A Friendly Engagement (6 page)

What would’ve happened if they’d followed through? Her mouth tingled, and she rubbed her lips together and fantasized about a peppermint kiss.

She didn’t want to think about it, but at the same time she couldn’t stop.

Damn it, this is your boss. Your friend. Omar, for Pete’s sake.

“Think fast.”

Devi jerked to attention as the man on her mind strolled into her office and tossed her a small box. Proof of excitement lit up his face with his large smile and bright eyes.

She caught the red velvet box with one hand. “What’s this?”

He stopped in front of her desk. With a wide stance and hands low on his hips, he delivered her a proud nod. “That’s your engagement ring. We got an invite.”

Her belly flipped. “This just got real.”

“That it did.”

Of course what had she expected? Omar had never been a runner-up, but always a winner. If he set his mind to something, he’d make sure it happened. Unfortunately for her, the weekend had barely given her time to absorb this entire cockamamie idea. Not to mention the new way she’d been thinking about Omar.

He perched on the side of her desk and his cologne filled her senses. Did she really need to take a bigger breath?
Geesh, go ahead and torture yourself.

“If you don’t like what I picked out, we can head back to the jewelers and look at some others.”

Devi wanted to make him squirm. She’d always enjoyed their teasing, and their deal, or her newfound attraction, wouldn’t stop that. She wouldn’t let it.

She put on her poker face. “Before this goes any further, I want you to know the grapevine is buzzing with news that Bartow not only wants family first, but he’s gearing up toward asking for a firstborn.”

“Really?” Sarcasm laced Omar’s tone. He folded his arms across his chest.

Devi dropped the box on her desk, leaned back in her chair, and laced her fingers over her stomach, rocking her chair back and forth slowly. “I just want to be up-front, because there is no way you can talk me into carrying our ruse that far.”

“More of a raise?”

“Not this week.”

“Not even with jewelry?” he teased.

Devi sat forward and opened the velvet box. She almost swallowed her tongue. A large princess-cut diamond winked back at her. This puppy had to be at least two, three carats—maybe more. Tiny rubies surrounded the diamond, and then several more beget diamonds trailed down the side of the platinum band.

Although not one she’d have picked out herself, she couldn’t deny the beauty.

She cleared her throat to regain her composure, then glanced at Omar and winked. “Normally I’d say no way, but I might have to reconsider.” She slipped the size-five ring on her finger, fearful her digit wouldn’t be able to support the weight. How had he known her size?

The diamonds twinkled in the sunlight streaming through the window behind her. She couldn’t have looked away if hot-neighbor-guy walked by. The one she swore she’d only fantasize about because of the way he swaggered around their condo community. His judgmental eyebrows and chiseled chin told her what words didn’t—he’d be arrogant, conceited—and once he opened his mouth he’d lose his appeal.

“Is all this playing around your way of telling me you’re having second thoughts?” Omar’s back stiffened.

Although she still didn’t like the lie, her talk with Cass had calmed her nerves and her doubts. She trusted Omar, and the raise he’d dangled into the mix sealed the deal. The prospect of finding her dad trumped everything—even her moral conscience. “Don’t all newly engaged couples have second thoughts?”

“I wouldn’t know about that,” he answered dryly.

Devi thrust out her hand, inspecting the ring from every angle. She really had an addiction to shiny and sparkly. Although, truth be known, if this engagement were real, she’d want something a little more unique. A little more her. A little more one of a kind.

“Anyway, the ring. You like?” His voice sounded unsure.

She glanced up, then smiled. “I love, but I’m afraid I might get too attached.” Devi broke their locked gaze to admire the ring again. “I don’t think we have to go to this extreme. I can dig out something from my jewelry box that would pass as an engagement ring.” The girl in her wanted to keep the ring and wear it, but the practical woman didn’t want to make the ruse any more complicated.

Omar nodded. “I’m sure you have some beautiful jewelry, Devi, but everyone will expect my fiancée to have something over the top and unique on her finger. This has to exceed expectations.”

“Well, I’ll give you the fact that it’s over the top, but unique it isn’t.” She laughed nervously. “Not that I’m complaining, but I’ve seen this exact ring—albeit with a smaller rock—on countless commercials.”

