Pretending with the Greek Billionaire(24)

“Luca, it’s beautiful,” she said, gazing down at it.

He brought her hand up to his lips, his eyes locking with hers as he pressed a kiss to the ring on her finger. “It’s not as beautiful as those big blue eyes of yours, but it’s close,” he said, loving the blush that stained her cheeks.

He’d said the words to keep up his part in the charade, but the moment he said them, he realized he meant every word. Instead of exploring that concerning thought, he turned back to the jeweler. “I think we’ll take this one.”

“Very good, sir,” he said.

Luca let go of Constance long enough to take care of the details and then rejoined her. He caught her staring at the ring, holding it up to let the light shine through and spread blue-tinged rainbows throughout the room. A smile touched his lips before he recognized the emotion gently warming him. He’d felt a range of things for the women in his life over the years. Lust, certainly. Protectiveness, sometimes. Affection, occasionally. Love, not to any significant degree, but tenderness…never. Until now.

He didn’t know what it was about her. Maybe it was because she despised him, or acted like she did. It was a novel experience being loathed by a woman. Or maybe it was that the things that mattered so much to everyone else in his life meant nothing to her. She didn’t care about his money, fame, fancy cars, or famous friends. That stuff made her want him less, not more. She might spend most of their conversations criticizing him and his lifestyle, but at least when she spoke he knew it was the real her speaking, not some version of her she thought he might like. There were few genuine people in his life—Joe, his housekeeper Mrs. Lasko, his father, and now Constance.

Before he could reflect too deeply on the bombardment of unwelcome feelings trying to creep their way into his heart, dozens of blinding lights flashed through the window. Constance jumped, a hand covering her mouth to try and contain the startled squeak that he heard anyway.

Luca sighed. Time to get the show on the road.

He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her temple to keep the hovering jeweler from overhearing. “When we go out we’ll walk straight to my car. I’ll open the door for you. Please don’t fight me on it. It’ll just leave you in the middle of the vultures for longer, but make sure they get a good shot of the ring.”

Her panicked expression melted into annoyance. Her lips might have been smiling but her eyes were shooting daggers. “How do I do that?”

Anger was good. Anger didn’t make him want to cuddle up with her on some overstuffed couch and watch old movies in their fuzzy pajamas. And anger would serve her better navigating through the circus that was his life than her sweet, gentle side would.

“Let your hand dangle. Don’t put it in your pocket. Shade your eyes from the cameras with that hand. We’re in a jewelry store after being caught making out at my home. Joe’s been helping the rumors fly. They’ll be trying to get shots of your left hand anyway so all you have to do is not impede them. They’re pretty good at getting what they want.”

He knew his bitterness was leaking out but he couldn’t help it. Constance’s anger faded a bit, replaced by a soft contemplation he wasn’t sure how to deal with.

The store’s manager escorted them to the door along with two men in security uniforms. “Our security officers will help get you to your vehicle, sir.”

Luca nodded. “Thank you.” Joe usually helped run interference for him when necessary but Luca had underestimated the need for such measures for their little shopping excursion. Oh, he’d known the photogs would be there, definitely, but not crowding so thickly around the doors that they wouldn’t be able to get out. “Ready?”

She took a deep breath and nodded, looping her arm around his waist so she could shelter under his shoulder. The manager opened the door and the first security guard began pushing his way through the crowd. The other would follow behind them, guarding their backs. Luca got a firmer grip on Constance’s waist and led her into the mob.

Her hand fisted in his shirt and she ducked her head, curling against him as much as she could and still walk. She raised her hand to shield her face from the cameras and the blinding flashes going off. The lights shone off her new engagement ring and the air rang with shouted questions.

Luca didn’t know if she was trying to show off the ring as he’d asked or if she was genuinely trying to hide her face from the cameras and had just forgotten her new accessory. Either way, the photographers were getting more than their fair share of pictures. By the end of the day there would probably be photos on every available publication and social media site out there. Mission accomplished. He should be happy; instead, he was pissed.