Page 47 of If the Ring Fits

I turn to Ella and muster a smile. “Well, I guess… looks like we’re having an engagement party!”

“Marvelous! I’ll call Sophie first thing Monday when we get back to the city.” Ella claps her hands gleefully.

When the sun begins to dip behind the trees, painting the sky in brilliant streaks of orange and pink, Dominic stands and stretches.

“Alright everyone, time to head in and change for dinner,” he announces.

As we gather our things, I’m dizzy with the events of the afternoon—the surprising twists of this fake engagement… and the very real sparks igniting between me and Adrian. We walk back into our room and there it is, the made-for-sex bed ready to mock me. It’s only two nights, I tell myself, I can do it.

19

ADRIAN

I shouldn’t have kissed her. The thought consumes me as I enter the bedroom Rowena and I are sharing. I lost control out by the pool and made the only-one-bed situation so much worse. But with the adoring way she was gazing up at me, her hazel eyes sparkling in the sun, I couldn’t resist capturing her lips with mine, even if just for a fleeting, perfect moment.

What was I thinking? I lost sight of what we’re doing here.

“Mind if I shower first?” Her cheeks are still flushed, loose strands of chestnut hair clinging damply to her neck.

“No, go ahead.” I nod, struggling to keep my voice even. She disappears into the bathroom and I stare at the closed door, mentally kicking myself. I’d like nothing more than to strip off my swim trunks and join her under the warm spray, soap up her curves, kiss the water from her skin.

But that’s not the plan. The plan is not to screw this up, to keep things professional, to maintain the boundaries that are getting hazier by the second. This arrangement is supposed to be strictly business. Faking a relationship to win a job title. That’s it. No kissing involved. That would be crossing a line I’vealready smudged today. I plop onto the side of the bed, run a hand through my hair, and focus on regaining some semblance of self-control. But the sound of running water is a tormenting reminder of her nakedness just a few feet away.

Deep breaths.

An eternity later, the bathroom door opens in a billow of steam. Rowena emerges, now wearing a stunning maxi dress that hugs her figure and flows elegantly to the floor. The floral print complements her glowing skin and sets off the golden flecks in her eyes. My mouth goes dry.

I stand up, grabbing my toiletry bag and a change of clothes.

As I brush past her, I catch a whiff of her fruity shampoo and it takes all my willpower not to bury my nose in her damp hair and inhale deeply.

Closing the bathroom door behind me, I strip off my trunks and step into the shower. I crank the handle all the way to cold and let out a hiss as the icy water hits my overheated skin.

Think of spreadsheets, I tell myself. Profit margins. Anything but the gorgeous woman on the other side of that door. I soap up quickly and rinse off, refusing to let my mind wander.

Teeth chattering, I shut off the water and towel dry. After donning a crisp white button-down and navy slacks, I style my hair and brace myself for the night ahead. Impress Dominic. Do not act like a perv.

Showtime.

I exit the bathroom to find Rowena perched on the edge of the bed, slipping on strappy sandals. She looks up and smiles, easing some of the conflicted anxiety knotting my stomach. She’s good, we’re good.

“Ready to dazzle?” I ask.

“As I’ll ever be.”

I offer my arm. “Shall we?”

She takes it and we descend to the dining room. Dominic greets us jovially, ushering us to our seats. As the first course is served, I place my hand over Rowena’s on the table, interlacing our fingers. She jolts slightly but then relaxes into it. I squeeze, give her a nod, and let go.

Soon, the conversation drifts to market trends and summer plans. I throw in the occasional insightful comment while keeping a keen eye on Rowena. She’s handling the casual chatter like a pro, jumping in when the topic shifts to tech, her insights as sharp as her curves are soft. Her dry humor earns more than a few genuine laughs from Dominic. And she seems more at ease.

But as the evening wears on, the tension between us ratchets higher again the closer we get to bedtime. I couldn’t keep my hands or my mouth to myself while we were in public by the pool, what am I going to do now that we’ll be alone in a room sharing a bed?

By the time the evening ends, my nerves are stretched taut.

Rowena’s voice as she bids everyone a good night is light and breezy, but I catch a glint of something else in her eyes when she turns to face me. Is it eagerness? Dread? Both?

We climb the stairs, the quiet between us holding an edge. As soon as we enter the bedroom, we both stop awkwardly, eyeing the king-sized bed like it’s a battlefield. For a moment, neither of us speaks. Finally, Rowena breaks the silence. “Should we put some throw pillows in the middle?”

---