Page 22 of Home Run Fiancé
Rhys looks just as uncomfortable as me, though she hides it better behind a serene smile. She’s dressed in a simple black cocktail dress, her hair pinned back on one side with the rest cascading over her shoulder. She doesn’t fit in here. She’s too young, too innocent to be surrounded by the sleaze of Los Angeles.
While we wait for our food to arrive, I indulge in thinking about how I’d propose to her if this were all real. We’d be outside, somewhere where the sun would shine on her, backlighting her face and hair. She’d have flowers somewhere on her, because it’s Rhys. I’d have asked Asher’s permission beforehand. I’d tell her how amazing she is and how much I look forward to a future with her. She’d give me all her real smiles and nothing about our reaction to each other would be fake or rehearsed or hidden away.
“Jake?”
Rhys’ voice startles me and pulls me from my daydream. She’s looking at me, eyebrows drawn together.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I reach across the table and cover her hand, wishing I could tug her up out of her chair and haul her out of here.
She smiles shyly. “I was asking if you were okay. You seem pretty distant.”
I feel like there’s pressure building up in my chest. I’m on the fast track to a huge crash and even though I know it’s coming, I don’t slow down. I just press on the gas.
“Can I just propose now and get it over with?”
Her smile falters and then it’s back, glazed over with a sheet of ice this time. She shrugs.
“Yeah, sure.”
I grab the velvet box out of my suit jacket pocket and stand up. Her eyes track my movements, her breath picking up even as she tries to appear nonchalant. I know what she feels. My hands are shaking and I just might puke. This isn’t how I ever envisioned this moment.
I get down on one knee and open the box. Rhys’ gaze drops to the ring and then her eyes widen comically. There’s only one thing that isn’t messed up with this proposal: the ring. I bought a large three-carat diamond and set it in an antique gold ring from the 1800s. I barely knew Rhys when I picked out the ring, but when I saw it, I couldn’t see anything else ever being on her finger. I knew then it was only temporary, but I couldn’t stop myself from buying it.
A real smile tugs at my mouth. The annoying sounds of the restaurant fade away and all I see is Rhys. The most beautiful woman is sitting before me with tears in her eyes, expecting a fake proposal.
But I can’t give her one, can’t look into her eyes and lie. I can’t give her a real one either so I blend the two. I tell her how I really feel about her, hoping she thinks I’m simply faking the whole thing.
“Rhys Close. You have been a breath of fresh air in my life since the moment I met you. You tease me, give me crap, and remind me to laugh as much as I frown. You’re nothing like I expected, yet everything I want in my life. I can’t imagine you not being right here by my side. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
A tear spills down her cheek and the whole thing feels more real than fake. Her eyes dart back and forth on my face while her top teeth chew on that thick bottom lip of hers.
She nods quickly before leaning down to kiss me, her tears hitting my own cheeks and tearing at my heart. I never want to hurt Rhys, but somehow I feel like I have and that I will.
Rhys pulls back and I slide the ring on her finger, seeing it’s a perfect fit. She wraps her arms around me and I hold her tight, struggling to stay on one knee.
“I can’t stay on this one knee forever, sweetheart,” I whisper into her hair.
She giggles and pulls back. “Sorry. Go! Sit down.”
I stand up and my knee protests. I look around and see people with their cell phones out recording my proposal. I feel like a fish in a fishbowl with everyone looking at us.
“You know what? Why don’t we take this back to my place instead?”
Her eyes go wide, but she keeps the smile in place. “Sure.”
As we exit the restaurant, a few camera guys are waiting, snapping our picture all the way to our car. Before I open her car door, I pull her in tight, my hand tracing down her left arm until I reach her hand. I yank her hand up for the paparazzi to see, diamond flashing in the overhead lights.
“Is that an engagement ring, Kersh?” one guy calls out.
I turn to him and give him a lecherous grin and a wink.
I can feel Rhys laugh against me. I turn back to her and put my hands on either side of her face. The kiss is inevitable. It’s long, full of suppressed emotion, and far too passionate to be between two people who are faking everything. My hands drift into her hair, pins falling to the ground as I tunnel my way through. I need to hold on to her. I need to grip her tight and not let go.
A wolf whistle breaks through my awareness all too soon and I pull back, breathing hard and wishing we were alone.
“Let’s go.” I practically push her into the car before running over to my side. I need to get myself in check. This isn’t real. But maybe it could be.
We pull onto the street and I hazard a glance at Rhys. She’s eyeing her ring like a blushing bride. I’m so glad I had the forethought to pick out that ring for her. It’s unique and stunning, just like Rhys.
