Page 25 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

‘No, they’re not,’ she replied, thinking that no doubt people on the other side of his glass-walled office would be watching. ‘But the exclusion of them from any bakery is sacrilegious.’

‘That’s a strong opinion to hold on a bun.’

‘And the only acceptable one.’

Lily barely paid attention to her words because her entire body screamed at her to kiss him. That once wasn’t enough. She knew she had to marshal some control over herself before they fell into another embrace like the night before—except it would be far less appropriate in his office.

‘Have you seen the news?’ he asked.

When Lily shook her head, he unhooked her arms from around his neck, giving her engagement ring a quick kiss that had her melting before handing his tablet to her.

‘I’ve been at the bakery since four this morning,’ she said. ‘But my mother did call me about it.’

‘How did that go?’

‘Not great,’ she admitted.

There were several tabs open on his tablet, all with news of their engagement. Some of the media sites ran with pictures that had obviously been taken by other patrons at the restaurant, while others simply had individual pictures of them side by side.

‘I had my PR people issue a release last night. Now our story is the only one everyone knows.’

‘Perfect. Thank you, Julian.’ She locked the device and handed it back to him.

He placed it on the table and leaned against the edge. ‘Did Devan say anything?’ he asked.

Lily shook her head walking towards the floor-to-ceiling window. She could see so much from here. The Ferry Building sprawled below her feet. The Bay Bridge stretching out to the horizon. The water glittering as if diamonds floated on its surface.

Her heart beat a staccato pulse as Julian’s heat eclipsed her back. She told him of her interaction with her brother and he agreed that it had been better than anticipated.

‘I had another reason for coming here,’ Lily said, turning to face him.

‘What’s that?’

‘I would like to plan our second date.’

* * *

Julian was struggling to keep his hands to himself. From the moment Lily had walked in all he’d wanted to do was hold her again. Kiss her like he had done on that balcony. The kiss on her engagement ring had been a slip of control that frustrated him, but he’d be lying if he said it hadn’t excited him at the same time.

She had her hair tied up and a cobalt top over jeans, and Julian thought he had never seen a more beautiful woman. He could no longer recall the face of anyone who might have come before, and he didn’t understand what it was about her in particular that made his blood sing.

‘You would, would you?’ he asked.

‘Yes, all you’d have to do is be at Crème tomorrow evening. Eight.’

‘The point is for people to see us,’ he replied, even though the idea of being alone with Lily was rather enticing. Especially since he hadn’t got much sleep the night before, because every time he’d closed his eyes he could feel the pillowy softness of her lips, or her hands on his neck, or the way she’d looked when she’d opened the front door...

‘They will. I’ll be closing up at five. Everyone will be gone by six. And when your car is parked for hours in front of my closed store word will spread.’

‘Fine, I’ll be there.’

‘Great. Well, I have work to get back to.’

‘I’ll walk you out.’

He took Lily’s hand, letting his office door swing shut behind him. It was like trying to hold on to the lightning crackling between them. The air became so heavily charged he was certain everyone on the floor could feel it. Certainly the craned necks as they passed people indicated as much.

He took Lily to a secondary bank of elevators. They had a lot less traffic. He didn’t quite comprehend why he did this. After all, people needed to see them together. And yet he wanted a moment with her that wasn’t on show...

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