Every diamond was huge, much bigger than any Gail had seen before. And the prices... The average American house didn’t cost this much.
Mr. Nunes, who sat in Simon’s living room with the nondescript briefcase he’d carried in, had spread his entire cache of loose diamonds out on a piece of black velvet. “This one is the finest quality you’ll ever find,” he boasted as he held up yet another five-carat rock. “Just look at the clarity.”
It was beautiful. But so were the others. “How much?” she asked, and braced herself for another shocking figure. The last one had been four hundred and thirty-five thousand.
Nunes was starting to show some irritation at her continued insistence on knowing the price. “If it’s the one you like, I’m sure Simon and I can work something out.” He leaned forward to gaze deep into her eyes. “This is your engagement ring. Price is no object.”
Easy for him to say. But, surprisingly, Simon didn’t argue with him about that. He didn’t ask for smaller or cheaper diamonds, either. He simply looked on, wiggling the fingers that dangled out of the sling on his arm.
“It’s an ideal cut,” Nunes added. “And it has absolutely no color. Diamonds of this size, with a D grade and an IF clarity, are very rare.”
“Is it more money than the last one?” she asked.
He made a dismissive motion. “Not by much.”
What did that mean? Five thousand? Ten? It irritated her that he wouldn’t be specific. Just because Simon was rich didn’t mean he shouldn’t be concerned with getting a fair deal. “How long will it take you to set it?”
“I can have it ready in three days. You will be my top priority.”
At that price, she should be. But... “I don’t know.” Overwhelmed by the prices and the selection, she frowned at the twinkling display. “Maybe...maybe Simon and I should talk about this.”
Simon stared at her as if he couldn’t figure out what the problem was. “Talk about what?” he asked. “There must be a hundred diamonds here. Surely you can find one you like.”
She gave Nunes an apologetic smile. “Excuse us for a moment.”
“Just pick one so we can decide on the setting,” Simon insisted, but she grabbed him by the sleeve of his good arm and led him out of the room.
“What are you doing?” he asked when they were alone in the foyer.
“I think we should forget about the diamond.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You need a wedding ring.”
“We both do. But gold bands will be fine.”
“Why would you settle for a gold band?”
She wasn’t sure. There was something...hollow about choosing a big diamond when there was no meaning behind it. She felt as if they were mocking all the traditional wedding symbols. She could see someone with his wealth buying a stone like that to express his devotion to the love of his life, but she wasn’t the love of his life. So it was just...wrong. Especially when she knew that canceling his next project would cost him a fortune already. “I don’t want to be responsible for such an expensive piece of jewelry,” she said. “What if I lose it?”
“It’ll be insured.”
But a diamond, particularly of this caliber, wasn’t part of her contract price. At least, that wasn’t what she’d meant when she said he’d have to buy the rings. Her conscience would demand she return it when they divorced, so why get attached to it? What was the point? “There’s no need to invite comparisons between me and Bella. Let’s keep it simple, modest, understated.”
“You’re serious.”
“I am. I think we should sell the public on the fact that this marriage is different from the typical Hollywood marriage. That we’re about the things that really matter. No pomp or ceremony. No obvious publicity stunts. No lavish lifestyle. Just the two of us in love, living in a small house in my hometown—until we grow apart and divorce amicably, of course.”
He studied her. “Does this have anything to do with the offer I made you before? Are you afraid you’ll owe me sex in return?”
“No.”
“Then what? You don’t want to have any positive feelings for me?”
“That’s not it, either,” she said, but she couldn’t quite meet his eyes and he jumped to his own conclusion.
“Wow, even my money isn’t good enough,” he said. “Fine. No problem.”
When he headed back without her, she knew she’d offended him. He thought she wouldn’t let him redeem himself even where he could, that she found him unworthy of any approval.
But that wasn’t the problem. She found him appealing whether she approved of him or not.
And she couldn’t see how adding a half-million-dollar diamond ring to his side of the equation would make him any easier to resist.
* * *
It took nearly a week to get ready for the ceremony and still the time seemed to come up fast. They’d given Simon a chance to recover a bit, gotten the marriage license, purchased the wedding bands. Ian had found some guy on the internet who could legally officiate. For an additional fee, he was willing to come to Simon’s house. They’d have a small, private affair with only Josh and Ian as witnesses.
The ceremony would make their marriage legal and binding, and in less than an hour it would all be over.
This wasn’t exactly the type of wedding Gail had dreamed about when she was a little girl, but she’d never imagined that her mother would abandon the family, either. She had to deal with what life handed her, just like everyone else.
She sat in Simon’s bedroom, where she’d been staying most nights for the sake of appearances, and painted her fingernails. She’d just finished one hand when someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?”
“Me. You okay?”
Josh. He’d come to find her. Thank God. Just hearing his voice steadied her nerves. “I’m alive,” she said, and jumped up to let him in.
“Wow, you look beautiful,” he told her as soon as she opened the door.
