Page 34 of Baby Perfection

“Why don’t you get him ready to go outside while I shower? I’d like to swing by my house and change, pick up some clothes to stash over here before we shop for an engagement ring.” She waggled her left hand at him. “You do remember you weregoing to stick a rock on my finger, don’t you? And it better be an impressive one. I have a reputation to uphold as Mrs. Lucius Devlin. Because, apparently, not only do I pity you, I’m greedy as hell.”

With that, she turned on her heel and presented him with her pert backside showcased by his sagging, oversize sweat shorts. He couldn’t help grinning. “She gets high marks for the exit line,” he informed Mikey. “Afraid we’ll have to deduct points for the shorts, though if she twitched those hips any more she wouldn’t have a pair of shorts to worry about.”

Then it occurred to him that she hadn’t answered his question, which caused him to wonder. Damn it all, whyhadAngie Colter agreed to marry him?

The day sped by. After filling the trunk of his BMW with Angie’s possessions, they returned to Seattle’s jewelry district to shop for a ring. After the fifth store and an odd reluctance on Angie’s part to settle on one, he tugged her into his arms with a growl of exasperation.

“Try showing more greed and less pity,” he ordered, drawing her up for a swift, thorough kiss.

She gave herself up to the unexpected embrace without the least hesitation or reticence. He couldn’t explain it. How had they gone from a polite working relationship to one so sexually charged that even in the middle of a busy Seattle sidewalk he couldn’t keep his hands off her? It didn’t make the least sense. He was marrying her for Mikey’s sake. Because she was the perfect, most logical choice for a temporary mate. She was intelligent. Gorgeous. Sensible. Sexy as hell. And he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any other woman.

The intensity of his feelings were dangerous, he acknowledged, and he’d better find a way of throttling back—and fast—or he’d find himself in deep, deep water with no land in sight. He deliberately released her and stepped back. She continued to stand with her eyes closed, swaying for a moment before her lashes fluttered and she looked at him, dazed. It was almost too much to resist. Almost.

“What was that for?” she asked, pressing her fingertips to her swollen mouth.

He had no idea. None. “A reminder,” he improvised.

“Okay. Um… What was I supposed to remember again?”

“To pick a damn ring. Make it snappy, Colter. You’ve always been a reasonable, decisive woman. What is it about an engagement ring that’s had you go all…all female on me?”

She lifted an eyebrow, the passion draining from her eyes, replaced with a crisp, cool look of displeasure. “Iamfemale, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Oh, I noticed,” he murmured. That was the problem. He spent entirely too much time noticing.

Her eyes only narrowed, the comment not helping his cause any. “When I see the ring I like, trust me, Lucius Devlin. Your credit card will go from subzero to blazing hot in one fast swipe.”

If she hadn’t opened the door to the next jewelry store, and stalked inside, he’d probably have kissed her again. He didn’t know another human being alive who faced him down with such ease and with such a wicked edge to her tongue. Who would have guessed he’d appreciate that particular quality in a woman? Lisa had always attempted to get her way through wiles. Other women through sex. Still others, with tears. But not Angie. He always knew right where he stood with her. Unfortunately, right now he stood square in the middle of the proverbial doghouse.

He jostled Mikey’s stroller through the door and lifted an eyebrow. Did she realize she’d just walked into the Seattle branch of Dantes? He doubted she had any idea what a Dantes original wedding ring cost or she’d have walked by. Hell, she’d have sprinted past. He found her examining a display case, a salesman standing at a discreet distance, ready to assist if needed.

“See anything you like?”

“I’m looking,” she said, the words having enough bite that the salesman’s eyes widened.

Lucius attempted to look suitably henpecked. “Yes, dear,” he murmured. “I’ll just take care of the baby while you make up your mind.”

Her head jerked up at that and she swiveled, spearing him with a look. Then her anger dissolved and she burst out laughing, utterly confusing the clerk. “See that you do,” she ordered with impressive arrogance, falling into the character she’d been assigned. She switched her attention to the display case and pointed. “I’d like to see this one, please.”

Lucius came up beside her. “Don’t be so polite,” he whispered in her ear. “You’ll spoil his image of you.”

She turned her head, her lips zeroing in on the side of his face in response. Time slowed and he heard the soft give and take of her breath. Inhaled the light fragrance that was so uniquely hers. Felt the faintest brush of her smooth, silken cheek against his more abrasive one. She said something in return. Something that took forever to slip from ear to brain for analysis and interpretation.

“Right back at you, ace. Henpecked husbands-to-be are required to stand a full pace behind their Bridezillas.”

She looked at the ring the salesman removed from the locked display and shook her head. “Close, but not quite what I’m looking for,” she confessed. “I don’t suppose you have any more by this designer?”

Lucius took a quick look at the ring. Beautiful, of course, considering it was one of Dantes, but definitely not right for Angie. Time to drop the subservient act. He removed a business card and handed it to the salesman. “We’d like to see what you have in the Dantes Exclusive line,” Lucius instructed crisply.

The salesman took his card, glanced at the name and stiffened. “Yes, sir, Mr. Devlin. Right away, sir. Mr. Arroya will see to you personally. He’s the manager. If you’ll just give me a minute to arrange for a showing?”

“We’ll wait.”

Angie watched the byplay with a small smile of bemusement. “No more role-playing?” she asked.

“No more role-playing,” he confirmed. “Tell me what you didn’t like about the ring.”

“It was elegant, but a little too flowery.” She gave an uneasy shrug. “It’s probably close, though. Maybe we should go ahead and take this one.”

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