“If I told you that, it won’t come true.” I winked at her as I leaned forward and blew out the candles. I hadn’t made a birthday wish in years, but this time, I knew just what I wanted.
I wanted Helena in my life a lot longer than this charade would allow.
After the party died down, Helena and I found our way into the living room.
Most of the family had made their way to the Oak Barrel for after-party drinks, away from Mom and Dad’s eyes, even though neither would’ve had a problem with any of us having a drink.
I never really went to Zane’s bar, just because the crowds and the noise made it hard for me to really be a part of anything, so when Helena suggested we hang back and head to the hotel soon, I was more than happy to accommodate her.
“Your family’s really nice. It seems like they really care about each other.” She leaned into me, even though there wasn’t anyone watching, no excuse other than wanting to be close to explain the behavior. “Although, you could’ve warned me what we were getting into. Most people let their date know they’ve got such an accomplished family.”
“Are you disappointed you’re stuck with me? We could see if any of the other Wright men want to go to Tuscany with you. They’re all more outgoing, more…”
She pressed her finger to my lips to shut me up. “Gio, I’m here with you. I’m taking you to Italy with me.” She chuckled softly. “I guess we’re not so different, you and me. Not really. You don’t feel like you fit in with your family either, do you?”
“It’s not that. I love them like mad, and we’d all die to protect one another. But they’re all more vocal, more outgoing. None of them are afraid of the spotlight. Even Rachel, who’s quieter, is going to be this world-class surgeon. And I’m… just me.”
“I happen to like you. Just the way you are. But I think you shine more than you realize.” She turned slightly to look at me. “I mean, even if you hadn’t been drawing me, I think I would’ve seen you sitting there. I would’ve paid attention. And you’re so real, so down to earth. It’s almost surreal around the other Wrights. Like they’re so passionate, so bold, they’re not real.”
I chuckled and hugged her close. “You’re just saying that, because you need me, but I appreciate it.”
She shook her head. “Why would I lie to you, Gio? I know we don’t know everything about each other, and we don’t have years of friendship between us, but I don’t need all that to see that you’re an incredible guy. And I’m damn lucky to have you as my wedding date next week. I don’t know how I’d get through it without you.”
“You don’t have to find out.” I kissed her forehead and kept an arm around her shoulders as I pulled her in close again.
I knew it was all for pretend, just a cover story to make her family believe we were in love, but at least as long as she was in my arms, I was going to do what I could to make sure she knew how incredible, how special she was. She deserved at least that.
9
Helena
I was starting to regret making this deal with Gio.
He was perfect. Too perfect. It was just a matter of time before someone saw through the ruse, caught me in the lie. Why else would a guy like that, someone so down to earth, so talented, and so damn hot, be with a woman like me?
To top it all off, his family was practically perfect.
Before heading back to Denver for our flight, his brother, Chuck, and sister-in-law, Aubrey, invited us over for a family breakfast.
Zane, Raph, and Neil were already there when we pulled up, and Donna and Dick were just behind us.
“Gio, I can’t believe we got in so late last night and missed all your birthday fun.” The petite blonde Gio had introduced as Aubrey kept stealing glances at me. “And the introduction of your new girlfriend. I take it you’re a SoHo girl, right?”
“Actually, we met in L.A. when Gio was visiting Matt. I live in Austin.” I bit my lip, nervous that they’d see right through the ruse.
But Aubrey just smiled and nodded. “The long-distance thing sucks sometimes, but when you’re with the right guy, it’s not too hard.”
I nodded, still waiting for the other shoe to drop. For someone to call us out as the fakes we were, or for someone to really question why Gio was with me.
“Hey, Helena, can I talk to you a minute?” Neil walked over, a toe-headed little boy on his hip.
“Uh, sure.” I let Neil lead me out to a covered porch off the living room, overlooking a wide expanse of wilderness.
He set down the boy and ruffled his hair. “Go find Daddy, Will.”
I shifted from side to side, afraid I was about to fall prey to a military interrogation or something.
“I wanted to apologize yesterday, if I said anything that was offensive.” He scuffed the toe of his boot on the wooden deck. “We get to joking around, you know, and…”
“Neil, you don’t have anything to feel bad about.” I smiled softly and leaned on the railing of the deck. “I’ve got pretty thick skin, most of the time. And the teasing seemed more directed at Gio than me.”
Neil let out a chuckle. “He’s had to develop a thick skin too, over the years. It wasn’t easy for him, growing up. Hell, it still isn’t, most of the time. People don’t know how to interact with him, how to get past the daydreaming artist who tunes out the world, and really connect.” He nodded at my quirky screen-printed t-shirt covered in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the matching green turtle earrings I wore. “But I guess you walk to the beat of your own drum too, huh?”
“Yeah. I figure, I’m not going to blend in, so I might as well do what I want. And if I’m going to sit on a plane for hours, I wanted to be comfortable.”
Neil nodded. “I get that. But people tend to stare when I get comfortable.” He reached down, scratching at his knee, and I wondered just what he meant by that. “I’m glad you came for the party. That you’re here for Gio. He doesn’t often get very engaged with our family gatherings, but having you here seems to bring out the best in him.”