He seemed honestly impressed. She liked her outfit, too. Yesterday, Simon had sent her to Rodeo Drive with his credit card but, given the recent press, she’d felt too conspicuous among all those exclusive shops. Pulling on a pair of sunglasses for camouflage, she’d driven to the closest mall, where she felt more comfortable and was able to blend in with the crowd. There, she purchased yet another suit to add to her already extensive collection. She knew that probably wouldn’t be a popular decision with Ian or Simon. But this one was teal in color and reminded her of the tailored fashions of the 1940s. She almost felt she should be wearing a fancy hat.
“Really?” She turned in a circle. “This is okay?”
“It’s stunning on you. Simple but classy.”
She released a nervous sigh. Josh was a fashionista if ever there was one. If she didn’t look good he would’ve told her. “You prepared to be a witness?”
He whipped a small camera out of his pocket. “As well as the official photographer.”
She knew he’d also help with the sale of those pictures to People. They’d agreed on that beforehand. “Great. Is Simon downstairs?”
“Waiting in the library. That’s where they’ve decided to hold the ceremony.”
“What’s he wearing?”
“A suit and, man, does he look delicious—even with his hand all bandaged up.”
“You think he looks delicious in anything.”
“He does.”
She couldn’t argue with that. “What about the officiant? Is he here, too?”
“Officiant?”
“That’s what they’re called. At least, that’s what I read on the internet.”
“Oh, you mean the minister. He’s not here yet, but he’s on his way.” He lifted the hand with the fingernails she hadn’t painted. “Shouldn’t you get on with this?”
“I was about to.” She brushed on the pink lacquer while he talked, but when she finished, he looked at her closely.
“Oh, boy, you’re not going to pass out, are you?”
“No, why?”
“You look pale.”
“Pale is my usual color,” she said, but her shaky laugh confirmed that she was more than a little out of her element. What they were doing invited bad karma. She and Simon would be making promises to love, honor and cherish each other for as long as they lived, with no intention of fulfilling those promises. She wasn’t superstitious, but she couldn’t help wondering if she was jinxing her future.
“I saw the rings,” he said. His tone indicated he wasn’t impressed.
“What do they look like?”
“You don’t know? They’re gold bands. What a cheap asshole. Why didn’t he get you something expensive and gorgeous?”
“I didn’t want that.” She fanned herself to dry the polish. “I’m trying to keep what’s happening somewhat real. Otherwise, it’ll all feel too...outlandish.”
“I have news for you, Ms. DeMarco. You’re marrying one of the most famous movie stars in America. There’s no way to avoid outlandish. I would’ve asked for the biggest diamond I could find.”
“Why make him go to the expense? It wouldn’t mean anything. And I’d just have to give it back.”
He looked at her as if she was crazy. “Who said?”
Another knock interrupted. “Ms. DeMarco?”
“Yes?”
“They’re ready for you in the library.”
Simon had sent a maid up to get her. Squaring her shoulders, she offered Josh another tentative smile. “Shall we?”
“Allow me,” he said and, with a gentlemanly flourish, escorted her downstairs.
As promised, Simon was in a suit. Freshly shaved, with his hair combed back, he looked every bit as good as Josh had said. Ian stood next to him, also in a suit but clearly no longer as enthusiastic about the idea of their marriage as he once was. The only other person in the room was a distinguished-looking man with silver hair who introduced himself as Reverend Bob Grady, a minister with the United Disciples of Christ Church.
Gail wasn’t remotely familiar with the beliefs of that church, was pretty sure she’d never even heard of it, but she figured that didn’t matter.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“I was just discussing with Simon the type of ceremony the two of you would like,” he told her. “Some people write their own vows, but he said you’d both prefer a simple recitation of the traditional promises. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s fine.” Her heart was beating so hard, she dared not look at Simon, but she could feel his gaze on her. Was he feeling hopeful? Relieved that the time had come and they’d be able to get this part over with? Hesitant to go through with what they’d planned? She didn’t know and she didn’t want to know for fear it would undermine her own resolve.
The minister bent his head. “Then that’s what we’ll do. If you two will join hands—as best you can,” he said in deference to Simon’s injury, “and face each other in front of me, we’ll get started.”
Simon stepped up and did as he was asked. At that point, Gail had to look at him. He seemed pensive. Maybe he was as nervous as she was. And she could guess why. He’d sworn never to marry again. Even if this wasn’t a regular marriage, wasn’t real in the same sense, it sure felt real.
She almost pulled away to verify that they all believed they were doing the right thing, but Simon tightened his grip to hold her in place and she decided it was his commitment that mattered.
Sweat ran down her back as Reverend Grady began—and her fear of bad karma grew worse, especially when he reached “in sickness and in health” and then “till death do us part.”
Still, she managed to repeat her vows. Simon did the same without sounding too panicked. As a matter of fact, he seemed...resolute.
They exchanged rings and the minister said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Simon, you may kiss the bride.”
