Page 37 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

A smile stretched across her face. He was taking her to a French play that she had wanted to see so badly, but the tickets had been snapped up before she’d even had a chance to buy one. Lily had consoled herself by saying it was for the best, because she would have had to attend alone.

‘Happy?’ he asked tenderly.

‘Yes! So happy!’ She hugged him tightly, trying to convey how much this meant to her. ‘Thank you, Julian.’

‘You don’t have to thank me, Sunshine.’

‘I guess I should get ready.’

She pulled away and Julian caught her around her nape pressing a quick kiss to her lips. ‘You can keep those.’

He left the room, leaving Lily holding the tickets and trying to keep tears at bay. He had understood how much she had loved her time in France. Understood what this would mean to her. This might be a fake relationship, but no one had ever treated Lily like this. As if what she said and loved mattered in a massive way.

* * *

Julian waited at the foot of stairs, his nose buried in an email that he was replying to without paying much attention. He really had wanted to keep his distance from Lily, but when she’d pushed, leaving his precious control in pieces, he’d realised he couldn’t stay away. He didn’t want to.

He wanted her. He wanted her more than he wanted anything else. And while he didn’t deserve her, he could enjoy what they had while it lasted. Why shouldn’t he? Everything came to an end. Everything was taken away at some point. So until then he would soak up all he could from her and then, when it was done, he would tuck those memories away with all the others he tried never to think about.

That was why he’d had to stop that kiss. Lily deserved more than a frantic, lust-filled ravishing on a kitchen countertop. She deserved to be taken care of, to be worshipped—which was why he’d bought those tickets to the play. It had stung when she’d assumed it was another date for their arrangement, but it was good because she wouldn’t allow herself to get too close to him.

The click of a heel was the first thing he heard. Slipping his phone into his pocket, he looked up. His breath caught. How was it possible that this woman wanted him? She was perfect.

Thin purple straps sat on tanned shoulders. The neckline of her dress dipped into a V in the valley of her breasts. The skirt was gathered at her tiny waist before falling to the floor in layers of rich purple chiffon. There was a long slit up her left leg, and he could see flashes as she stepped onto the stair below. Her hair was pulled up, and he could almost taste the skin at her neck.

‘Exquisite.’ He held out a hand to help her down, revelling in her glorious smile.

‘You don’t look too bad yourself, Ford.’

He flashed a smile at her—something he found himself doing more frequently these days—and led her to the car, sneaking glances at her all the way on their drive to the theatre.

When they finally took their seats in gold and red opulence, Julian lifted their threaded fingers to his lips. It wasn’t enough.

‘So, are you going to require a translator?’ Lily teased.

He chuckled. ‘I’ll manage.’

‘Good, because I can’t promise that I would remember.’

Julian knew he would try his best to remember this moment. Her unguarded happiness. He heard the play start, caught glimpses of it, but all that really held his attention was the woman beside him. Every emotion was displayed on her face, and yet, throughout, that smile never wavered.

His thumb stroked across her knuckles and he leaned over to kiss her hair. And then, almost without realising it, he was on his feet, clapping with everyone else as the cast took a bow and the curtain fell.

A tear fell from her eye, kissing her cheek before falling. He brushed it away with the back of his finger, proud that he could have brought her to something that had moved her so deeply.

‘Did you enjoy that?’ he asked.

Lily nodded enthusiastically. ‘So much. You don’t know what this means to me.’

‘Come on.’

He led her out of the theatre, avoiding anyone who might want to speak to them, ignoring the unmistakeable flashes of a camera, and helped her into his waiting car.

Tipping the valet, he slid into the driver’s seat and turned to Lily. Not quite ready to put an end to the night when she looked so happy, Julian asked, ‘Would you like to take a drive with me?’

‘I’d love that.’

They drove along the darkened streets in comfortable silence. Words were unneeded for whatever was passing between them...building between them.

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