“True.”

“I’m going to throw this out there, but I’d think if you ever really got engaged you’d have your brother do the honors.”

“Trust me, if I ever make that mistake I’ll have Roth design something. But don’t hold your breath because the likelihood is nil to nil.” He shrugged.

Not that she’d formally met either of Omar’s younger brothers, but last she knew they hadn’t spoken since their dad’s funeral. After the services, she’d been one face in many offering condolences, and she hadn’t wanted to burden them with an introduction. But she had picked up on the tension between the three brothers. Even a chainsaw would’ve struggled to cut through it. “You and Roth still aren’t speaking?”

Omar shook his head. “Not quite.”

“Hmm.”
Figures. Must be Omar isn’t the only brother who combats stubbornness.

“I can hear the judgmental tone in your
hmm
.”

“I won’t lecture you yet again about the lack of family in your family and how you have the ability to change it.”

“Good. A lecture would just bring down my mood.”

“But I will say this: if I had siblings, you couldn’t keep me away.” Devi had never understood why the Esterly brothers didn’t accept each other for who they were. Roth and Jared judged Omar because their father gave him all the attention, and Omar felt the other two didn’t live up to their potential. At least that’s what Gianna, their mother, had told Devi on one of her rare visits to the office.

Part of Devi wondered if Omar was also jealous over the fact that growing up their mother had doted on his younger brothers, taking them on her travels, but had left Omar behind with his father. Devi didn’t know the entire story but had heard bits and pieces from Gianna as well as some coworkers. Enough to fill in some blanks. Omar wasn’t close with his mother or his brothers, but ever since Leland died, Gianna had made several attempts to get to know her oldest son.

“For what it’s worth, Roth does amazing work. I’ve seen a lot of his pieces adorning the necks and fingers of several movie stars walking the red carpet. I don’t understand why your dad wasn’t more supportive of his work.”

Omar’s jaw tightened, but he remained quiet. She’d made him mad, not her intention, but she really didn’t understand why Roth’s work wasn’t respected. Over the years he’d become a huge success. And Jared, he’d started a high-tech security firm with a friend. From what Gianna said, they were doing well. All the brothers were successful. Any parent should be proud.

Omar’s jaw ticked, and the air between them thickened.

Time to change the subject.

“I’m a little uneasy having my digits weighed down with this rock. What if I lose it?” She held her hand out again and twisted her wrist from side to side.
Gawd, the ring is gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous.
Even if she wouldn’t choose it as her forever ring.

“Don’t worry, it’s insured.”

“Of course it is.”

“So if you lose it, we’ll have another delivered. Not a big deal.”

“Says you.” Devi frowned as she took a bumpy bus back to reality. Disappointment settled around her, and she couldn’t shake it off. It wasn’t like they were really engaged. What had she expected? An engagement party? Romance?

Exactly.
How about a little fake romance to go along with their fake engagement. Her sense of fun pushed to the forefront.

She wiped the smile off her face, slid the ring from her finger, and slipped it back into the box, holding it out to Omar.

He jerked back as if bitten and showed her his palms. “No way. You agreed to this, and the ring is part of the deal. Put it on.”

“I will, but I want all the bells and whistles that come with getting engaged.” She stared him down, enjoying her fun and his discomfort.

He stood, raised one eyebrow, and threw his hands on his hips. He always looked so imposing when he did that.

“And what do you have in mind, Miss Boss?”

She put her elbows on her desk and then placed her chin in her palms, smiling dreamily as she blinked skyward. “Every girl dreams of the perfect proposal.”

His gaze narrowed and he groaned. “And yours is?”

“I know this will surprise you, but I want a traditional on your knees, hold my hand, and confessions of undying love. So, if you—”

“Just put on the ring.”

She smiled as she imagined beads of sweat forming at the nape of his neck. His heart pounding. Him wishing his cell would
ting
so he could get out of this by taking a call.

“What if someone asks me to tell the story of how you proposed? Do you really want me to tell them you threw me the box and told me to put a ring on it?” She wiggled her bare fingers in the air.

