He'd lost the strength in his knees once in his life—the moment he'd learned his mother died—but now that familiar weakness returned, threatening to drop him.
He locked his knees and remained steady. It was this room. It was sweltering.
It's not the room.
She turned and his eyes dipped to the subtle V in the front, but it wasn't enough to reveal the tattoo he'd gotten a tease of the day she came into his office. He had to know what it was. Either Merina would wear a top revealing the secret ink, or he'd get her out of her shirt and feed his curiosity.
At the idea, his dick throbbed.
Whoa, boy.
"You're sure it's not too much?" she asked, studying the ring he'd had rush-made for her hand.
"Billionaire," he answered.
The joke hit its mark. She laughed and the sadness bled out of her expression. Another wave of pride crowded out the nervousness sharing his chest.
"Okay." She lifted her shoulders and dropped them in adorable acceptance. "Fair enough."
* * *
"That was it," Merina told Lorelei, whose jaw was sitting on the bar. When she called her to tell her she was in possession of a two-carat engagement ring she'd been presented while wearing her wedding gown, Lorelei demanded they meet at O'Leary's, an upscale pub where a girl could get a fancy drink and not be accosted by men. It was a good second choice when they weren't in a Posh mood. "Nothing fancy. He just pulled out the velvet box and put it on."
Lorelei was beaming. "What did he saaaaay?"
Merina had to laugh. Lore had been dragging details from her since she got here. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell her, more it felt awkward being excited. While the engagement was real, the sentiment behind it was fake. "You know this is all for pretend, right?" She dropped a consoling hand on Lore's arm.
"If you do not tell me how he proposed"—she stopped to drain her martini, then plucked a blue-cheese-stuffed olive from the glass and pointed at Merina with it—"I will never forgive you."
"He said, 'This makes it official.'"
"Oh." Lorelei chewed thoughtfully.
What Merina didn't tell her was when Reese said it, he'd been smiling one of his wry smiles, the gleam in his navy eyes suggesting he liked that they had a shared secret. And what she further didn't tell Lorelei was that Merina liked having a shared secret too.
"Well. Six months ain't all that long." Lorelei polished off her olives and ordered another round—a pink drink for Merina and a martini for herself.
"The wedding is Saturday and you are officially coming. You and my parents. Bring a date."
"Saturday?" Lorelei shook her head. "Oh, girl. I have to meet with a client…" She shook her head and then smiled. "You know what? She's canceled on me twice already. I'll be there."
"Good. I'd love to see Malcolm again." Merina grinned. She'd been teasing Lore by bringing up her ex-husband, but the moment she did, Lorelei gaped at her like a fish, then pressed her full lips together. "I knew it." Merina wrapped her hand around her refilled drink. "I knew you two weren't over each other."
"It's nothing! Just…exes with benefits. We're not getting into anything like you are." Lorelei waved a dismissive hand.
"Yeah, we'll see."
"Oh? And you know you won't fall into bed with Reese Crane?"
Merina shushed her friend. Reporters could be anywhere. She doubted it, but one could never be too careful.
"Of course I will," she said, batting her eyes in a way that let Lorelei know there was no alluding to the real truth of the situation while they were in public. "He's my almost-husband."
Lorelei caught on and took a careful glance around before winking.
"How do you know we haven't already?" Merina asked, lifting her glass.
"Aw, hell no." Lorelei propped both elbows on the bar and under her breath said, "We're going to need a signal or something so I know when you're being honest with me. I can't take this did-you-or-didn't-you stuff."
Drink in hand, Merina looked over her shoulder and spotted a woman who was trying to pretend she wasn't looking in their direction. Reporter or yet another of Reese's past dates? Maybe both? Enjoying herself, Merina rested her chin in her left hand, angling the hunk of diamond so it sparkled in the overhead lights.
She wanted to see the woman's reaction but didn't want to be obvious. So instead, she just smiled and enjoyed the One Ring of Power sitting not-so-discreetly on her third finger.
* * *
"Tee many martoonis." Merina giggled as she climbed out of the car a few hours later. Lorelei had picked Merina up, but after three and a half hours imbibing drinks at O'Leary's, there was no way Lore trusted herself to drive. So, Uber it was.
"You? Me, girl. I'm a mess. Good night, future Mrs. Reese Crane!" Lorelei shouted from the backseat, then she pulled the door shut. Merina waved and stagger-stumbled up the five steps to her front door.
Soon to be her parents' front door. Because she was moving to Lake Shore into a house big enough to hold her and her family and a few friends, and the entire cast of Glee.
She giggled at her own joke and popped open the door, only to be greeted by her dad.
Though "greeted" was the wrong term. Accosted might be a better one.
"Mer," he said, his voice stony. His eyes went to her hand and he sucked in a breath and let it out. He sounded like a hibernating grizzly when he did that. The sound meant trouble and always sent a shiver down her spine.
She hiccupped. Right on cue.
"I need some water," she said, her words running together.
"I'll get it." This the weary voice of her mother, who, like her dad, was in a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt but also a hoodie.
"You didn't have to wait up," Merina said, and her enunciation hadn't improved.
Her mother handed her a glass of tap water and Merina chugged.
"We received a call from cousin Patty," Jolie said. "She directed me to a website where your love life has been openly broadcasted.