The Fake Engagement Favor

by Charlene Sands

  “You can have any one you want, sweetheart,” Gage said, dead serious.

  “Do any of these lovely rings interest you?” Jeffrey asked. “They are of the finest quality and, as you can see, very unique in style.”

  Was Gage crazy? Or was he putting on a good show? No way was she going to pick out a ring that cost more than his sports car. She shook that notion off and pretended interest in the six rings shown to her, taking a bit of time, trying to play the part, but then shook her head. “They are a bit ornate for my taste. Do you have something simpler? And smaller?”

  Gage’s mouth twitched. He was amused by her discomfort.

  Jeffrey blinked, hiding his true emotions. He wasn’t going to make a killing on a ring today. “Of course. I have an entire array of rings to show you. Or, if you prefer, you can pick out a setting and we can find you the perfect diamond.”

  “Oh, no. That’s not necessary. I’m sure I can find one I like.” Gianna rose from her seat and wandered the shop, only to stop at a case up at the front of the store. “May I see these?” she asked, pointing to group of solitaire rings.

  Jeffrey rushed right over. “Oh, those aren’t—”

  Gage was right behind him. “Aren’t what?”

  “They’re, uh, fine and all. We only carry the best, but are you sure?” He looked at Gianna.

  “I’d like to see the marquise, please.” She pointed to a ring any woman wouldn’t mind wearing—if they weren’t getting engaged to a superstar. She didn’t want to give Jeffrey a stroke, but she wasn’t going to pick anything worth over a few thousand dollars.

  “It’s a solitaire, platinum band, but I’m afraid it’s only one carat.” He slid the door open and took out the ring. “Here you go,” he said, setting the ring down on a square of black velvet, trying not to appear annoyed. Jeffrey probably hadn’t run into too many women who were given carte blanche and then opted for such a small, plain ring. “Try it on if you’d like.”

  “Is that the one you like the most, Gianna?” Gage asked.

  She put the ring on her left ring finger. “It’s simple and just the right size for me. Yes, I’d love this one.”

  Gage looked at Jeffrey. “I think the lady has found her ring.”

  “Yes, yes. Good choice,” he told Gianna as he tried to show some enthusiasm.

  “Gianna, why don’t you look around a bit while I settle up with Jeffrey?” Gage kissed her cheek for good measure, and she sucked in a breath at the sensation of his lips on her skin yet again. She walked out of the store, needing to clear her head. She’d just picked out a ring for her fake engagement—just one lie of many more to come.

  * * *

  So it hadn’t been a fluke the other day. Gianna had dressed for their second date in a fitted cream lace dress that highlighted her tiny waist and dipped into delicious cleavage at the neckline. Her meadow-green eyes dazzled from behind her glasses, and the overhead lights in the Rhinestone Room reflected on her hair. Again, she looked amazing. His soon-to-be fiancée. She’d given poor Jeffrey at the jewelry store a migraine for sure by picking out the least expensive ring in his shop. Practical, analytical and ever-cautious Gianna didn’t want to stick him with a hefty price tag. Little did she know that the ring was hers. He wouldn’t take it back under any circumstances. It was a small price to pay for her help.

  As the maître d’ led them to a table at the back of the restaurant, heads turned, but this time it was Gianna who captured the attention. Not him. Not only did she look pretty, but she was now a bit of a curiosity. Compounding the social media buzz, local papers and online news outlets had already picked up on Gage Tremaine’s latest love interest, and while they didn’t know who she was, the photos at the ice cream shop spoke volumes.

  Once seated, Gage ordered red wine as soft music played throughout the restaurant. Cellphones popped out of hiding from the other patrons, and they seemed to snap endless photos of the two of them. Gage had learned not to engage with his audience, not to look them in the eye. He’d learned to keep his focus on his dinner dates and enjoy himself, despite having his every move scrutinized. He’d always chosen a back table for that very reason. It made it harder for people to be discreet with their observations and photo trigger fingers. Though it went against his motives, he wanted to have a few private moments with Gianna.

