“I did.” I ground my teeth.
“I’m so glad.” She grinned her mirthless smile, which did nothing to brighten the mask of her neutral face. Nothing like how Nova lit up the room when she smiled. Diana was an ice queen through and through.
“This is Connor,” she said.
I raised my chin in acknowledgment. A few silent moments followed.
“I’m Nova.” She stepped forward and extended her hand. Both Diana and Connor exchanged greetings.
Inside, I groaned. I should have introduced Nova. What was wrong with me? The main purpose of her being my date tonight was for this encounter.
“Yes, this is my girlfriend, Nova.” In a higher lilt, I added, “Or should I say, my fiancée?”
My gut churned with regret. Where the ever-loving fuck did that come from? Why had I blurted that out, stepping our fake relationship up another level without even mentioning it to Nova?
Her brows arched up in an astonished expression.
“I—uh—mean—well…” I stammered. Why couldn’t a tidal wave sweep in right now and get me out of this mess?
Nova touched my bicep. “Oh, honey. You took me by surprise. I thought we were keeping it quiet for now.”
At least she’d managed to come up with a reason on the fly for her shocked expression. Shit, shit, shit. Now I had to get myself together. “What can I say, darling? I’m excited and want to tell everyone.”
Diana touched my hand, her cold fingers on me. Such a difference from Nova’s warm touch. I resisted yanking my arm away and did so casually.
“Oh, Diego, that’s wonderful,” Diana cooed.
Did she think it was just as wonderful when we were engaged, and I promised her my mortal heart and soul?
“Is it?” I asked with bitterness and a cock of my head. Oh holy hell, I had to stop. Awkward silence was better than me sticking my foot in my mouth and following it up with a boot to the tonsils.
“Of course.” She turned to Nova. “Let me see your ring. Diego has such good taste.”
She would know—especially as she likely pawned off the one I gave her to gallivant with the next guy who came along. I bit those words back as something worse threatened to unravel my ruse. There was no ring.
“Oh, he most definitely does. I’d never seen a more perfect ring for me,” Nova said. “But it’s being sized right now. She raised her hand and moved her fingers about. “It’s got to fit comfortably since I’ll be wearing it til death do us part.”
Not only had she covered my bumbling ass, but she’d lobbed a subtle zinger at Diana while doing so.
Diana’s expression hardened, but she didn’t acknowledge the barb. “Congratulations to you both.”
Silent Connor echoed her statement.
I didn’t even feel a modicum of celebration. I just wanted to get the hell away from Diana. “Excuse us, we were just about to step outside to get some air.”
“Save a dance for me later, Diego,” she purred.
Like hell I would.
As I rushed Nova to the entrance, I muttered, “Thanks for covering my ass.”
All the elation from the night of dancing with Nova and then kissing her slowly crumbled away as my insides turned dark and twisted. Seeing Diana reminded me of the heartache, the boundless regret. I’d made the mistake of falling for a woman before, trusting her, and it had ended up destroying my life.
But Nova was different, nothing like Diana.
Oh shit, I had to get air and get my head straight. Nova and I were only here together as a ruse. If I put any hope of there ever being a real thing, then I was still the same dumb ass who’d been fooled by a vapid vampire two years ago.
Nova
