Dominque was tempted to tell him to do just that, but she knew that it wouldn’t help her nerves in the least. “Next weekend is fine.”
She took a bite of one of the empanadas and nearly moaned. It was delicious. The beef was spicy, and the dough was crispy on the outside and light on the inside.
“Where did you get these?” she asked after she swallowed her first bite.
“Little place not far from here. The owners are from Argentina. The chimichurri sauce is amazing.”
They ate in silence, but, surprisingly, it wasn’t uncomfortable. Oscar lingered nearby for a while but eventually gave up and flounced over to the couch, where he jumped up onto the cushions and stretched out.
Once they were done eating, Ronan reached into his pocket and removed a small black box, setting it on the table next to her plate. “Since we reside in the human realm, we’re going to do this whole thing the human way as well.”
Confused, Dominique picked up the box and flipped back the lid, staring down at the ring sparkling inside it. “What’s this?”
“Your engagement ring.”
Dominique looked up, her blue-green eyes glittering like the stone in the ring. “Why?”
“My parents will expect it. And I’m sure your assistant would be skeptical if you showed up to work one day married without at least a short engagement.”
Dominique hadn’t thought of that. She and Veronica were friends, but they maintained a distance between them. That was intentional on Dominique’s part because she didn’t know how to be someone’s friend. And shereallydidn’t know how to be someone’s fiancée.
She looked back down at the box, taking in the ring. The stone was an aquamarine. In the fae realm, aquamarines symbolized the deepest loyalty, wisdom, and truth. She almost laughed at the thought. For her, and for Ronan, this ring represented none of those things. It also wasn’t a stone typically used in betrothal rings. Usually, fae men and women had aquamarines set in their weaponry, pendants, or even tiaras or coronets for nobility.
“Are you going to put it on?” he asked.
A light sweat broke out on her skin at the thought, but she realized she didn’t have much choice. Dominique managed to control the tremor in her hand as she tugged the ring free of the cushion. The oval stone shimmered like the clear waters of a tropical ocean. There were no other stones surrounding it, just a delicate setting on a slender band.
She slipped it onto her left ring finger, her breath catching as it slid into place. It fit perfectly.
When she looked up, Ronan’s eyes were focused on her hand. His gaze moved to hers. “It looks great on you.”
“Why an aquamarine?” she asked.
He paused for so long she didn’t think he’d answer. Finally, he said, “It matches your eyes. Since we want everyone to believewe’re in love, it seemed like something I would want you to wear.”
“I see,” she murmured.
“Speaking of being in love, you’re going to have to act like you can actually tolerate me while we’re visiting my family.”
She raised an eyebrow as she stared at him. “I’m capable of acting as though I enjoy your company, Ronan. You’re the one who’s going to need to work on lookingsmitten.”
Dominique got up from the table, taking their empty plates to the dishwasher. She straightened when she finished and yelped when she turned around to find him directly behind her. His blue eyes blazing, Ronan backed her against the cabinets, his hands brushing her hips as they came to rest on top of the counter on each side of her.
She tried to pull back, to put space between them, but he stepped into her, crowding her space. His hands shifted from the counter to her hips, sliding to the base of her spine. His thumbs ran beneath the hem of her T-shirt, touching the bare skin of her lower back. Goose bumps erupted on her flesh, and she took a stranglehold over her body to keep her knees locked out, so she didn’t melt to the floor.
Ronan stared down at her as though he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. His tongue came out to wet his bottom lip and Dominique was suddenly spellbound by the sight of his mouth. He leaned forward slightly, his lips barely touching hers in the whisper of a kiss.
Her mouth tingled fiercely as though she’d been shocked by electricity. Dominique inhaled sharply, her mouth opening in an effort to draw in more air. His tongue slipped inside, a soft, wet slide against hers. His fingertips dug into the flesh of her hips, drifting lower to grasp her ass. Dominique reached up and fisted the front of his T-shirt, holding on for dear life.
Finally, just when she was ready to drag him down onto the kitchen floor, Ronan released her mouth.
His face was only inches away, his blue eyes fierce as they locked onto hers. “I’ve been practicing my acting skills since I was a child, Dominique. Anyone watching would believe I’m smitten.”
She took a shaky breath, trying to gain control over her body. “Okay. Everyone will believe,” she agreed. As long as she ignored the fact that she was so turned on she could barely see straight.
“See? It will all be fine.”
She wanted to laugh at that because nothing about the kiss felt fine. Shocking. Thrilling. Electric. But not fine.
