I don’t bother to correct her, and neither does mydate. And it’s a good thing, too, because of what happens next.

“I know, but we can still have a little fun, right?” She snaps the picture, and then she switches places with her friend.

I smile for the second photo, trying my hardest to make the smile genuine and not stilted as these two interrupt my dinner with Sophie.

“Is he still considered a bachelor if he’s engaged?” the one called Chelsea asks.

My brows dip together. “Huh?”

“Is this your fiancé? I just saw a snippet on Page Six.”

“Page Six?” I repeat.

Why the fuck wouldPage Sixbe reporting that I’m engaged?

“Yeah, you know. The celebrity gossip column?” she says, defining it as if I don’t know what it is. She looks between Sophie and me. “Oh, did they get it wrong? Are you not engaged?”

My gaze falls on Sophie, who’s smiling like a pro while I’m getting a strong sense of whiplash.

“Oh, we’re engaged,” Sophie says smugly.

“Can I see the ring?” Chelsea asks.

“We’re going this weekend to pick one out together, right, honey?” she says, her eyes moving to me and widening in that way that saysplay along.

I guess I don’t have a choice. “Right, babe.” I move over toward her and angle my head down.

Shoot your shot, Miller.

I press my lips to hers for the second time today, and for the second time today, I feel the wind knocked clean out of me.

I force myself not to open my mouth. Not to deepen the kiss. Not to do anything other than put on a show for the two women currently staring at our every move.

A margarita and a half in…and it’s hard.

I have to go against every instinct telling me to give her the kind of kiss I’ve wanted to give her for the last sixteen years.

Maybe someday. Just not today.

CHAPTER 9: Sophie Summers

Cooling the Heat with Margaritas

After the two fans walk away with their pictures and gossip, we’re left alone.

I try cooling the sudden heat I’m feeling with the margarita, but part of me thinks that’s what’s making me hot in the first place. The other part of me thinks it might be the kiss.

His hand came up to cup my chin, and it was such a chivalrous move. It was possessive and masculine, which are not two words I’ve ever associated with Miller, but here we are.

He’s just leaning into playing the part of my fiancé, and I have to admit…I kind of like it.

Still, as we get back to our drinks, I can’t help but wonder howPage Sixpicked up on our engagement when there was literally only one person we told.

How does the world suddenly know?

As I open my mouth to voice my thoughts, Miller’s phone starts to ring. He glances at his watch, and his brows crinkle as he says, “I’m sorry, I better take this.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and answers. “Mom? Everything okay?”

I watch as his eyes widen a little. “Oh, um…yeah. I’m sorry.” He listens to whatever his mom is saying, and I’m dying of curiosity over here. “She’s living with me. We, uh…well, yes. We are. But it’s new. We haven’t had a chance to—”