6. Sarah
Sarah looked at the small box before her. She knew this wasn’t real, but at this very moment, she felt special, as if this was a pivotal point in her life. She took the velvet box from Kane, her hands shaking slightly as she opened it to reveal a thin gold band with a small ruby stone. The stone was so dark red it looked black, but as she turned it slightly, the rich color glowed back at her.
She looked at Kane, knowing tears were threatening to drop as he took the ring and slid it onto her wedding finger. She smiled and said “It fits. Your grandmother must have been a large woman as well.”
“My grandmother was perfect.” Kane replied as he held her hand up and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.
Sarah tried to swallow, but her throat went dry instantly.
This isn’t real, this isn’t real.
“I know it’s small-” Kane started to say before Sarah interrupted.
‘It’s perfect. It’s the perfect ring.”
Jackson coughed to alert them to the others in the room. “I can see another car coming brother. This will be the reporter. Are you two ready?”
‘I’ve never seen two people so completely right for one another,” Elsie said as she left before the reporter got here.
The next few minutes were a blur as Kane stepped outside to meet the reporter and bring her inside. Sarah watched as a short, long dark-haired voluptuous woman stepped inside.
“Everyone, this is Maya. Maya this is my fiancé, Sarah and my brother-”
“Jackson.” Maya finished.
“Do you two know each other?” Sarah asked, wondering if their plan might not work if they know each other.
Sarah watched as Jackson stepped closer to the reporter and squint his eyes.
“Peaches?”
“No one has called me that for a long time,” Maya said, frowning at him.
Crap. This is not off to a good start.
“Well, welcome to our home. Jackson was just leaving,” Sarah said as she tried to convey to Jackson to leave before he said something worse. She gently pushed Jackson out the door, as Kane settled Maya in a lounge chair, leaving the lounge free for them to sit on.
Sarah went to where Kane was sitting and sat close to him, snuggling into his side before placing a soft kiss on his chin.
Why does he feel like home?
“So, the rumors are true then.” Maya started. “The playboy has finally been caught.”
“Well, not exactly caught,” Sarah laughed. “I made him work for it.”
“I have to say, this feels a little convenient though, doesn’t it?” Maya asked Kane. “With your big deal about to go through and the bad press from the fundraiser. It all seems a little… contrived.”
Sarah sat up straighter. “What is inconvenient about all of this, is that we didn’t get the time to spend together as we wanted. We were forced to open up about our relationship before we were ready. That is not on us, but on the people reporting the wrong news. So, yes. It might feel contrived to you, but to us it is our life. Our intimate life that is now on display.”
“So then Kane. Punching someone at the fundraiser was what? Fun?”
Kane put an arm around Sarah and pulled her back into him. “That was me protecting what’s mine. She has my heart and when I saw some other man putting his hands on someone I love. My family. I saw red and reacted.” Kane shrugged. “It wasn’t the smartest move, but I didn’t think. That’s on me. Not Sarah.”
Sarah looked up at Kane and didn’t think as she cupped his cheek and lowered his mouth to hers. Her hand ran along his stubbled chin, taking in the contours of his face, as her mouth opened slightly to allow his tongue to explore tentatively. Sarah let out a soft moan as she felt his hands tighten around her, cocooning her in his warmth.
Sarah didn’t expect the first kiss to feel like this. Their bodies melted into one another, Sarah warmed at the heat of his tongue on hers, her body shivered with surprise.
He is my fantasy come to life. I feel like I’m about to fall off the edge of a cliff, all from one kiss.
I’m falling for my fake fiancé.