Page 28 of Last Minute Fiancé

“I’m not going to do this half-assed. We’re going to get you that promotion so you have more time off and you get what you earned and deserve, and then we’re going to celebrate. In order to do that though, I have to be the best fake fiancé ever. And that includes getting you a ring.”

“Oh.”

I scowled as I took another turn. “Open the damn box, Addison. It’s not going to bite you. I’ll bite you though if you don’t. Just warning.”

She blushed, and then I remembered our night together and how I did bite her.

Dammit. So not the time.

“Okay fine,” she muttered, before reaching for the box. Suddenly nervous, I kept my attention on the directions and road rather than her.

When she didn’t say anything, I cursed under my breath. Grateful for the stop sign, I turned and met her gaze, annoyed with myself for the whole damn situation. “What?”

“It’s beautiful.”

I was nervous again. This wasn’t a real proposal, I knew that. But doing it in a car at a stop sign on her way to an event for her work when I hadn’t even asked? This probably wasn’t the best idea.

I quickly looked in the rearview mirror, and since I couldn’t see any cars coming, I put the car in park.

“What are you doing?” she asked quickly and turned toward me as much as the seatbelt would allow.

“I wanted to get something that fit you. It’s an older ring, a little more unique setting, but that’s a diamond with emeralds all around it. You look nice in emeralds.”

She looked at me with wide eyes. “You got me a ring, Luca.”

“You’re my best friend, Addison. If I am going to be your fake fiancé, I’m going to do it right.” I cleared my throat, then pulled the ring from the box since she hadn’t. Feeling awkward as hell, I took her left hand and slid the ring on her finger. For some reason, that felt like an oath, a promise. Or perhaps it was just my dreams. After all, I hadn’t let myself want her before.

“Addison Lily, will you fake marry me? Will you make me the happiest fake fiancé until the end of this farce where we can step into reality and realize that the real world is just as tough as this fake one? Will you make me a happy fake man?”

She blinked at me, her eyes going dark for a moment before she threw her head back and laughed.

“Fake man? Really?”

“I was leaning into it, and I went too far. So, what do you say?”

“The ring’s on my finger, Luca. You’re the one doing something real for me. But you did not have to spend that kind of money.”

I shrugged. “I got it at a consignment shop. Like I’m really going to go to a fancy jeweler and get you some nice shit. Sorry, I’m saving for a child.”

We both froze as reality started to seep its way in.

“Oh dear God. There are child funds. There’s childcare, and college funds, and prom and tuition and diapers. Oh my God, so many diapers.”

“Okay, there’s a car coming and we need to go, so push that off to the side. Remember, we’re leaning into the fake.”

“Sure. We can totally do this. Oh my God, breastfeeding. I’m going to need breast pumps.”

My gaze went straight to her breasts, then back to her face.

“I can help with that.”

I said it so serious that she blinked at me before she grinned and punched me in the shoulder.

“Asshole.”

“I can also play with your asshole. You just tell me what you want.”

She scrunched her nose and I laughed before I put the car in drive again and we made our way up the hill.

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