Ruth responded to the introductions and the friendly conversation, conveying the right balance of friendliness toward the new acquaintances and besotted interest in Carter.
It wasn’t nearly as hard as she would have thought.
THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, Ruth gave Carter a sidelong look as they rode up the elevator in a very swanky lakeside apartment building. Lincoln and his wife, Summer, had invited them over for dinner.
Ever since they’d received the dinner invitation on Wednesday, Ruth had been getting ready. She’d brainstormed all conceivable background information she and Carter would need at that point in their relationship. She’d called him up for the past two evenings to go over strategy. Last night, they’d talked for two hours, although in all honesty only the first half hour was actually preparing for tonight. The rest was getting to know him so they could be convincing to Carter’s brother and sister-in-law.
And now the time was here. Ruth was sure they were ready. They wouldn’t be caught off guard by an unexpected question or an awkward moment. Carter wanted to prove that he was over his long-lost love for Summer.
Whether Ruth believed those feelings were truly over (and she didn’t), she was going to make sure everyone else believed it after tonight. It was important to Carter. He hadn’t said so, but she could tell. If any moment was crucial in their wild fake-engagement plot, it was this one.
Right now.
Dinner with Lincoln and Summer.
“We’re gonna do great,” she murmured.
“Mm-hmm.” Carter slanted her a wry look.
“We are. You’ll see. You might not believe it, but I can be a great adoring girlfriend. They’ll be completely convinced I believe you walk on water.”
“All right. Don’t overdo it though. They’re both really smart. And observant. And they know me really well. If it’s too over the top, they won’t buy it.”
“It’s not going to be too over the top. It will be exactly right. And don’t forget you’ve got to act like you’re into me too. If they think it’s one sided, you’ll have accomplished nothing but embarrassing me. Or rather, nothing but letting me embarrass myself.” She checked her outfit—slim pants, leather boots, and a pine-green top with a discreetly sexy V-neckline. “Not that it hasn’t happened before.”
“Stop it,” Carter bit out, giving her an impatient look.
She couldn’t have been more surprised if a pet kitten gave her a painful scratch across the face. In the three weeks she’d known him, she’d never heard Carter be anything but gentle and polite. “Stop what?”
“Stop talking about yourself that way. Who cares if you messed up a little in past relationships? You think you’re the only one?”
“No, I don’t think I’m the only one.” The elevator had reached the top floor more than a minute ago, and they were still standing inside, Carter holding open the doors with one hand, despite the way they kept trying to shut. “I just meant—”
“I know what you meant.” He was holding her gaze with a strange intensity. It gave her weird flutters. Made her hands tremble slightly. “And it’s not going to happen. I know what I need to do, and I’d never let this crazy scheme embarrass you. I promise.”
She took a ragged breath. Then released it and smiled at him. “Okay. Thanks. Let’s do this then.”
She took his arm as they stepped off the elevator and was still holding it as they crossed the ornate foyer that led to the entrance of the condo. Carter knocked. After a moment, the door swung open, and Ruth and Carter were greeted by a sexy, grinning Lincoln Wilson—all vivid green eyes and lean, hard body in a black Henley and dark-washed jeans.
They were also greeted by the warm, savory scent of lasagna and baking bread and loud, haunting, dramatic music.
Ruth blinked in surprise at the blast of scent and sound and warm, knowing smile.
“Why the hell do you have the music so loud?” Carter demanded, sharing a friendly half hug with his brother. Mostly just pounding each other on the back.
“Hey Carter!” The voice was female and coming from the kitchen, although the woman speaking wasn’t in sight. “Please come on in, Ruth. I can’t wait to meet you. I’ll be out in just a minute.”
Ruth had practiced (several times) a friendly, casual opening to conversation at their arrival, but she couldn’t get it out at the moment. She stared around at the spacious, beautifully furnished room—set off by huge glass doors that led out onto a balcony that looked out over the lake. The music really was very loud. She recognized it now. Les Mis. Fantine was currently on her deathbed. Ruth wouldn’t have expected Lincoln Wilson to be a big fan, but the emotional music was swelling out of high-end speakers. Ruth could feel it all the way down to her bones.
“Hi, Ruth,” Lincoln said to her, loud enough to be heard over the music. He took her hand and held it in a gesture of playful, exaggerated gallantry. “It’s great to meet you. I’m hoping that for our first act of kinship, you’ll help me convince Carter to do a number.”
Ruth blinked. “A number?” She shifted her eyes over to Carter, who was now glaring at his brother.
“Oh no,” Carter muttered. “No way.”
His brother flashed a very Lincoln-like smile. “You arrived just in time for our favorite duet. I refreshed my memory on the words, so I’m all ready to go.”
“I said no. You planned this on purpose. You were watching the camera in the lobby and you timed it like this on purpose.” Carter was visibly outraged. “I can’t believe you.”
Lincoln laughed irrepressibly. “As if I would do such a thing to my little brother. It’s just a happy accident.” Turning to Ruth, he added, “You want to hear our old duet, don’t you? It was always his favorite. He made me sing it over and over again when we were kids.”
Thrilled by that unexpected piece of information on Carter, she clapped her hands excitedly. “Yes! Oh yes. You have to sing it, Carter!”
“Lincoln, I could punch you in the face right now,” Carter said gruffly.
“I know. But then we couldn’t serenade Ruth. It’s obvious she really wants to hear you. Fantine is just about dead here, so it’s almost time for us.”
“Damn it, Lincoln.” Carter looked momentarily helpless, his eyes moving from Ruth to his brother and back. “I don’t remember the words anymore.”
“Yes, you do.” Lincoln grabbed two remotes from near the television and handed one to Carter. “Here’s your microphone. Get ready. If you bail on me, you’re going to disappoint Ruth. And I know you don’t want to do that.”
Carter’s face twisted. He was obviously torn. Reluctant. For a moment Ruth didn’t know what he was going to decide. Then he groaned and gave his brother another glare as the music faded between songs. “You’re going to pay for this.”
Lincoln laughed again and flashed Ruth a victorious smile. “I knew he’d cave. He never could resist although he’ll never admit it to anyone anymore. He’s Javert. I’m Valjean. And here we go.”
“Don’t start without me!” Summer called as she ran out of the kitchen, still wiping her hands on a dishcloth.