“Were you close growing up?” I pressed, wanting to know more, despite it.Why? Why should I care?
She shrugged. “Mami did her best. Took on housekeeping jobs.” She kept her voice low. “I knew she loved us. That’s what mattered.”
“It couldn’t have been easy,” I acknowledged. “Your…father?”
She shook her head. “I never met him. He was gone before I was born.”
Definitely not easy. A lot of things were beginning to make sense. “I’m sorry,” I said, reaching across the table for her hand. Her smile was small, but I found beauty in it.
“We did okay,” she said, taking her glass with her free hand. I liked the warmth of her fingers in mine.
“On a housekeeper’s income?” I left it hanging.
“No…well, we went into foster care, eventually.” Her voice grew husky. She shrugged. “It could have been worse.”
I imagined that it could not have been. She tugged her fingers free from my grasp and trailed them over the tablecloth, as if wiping something from her skin. No, there was definitely more to this picture. And I sensed it had a lot to do with the horror in her eyes that first night.
“Jane says you’re in negotiations with the Ardmore people,”I changed subject abruptly and she almost sagged with relief.
“Yes!” Her smile was suddenly radiant. “Hair care – can you believe it?” Her light laugh was like music.
“Of course, I can believe it. Your hair is magnificent,” I said, reaching out to stroke a curl. At some point, I was going to take a handful of it and wrap it around my cock. When loose, it tumbled almost to her ass, like a rushing red river.
“Jane said there was quite a lot of competition for the contract, so I’m really fortunate,” she went on. “I feel sorry for the others, though.” She bit her lip. “I can see how tough this industry is. Thank you.”
“For what?” I asked, mulling over her concern for the other models. Why should she care? Angelique never had. The name came to me almost unbidden, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t thought of my ex in days. Longer.
“Thank you for giving me options,” she said softly. “I know…I know we have an arrangement. But I want you to know that I appreciate what you’re doing for me. You don’t have to. I mean…You’re paying me enough.”
I shook my head, as much to clear my mind as to brush off her words. “It’s nothing. Which reminds me.” I glanced around, raising a hand, and watching as the maître d’ hopped to attention. There’d been a reason I’d booked us a table at the hottest new restaurant in town. “Our arrangement… There is more to it, as you may recall.”
She dipped her head. Then looked up, eyes widening as a small group of servers began making their way over to us. One was holding an ice-bucket packed with ice and a bottle of Cristal. Another was bearing a gaudy sparkler propped into some sort of cake. A third man followed with a violin. Half the restaurant spun around to look at the spectacle.Perfect.If I was going to get this right, it needed to look real.
I reached into my jacket pocket, past the fragrant underwear, and curled my fingers around the small box tucked within. Then rising, I moved beside her chair and lowered myself onto one knee. Flipping the box open, I raised it toward her, watching her eyes bug out at the sight of the contents. The pink diamond flittered and shimmered, casting rose fire over her skin. She reached out a shaking hand. It may have been part of the act, but she was doing a damn good job, I thought with satisfaction.
And something else.
“Sasha Ramirez,” I said softly; somehow my voice was husky, which was a pretty good touch, though I hadn’t planned on it. I licked my lips. “Sasha…will you make me the happiest man on Earth…and be my wife?”
I was laying it on thick because the press loved that shit. Yeah… you keep telling yourself that’s what it is, boy,a voice said from the back of my mind. I kept my eyes fixed on her face. The entire restaurant was so silent you could hear a pin drop. She raised shaking hands to cup her face. She was really doing a great job.
“Oh! Oh, my God! Yes…yes!” She stretched her hand forward, and I grasped it, extracting the glittering gem from its box. I could feel her trembling as I slid the band along her finger. Perfect fit.
I rose to my feet, slid my arms around her waist, and swept her up against me, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. There was a round of applause behind us. I ended the kiss and dropped my face into her neck. “Well done, Sweetness, you’re doing great,” I murmured against her skin. I felt her stiffen, but then the champagne was popping and diners around us were cheering. I pulled myself away from her slightly and gave a slight bow.
“Champagne on me,” I announced, beaming broadly. For a minute, it almost felt real. I glanced at the girl beside me and imagined a life with her.Fuck, she’s beautiful.I raised her hand and displayed the insanely huge rock. It didn’t matter that it had been intended for someone else. It couldn’t have graced a more exquisite hand. There were loud whispers from around us as the rock gleamed. It had made news a while back when it hit twenty-five million on auction and it occurred to me that if Sasha was that way inclined, she could walk off with the thing and forget about the contract.
But she wouldn’t.
I don’t know how I knew it. I just did. I looked down at her again, imagining that face in ten years. forty even. She’d be beautiful still.
What the actual fuck, Walker! She’s a whore!
I reached for my glass, returning my attention to the watching crowd. “To Sasha Ramirez,” I said firmly. “The most beautiful woman in the world. And the new face of Ardmore Glamor Curls!” There was a gasp from those in the room.Good. Let that circulate for a bit.I stooped and brushed my lips against Sasha’s cheek. She looked like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Tough. She needed to get used to the attention.
“Hey!” a voice called from the group surrounding us. “Hey, I know you!” I frowned.Who’s after me now?
“Gingerbread? Hey, Gingerbread!” A thickset man was weaving toward us, holding a glass. He was leering, his lips and teeth stained with red wine. “Yo! Ginger, remember me? It’s…” he was slurring. “It’s me, Bert…Don’t you ‘member…?”
