Page 14 of Forty, Flirty & Fake-ly Yours

"Well, the day after, specifically. My best friend is planning his engagement party then." I pause, realizing I should probably add, "Assuming she says yes tonight."

"Tonight?" Now she looks genuinely alarmed. "Wait. Alex Drake is proposing tonight?"

This catches my attention. "You know Alex?"

"You've got to be kidding me. Huh. Guess the universe really does have a sense of humor."

I'm about to ask exactly how our social circles overlap when my phone buzzes. Douglas Franklin's name lights up the screen, along with three missed calls from Connor.

Through the French doors, I can see the photographers circling closer, and Joel Franklin is making his way toward the balcony with a determined expression.

"We need to make a decision," I tell her, keeping my voice low. "Now."

She glances over her shoulder at the approaching storm – both meteorological and social. When she turns back, there's something in her amber eyes that makes all my algorithms stutter.

"Fine," she says. "But we need rules. Parameters. A clear exit strategy."

I definitely shouldn't find her use of technical terms attractive. "I can have a contract drawn up by morning."

"Of course you can." This time her laugh sounds genuine. "You know what? Why not. It's not like this night can get any more complicated."

The universe, apparently determined to prove her wrong, chooses that moment to add a new variable to our equation. My phone buzzes again, but this time it's a text from Alex:SOS. AT LA FAMIGLIA. RING MISSING. NEED BACKUP NOW.

Simultaneously, through the French doors, I hear Joel Franklin's voice: “Roz? Roz, you out there?”

Rosalind – Roz – peers at my expression. "What's wrong?"

"How do you feel about Italian food?"

"What?"

"We need to get out of here, my best friend is having a crisis, and I have a feeling you know exactly where La Famiglia is, given that you seem to know its soon-to-be-engaged owners."

Her eyes widen. “Oh, that’s right. If you know Alex, then…” She blinks. “Mac. Mackenzie Gallo is your best friend's girlfriend.”

"Soon to be fiancée. Assuming we can find the ring he was proposing with that has somehow gone missing."

"Oh God. Nonna Flora is going to have a field day with this."

"You know Nonna Flora?"

The French doors open. “Roz?” Joel calls. “I just wanted to?—“

I make a rapid calculation: nosy ex-husbands versus Alex's potential breakdown versus the intriguing woman still standing too close in the rain.

"Trust me?" I ask her.

Her laugh is just shy of hysterical. "I just agreed to fake-date you. Clearly, my judgment is already compromised."

I take her hand. "Then let's give them something to talk about."

Before she can respond, I pull her closer, one hand sliding to her waist while the other cups her jaw. Her amber eyes widen in understanding just before I kiss her.

It's meant to be strategic. Professional. The kind of public display of affection that will make Joel Franklin too uncomfortable to ask more questions.

It's not meant to feel like this.

She makes a small sound against my mouth, her fingers curling into my ruined shirt, and every algorithm in my head shorts out.

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