He turned and left me alone on the porch with my thoughts.
I couldn’t help but wonder what he meant; Gio was personable, outgoing, easy to talk to.
Surely it wasn’t just me that brought it out in him.
Breakfast was just as loud and chaotic as dinner was. Maybe more, with the addition of two more adults and a toddler who seemed to just get passed from lap to lap the whole meal.
But I couldn’t stop watching Gio as he interacted with me, with his family.
Trying to piece together what Neil had meant. To see if I could tell if it was me, or if Neil was just trying to butter me up, to soften whatever slight he’d supposedly dealt me.
As we waited in the first-class lounge for our flight, it was easy to pretend, for at least a little while, that I was Gio’s future Mrs. Wright.
“Before we get too far, I don’t want to forget this.” Gio bent down, and I thought he was just rifling through his bag.
I didn’t know what he could possibly need to do right that second, but I’d learned pretty quickly that Gio’s attention span lasted about as long as something held his artistic eye, and then it was gone.
There was no way I could’ve prepared for him dropping down on one knee and opening up the small velvet box.
The velvet box that so many women dreamed of.
“Helena Stratton, if you’re going to be my fiancée this week, you’re going to have to be properly bejeweled.”
It was a moment I never thought I’d get. The request to wear a man’s ring, to be marked as his fiancée, as the woman he loved so much that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
But it wasn’t real.
The diamond probably was. The thing sparkled enough in the florescent airport lighting, I was half sure that if we were closer to the windows, he could use it to bring in planes.
“Gio…”
“I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. I’m not having your family think I’m too
cheap to provide my fiancée with the ring she deserves. I already had to put up with your brother-in-law paying for dinner without even giving me a chance.” He pulled the ring out and slipped it onto my left hand.
I didn’t want to know how he managed to get the perfect fit.
“You could’ve gotten something simple. What are you going to do with this thing once this is all over?”
He kissed my knuckles before he slipped back into the seat next to me. “I don’t give a woman a gift with the expectation of taking it back. It’s yours, Helena.”
“You can’t give this to me. It’s too much.” I stared at the rock on my finger, and then at him. “I can’t take this.”
“Helena, I’ve told you before, if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it right. Don’t worry about the ring. Just wear it.”
I was about to complain again when he scooped up both our bags and stood.
“Come on, we’ll be boarding soon.” He held out his hand, and as I slipped my fingers against his palm, I felt a little shiver run down my spine.
It was going to be way too easy to pretend, and way too hard to give all this up when the week was over.
“Okay, remind me what the plans are this week?”
We’d been flying for hours, but it hardly felt like it. Between the first-class accommodations and Gio sitting next to me, taking care of my every need, I was almost relaxed.
Almost.
“Tonight’s what Daph’s calling a welcome party. Basically, just the family getting together for food and drinks, catching up. We’ll probably be expected to tell the story of how we met, when you proposed, all of that over and over. Any time you get overwhelmed, or tired of it all, we’ll claim jet lag and head back to the room. Tomorrow, I think Daphne’s planned a winery tour, or several. All you have to do is be your charming self, and it should be fine.”
“I’m yours all week. I’ll be such a good fiancé; you’ll forget we’re not really engaged.” He winked at me, an almost suggestive move that made my insides go gooey and made me imagine all sorts of real engagement activities we could partake in.
“Day after that is the bachelor-bachelorette day. You’ll be on your own, unless you want to join Marcus and the boys. I figured that would be a good day for you to work on your art, if you wanted.”
“And if I wanted to crash the hen party?” He grinned. “I have a feeling your party would be a lot more fun than whatever the guys have planned.”
“Don’t even think about it. Daph’s as traditional as they come with this stuff. She’ll kill us both if she thinks you’re trying to sabotage anything.”
“Okay, okay.” He leaned over and took my hand, entwining our fingers. “I think that’s enough recap for now. I don’t want to get there and suddenly forget what the plan is. But if Daphne has printed itineraries, maybe we’d better make sure we’ve got one handy at all times, just in case.”
“Don’t worry. Mostly, your job’s just going to be following me around and making me look good.” I laughed at the idea. Around my family, it wouldn’t matter how polished I was, I would always be the odd duck out.
“That, I can definitely do.” He pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, the sort that I’d always imagined would be like second nature, like breathing, in a healthy, happy couple, but that I’d never found for myself.
The plane started its descent, and I pushed the musings of Gio as more than just my pretend boyfriend out of my head. I needed to keep those barriers up. I needed to keep reminding myself that he wasn’t mine, that he’d never be mine, or letting him go at the end of the week was going to crush me.
Daphne and Marcus greeted us at the rental house when we arrived, and almost immediately, her eyes homed in on the ring.
“Oh, my, God. Hellie! Why didn’t you call me? When did this happen? Tell me everything!” She barely paused. “No, wait, tell me tonight, with everyone. Mom’s going to die.”
It felt like a grapefruit had formed in my throat, choking off my ability to speak, to do anything.
