Everything He Promises (3 page)

“
No,
I
do.
I
was
just
thinking
soonish.
Very
soon,
but
I
hadn't
put
an
actual
date
on
it
yet.
”
He
stared
into
my
eyes
as
if
there
was
hidden
wisdom
there.

I
admired
the
way
his
dark
hair
was
mussed,
his
top
button
of
his
white
shirt
undone.
I
wanted
to
take
him
to
bed
at
that
moment
—
hang
everything
else.

“
Um,
just
a
minor
point.
This
is
a
sham
engagement,
right?
”

Rock
bit
his
lip.
“
Yeah.
”

He
sounded
as
if
there
were
more
he
meant
to
say
but
didn't.

“
Okay.
So,
we
wait
and
see
what
happens,
I
think.
”

But
that's
not
what
I
wanted.
I
wanted
him
to
sweep
me
into
his
arms
and
say
we're
getting
married
in
two
days.

“
I
have
a
better
idea.
”
His
eyes
glittered
like
onyx.

My
skin
prickled.

“
Let's
get
married
next
week
or
at
least
make
it
widely
known
that
that's
our
plan
and
that
we're
going
to
fly
back
to
California
right
before.
I'll
have
the
necessary
papers
drawn
up,
of
course.
”
Rock
avoided
my
gaze
as
he
twiddled
with
his
napkin.

“
Papers?
”
I
wasn't
going
to
make
this
easy
on
him.

“
Yeah.
As
in
that
this...isn't
real.
It
will
be
for
show
if
it
does
go
through.
We'll
quietly
dissolve
it
once
everything
blows
over
and
I
find
out
what
I
want
to
know.
”

“
Right.
”
My
voice
was
brittle.
I
swallowed
back
tears.

What
a
fool
I
am.

“
In
fact,
I'm
going
to
announce
that
right
now.
Come
with
me.
”
He
took
my
arm,
a
current
tingling
between
us.

Rock
led
me
out
on
the
dance
floor.
He
had
a
word
with
the
band
that
was
playing,
and
the
music
ground
to
a
halt
as
he
stepped
back
to
my
side,
sliding
his
arm
around
me.

That
was
a
good
thing
because
my
legs
were
shaking.

“
I
have
another
announcement
to
make.
Some
of
you
might
have
noticed
that
I
was
so
enraptured
with
my
beloved
that
I
didn't
slip
a
ring
on
her
finger.
”
Rock
grinned,
and
everyone
laughed
softly.

Blood
pounded
in
my
ears.

What
is
he
saying?

I
hadn't
even
thought
of
a
ring.
I
realized
he
hadn't
either,
or
at
least
he
had
forgotten
whatever
he'd
brought
for
me
to
wear.

Because
this
is
a
sham...

My
face
grew
hot.

“
So,
I
want
to
do
this
again.
”

Rock
knelt
on
one
knee,
holding
my
hand
in
his
as
he
slipped
a
box
out
of
his
pocket.
“
Lacey
Pate,
will
you
marry
me
a
week
from
now
in
California?
And
will
you
wear
my
ring?
”

I
nodded,
unable
to
speak
as
he
slipped
a
glittering
platinum
band
on
my
finger.
The
diamond
was
so
large,
I
had
no
idea
what
size
it
was.

“
Well?
”
He
winked
at
me.

“
Yes,
of
course.
Yes.
”

Rock
stood
and
kissed
me
then,
his
arms
going
around
me.
There
was
nothing
fake
about
the
way
his
lips
claimed
mine.

“
Huzzah!
” s
omeone
shouted,
and
everyone
clapped.

“
Not
the
smoothest
engagement
twice
over
in
the
world,
but
it
will
do,
I
think.
You'll
all
receive
invitations
here
in
Venice,
but
the
wedding
will
be
back
in
California
a
week
from
tonight.
”

I
gasped
for
breath
as
the
room
seemed
to
close
in
on
me.

“
Are
you
all
right?
”
Rock
murmured
in
my
ear,
sending
chills
through
me.

“
Yes.
”

“
You
look...I
don't
know.
Shocked.
”
He
smiled,
lifting
my
chin
as
he
gazed
into
my
eyes.

“
That
ring...
”
I
trailed
off,
not
knowing
what
to
say.

“
What
man
would
screw
up
and
not
give
a
ring
to
the
woman
he'd
asked
to
marry
him?
”
Rock
whispered
the
words
in
my
ear
as
he
led
me
into
a
slow
dance,
every
inch
of
his
body
pressed
to
mine.

“
I
don't
know.
”

“
Well,
it
certainly
makes
it
look
real.
Doesn't
it?
Does
the
ring
fit?
”
He
lifted
my
hand
to
his
lips,
kissing
it
and
admiring
the
gems
sparkling
under
the
lights
of
the
ballroom.