At four the next afternoon, I almost refused to come downstairs.
Grant had arranged for a dress to be delivered.
I had rejected the first three.
The fourth was dark green, elegant without making me feel disguised as someone richer.
When I reached the staircase, Grant was waiting below.
Black suit.
Black shirt.
No tie.
The collar was open just enough to reveal the edge of dark ink near his chest. More tattoos covered part of his right hand beneath his watch.
He looked up.
And stopped moving.
I gripped the railing.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
“You’re staring.”
“Yes.”
“At what?”
“You.”
I swallowed.
“Fake girlfriends still appreciate complete sentences.”
His mouth almost curved.
“You look beautiful.”
That was somehow worse.
“Thank you.”
His gaze moved to my hand.
I was wearing his mother’s emerald.
Something changed in his face.
“Still want me to wear it?”
“Yes.”
In the car, Grant gave me three rules.
“Stay beside me when we arrive.”
“That sounds suspiciously like ordering me around.”
“It’s practical.”
“Rule rejected.”
He sighed.
“Fine. Please stay beside me.”
“Better.”
“Second, if someone asks about our relationship, let me answer.”
“Why?”
“Because my family interrogates people recreationally.”
“And third?”
Grant looked out the window.
“If Raymond speaks to you alone, walk away.”
I studied him.
“You’re worried about him.”
“No.”
“Grant.”
It was the first time I had called him by his first name.
He slowly turned.
I almost apologized.
Instead, he said, “Do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Call me Grant.”
“You’re avoiding my question.”
“Yes.”
The Bentley stopped outside the Bennett estate.
Photographers stood near the entrance.
Guests turned.
Then Grant reached across the seat.
“Ready?”
“No.”
“Neither am I.”
That surprised me enough to laugh.
His fingers closed gently around mine.
We stepped out together.
The effect was immediate.
People stared.
Whispers followed us through the entrance.
Then I saw Madison.
My cousin stood near the ballroom doors in her wedding gown.
Her smile vanished.
“Nora?”
I smiled.
“Hi, Madison.”
Her eyes moved to Grant.
Then our joined hands.
Then the emerald ring.
“You came with Grant Mercer?”
Grant answered.
“She came with me.”
Madison blinked.
Her mother, Aunt Beth, appeared behind her.
“Nora, sweetheart. You never told us.”
“There wasn’t much to tell.”
Madison laughed awkwardly.
“But you said you had a boyfriend.”
“I do.”
Grant looked down at me.
“Apparently I qualify.”
My mother, standing across the room, nearly dropped her champagne.
Madison recovered.
“How did you two meet?”
“She works for you, doesn’t she?”
The question had teeth.
“Yes,” Grant said.
“So she’s your employee.”
“She was.”
I turned sharply.
“Was?”
Grant didn’t look at me.
“She resigned this morning.”
“I did?”
His hand tightened slightly around mine.
“Temporary administrative detail.”
Madison smiled.
“So romantic.”
Grant finally looked at her.
“You’re right. It is.”
His voice stayed calm.
“I offered Nora six months’ severance before asking her here because I didn’t want her employment depending on her answer.”
Madison’s smile faded.
Grant continued.
“She said yes because she wanted to come. Not because she works for me.”
My chest tightened.
That part was true.
Before Madison could respond, a voice came from behind us.
“Well.”
Grant went still.
A silver-haired man approached with a woman around thirty beside him.
Grant leaned toward me.
“Raymond.”
His uncle smiled.
“Nephew.”
Then his eyes landed on the emerald.
The smile disappeared.
“You brought Elena’s ring.”
Grant’s voice turned cold.
“I did.”
Raymond looked at me.
“And who exactly are you?”
I extended my hand.
“Nora Hayes.”
He ignored it.
The woman beside him studied me.
Grant’s fingers slid around my waist.
“Nora is with me.”
Raymond’s expression hardened.
“That ring says considerably more than that.”
I looked at Grant.
“What does he mean?”
Nobody answered.
Then the woman beside Raymond smiled sadly.
“I’m Celeste Marino.”
Of course she was.
She looked at my hand.
“That isn’t a dating ring, Nora.”
My stomach dropped.
“What is it?”
Celeste looked at Grant.
“You didn’t tell her?”
“Celeste.”
She ignored him.
“That ring is what Grant Mercer’s father gave his mother w