Chapter Six #4
“I’m sure she’ll be pleased you thought of her.
” Settling back behind my laptop, I save and close the file on my screen, clicking into my emails.
Gretchen technically works for Shane as well, but she shared that her daughter and Shane and Caine’s little sister were best friends growing up, which explains the slightly familial vibe I’ve noticed in her relationship with Shane.
Caine dropping off a birthday card for her aligns with that.
The coffee maker sputters and glugs, and Caine leans against the counter. Though I’m looking at my screen, I can feel his eyes on me.
Don’t get awkward.
The thought occurs an instant before I accidentally delete an email that I shouldn’t. Once I’ve rescued it from the trash, I exile myself to the spam folder. Clearly my clicks cannot be trusted in Caine’s presence.
“What’s with the ring?”
Oh, shit.
I meet his gaze across the kitchen, hating the way I don’t want to admit I’m engaged.
Fake engaged, my pussy is quick to remind me.
Fake engaged, with an agreement that we won’t blow our cover, I remind her right back.
If Jeremy can abide by the agreement, I can too.
Chemistry-wise, Jeremy and I could be two repelling magnets, or oil and water.
Sleeping together is out of the question.
Truthfully, I think that was part of the appeal for both of us.
A platonic and low-stress pairing, roommates in everything but title.
“It’s an engagement ring,” I say, arching an eyebrow. “A bit of an antiquated tradition, but a physical token of a commit—”
“I know what an engagement ring is.” He prowls across the space, the purpose in his stride giving me shivers.
No.
I’m engaged and need to act like it. Caine rounds the table, stopping beside me.
With the slow, cautious movements of someone reaching for a feral cat, he takes my left hand in his.
Raising it, he studies the ring. I have a moment of panic that he’ll ask me a question about it that I can’t answer, but all I know is that it’s a princess-cut diamond.
When Jeremy asked if I had any preferences, I said I wanted it lab grown and left the rest up to him.
In hindsight, that was an error. I’m now the owner of a massive engagement ring that, despite being lovely, is exceptionally irritating to wear.
The small stones on the side of the band make me constantly aware of its presence, and I’m scared I’m going to decapitate it every time I put my hand in my pocket.
It’s only been two weeks, though, so I’m hoping I’ll get used to it.
Caine lets out a low whistle. “He wants to give that ring finger a workout, doesn’t he?”
I jerk my hand back, annoyed at myself for the tiny bit of disappointment I feel when he lets me.
“You weren’t wearing a ring on Halloween,” he says, as if convincing himself.
“Of course not.” The implication puts me in the right mindset. “We actually only got engaged two weeks ago. We haven’t even announced it yet.”
That earns me an eyebrow arch. “Announced it, huh? Fancy. Looks like someone’s marrying into money.”
“It’s not like that,” I snap, though it is to an extent.
Jeremy needs to show his parents he’s responsible enough to be promoted in the family business, and a fiancée will supposedly help with that.
As for me, I’m getting health insurance through the company and will be living in his town house rent-free in exchange for going to family dinners and events with him once or twice a month.
It’s giving me wiggle room to get my own freelance business up and running with less stress, and I like knowing that if Nicholas is released early and gives me a Google, I’ll look taken.
“Like what?” His voice is smooth. “Don’t put words into my mouth. You’ve got a planet on your hand, and it’s an engagement worth announcing. I’m simply observing.”
The coffee maker chimes. Is he reluctant as he turns away, or do I just want him to be? Caine walks toward the fridge. “How do you take it, gorgeous?” The pitch of his voice suggests an appropriate answer would be from behind.
Rising a bit too aggressively, I click my way across the kitchen.
“I can do it myself.”
Glancing down at my heels, he works his way back up to my face, taking his sweet time. “Or I can do it for you, since I’m here.”
Easing past him with a scoffing sound, I try not to inhale his delicious cologne as I grab the carton of coconut creamer I keep here.
Caine reaches in for the regular, our shoulders brushing. “Allergic to dairy too?”
Ignoring him, I move back to the counter.
Again he’s beside me, this time lifting the coffeepot before I can. Instead of filling his cup, he motions for mine. “Since you’re all engaged now, would it be inappropriate for me to say this whole you-in-heels thing is really doing it for me?”
“Extremely.” Reluctantly, I accept the pour and thank him, adding my creamer.
He nods. “I won’t say it, then.” As I head back to my laptop with my mug, I hear him mutter under his breath, “But I’m sure as hell going to think it.”
I pretend I don’t hear him, one thought looping through my mind.
I’m engaged.
I’m engaged.
I’m fucking engaged.