“Not exactly,” I answer honestly.
She stops mid-squeeze of her hair and gives me a pointed look. “Not exactly? What the hell does that even mean? What am I doing here, Niall?”
I wanted more of an audience for this just to create a buzz, but beggars can’t be choosers. I guess now is as good of a time as any. Dropping to one knee, I grab her hand and reach into my pocket with the other. Laken’s eyes widen and her mouth rounds. I know this is supposed to be a pseudo-serious moment, but I can’t help but remember this is the way I imagined her all those times in my shower. Only then, I’d also imagined her down on her knees, her cheeks flushed just the way they are now as I slipped my cock between her—
“Niall, what the hell are you doing?”
Had I actually closed my eyes? Oh feckin’ hell, did I say something about her sucking my cock? This will be over before it starts.
My eyes pop open, and before she can slap me, I pull my hand out of my pocket. “Laken Cavanaugh, I knew you were the one for me the minute my kid beat the shite out your kid at the park. Will you marry me?”
I didn’t think Laken’s eyes could get any wider, but when I pull out my grandmother’s two point five carat solitaire diamond, I tighten my hold on her hand, afraid she’s going to pull one of those moves in one of those rom coms she’s always talking about and pass out on me.
“Where did you get that?” she whispers.
“Family heirloom.”
“You don’t want to do this.”
“I think I do.”
I’m about to explain the virtues of public displays and office gossip when the mother of all office gossip proves my point before I can say a word.
“Holy shit! Niall, you Blarney-kissing motherfucker! Where have you been hiding her?”
As Laken gasps and turns around, I slip the ring on the third finger of her left hand before she can object. By the time she realizes what’s happened, it’s too late. “Vince, meet my fiancée, Laken Cavanaugh.” Even though Vince is in on my charade, Laken doesn’t know that. So, in case she has any idea of blowing my cover, I add, “Laken, this is Vincent Tribiotti, project manager at Tate & Cane.” Then I stand and lean in close to her ear. “In charge of screening intern applications.”
He’snotin charge of anything of the sort. I’m such a dick.
Laken swallows hard and pastes a plastic smile on her face, extending her newly minted hand. “Pleasure to meet you Mr. Tribiotti. Niall has told me so much about you.”
Ever the arse, Vince gives her a wink and kisses the back of her hand. “Funny, Mackay’s never mentioned you.”
If looks could kill, the man would be six feet under. After Laken leaves, I plan on hitting him where it hurts. I know he has a thing for the brand-new intern in promotions, and I plan on telling her exactly what kind of gobshite he really is.
Paybacks are a bitch.
Laken, however, covers like a pro. “Yes, well, our whole relationship happened very fast.” She gives me a side-eye that makes me want to cover my dick for fear of it being separated from my body. “But any friend of Niall’s is a friend of mine.”
Vince slaps my arm and winks at her again. “Hold on to this one, Mackay. She’s one of a kind.”
You don’t have to tell me.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Vince?”
“Right,” he says, giving Laken one last full-length look. “Just wanted to tell you that I passed the black widow on the way out. Whatever you said to her sent her horns up and her bitch radar on alert. If you aren’t going to take my advice, I’d introduce her to Laken here sooner rather than later.”
“That’s the plan,” I say as I take a few steps forward and urge him out the door.
He holds my eye for a moment before reaching for Laken’s newly-ringed finger and kissing her hand again. “A pleasure, Laken. I trust you’ll save me a dance at the gala?”
Laken’s eyes glaze over as she answers automatically. “Of course.”
Pushing him out of earshot, I leave Laken in the room as I walk him out of the conference room. “Kiss her again, and I’ll cut your lips off.”
“Such violent threats over a fake fiancée, Mackay. What gives? Since this isn’t real, can I have a crack at her when you’re done? She’s hot as fuck.”
“You touch her, you die.” Giving him a harder shove than necessary, I slam the door.
