Page 38 of Things We Do for Love and Science
Delia made a small grimace and briefly turned to Gabriel. His stricken face triggered her mischievous streak, and she decided to have a bit of fun. “He brought me to the Renwood family vault and asked me if I wanted to be buried with his people.”
He snorted, and she chuckled, while the Brady-Greenes shared stunned expressions.
“That’s not what happened,” Gabriel said evenly, his voice lit with the remnants of laughter.
“So, whatdidhappen?” Mrs. Brady-Greene dug in, not prepared to let them off the hook.
“I, er, took her to the tea pavilion in the park where we sat among the climbing roses, and I asked her if she wanted to spend the rest of her life with me.” Gabriel looked at Delia with his ocean-colored eyes and pressed her hand still held in his.
And the faintest flutter, the merest stutter interrupted her heart’s rhythm.
“Aw, beautiful,” Mrs. Brady-Greene cooed.
Once they had left the bank manager’s residence, Gabriel whispered in her ear, “Delia, your performance was Oscar-worthy.”
She batted her lashes. “Now, let’s not get reckless. Keep a hold of my hand until we’re well out of sight. They might be watching from behind the curtains.”
“You’re right.” He pulled her tight against his side as they made their way to his Land Rover. “We don’t want to fall at the last hurdle.”
“That’d be a crying shame after all the hard work. It was a close call, though.” She dragged her palms down her cheeks. “I nearly died when she grasped my hand, looking for an engagement ring. We’re such amateurs, forgetting a rather important detail.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I should’ve thought of it since I bought an engagement ring once.”
“You were engaged?” She studied him with concern. Was there a tragic episode hidden in his past?
“Yes, we called it off, well, she did and returned the ring, but I sold it and forgot about it.” He shrugged. “That was two years ago. Vanessa and I had been together for three. It’s all water under the bridge now, and I wish her well.”
His tone convinced Delia that he meant what he said. Good. She didn’t want her friend to still be suffering from an old heartbreak.
They walked in silence for a few moments, the crunching of gravel the only sound between them.
“I think you should hug me and give me a gentle husbandly kiss before we get into the car. That should seal the deal.” She tugged at his arm. “Have you noticed how excited they were when we invited them to our phantom wedding? You’re going to have to think of a watertight excuse for the wedding not going ahead. I bet Mrs. Brady-Greene is already scouring the internet for a hat.”
He clasped her hand. “That’s easy. I’ll tell them you cheated on me and broke my heart, and the only thing that keeps me going is establishing the Hall as an exclusive venue.”
She dropped his hand and stopped, fists on her hips. “Me? Why do I have to be the one who’s cheating?”
He coaxed her arms free. “Because I’ll have to keep in Brady-Greene’s good books if I ever need another loan or am late with repayments or whatever. A jilted man always elicits sympathy.”
“Okay.” She turned her face to the side and blew out a breath. “I’ll let you off with blackening my name, but I’m sure I’ll regret it later on.” She continued walking toward the car, and he fell in step beside her.
Once they reached the Land Rover, he embraced her. “Thank you, my darling, for your sacrifice.”
“Go on.” She nudged him playfully with her elbow. “Nothing showy, just a quick kiss.”
“A peck.” His voice was raspy.
“Exactly that.”
He touched his lips to hers. A perfunctory kiss for the benefit of the Brady-Greenes, nothing more. But his soft, warm mouth invited her to linger. A jolt of electricity went through her, and she swiftly let go of him. He opened the passenger door for her before rounding the car and getting behind the wheel. Flustered and a touch confused, she climbed in beside him and fastened her seat belt.
He started the car, then reversed out of the driveway. Before they’d made it very far down the road, he burst out laughing.
“Why...” he paused for breath, “whyon earthdid you tell them I asked you whether you wanted to be buried with my people? In the family vault of all places.”
She threw him a sideways glance. “We kind of had a date in the crypt, didn’t we?”
“Not my idea of a date.”
