Chapter 12 （B）
TWELVE (B)
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
GEORGIA
The backseat of this town car isn’t big enough for two. The tension between Dominic and me is so damn thick and heavy that I’m seconds away from suffocating.
Since Charlie rolled up the partition miles ago, I wonder if he felt the same.
Focus, Georgia. Focus.
I wait until we’re a mile away from the resort before turning to face Dominic.
“Since you’re not supposed to do too much talking while you’re here, is there anything you want to discuss now?”
“Yes.” He clasps my left hand, and warmth jolts through my entire body. “This temporary promise ring won’t work if we’re trying to convince people that you’re mine.”
“I just started wearing this today, and it was a last minute addition to my script in the app,” I say, admiring it. “It looks like a real diamond.”
“It barely passes for cubic zirconia.” He shakes his head. “Take it off.”
“Fine.” I twist it off my finger, and he rolls down the window. Then he tosses it onto the road.
“Is there anything else?” I ask. “Do you want me to change my hairstyle for you, too?”
“I’ve always loved the way you wear your hair.” He smiles. “It’s long enough for me to pull it back whenever you finally let me have you on all fours.”
“You promised no sexual innuendos.”
“Facts aren’t innuendos.” He leans over and unbuckles my seatbelt.
I reach for the door handle, but he grabs my hand.
“I would never let my real fiancée open the car door for herself,” he says. “I’ll get it.”
As tempted as I am to resist this, to let him know that I’m the one in control, I let go as he steps out of the car.
He doesn’t walk to my side, though. Instead, he approaches the bellman and exchanges a few words before returning to the car.
Opening the door, he reaches for my hand.
“Remember, don’t say too much when we get inside,” I say. “Just smile and nod like a bobblehead doll.”
He laughs as we walk up the steps.
“Welcome back home, Miss Georgia,” the bellman says.
“Thank you, Benny.”
He ushers us inside, and a scene from my worst nightmare comes to life.
“Merry Christmas!” My family stands under a sparkling “Congratulations Dante & Georgia” banner, and Grandma Hattie walks toward us with a smile.
“We managed to get this all set up while you picked him up from the airport.” She smiles. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m about to reap what I’ve sown.”
“What’s that?”
“It looks beautiful,” Dominic says, extending his hand to her. “Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Likewise. I’m hoping you’ll have some time to join our family for some of the yearly traditions.”
“He probably won’t,” I say. “Dominic has lots of work to do while he’s here, Grandma.”
“Dominic?” She looks up at the banner. “I thought your name was Dante.”
“It’s Dominic,” he says. “Dominic Reiss.”
“The billionaire?” One of my aunts nearly screams from across the room. “Am I imagining things, or is that him?”
Okay, he was right…
I feed them the “preconceived notions” lie, and before anyone can ask about the specifics, I loop my arm in his and lead him over to the tree. The quicker I introduce him to everyone, the quicker we can mark day one of this deal off the calendar.
“Oh my fucking…” Taryn blinks like a broken doll. “Georgia, your fiance is Dominic Reiss? Like the Dominic Reiss.”
“Hello.” He smiles at her, and she blushes. “It’s nice to meet you, Taryn. You’re her cousin, right?”
She stares at him in disbelief, blinking and saying nothing.
“Okay, we’ll come back to you.” I pull his arm and introduce him to Savannah and Garrett, all my aunts and uncles, and when he’s greeted all my cousins, I rush him toward the lobby.
“Why are y’all going that way, Georgia?” Grandma Hattie calls out to me.
“I’m showing him upstairs to the Gingerbread Suite.”
“I reserved that for another guest,” she says. “I placed you two elsewhere since I figured you’ll want to be together.”
What? “We don’t need to do that. Separate rooms will be fine.”
“I’m sure that’d be very inconvenient,” she says. “I placed you in one of the private cottages.”
“With two or four bedrooms?”
“One.” She pats my shoulder. “Call me if it’s not up to standard.”
“It’s not,” I say. “We need two bedrooms with two separate beds. We’ve never shared anything overnight. Ever.”
“Right.” She snorts. “I’ve scheduled a few couples’ activities for you after Christmas. I figured you may want to show him the best parts of the estate whenever the most hectic time is over.”
“He’ll be gone by then.” I squeeze his hand. “Won’t you?”
“I would love to see the rest of the estate after the holidays.”
“Bobbleheads don’t speak.” I mutter under my breath and squeeze his hand again.
“If it’s not too much to ask, Dominic,” Grandma says, “I’d like you to join me for a one-on-one lunch while you’re here.”
“Dominic doesn’t like lunch.” I refuse to let this happen. “At least, he hates eating lunch without me if we’re in the same city, so that’s not possible.”
“Just let me know what day works best for you, Mrs. Hattie.” He defies me with a laugh. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too!” She looks at me. “It’s good to see you with someone who gets your crazy sense of humor, Georgia. I love it!”
“What’s not to love?” I spot the real Dante walking through the courtyard and gasp.
“Excuse us, please!” I tug Dominic toward the exit. “We have to go, but we’ll be back!”