Page 29 of Acquiring Ainsley
Her chuckle grew louder.
“Tell me you’re pleased. It’s a good article.”
I leaned back in my chair and interlaced my hands behind my head. From here, I had a view of the Hudson River and Hoboken, New Jersey, beyond it. Just like Ainsley’s dad, I had a penchant for branded, high-end real estate, and my building on Eleventh Street in Greenwich Villagealmostdid it for me. But it wasn’t as good as the one Ainsley’s family owned.
The one I’d soon own, too.
“I would have liked some heads up,” she said. “But you’re right. It’s a good write-up, and people were bound to find out, anyway. All of Palm Beach already knows.”
I thought back to that moment in Taboo restaurant. Yes, it had been a bit of an outrageous, spur-of-the-moment proposal. But… I hadn’t wanted to give Ainsley any chance to back out of the plan. I wanted to lock her in, and that had meant having the ring on hand and proposing in public. Luckily for me, she hadn’t hesitated.
She might not be an actress, but she could dupe anyone—except me. Just like that night at the museum. She’d almost swayed me with that slap and her outrage after our lips had melted together in that hot make-out session. But upon later examining it, I knew there had been no mistaking her surrender, the low growl in her throat when I’d kissed her, and the way her curvy body had molded to mine.
No, Ainsley Ross couldn’t fool me.
“We can put an item in theNew York Times, too,” I said. “Cover our bases. Make sure it appears as if we mean to do this.”
She let out an audible breath. “Yes, we need to. My personal life is my own business, but I do admit this appears sudden and unexpected to a lot of people.”
“I’ll have someone call theTimesthis afternoon.”
“Good. No one had any idea we were dating because, well, we weren’t. So, we have to take steps to make sure this appears to be the real deal.”
I opened the desktop calendar that held all my upcoming commitments and appointments. “That’s why I’m thinking of coming back to Palm Beach next weekend. I’ll take the jet down next Friday night and return Sunday afternoon.”
“And what do you plan on doing here that weekend?”
“Not me.We. We can start planning the wedding, for one.” I was starting to get into this. A lot. “Register for gifts, maybe?”
“And where would we register, hmmm?”
“The usual.” I snapped shut my calendar and turned back toward my computer. Several emails had just hit my inbox, but they could wait. “Tiffany’s. Neiman Marcus. Wherever you want.”
“Is that so?’ She hesitated. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? The ring, the press…”
“This is important, Ainsley. It’s a priority. And if we are getting married, we might as well really do this.”
She didn’t reply for a moment. “You’re right, we might as well. In fact, we should probably do it all—an engagement party, wedding shower…”
“Whatever you want.” I considered this for a moment, thinking of all the people and press who would witness me hobnobbing with “old money” and snagging a Ross heiress. “An engagement party sounds nice. When are you thinking we should do it?”
My thoughts began to swirl with the possibilities of this. An engagement party in Palm Beach would go a long way toward my ultimate goal—making a name for myself among the New Yorkers and coastal elites who’d shut out my family through calculated snubs and subtle slights. We could test out the dynamics of our relationship there, then move on to the big city.
“One idea is to have the party a few weeks from now.” She hesitated again. “In fact, if you want to do it, the Flagler Museum has a few dates open. A last-minute cancellation.”
I smiled. “Did you already make the reservation?”
“Maybe.” Ainsley let out another laugh. “I know a few people on the board, and I made a call this morning, just to check.”
“I’m flattered,” I replied. And I was. “I know the International Refugee fund has their gala at the Phillips Estate that Saturday night. Why don’t I have Janet get us tickets?”
She scoffed. “I doubt you can. It’s sold out.”
“Not for us.” I smiled. “If needed, I’ll make a significant donation.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“I know the way things work in that town. A lot of people talk, but money talks the loudest.”
