“Interesting.”
“Is there any chance your father may have left records behind at the Hampton house?”
“Maybe?” I shrug. “I wouldn’t know.”
“But if we went there, we’d be alone to look?”
“Doubtful.”
“Why?”
“My security team.”
“We’ll just have to find a way to ditch them.” He pauses for a second. “I have an idea …” He fishes into his pocket and pulls out a diamond ring. “Maria Rossi, will you fake marry me?”
“When did you get that?” I yank the ring out of his hand and lift it up to the light. “How many karats is this?”
Smaller than the grotesque ring my mother wears, it’s still a rock, easily seven to ten karats.
“Mitzy Magic.” Liam shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels.
“Mitzy said she’d quit if Forest made her find a ring.”
“That’s not all she said.” His lip tips up in a smirk.
“I’m ignoring the first part of what she said. Seriously, when, where, and how did you get this?”
“Mitzy delivered it while we were dancing. Not Mitzy herself, but one of her many magical helpers.”
“This is insane.”
“You gonna put it on?”
“I can’t.” I shove the ring back at him.
“I asked you to fake marry me. You’re going to break my heart if you don’t fake accept.”
“Fake accept your fake marriage proposal? I thought we weren’t doing the fake engaged thing.”
“Mitzy was busy all night long building my fake life. Your mother is going to be pissed, but I come from a reputable New York family.” His brow arches.
“I see where you’re going with this.”
“Do you?” He gives me a look. It’s more of a challenge.
I take in a breath and take a stab at it.
“Marriage to a wealthy husband is exactly what my mother desires. Getting me out of New Orleans is exactly what my uncle wants.”
“You’re doing pretty well, but there’s one other bit.”
“What bit?”
“Your security detail.”
“Yeah, I don’t get that.”
“The only reason to have them, we assume, is to keep you off the twenty-fifth floor. I’ll have my own security team.”
“How?”
“Wolfe and Brady.”
“I’m not following you here.”
“It’s a pissing contest; me against your uncle. If you’re mine, then you’re mine to protect. Once I tell him I have a protective detail on you, he can’t have his team follow you.”
“Sure, he could.” I shrug, not getting it.
“It’s an Alpha meet Alpha scenario.”
“Still not connecting the dots.”
“Think of it this way, if I pee on you, that means you’re mine. He has to cede possession.”
“Pee on me?” I shake my head, hoping I heard that wrong. “That’s gross.”
“It’s a metaphor.”
“Still gross, but I get what you’re saying. If he doesn’t pull his team, it’s a slap in the face. I basically become a turf war.”
“Now you get it.”
“Just no peeing on me, okay? I’m interested in a lot of things, but that goes on my hard limits list.”
“You have a hard limit list? Color me intrigued. What’s on your green list?”
“Okay, that was a major overshare. What are the chances you’ll forget that?”
“Just want to know if you prefer fuzzy cuffs or leather cuffs?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Hollywood. We’re a long way from those kinds of conversations.”
“Maybe not as far as you think.” He nudges me with his shoulder. “Are you going to put on the ring?”
“Is it a real diamond?”
“Would I give my fake fiancée a fake diamond? It’s real as they come.”
With my hands shaking, I slowly slide the diamond ring onto my ring finger. It fits perfectly, but I’m not going to ask how that can be.
“I guess this makes you my fake fiancé.”
“It does. Now, we’re going to head back to the Belvedere. We’re going to take a nap, then shower and get dressed for dinner tonight, and you’re going to get me invited to Sunday brunch with your mother and uncle.”
“What are you going to wear?” I glance at his suit. It’s a bit tired looking from our night out.
“I took the liberty of having a few things delivered to your suite.”
“No doubt you did, and I assume it comes with a bit of Mitzy Magic?”
“You’re starting to learn.” I bop her lightly on the nose with my forefinger. “You ready to face your mother?”
“I’m never ready to face my mother, but with you by my side, I can do anything.”
“That’s my girl.” He holds my left hand and examines the diamond. “It looks good on you.”
A yawn slips out of me.
“We get fake-engaged and you give me a yawn? Princess, you know how to bruise a guy’s ego.”
“Sorry, but I’m really tired.”
“Let’s go.” Arm across my shoulders, he points us in the direction of the Belvedere. “Into the jaws of the beast.”
Into the jaws of the beast?
I couldn’t have said it better.
29
LIAM
After our night out, I feel better about the assignment. At the last club, Mitzy sent one of her team members to hand off things I need: a new cellphone packed with her special tech gear, a dossier on my new identity, the ring for Maria’s finger, and other things.
Unlike our fake engagement, that ring is very real.
Like Maria, I too am tired, but there will be very little rest.
“Do you want to get a car, or are you good to walk the last few blocks?” I take her hand in mine and admire the brilliance of the seven-karat stone glittering on her finger.
I don’t know how Mitzy does it, but she’s fucking badass. Although, this may be Forest’s handiwork, considering what Mitzy said to him. Either way, it doesn’t matter.
“I’m good. It’s not that far.” She takes my hand, threading her fingers with mine, and rewards me with one of her genuine smiles.
Those are my favorite because they lift the veil of her stoic exterior, allowing me a glimpse of her inner beauty.
The last few blocks, we walk in relative silence, each consumed by our own thoughts. There’s not much to do today, other than stay by Maria’s side. I almost make the mistake of thinking the offices of the Belvedere will be deserted but remind myself Maria’s hotel runs a twenty-four-seven operation.
“Are you nervous?” I lift her hand to my mouth and brush my lips across her knuckles.
“Very.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Just stay by my side.”
“I have no plans of leaving you alone.” Before we get too far, we duck into a coffee shop for a pick-me-up. “Come, let’s caffeinate ourselves.” I use the word as a verb because I need a shot of caffeine if I’m going to keep my eyes open.