The way she reacted to him only made this more difficult. There had only been one other man who’d caused that kind of kick to her heart rate and he’d done nothing but humiliate her, betting with his friends he’d take her virginity the night of her prom. He hadn’t, but that night had only made her more determined to give it to the right man—and she hadn’t met him yet.
‘You can do this, Bianca. You have to,’ she whispered sternly, pushing back the past. She lifted her chin, put her shoulders back and pinned on a smile before opening the door.
Liev stood there in all his male glory, dressed in a tuxedo and looking so damn good she couldn’t drag her gaze from him. He in turn allowed his unconcealed scrutiny to travel down the length of the emerald green silk dress which clung seductively to her, before slowly moving back to her face.
She met his gaze with a haughty expression. ‘I trust this meets with your approval.’
He nodded and his cold grey eyes looked directly into hers as his superiority radiated off him in waves, irritating her further. ‘Yes. Exactly right.’
Bianca marvelled at the fact that he hadn’t actually dictated how she should dress, but then maybe even he had thought that was a step too far. She knew they would create a stunning couple and was certain they would end up in one of the celebrity magazines. But being seen and photographed with him was the easy part.
Tonight, if their sudden engagement wasn’t to be questioned by her family, she would have to act like a woman in love, swept away by Liev’s commanding presence. If one hint of their deal showed, Liev would find the doors he wanted opened slamming in his face and she would lose the one thing she just had to have.
‘But there is something missing.’
‘There is?’ She stumbled over her words again. What had she forgotten? She’d made sure every part of her act was right.
He stepped towards her, getting too close. From his inside jacket pocket he pulled out what could only be a ring box. Her heart turned over. The fake engagement ring.
‘You cannot truly be my fiancée without this.’
Cautiously she took the box from him. This had never been how she’d imagined the moment a man would propose. Their fingers brushed and her gaze shot up to meet his. The air around them sparked, as if a bolt of lightning had struck. He held her gaze as she glared angrily back at him.
She opened the box, trying to ignore the pounding of her heart, and gasped as a large diamond glittered expensively. ‘Where did you get this?’
‘Another auction. Like you, I have a liking for the finer things in life.’
She looked at the diamond glinting at her. ‘I can’t wear this.’
‘You can and you will.’ He took it from the box and lifted her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger in silence. She couldn’t help but watch and wish things were different.
The single large diamond which sparkled in the light as she moved was hardly going to go unnoticed this evening. By tomorrow morning, news of their engagement would be sweeping across the city and she still hadn’t found the courage to tell any of her family.
‘We should go.’ She had to move on from this moment and the crushed dreams it represented. Remember why she was doing it.
She stepped past him, unable to meet his gaze, and pulled her door shut, desperate to avoid any further contact when so much of her skin was exposed, and briefly wished she’d selected a more modest dress. But with a role to play, this had been the best choice.
That wish intensified when seconds later they were enclosed in the elevator as it descended. The shiny interior reflected their images as they stood side by side. She tried not to look and to calm her breathing, but the harshness of his reflected expression did little to help. If he was going to scowl like that, how would anyone really believe they were engaged? As their eyes met in the reflection, she realised she had to do more than dress the part of a woman in love—she had to act it too.
‘My car is waiting. When we arrive I hope that you will appear more enamoured with me, instead of visibly flinching from my touch.’ His words mirrored her worries and were sharp, his accent more pronounced. She had to stifle a smile at the knowledge that she was irritating him and resist the urge to continue to do so. Rebellion wouldn’t help her at all.
‘If I can take that constant frown from your face, then there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we are in love.’ Her tart words hit their target and he turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
‘Already we make a well-matched couple. Let’s ensure that others see something softer, something more akin to a fairy-tale romance.’ His acerbic tone almost stole her breath as she glared back at him, frustration bubbling inside her.
So he wanted fairy tale, did he? ‘Very well, then that is what you shall have.’
The elevator doors opened and she looked up at him, slid her arm into his and pulled her body against him. The heat that seared her skin made her draw in a sharp breath—as did the racing of her pulse. What was the matter with her? Since when did any man do that to her? Certainly not since the night of her high school prom.
‘I am pleased we are... How do you say...? On the same page.’ His commanding voice had suddenly taken on a deep sexy tone as he seemed to scrabble for the right English expression. But it was a tone she would do well to ignore if the skittering of her heart was anything to go by.
‘We both have something the other wants. That is as far as our connection goes.’ She glanced up at his profile to see the corner of his mouth twitch with the beginnings of a smile.
With her head held high and her arm in Liev’s, she walked through the lobby, giving the doorman a smile, and out into the warmth of the evening. Before she had time to think, a chauffeur had opened the back door of a limousine and Liev was helping her in. She slid across the seat with as much composure as her tight-fitting dress would allow, only to be joined seconds later by Liev. The close proximity of the car was far more daunting than the elevator.
‘When we arrive, it is my hope that we will be photographed together and that this...’ He lifted her left hand, the large diamond sparkling mischievously. ‘I hope this will not go unnoticed.’
‘I don’t think there is any question it will not be noticed.’ Her pulse leapt again as he held her hand by her fingertips, his sharp gaze holding hers captive. Boldly she looked into the cold grey of his eyes, noticing again those flecks of blue.
‘I am counting on it, Bianca. I need to enter your social circle as much as you need that bracelet.’ The drawl of his voice sent a chill down her spine as cold as the heat which sizzled up her arm from just the touch of his hand on hers.
Before she could say anything else, the limousine pulled up at the doors of one of New York’s most prestigious hotels. Through the darkened windows she could see crowds had assembled along with hordes of paparazzi. Liev would get his wish.
More exposed and vulnerable than she’d ever felt, she stepped out of the car, followed by Liev. The flashlights burst into action as he put his arm around her waist, drawing her so close to him. Much closer than she’d dared to be moments before in the elevator.
* * *
Liev held Bianca close, enjoying the sensation of her body against his once more. When she’d moved against him as they had left the elevator, he’d been shocked. It was the last thing he expected of the cool and level-headed businesswoman. To find she had a playful, even flirtatious streak was unexpected and not totally unwelcome. Maybe his new engagement would prove more entertaining than he’d planned.
‘Bianca. Whose ring is that?’ Once one of the paparazzi had spotted the ring, the cameras exploded.
‘Thank you,’ he said firmly, stepping in front of her, gallantly shielding her from more opportune shots. ‘All will be revealed in good time.’
With