“When didthathappen?” Cam asked. The surprise in his tone was hard to miss.
“Today,” they both said at the same time and laughed.
“Wow. Congratulations.” Ria’s eyes remained fixed on the engagement ring. Francine felt a spurt of possessive delight. Itwasstunning.
Cam gave Raphael another questioning look. Francine knew he was rather quiet at the best of times. She hoped he didn’t disapprove of their engagement, though he’d have no idea it was fake.
“Does that mean you’ll be staying on Earth?” Hope seemed to color Cam’s tone.
“Possibly,” Raphael hedged. “I’m considering Earth as my new home base, at least.”
“Excellent. I’d love to put you on my security staff even part-time, if you’re looking for permanent work.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Cam nodded and tugged on Ria’s hand to get her moving.
“Again, congratulations,” Ria said with a grin, briefly resisting Cam’s urging. “I love your ring.”
“Thank you.”
“It looks like a family treasure passed down for generations.” Ria eyed Raphael as if seeking verification.
“Something like that,” he said, neither confirming nor denying the legacy of the piece as the couple moved away.
Francine didn’t know where he’d gotten it. Stunning as it appeared, she was certain it wasn’t a true violet diamond. It must be a reproduction. Violet diamonds were more common on Ichor-Delta than any other planet she knew of, but the giant center diamond and luxurious design had to be fake, right? Otherwise, the ring would be worth a king’s ransom.
As they walked through the Big Bang Truck Stop’s underground retail concourse, he paused at a kiosk with sunglasses and gave her a shuttered look. “You aren’t going to ask me if it’s real, are you?”
“Are you reading my mind again?”
“Maybe.”
Francine glanced down at her hand, letting the facets of the violet diamond catch the light and sparkle. “Are you going to tell me about it? If it was real, it would be priceless.”
“I’d be what Earthers call a big jerk if I gave my fiancée a fake ring.”
“I prefer the word reproduction and I would never call you a jerk.”
“You’re adorable.”
“So itisa real violet diamond in an antique setting?”
He nodded. She paled. “It’s not stolen or anything, is it?”
“Of course not.” Quickly, he added, “What if I told you I acquired it as payment for a job?”
Francine looked at the ring. She’d have to give it back, but planned to enjoy it for as long as she possessed it. “Well, I love this ring. Thank you for letting me wear it during our—‘cough’—engagement.”
Raphael smiled down at her, holding her hand, running his thumb along her finger and around the ring. She looked up into his eyes and they kissed. Just like they were really engaged and in love.
The clerk behind the register at the sunglasses place loudly cleared her throat until they broke the kiss and started moving through the basement again.
Francine was going to have to put the brakes on her feelings. She knew she’d be crushed when the time came for their fake engagement to end. Even if they kept dating, the engagement was only a farce.Right?
It didn’t matter that her heartbeat sped up each time their lips came into contact. Once they returned from Pru’s wedding and whatever side trip he needed to take, the engagement would be over. That was exactly what she should prepare herself for. The thought of preparing for reality made tears well up in her eyes, so she focused on the here and now. She had almost two weeks to enjoy being treasured by a worthy man instead of being made to feel like she was a creature so vile she had to be removed posthaste and exiled immediately from any family gathering.
Not for the first time, Francine pictured what it might be like to receive her family’s approval and welcome at Pru’s wedding, albeit with grudging acceptance by her parents as they exited the ceremony before heading to the reception. On Raphael’s arm, she’d be able to go through the receiving line at the reception without fear of being cast out. She couldn’t wait to see her parents’ faces when she introduced a member of Ichor-Delta royalty as her fiancé and showed them the big honking ring she had on her finger.
