Page 39 of Flown in for Christmas

“Ah, shit,” Nick mutters from beside me.

“What is it?” I whisper, suddenly nervous.

“Now, some of you may have already heard the exciting news,” Betty chimes in, putting her hands up in front of her. “We all know I have a hard time keeping a secret.” She beams as several guests laugh. Betty waves for Nick and I to join them.

“They’re announcing our engagement,” Nick grits low for only me to hear. He takes my hand and tugs me alongside him to the front of the room.

My cheeks heat involuntarily at the reminder of last night in this very spot.

If they only knew.

“There’s someone here tonight that I’d like you all to meet,” Betty says, turning to her son. “Nick?”

“Nick who?” Rich calls out with a laugh.

The room breaks out in laughter as the wide band of Nick’s arm wraps around my waist. His palm splays over my hip with a firm touch. My body screams for more—more of him, more of last night, more of everything that is:Nick Davis.

He brings me in flush against his side. “Not too long ago, I met this amazing woman.” He gazes down at me. “She’s everything I could ever want. Beautiful, kind, caring. She knows me better than I know myself, and it made me question a lot of things. For starters, how could I fall in love with this woman in such a short amountof time?” He grins. “But she made it impossible not to.” My heart is in my throat.Love?“So tonight, I am happy to introduce to you the woman who stole my heart, my fiancée, and the future Mrs. Davis, Joy Bell, everyone!” he announces proudly.

Hoots and applause follow along with cheers of congratulations. My gaze grows glossy as Nick sweeps me off my feet for a kiss at the crowd’s demand. He holds me close as he swings me across his front, dipping me low before kissing me. The kiss is firm and sure and far too short in my opinion. When he lifts me and pulls away, I reach out to swipe the bit of lipstick from his mouth. He smiles as several awes break out around us. I blush.

Multiple members of Nick’s family approach to congratulate us personally and the party begins to return to normal—

“Excuse me. If I could get everyone’s attention!” Eric steps forward, his expression unreadable as he turns to Nick’s parents. “If it’s all right, Uncle Bruce, I’d like to make an announcement.”

Bruce raises a brow but nods—though his wife appears reluctant, casting a concerned look at her husband. Nick squeezes my hand from our front-row seats to…whatever is about to happen.

Eric shifts his gaze to Darcy standing poised beside the Christmas tree. “My love,” he starts, taking her hand in his as he drops to one knee. Quiet gasps echo around the room as Eric retrieves a small box from under the tree. “Will you marry me?”

Nick snorts, muttering, “Creative.”

I stifle a laugh, nudging him with my elbow.

Darcy puts on the show of a lifetime—clutching her imaginary pearls, gaping at the unopened box, and fluttering her lashes as if tears have begun to build there. “Oh, pookie bear!”

Across the room, Rich has to turn around, both hands over his mouth as he desperately tries to control his laughter. Leah smacks him.

“Of course, I will,” she squeals, leaping into her new fiancé’s embrace. Everyone claps at the sudden display of love. Eric opens the ring box to reveal…nothing but a speck of lint.

Confusion radiates throughout the room as silence falls.

Eric turns his attention tome. Holding out his hand, he says, “The ring, Joy.”

I freeze, shocked at what he could be implying. But the cold demeanor, the look of triumph, and the clear ask, I have no doubt, heknows. My head snaps to Nick.

His brow is furrowed with an undertone of that hatred he has for his cousin lingering just below the surface. I can only imagine he has the urge to deck the smug look off his cousin’s face a second time. “What?”

Darcy positions herself in front of her now fiancée. She rolls her eyes. “Your engagement is a sham,” she announces, her chin raised with a smug smile. “Tell us,Nick, how much is yourassistantmaking being here posing as your girlfriend—oh, I’m sorry,fakefiancée.”

The party comes to a complete halt, the music stops abruptly with a scratch of vinyl.

Nick scowls, his hold on my hand painful. “You’re out of line, Darcy.”

“Am I?” She scoffs, crossing her arms in defense. “Show them, Eric.”

Eric pulls a folded paper from his back pocket, handing it to Nick’s parents. Bruce brings his glasses over the bridge of his nose, staring at god only knows. Betty reads over his shoulder. Her expression falls as it lifts to her son. “Nick?” she asks softly, glancing at me. “Joy?”

You could hear a pin drop on carpet waiting for a response.

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