Gail knew Simon was in acting mode. He was used to such intimate contact, didn’t think anything of it. But the warmth of his lips against hers made her knees weak. Hoping to play her part as well as he was playing his, she slipped her arms around his neck—until Simon’s tongue entered her mouth. Then she drew back.
If she’d shocked the minister by stopping the kiss, he didn’t show it. Smiling his approval, he gave her elbow a squeeze and, when Simon turned away to speak to Ian, lowered his voice. “I hope you can bring him peace.”
“I do, too,” she murmured.
They posed for several pictures. Then Josh swept her into a hug. “Congratulations. You’ll be fine, you know that?”
“Of course I do. We both understand—” she dropped her voice to a whisper so the reverend wouldn’t overhear “—what’s riding on this.” She forced a bright smile as she stepped away from him but felt dangerously close to tears.
“Thank God for every new day you have together,” the minister said. “May you have a long and fruitful union.”
When Gail heard Simon thank him, she was once again embarrassed and uncomfortable with the lies they were telling. But it wasn’t until Simon went to show Josh, Ian and Reverend Grady out that she allowed herself to sink into one of the leather chairs along the wall and drop her head in her hands.
“They’re gone,” Simon said when he came back.
She looked up. “I can’t believe we did it, that we went through with it.”
He leaned against the door. “You were thinking of bailing on me?”
“No, not really. But...” She finished in a whisper so that no one else in the house could hear. “I felt like an idiot taking those vows. Didn’t you?”
He stared at her for what seemed like an interminable time. “I don’t know how I missed it.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. “Missed what?”
“You’re completely...innocent.”
Her mind scrambled to put his comment into some sort of context. “Because I don’t watch porn or—”
“No.” He chuckled as if his meaning was obvious, but she couldn’t imagine what he was trying to convey. She’d never had anyone call her innocent. It wasn’t a word most people associated with a business professional, especially one over thirty.
“Then what?” she asked.
He shook his head. “You’re so tough and inflexible that—”
She held up a hand. “You’ve mentioned my lack of better qualities before.”
Ignoring the interruption, he moved closer to her. “That I keep expecting you to be jaded and self-serving. But you’re not. You’re not that person at all.”
Shifting in the giant but soft leather chair, she studied the polish on her nails to avoid looking up—but ended up looking at him anyway. “I’ll probably kick myself for asking, but...according to you, who am I?”
“Someone who’s honest, sincere and too tenderhearted for her own good.” He frowned as if these things were terrible, the latest blow in the long series of blows he’d recently been dealt. “As I said, innocent.”
“And you don’t like innocent any more than you like tough and inflexible, is that it?”
He did what he could to loosen his tie with one hand. “That’s where you’re wrong. I crave innocent. It’s so rare in my world that I’m immediately drawn to it. Which is why I think we might have an unexpected problem.”
“Admiring some of my positive traits is a problem?”
“It could be, for you. So I’ll add my voice to all the others who’ve tried to warn you away. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll walk out of here right now and petition for an annulment.”
He was serious. “I can see you’re feeling confident in our success. That’s encouraging.”
“I’m feeling guilty,” he clarified.
“For taking vows you don’t mean?”
“For knowing I’ll probably end up destroying your innocence.”
“And how do you think you’ll do that?”
“You haven’t been through what I’ve been through, haven’t lost the ability to fall in love.” He jerked his head toward the door. “So get out while you can. I’ll still be your client, do whatever you need to help get your business back on solid ground.”
And what would he do? Continue to battle his demons with alcohol? He’d certainly made a mess of his life. She wasn’t sure he deserved the second chance she’d constructed for him, but she wanted to see him take it.
“You’re reading too much into one kiss. It was nothing. I was embarrassed to have an audience, that’s why I reacted the way I did.”
He said nothing. But his skeptical expression goaded her on.
“Come on, you’re not that irresistible.” She merely had to remind herself of the dangers involved in falling for him and she’d be fine. It wasn’t as if she was going into this with her eyes closed. Even he’d been up front with her about his limitations.
His gaze lingered on her body. “I give it a week.”
“A week for what?”
“That’s how long I think you’ll last with your no-sex rule.”
The awareness that had slammed into her when she was in his arms returned with a vengeance. She wanted him and he knew it. She’d wanted him ever since she’d first seen him on the silver screen.
But most women did. She wasn’t stupid enough to act on it.
“Quit trying to scare me off. We’ve already come this far. We’re going to see it through.” She got to her feet. “I’m heading home to pack. I suggest you pack, too. We leave for Whiskey Creek in the morning.”
“You’re staying somewhere else tonight?”
“Yes.”
He laughed softly. “See?”
That proved nothing. “See what?”
“You felt it.”
“I felt nothing. I just have a lot to do,” she said, but she had to sleep sometime, and the fact that she’d decided to stay in her own bed said something, even to her.
He stiffened as she brushed past him but didn’t stop her. Neither did he try to talk her into coming back.
“We’ll be taking my Lexus to Whiskey Creek, so be ready when I come by in the morning,” she said, and left.