  “Have you been here before?” he asked Gianna.

  “Yes, several times.”

  “With a date?” he blurted. Damn, he hadn’t intended to sound incredulous.

  “Would that surprise you?”

  “No. But, uh, never mind.” The Rhinestone Room was exclusive, and it wasn’t a place you took a woman unless you were serious about her. Not only was the food excellent and the service impeccable, but it made a statement. It said, you’re special. And it had been Regan’s idea to bring Gianna here to send the right message.

  “If you must know, I was honored with an award here just last year.”

  He lifted his brows. He wasn’t surprised, but rather, impressed. “What was it for?”

  “I received the Fairmont Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. We had a special dinner here.”

  “Congratulations. I bet your mom was proud.”

  Gage shouldn’t have brought up her mother, but it was too late. Fortunately, Gianna didn’t seem to mind the memory.

  She smiled. “She was.”

  The wine arrived, and after two glasses were poured, Gage lifted his glass. “Let’s toast to your mother, Gianna.”

  “Let’s.” She picked up her glass and touched his with a soft clink. “To my mom and to yours,” she said. “The best women I’ve ever known.”

  “Me, too,” he said. After they sipped, Gage put down his glass. “You said you were here several times.”

  “My best friend, Brooke, set me up on a blind date, and he took me here. We dated for a short time, and then he brought me here to break it off.”

  “Wow. That’s cold.”

  “Not really. He was a nice guy, and he knew I liked this place. It just didn’t work out between us. We didn’t mesh. He was into sports and cars. His big dream was to go to a baseball game in every ballpark in America.”

  “A real dud, huh.” As a boy, Gage had that very same dream. He’d pitched on his high school varsity team, but then he got the music bug and it had become his passion. He found he could play guitar pretty well, and the deep pitch of his voice worked well with the songs he chose to sing. But he still loved baseball, watched it on TV and played it whenever he could get his bandmates on the field. “So, no sports or cars.” She wasn’t much into fashion or the latest trends. Gage got the feeling his sister, Lily, was totally responsible for her wardrobe choices, too. “What do you like, Gianna, besides books?”

  “I like teaching.”

  “A given.”

  “I like ice cream.”

  “Three scoops, got that. What else?”

  “I’m on the board of the Learning and Literacy Foundation at the university. It’s a charity to help promote reading. It’s a passion of mine. There’s a lot of children out there really struggling to read. The university does its fair share of fund-raising.”

  “Great cause. But do you do anything for fun? Just for the hell of it?”

  “I used to travel. Until my mom got sick. That all stopped, but I imagine I’ll do it again at some point.”

  “We’re going to do some traveling together. I’ve got a trip planned to Nashville after the Fourth. And then on to Los Angeles.”

  “And it’s imperative that I go with you?” she asked, looking at him over the rim of her wineglass.

  “It’s necessary, Gianna.”

  He had to be blunt. None of this would work if she didn’t take these trips with him. It’s what she’d signed up for, but if she put up too much of a fuss, he’d have to make some allowances. “There�
�s some great history in Nashville. It’s not all about music. I promise to make it bearable.”

  “After the Fourth, I’ll be deep in research for the Family Studies seminar I’m giving at the university at the end of the month. It’s a study of major theories regarding family development and delves into the biological, psychological and historical factors that influence family patterns and behavior.”

  “In English, please?”

  Her mouth formed an adorable pout. “Never mind. Just know that while we’re on the road, I’ll be working in the separate bedroom you promised me, when I’m not with you.”

  “Fair enough. And speaking of the Fourth, will you agree to be my temporary fiancée, Gianna?” He dipped into his pocket, covering his hand completely over the ring box.

  She smiled a beautiful smile. “You have a way with words, Gage.”