“I don’t care what you tell them.”

“You should. What if they ask you?”

He blew out an exasperated breath. “Whatever. You want a proposal? I’ll give you a proposal, but my way. And then we’re done.”

She smiled. “For now.”

He snatched the box from her desk. The vein alongside his neck pounded.

“Don’t get all worked up. It’s not like I’ll hold you to any of this.” Her heart raced. Oh, the fun she could have making Omar’s engaged life uncomfortable. Sometimes he was such an easy target, and other times he deserved every hit he received.

“If I were worried I’d have a contract drawn up.” Omar gave his best poker face.

But she didn’t fall for it for a minute. He betrayed himself with the twitch of his mouth. He so wanted to laugh, and she loved it. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop from grinning.

“And for your information, I don’t think anyone is going to want to hear how we became engaged. I think you’re doing this because you enjoy giving me a hard time.” He opened the box and took out the ring.

Devi shrugged. “Giving you a hard time has become my new focus in life.”

“That’s what I thought. You’re all about the payback, huh?”

She cocked her head to the side. “I’m sure you can hold your own when it comes to dishing out payback. And as for engagement stories, you’d be surprised how much people like to hear them. Especially when it involves a diamond the size of Texas.”

“I’ll never understand women.”

“You’re not meant to. Now get on your knees and make me all giddy.” She held out her hand, and he pulled her to her feet.

“You might want to prepare yourself for my version of payback.” Omar’s jaw hardened as he knelt in front of her.

“Promises, promises.” Devi lifted her brow in challenge. He couldn’t intimidate her with his weak threat. Anything he knew about teasing or paybacks, he’d learned from her.

Omar took her hand and squeezed her fingers with a little bit more pressure than needed.

“Ah, ah, ah. Play nice, O.”

He loosened his grip, then leaned forward and kissed the inside of her wrist. “Nice enough?”

Tiny shivers raced along Devi’s arm, and her heart jumped into her throat, then spun wildly down through her body to settle somewhere between her knees and her feet. She blinked, trying to regain her composure.

“It’ll do.” She forced the words out of her mouth, hoping he couldn’t see how his kiss affected her.

Keep it light. Fun.
She couldn’t let her earlier thoughts about Omar take root.

For a moment she contemplated what a real proposal would be like. Would her heart really pound out this loud, unsteady rhythm? Would her palms grow sweaty and her body get all tingly and faint?

Devi tossed those crazy thoughts aside. She’d promised herself long ago any romantic relationship in her life would be short-term. Who needs the headache? She didn’t want to end up like her mom, who gave up everything—ultimately her life—because she’d fallen in love with the wrong man. For all she knew, choosing the wrong man ran in her gene pool.

She snapped back to the present when Omar cleared his throat and gave her a stiff smile.

“Devi Boss, will you please accept this ring as a token of our ruse so that Esterly Financial can get the Bartow contract and make everyone wealthier, we can move into the next tax bracket, and I can give you that well-deserved raise?” His words coupled with the flush rising up his neck took the prize.

Devi laughed, then plastered on a fake frown. “Hmm, that wasn’t very romantic. But what did I expect?” And what did she want?
Not that.

“This is a business engagement, not a romantic one.” Omar frowned.

“I thought this was a friendly engagement?” She tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow.

“I’m being nothing but friendly.” He slipped the ring on her finger, stood, and pulled her into his arms.

“Oh.” She caught her breath as he dipped her so low her hair pooled onto the floor. His mouth stopped millimeters from hers. The warmth of his breath flitted across her cheeks, and she stiffened, held captive by his eyes and fighting for breath. She parted her lips, her pulse spinning out of control.

“When you share our proposal story make sure you mention I swept you off your feet, and I kissed you into submission,” he whispered.

All her focus settled on the way his strong jaw moved as he talked. His mouth, perfect for kissing. She opened her mouth and then forced it shut. Unable to speak, she nodded. Was he going to kiss her senseless? A ball of heat curled through her, and she wet her lips.

“I’ll take that nod as your acceptance to my proposal.” He brought her upright, snapped the ring case shut, and pocketed it. “Now how about that lunch I owe you?”