“I know it’s your week, Daphne, but you have to understand, I just couldn’t wait any longer. Your sister’s one of a kind, and I just couldn’t live another day without making sure everyone knew it.” Gio pressed a kiss to my temple as his hand slid down over my hip, almost onto my ass. “We can keep it a secret until after the wedding if you want. I wouldn’t want anything to take away from your big day.”
“Don’t be silly! This is huge.” Daphne grabbed my hand and held it up to the light, as if she could tell everything about the diamond just by looking at it.
Could she? What if it was fake, and that was why Gio didn’t have any trouble parting with it? Of course, I’d be even more mortified it was real. Why would he want to give me such an extravagant gift?
I cursed my stupid overactive brain. Why did I have to question every little thing? It was a beautiful ring and fake or not, I was proud to wear it, even if it was only for a week.
“It’s not as good as mine, but still a totally respectable ring.” She let my hand drop, and grinned. “Okay, let me show you to your room. The two of you can get settled, get comfortable. The party bus leaves tonight at six on the dot, so if you’re late—” she looked pointedly at me “—we’re leaving you behind.”
“You know, we might just drive ourselves, if that’s okay. I’m sure you understand my wanting to keep your sister to myself as long as possible, right?” Gio smirked, and I was half certain Daphne was about to swoon.
“Oh, of course. I never meant to insinuate that you had to ride with us, just that if you wanted to, that was when we were leaving.” She gestured for us to follow, and Gio let go of me to take both the bags.
I tried to reach over, take my own, but he shook his head slightly, and I let it drop. It wasn’t the right time to argue about it, and if he really wanted to haul both bags, who was I to complain?
The room seemed bigger than my entire apartment.
But there, in the middle, was one, single, king-sized bed.
I hadn’t talked to Gio about this. I didn’t know how to bring it up, without making it sound like I was complaining about sleeping together.
“This is beautiful, Daph.”
“Especially now that I know about your engagement, I’m so glad we picked this room for you guys. I figured you’d need a little extra space. And you’ve got your own bathroom, no sharing.” She smiled sweetly, but I could hear the words she left unspoken.
Hellie needs more room, because she takes up more room. Hellie needs her own bathroom, because we don’t want her taking up space that other people might need, and this shower’s bigger than some of the other ones.
There was a slew of possible things she wasn’t saying. Things I’d been worried about before I even got on the plane.
Things that were now Gio’s problem too.
Daphne left, and I bit my lower lip nervously. “Is this okay? I suspected she might put us in the same room, but if you want the bed to yourself, I can totally sleep on the floor.”
“Helena, I’m your fiancé. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t want to share a bed with you? It’s really not a big deal.” He kicked off his shoes and walked around the room in just his socks. “Although, the bed does give me some ideas. Things you might not be up for.”
How did he just casually throw that out there? Surely, he didn’t mean sex. Did he?
“Like what?” Did my voice sound as husky out loud as it did in my head?
“I’ve been thinking about that day on the beach. With you in that swimsuit. And this bed, with the backdrop of Tuscany… I could easily picture a sexy boudoir photo shoot. Black or red lingerie against the stark white of the sheets and comforter?” He shook his head. “But I’m sure you wouldn’t be into that. And we’d have to go out, buy you silky Italian lingerie…”
My heart was racing. Pounding so hard, I could hear it in my ears. How did he make that sound sexy? Not just with any woman, but with me?
“Is
that the kind of art you do? I guess that’s a far cry from ceramic birds.” God, could I be any more lame? He wasn’t coming on to me. He couldn’t have been.
He laughed. “I actually haven’t ever done a boudoir shoot. What can I say? You inspire me.” He sat at the foot of the bed and patted the space next to him. “Okay, we’ve got about an hour before we have to get ready. Do you want to go on the party bus? Or would you prefer having our own out if we need it?”
“I like the idea of driving separately. I love Daph, but sometimes she’s a little over the top. And I’m always okay having a quick exit if I need one.” I leaned my head on his shoulder. “I’ll think about the photo shoot.”
I couldn’t imagine how it could possibly be sexy, or sensual, or whatever people were supposed to feel after one of those, but with Gio, I was tempted to give it a shot.
“Hellie, honey, who is the delicious young man?” Mom walked up, a glass of champagne already in hand and a slightly cloudy look to her eyes. Daphne was the spitting image of Mom—slight frame, same blonde hair (I was pretty sure they used the same stylist and bottle number), same obsession with how things looked.
“Mom, this is Giovanni. He’s…” I took a breath, afraid to say it out loud. Mom wasn’t going to be as easy to convince as Daphne was, and if she even for a second believed that I was lying, I’d never hear the end of it.
“I’m Helena’s fiancé, ma’am. It’s an honor to meet you.” Gio reached out and took Mom’s hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “You’ve got quite the daughter here.”
“Please, call me Scarlet. You’re far too young and attractive to go around calling me ma’am.” She practically giggled.
Maybe Gio wasn’t as bad at this as I was. With him by my side, I actually believed I could do this. If everyone believed it, why couldn’t I? I deserved someone as great as Gio.
The Fiancé Agreement Page 8