  “I want you to have the ring tonight, but you don’t have to wear it until the Fourth. I thought it would be less awkward for you than having me get down on one knee in front of everyone at the party. This way, it’s an announcement instead of the actual proposal. And if anyone asks, you can tell them I proposed to you tonight and gave you the ring over dinner at the Rhinestone Room. It wouldn’t be a lie. You can keep your committed relationship with the truth.” He smiled.

  She smiled, too. “I appreciate that and it makes sense.”

  “Thank you again for doing this.” He closed his hand over the ring box and placed it into her palm. Her fingers curled around it, keeping it out of view, and she immediately tucked it into her purse.

  “Oh, and there’s just one more thing.” He reached into his other pocket and came up with a gold velvet drawstring jewelry bag. “This goes with the ring.” He slid the bag across the table. “For you, Gianna.”

  Surprise lit in her eyes. “What’s this?”

  “Open it.”

  She stared at him a second and then picked up the bag, looking a bit wary. She undid the drawstring and pulled out the necklace. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered in awe.

  A dozen small diamonds forming a vee dropped down to a single strand that held one delicate marquise diamond. Jeffrey had called it a drop necklace.

  She ran the necklace over her palm, the delicate strand caressing her fingers. Her expression changed instantly, and her awe dissolved. “I can’t accept this, Gage.”

  “It’ll look perfect on you, Gianna. And yes, you can accept it.”

  “I’ll just have to return it to you when I return the diamond ring.”

  “All sales are final. Otherwise Jeffrey would have a heart attack.”

  Gianna’s eyes widened. “Are you saying you can’t return it?”

  “I’m saying...yes. It’s unreturnable. Don’t you like it?”

  “I...love it. But it’s too much.”

  “Let me be the judge of that.”

  “How did you do this, anyway? When?”

  “Let’s just say, Jeffrey showed it to me after you walked out of the store. He and I both agreed it would look great on you.”

  She snapped her fingers. “And just like that, you bought it.”

  “Yeah.”

  Gage hadn’t been totally unselfish in buying that necklace. He wanted Gianna to have it because of the unorthodox favor she was doing for him. But it was also a way to keep her invested in this scheme. One good turn deserved another. He was asking a lot of her, and he needed to keep her onboard. He wasn’t buying her loyalty, but rather showing her how much her sacrifice meant to him. At least, he hoped she viewed it that way.

  He couldn’t afford for anything to go wrong.

  His livelihood depended upon it.

  It depended on her.

  * * *

  Gianna wasn’t thrilled with Gage’s gift, but she kept her irritation to a simmer. They were out in public, and she didn’t want to blow her cover. She had given her word to be in this charade until the very end. But she hadn’t asked for jewelry—she hadn’t asked for anything in return for her favor. Okay, it made sense that he’d give her a ring. She needed to show up at the party wearing it when they made their engagement announcement, but the necklace? That was a different story.

  She was more than mildly insulted that Gage thought he had to buy her off with diamonds. She’d like to think otherwise of him, but there was no other logical explanation for him going to such extremes. She ventured to guess the necklace was far more expensive than the ring she’d picked out. Why did he do it? Did he have so little faith in her?

  Before she could stop him, he rose from his chair and took the necklace from her hand.

  “Allow me,” he said.

  Baffled, she simply sat there at the table while Gage came around to rest his hand on her shoulder. Gently, he brushed her hair to one side, the backs of his fingers caressing her throat ever so softly. She drew breath into her lungs at his touch, and tingles of awareness flitted through her belly. While his hands worked the clasp, she sat stiffly, perplexed at her reaction to him, to his unnerving presence behind her. She couldn’t let him see how he affected her. When he was through and the necklace was fastened, he arranged her hair back in place, his fingers grazing her skin once again. She squeezed her eyes closed briefly, holding her breath.

  He sat down, eyeing the drop necklace that landed in the hollow between her breasts. His baby blues lingered long enough to heat her body and make her squirm a bit, not from annoyance this time but from something much more dangerous.

