“Look, I understand how it looks, but it wasn’t me. What do you want from me? If my word isn’t good enough, I’d be more than happy to take a lie detector test.” Jason’s voice rose in a threatening manner. “I mean it. Set it up. I’ll go take the damn test today. But if I hear one word of this shit through any social circle…or the fucking media…or if I have to get drug into this for any reason, there are going to be consequences. I won’t stand back and get accused of something I had nothing to do with.”
She felt confused and conflicted, not knowing what to believe. Jason’s response was so conclusive, plus he insisted on taking the lie detector test. Summer and Carrie Ann locked eyes. He refused to give Jason the benefit of the doubt. However, his own name had been drug through the dirt on several occasions, leaving him cautious.
“I’ll have it set up,” Summer announced tersely. “And it will be completely private.”
Carrie Ann felt torn, tempted to apologize for the inconvenience before they hung up, but didn’t get the chance. The call was ended on a very awkward goodbye, anger and frustration stewed on both sides.
All of Carrie Ann’s belongings had been delivered to Summer’s house a few days after they returned from Montana, but it took a week for her to unload the boxes. She didn’t harbor deep attachments for the majority of her furniture, taking most of the large pieces to a consignment boutique. Everything except her mother’s antique writing desk made of mahogany and mongo wood.
At one time the desk acted as a catch-all in her bedroom, but with a little help from Summer and a fresh coat of stain, it now showed as the main focal point in her new office. Carrie Ann confiscated the smallest of three guest rooms, touting unobstructed ocean vistas, turning it into a perfect place for her to conduct her business.
Sitting beneath the verandah one evening, they snuggled on an outdoor sofa in front of a fire, watching the sun sink into the ocean. “Thank you for helping me spruce up my mom’s old desk. It’ll be nice to have a part of her with me all the time.”
“You’re more than welcome.” Summer clinked the tumbler glass dangling from his fingers to her wine glass. Lifting the clear glass to his lips, he wiggled his pinky. A rock the size of Gibraltar was squeezed onto the tip of his thick finger. Her eyes popped wide, nearly choking on her wine. A low sexy chuckle simmered in his throat as a cocky grin tipped the corners of his mouth.
“Fuck. Fuckity-fuck. Oh, my God.” Her hand flew to her mouth in awe, staring at a very large, brilliant, oval diamond.
“I take it you like it?” His voice coated in sex appeal, slipping the platinum band on her finger.
“Well, yes, of course.” Shock sent her words into a breathy ramble. “I mean, whoa, Summer, this is too much. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. It’s absolutely breathtaking.”
“It is breathtaking…just like you.” He brought her fingers to his lips. “It stopped me in my tracks and I kept coming back to it. That’s how I knew it was the perfect ring.”
“I don’t even want to know what you spent on this,” she mumbled, holding it in the moonlight. “But, where’s the other ring? I need that ring. Please don’t tell…”
He handed off his glass of whiskey, reaching behind the nape of his neck to unclasp a necklace. Summer draped a thin delicate chain made of white gold along his opened hand. “I had the jeweler make a few changes.”
Carrie Ann twisted and he slipped it around her neck. The precious stone fell precisely into the nook of her voluptuous cleavage. The corner of his mouth curved upward in an indulgent grin. Happiness radiated through her core, warming her all over, as she peered downward. A misty film glazed over her eyes causing her to blink back the sentiment.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the ring, but this…” She touched her fingers to the diamond between her breasts. “This means the world to me.” Holding her hand out to the moonlight, she continued, “It’s so big.”
“Christ, I love it when you say that.” He growled, pulling her in for a tumultuous kiss.
Early the next morning, she sent her father a text.
Summer asked me to marry him.
I said yes.
I wanted to tell you in person, but with you being so bogged down at work, we haven’t had a chance to talk in person. Sorry you had to hear it this way, but I didn’t want you to see it splashed all over the media. Hopefully you’ll be able to make time for me soon.
Love, Carrie Ann
*
Week four of the paparazzi frenzy, started with a fueled headline revealing Ry-Ann have an easy chemistry together which is heartening to all. She compliments him perfectly.
“Well, it’s much better than the headline two weeks ago. Bought and Paid For – Ryan’s million dollar bride. I really hated that one.” She smirked flippantly over the rim of her coffee cup. Paparazzi had besieged during their second public outing and for weeks their relationship had been both universally ridiculed and praised, sparking an all-out media feeding frenzy.
“You are a very expensive date,” he teased, blush tinged the bridge of his nose and cheeks. She swatted at him playfully and he clasped hold of her wrist, drawing her into his arms. He shifted from foot-to-foot in a slow dance, navigating around the front of her desk. Summer curled his fingers over the top of her open laptop, closing the computer, shutting out the rest of the world. “In another two weeks we’ll be old news and…”
“And the vultures will move on to their next victims. I know, I know. For the record, I think you’re dreamin’.”
The night before, mayhem erupted when they emerged from the car making their way inside a trendy LA restaurant. Summer calmly escorted her inside, while a crush of paparazzi lined the curb jockeying to get pictures of her ring. Flashes continued to strobe even after a few photographers lost their footing, feasting on some grungy LA pavement.
“We do complement each other perfectly.” He nipped her ear, investigating the sensitive slope with his teeth, probing for goosebumps.
“Perfectly,” she agreed with a pleasurable sigh, raking her fingers through his disheveled morning hair.
“Where are you off to so early this morning?”
She waved a hand down her front as if modeling her workout attire. “The gym.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay home? I promise to give you a good workout.”
“Sounds very…tantalizing, but I need to go into the office for a few hours. Unlike you, I have to go to work.” Her eyes narrowed playfully.
Since returning from vacation, she cut her work days to three. Keeping to routine, Carrie Ann hit the gym first, leaving early in hopes of cutting off the rush hour traffic. Summer didn’t make it easy. The man had far too much sex appeal and endurance at seven in the morning.
After making the hour commute, she pulled into the sparsely occupied parking lot, ready to pummel the first piece of exercise equipment available. Retrieving her favorite blue water bottle from her gym bag, she headed for the water station to fill up, running straight into Jason.
“Hey,” slipped from her mouth in an awkward squeaky tone.
“Hello, Carrie Ann.” Jason dragged a stark gaze across her face before scoping out the near vicinity. “Where’s your fiancé?”
She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until she tried to reply. “He’s at home.”
“What’s he gonna do next? Try to get me kicked out of my gym?”
“It’s not like that.”