because you need to convince your family our marriage is real."

It’s because I have this compelling need to know everything about you. What makes you smile; what makes you laugh? What makes you worried or scared? What you like; what you hate? Why you always manage to bring the sunshine with you wherever you go?"Can’t slip up. This is my one chance to make sure my grandfather confirms me as the CEO of the company."

"Is that so important to you?"

"Is that a question?"

She opens, then shuts her mouth. "Money isn’t everything. Nor power. There’s more to life than just trying to build your business empire."

"Been there, done that. All there is to life is money and power. It’s what allows you to control your future."

"You don’t believe that."

I incline my head.

She searches my features, then lowers her hand to her side. "Just because you had your heart broken once?—"

"That is not up for discussion," I growl.

Hurt flares in her eyes.

My heart stutters. I’m unable to guard myself against her responses. I want to draw her close and tell her everything, and then what? I’ll never break my vow to not allow anyone else in my life again. It’s not right to give her false hope when I intend to always keep that emotional distance between us. I firm my lips.

She takes in the expression on my face, then squares her shoulders. "I am going to be your wife?—"

"Fake wife."

"But real in front of everyone else."

"What’s your point?"

"I need to know enough about you so I can ensure no one, especially your family, can question our relationship." She thrusts out her lower lip in that expression I’m coming to recognize as stubbornness, and damn, if that doesn’t make me want to close my mouth over hers, dig my teeth into her lower lip and?—

I clamp down on my errant thoughts. "You’re right."

"I am?"

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