  “Gianna, it’s perfect on you.”

  He sounded sincere. No matter what his motives, she couldn’t deny the necklace was a beauty. “Thank you.”

  All during dinner, Gage’s eyes dipped down to her breasts. Was he only admiring the gift he’d given her? She surely hoped so. There was no room in her heart for anything else. She was filled with grief, still mourning the passing of her dear mother. Besides, the notion of anything happening between her and Gage in real life was ridiculous. Even if his touch brought flutters. She hadn’t been intimate with a man for quite some time, so of course the first bit of contact again would give her butterflies.

  Gage poured her a second glass of wine and they spent time talking about him, his concerts, what to expect when they were on the road. Gianna’s head began to swim, but she continued to drink, only because Gage was a master storyteller and she actually enjoyed hearing about his antics with his siblings and bandmates. The more she drank, the funnier his stories became, but then suddenly, Gage stopped talking.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, swaying a bit. Suddenly, it was hard to focus her eyes. “Tell me m-more.”

  “Geesh, Gianna, you’re a lightweight,” Gage said, staring at her. “What’d you have, two and a half glasses of wine?”

  “Something like th-that. I’m not much of a drinker.”

  “I can see that,” he muttered. “I’d better get you home.”

  “I don’t want to go h-home.” She sounded like a child, but she didn’t care.

  “Exactly why I need to get you home.”

  Next, she was being lifted out of her seat and ushered through the restaurant. She smiled at people as she passed by, Gage hurrying her along. He held her tight, his strength kind of a turn-on, and then she was in his car and being buckled in. The air around her was heavy with masculine musk. “Mmm. I l-like the way you smell.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  After that, everything was a blur. Houses passed her by. She couldn’t stop giggling, even when her eyes were closed. And then, again, Gage had her in his arms. First, they were outside and now they were inside. And she was on a bed, a soft, cozy bed, and her eyes slowly opened.

  “Gage?”

  “Get some sleep. I’ll check on you in the morning.”

  Her hair was brushed aside, and she felt his lips on her forehead.

  She lifted her arms, grabbing
for him. “Don’t g-go.”

  He broke away from her, setting her arms down gently. “Got to, Brainiac.”

  She giggled and then closed her eyes again.

  And drifted off.

  * * *

  Morning broke through the windows in Gianna’s bedroom, the sunlight penetrating the gaps in the shutters. Her lids were like lead, too heavy to open right now. The light was too bright. She needed the dark. All she wanted to do was sleep off her pounding headache.

  She let out a long, low groan of pain, but that wasn’t the only reason the grotesque noise rumbled up from her chest. What she could remember of last night gave her hives. She’d made a blubbering fool out of herself at dinner. Gage had had to hold her tight, his arm propping her up as they left the restaurant, and Lord only knew what on earth she’d said to him on the drive home. Or worse yet, what she’d said to him as he’d tucked her into bed.

  “Oh, man,” she muttered. She was supposed to be the stable, responsible one of the pair and not act like a drunken roadie. She prayed no one snapped a picture of her, or worse yet, took video as she left the Rhinestone Room with Gage. This was not the image she wanted to portray. As all sorts of humiliating scenarios played out in her mind, she dug herself deeper down into the covers.

  Gage’s voice rang out on her cell phone. A song about a brokenhearted woman. She didn’t know the tune, but Gage had assured her it was one of his biggest hits, and it would be only natural to have his ringtone on her cell phone. He had even done the honors of changing it for her yesterday.

  Still prone on her bed, she rummaged through her purse on the nightstand and came up with her phone. Another groan escaped her throat as Brooke’s face popped up. Gianna debated answering the call or not, but knowing her best friend, she’d probably call her back every five minutes until she answered.

  “Hello,” she whispered, the shallow sound of her voice making her cringe.

  “Do I have to be the last one to know?” Brooke said.