Page 31 of Bargaining

“I always imagined Dad walking me down the aisle.” She kept her face turned to the window. “But anywhere will do. It’s not real, anyway.”

My fingers itched to wrap around her hand and give her some reassurance, but we had boundaries in the contract for a reason. It was bad enough that the sight of her in that dress was giving me a hard-on.Get it together.This wasn’t a party. I was here with one purpose: pin Gabe Rivers down to a meeting. A charming fiancée on my arm would be my secret weapon.

Shit. How could I forget the most important part?Reaching into the pocket of my tux, I pulled out the ring box.

“Here.” I put the box into Charlotte’s hands. “For you.”

“What is it?”

Hesitantly, she flipped the lid. The enormous diamond glinted in the cool blue limo lights.

“It’s emerald cut. Internally flawless.”

It had cost six million, but that might be an overwhelming piece of information to absorb. She peered down at the ring in my hands and brushed her finger over the glittering diamond.

“This is too much. I don’t know how my finger is going to stand the weight of it.” Her eyes drifted over me and they held a hint of wonder. “So this is our official engagement?” Her expression turned wry. “I take it you’re not going to get on one knee?”

“I’m afraid I don’t kneel for anyone anymore, Charlotte.”

She gave me a long, probing look, as though she was trying to peel back the years and uncover the person she’d once known. The Cole she was looking for was long gone. No hope of finding him. No wonder she looked faintly disappointed. The engine’s humfilled the tense hush between us. Warmth climbed the back of my neck and I turned my face away to take in the bright city lights blinking past outside.

The journey passed in silence until we pulled up at the entrance to the Natural History Museum. Charlotte sucked in a sharp breath. I turned to face her and took in the engagement ring newly glittering on her finger.Mine.

I gave her a nod. “Remember, just be yourself. Don’t oversell it. Let me do the talking.”

Her shoulders were tense, but she fixed on a sardonic smile. “Fine. No overselling. Let’s just go and pretend to be madly in love.”

Chapter 14

Charlotte

Dramatic lighting illuminated the grand entrance of the museum. Candlelight glinted from sweeping stone staircases and Romanesque arches.

“What a place for a party.” I stared awestruck at the spectacular blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling.

Elegant guests in their finery gathered in small groups, or danced. The low, resonant melody from a string quartet bounced from the Victorian architecture and tall ceilings. Nothing in Ecclesdale could ever have prepared me for this. It was like stepping onto the set of a fancy BBC period drama. Cole had lied. This wasn’t just any old party. It was a grand ball.

Cole plucked a champagne flute from a passing server and handed it to me. I’d have to resist the urge to get plastered, and pace myself. The place was full of famous people. I’d already spotted one of the Rolling Stones. Cole was scanning the sea of tuxedos and sparkling gowns on the dance floor with casual disinterest. His eyes landed on something at the back of the room and recognition flared in his expression.

“There’s someone I need to talk to.”

He smoothed his black tie. Not that it needed any adjustment. He was impeccably tailored, as usual. The sharp lines of his suit hugged his broad shoulders and his crisp white shirt was perfectly pressed.

He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

I slipped my arm through his. The solid contact at my side made heat course through me. His cologne hit my senses like a drug. He smelled delicious, spicy and sinful. I clung to his arm as he weaved across the crowded dance floor.

My stomach twisted with anticipation when I realized who we were making a beeline toward. Gabe Rivers. This was the chairman of Calverdale United. Dad had been a huge Calverdale fan. A couple of years ago, Gabe had been daily headline news fodder. He hadn’t been in the tabloids as much of late, or maybe I just hadn’t been paying as much attention to the world outside.

The sicker Dad got, the more insular life had become, until it felt like we were just living the same day on repeat. I never could have imagined I’d have a day like today. Being out somewhere so magical and full of life was a shock to the system.

“Oh my God. I know exactly who that is. He’s even more handsome in the flesh,” I muttered under my breath.

Cole shot me a look laced with amusement. Annoying that I hadn’t had the restraint to keep my inner monologue internal.

“Try not to drool.”

“I’m only human.”