Chapter 7 #2
"Obviously," Cam interjected, somehow managing a hint of his usual charm despite the circumstances. "Your timing has always been impeccable, Z."
My brother ignored him, focusing on me. "So this whole thing – the ring, the dance, that speech he gave – it's all fake?"
I twisted the sapphire absently. "It's an arrangement. A temporary solution to a specific problem."
"The Redline deal," Zayne said, understanding finally dawning. "It’s that significant?"
Cam nodded. Zayne sank into the armchair by the window, the fight seeming to drain out of him. "So you two geniuses decided to pretend to be engaged. To each other." He ran a hand over his face. "Christ."
"It's just until the deal is signed," I explained, perching on the edge of the bed.
"And Mom and Dad? They think this is real."
The genuine hurt in his voice made guilt twist in my stomach. "That... wasn't part of the original plan."
"They were so happy for you," Zayne said quietly. "Dad called me after you left. Said he hadn't seen Mom that excited in years."
I swallowed hard, the weight of the deception suddenly feeling much heavier. "I know."
"And now you're going to Siesta Key to continue the lie."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway. "We have to. It would look suspicious if we didn't."
Zayne turned to Cam, his expression hardening. "Let me be clear: if this hurts my sister – her career, her reputation, anything – I will end you. Friend or not. Teammate or not."
"I understand," Cam said, meeting Zayne's gaze steadily. "If it makes you feel any better, I'd do the same in your position."
"You don't have siblings, idiot."
"No," Cam acknowledged. "But I know what it means to protect the people you care about."
Something passed between the men then – a moment of understanding, or at least détente. Cam never had the family stability the Deckers took for granted, but he understood loyalty. It was what made him such a valuable teammate, why players like Zayne and Logan trusted him on the ice.
My phone buzzed in my lap, breaking the moment. I glanced down to see a message from Ryan Keller, Cam's agent.
RYAN: Redline execs over the moon. Meeting fast-tracked for next week.
"It's working," I said, showing the message to Cam and Zayne. "Ryan says the Redline meeting is happening next week."
Some of the tension left Cam's shoulders. "That's good. Faster than expected."
"Great," Zayne said dryly. "So you just need to keep this up a little longer. Should be easy, right? Since it's all for show."
Something in his tone made me look up sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Zayne shook his head, a knowing look in his eyes. "Nothing. Just that you two seem pretty convincing for people who are just pretending."
Heat crept up my neck. "That's the whole point."
"Right." My brother looked between us, his expression unreadable. "Well, as long as we're all on the same page."
Cam cleared his throat. "About Siesta Key..."
"I'm not covering for you," Zayne said immediately. "I won't lie to Mom and Dad."
"We're not asking you to lie," I assured him. "Just... don't volunteer the truth."
Zayne considered this, then sighed heavily. "Fine. But PG only, understand? And separate rooms."
I winced. "Mom already said we're in the good bedroom."
My brother's face darkened. "I don't want to hear it. Just… " he made a vague, grossed out gesture, " …keep things appropriate. And if anyone asks me directly, I'm not lying."
"Fair enough," Cam agreed, looking relieved that the immediate crisis had passed.
"And when this is over, you both come clean. To the whole family. No collateral damage."
I nodded, some of the tension easing from my shoulders. Having Zayne's tacit approval, well, perhaps "approval" was too strong a word, but at least his lack of active opposition, made the whole charade seem more manageable somehow.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Zayne grunted in acknowledgment, then checked his watch. "It's late. I'm heading to bed. Try not to get engaged to anyone else before morning."
He moved to the door, pausing to give Cam one last warning look. "Remember what I said, Murphy."
"Crystal clear," Cam replied.
As the door closed behind him, I exhaled slowly, sinking back onto the bed. "Well, that was..." I trailed off, searching for the right word.
"Terrifying?" Cam offered, loosening his tie. "Your brother is intimidating on the ice, but off it? Whole other level."
Despite everything, I laughed. "He's protective. Always has been."
"Oh, I'm familiar." Cam hesitated, then sat beside me on the edge of the bed, careful to maintain a respectful distance. "For what it's worth, I meant what I said. I won't let this hurt you."
The sincerity in his voice made me look up, finding his eyes already on me, warm and earnest in a way that made my chest tighten.
"I know," I said softly, and was surprised to realize I meant it.
We sat in silence for a moment, the events of the day settling between us. The awards ceremony, the dancing, the almost-kiss in the hallway. It was a lot to process.
"So," Cam finally said, his tone deliberately lighter. "Siesta Key. Your family home. Should I be worried?"
I welcomed the change in subject, pushing away the lingering warmth of his nearness. "Terrified, actually. My entire extended family will be there. Aunts, uncles, cousins, my very unusual grandmother."
"Sounds intense."
"It is. We Deckers don't do anything halfway." I smiled ruefully. "Hope you're good at remembering names."
"I think I can handle the Decker family roster," he replied with a confidence that seemed genuine. "What else should I know?"
I considered this, absently twisting the ring on my finger.
"My dad will pretend to read the newspaper while actually analyzing your every move.
My mom will try to feed you until you burst. And my Aunt Margaret will absolutely try to get you drunk on her 'special punch' to extract embarrassing stories. "
Cam laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "So, a typical family gathering."
"For the Deckers? Pretty much." I stifled a yawn, the emotional and physical toll of the day finally catching up with me.
Cam noticed and stood, adjusting his cuffs. "I should let you get some sleep. Big day tomorrow with the press breakfast."
I nodded, suddenly reluctant to see him go but knowing it was the sensible thing. "Goodnight, Cam."
He moved to the door but paused with his hand on the knob. "About what happened in the hallway..." he began, his voice low.
My heart skipped. "We don't have to talk about it. Heat of the moment. Part of the performance."
He studied me for a long moment, something unreadable flickering across his features. "Right. The performance."
Before I could respond, he opened the door. "Sweet dreams, Lana."
As the door clicked shut behind him, I sank back onto the bed, fingers unconsciously touching my lips where his almost had, the phantom sensation of a kiss that never happened lingering like a promise – or a warning.
I took my shoes off, hung up the spectacular dress, and slipped into a nightie. I carefully washed my face and pulled the pins from my updo -- my hair cascading down, one soft ringlet at a time.
The sapphire caught the light in the mirror, sending blue fire dancing across the ceiling. It was beautiful, substantial, perfect – and utterly meaningless. A prop in our elaborate charade.
So why did it feel so right on my finger? And why did the thought of eventually giving it back make my chest ache with a hollow, nameless loss?
I closed my eyes, trying to sort through the tangle of emotions Cam always seemed to evoke in me.
Attraction, frustration, camaraderie, suspicion.
.. and something deeper, something dangerous that had been there since college, something that had never fully disappeared despite my best efforts to forget.
Friday, we would head to Siesta Key as a couple, continuing our performance for my entire family. And then, when it was over, when the deal was signed, we would return to our carefully constructed professional relationship as if none of it had happened.
As if we hadn't almost crossed a line tonight.
With a sigh, I reached over and switched off the bedside lamp, letting darkness envelop the room.
In the distance, the Las Vegas Strip continued to pulse with neon lights and endless possibility, much like the sapphire still glinting softly on my finger: beautiful, brilliant, and ultimately an illusion.