“Do we have to do this now?” she asked.
“Well, when we step out tonight, eyes will be on us. I want them to see the ring on your finger,” Ethan said. “I think a whirlwind wedding in Vegas or Hawaii will make it seem like we’re too in love to wait.”
“Oh, I understand. It’s for publicity’s sake,” Mya said and pushed disappointment aside. She was starting to believe, and she had vowed not to do that too quickly. Even though she’d decided to marry him, she still was very uncertain about how things would play out.
“No, it’s more than that—”
She didn’t let him finish the words. “It’s fine, Ethan. I knew what I was getting into when I said yes.”
He used his finger to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes. “Did you forget about our talk last night? Mya?”
“I know what was said, but I also know why we’re doing this,” Mya said firmly. She plucked the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. “It fits, and it’s pretty. Let’s get this show on the road.”
“Mya, this isn’t just a business arrangement for me. I care for you. I hope you know this,” Ethan said seriously.
“I know, and I care for you too, but I also know I have to protect my heart because no one else will,” Mya answered. “We’ll be late for dinner.”
He took her hand and waited until she locked the door. He led her to a sleek black luxury car and helped her inside. The seats were already warm, and as he pulled away from the curb, the OnStar system began talking to give directions to the restaurant.
They were going to Bellisimo, one of the hottest, most exclusive restaurants in Boston. If Ethan wanted to be seen, this was the place to be, because as expensive, sleek cars pulled up, the paparazzi was there to see who would be dining that night. When he stepped out of the car, the shouting began, and when he helped her from the car, they fired at her in rapid succession. The flashes from the various cameras almost blinded her, and Ethan pulled her close to his side. As he walked up the red carpet that led to the door, he handed his keys off to the valet, who scurried away to move the car.
Mya had never stepped foot in Bellisimo before now. She could never afford to eat there on her salary. Dinner there could cost more than her monthly rent. She preferred to have a roof over her head as opposed to a one-time food experience. Still, she took everything in as she walked into the main room. It was all Italian marble and amber colors set off by candlelight and ornate chandeliers. There were booths along the walls, with real leather in the seats and carved mahogany, to offer privacy and seclusion. She’d read about this place in a local magazine. The booths had their own personal waiters who catered to the diners’ every need. The host seated them in one of those booths before hurrying away to get the waiter for their table.
“What do you think of this place?” Ethan asked.
“Very swanky,” Mya said. “I hope the food lives up to all these grandiose furnishings.”
He grinned. “Trust me, it does.”
The waiter came over and stood by the table formally. “Would you like to see our wine list, Monsieur Tremaine?”
“No, a Jameson and ginger for me, and sparkling water okay for you, Mya?” Ethan asked.#p#分页标题#e#
“Do you have lemonade?” she asked hopefully. “I really would like that.”
“If they don’t, they’ll make it, won’t you?” Ethan smiled. “The woman carrying my son or daughter should get exactly what she wants.”
“Yes, sir, of course!” The waiter’s eyes widened, and she saw the tidbit of information being calculated into a dollar value in his head.
It had begun.
“Tell me about the business you want to start,” Ethan said conversationally as if he hadn’t just dropped the morsel of a lifetime in the waiter’s lap.
If he could ignore it, so could she, so Mya answered, “I’m a certified public accountant. I have my degree and license but didn’t want to work in a place like H and R Block. I want to deal with people, not the treadmill style they have. So I plan to open my own office.”
Ethan shook his head. “You just amaze me. I always knew you were the brightest bulb in the office. You should’ve applied in the accounting department.”
Mya gave a stiff smile. “I tried, but on the application, your grandfather asked about children and family, and I answered truthfully. He picked a guy who was second-rate to me, and I took a spot in the secretarial pool.”
“That’s so like him, to overlook talent for his stupid, rigid work ethic,” Ethan muttered. “Now look at this clause in the will. Did he think he was righting some wrong in the last moments of his life? Did he think about us falling in love? More likely it’s about his dumb legacy living on in great-grandchildren.”