A Very Exclusive Engagement(18)
Perfect for ratings. But Francesca wasn’t so sure television was the right environment for her friend to be reunited with her famous birth father. That was an important moment for them both. A private moment. Ariella hadn’t spoken much to her about the situation, but Francesca knew it was hard for her friend.
“Just promise me you’ll ask her. If she doesn’t want to do it, I’ll let the whole idea drop.”
The waiter came with their lunches, placing them on the table and briefly interrupting their conversation.
“I’ll talk to her,” Francesca agreed after he left. “But I can’t promise anything. She made one short statement to the press, but aside from that, she’s turned down every interview request she’s received.”
“That’s all I ask. Thank you.”
Francesca speared a piece of chicken and spinach with her fork. “At last, the dirty truth comes out. You’re just marrying me for my political connections.”
“A completely unfounded accusation,” he said with a wicked grin. “I’m marrying you for that slammin’ body.”
Francesca met his gaze, expecting to see the light of humor there, but instead she found a heat of appreciation for what he saw. It was the same way he’d looked at her in that elevator when she’d had only a camisole to cover her. Today, she was deliberately covered head to toe, but it didn’t matter. Liam apparently had an excellent memory.
A warmth washed over her, making her squirm uncomfortably in her seat with her own memories of that day. She had wanted him so badly in that moment, and if she was honest with herself, she still did. Things were just so complicated. Would giving into her desire for him be better or worse now that they were “engaged”?
She wished she hadn’t opted for the silk scarf around her neck. It was strangling her now. Her left hand flew to her throat and started nervously tugging at the fabric. “I…well, I uh…”
A voice called to them from the sidewalk, interrupting her incoherent response. “Francesca, what is that I see on your hand?”
So much for not running into anyone she knew. On the other side of the wrought-iron railing that separated the bistro seating from the sidewalk was her friend Scarlet Anders. The willowy redhead owned a party planning company with Ariella that specialized in weddings and receptions. She could smell a new diamond from a mile away.
“Scarlet!” she said, pasting a smile on her face and hoping Scarlet didn’t see through it. “How are you feeling?” she asked to distract her from the ring. Her friend had suffered a head injury earlier in the year and had temporarily lost her memory. It was a reasonable question that might buy Francesca a few minutes to get their engagement story straight.
Scarlet wrinkled her nose. “I’m fine, really. The doctors say there’s not a single, lingering side effect from my accident. Now stop fussing over me, you staller, and let me see that hand.”
Reluctantly, Francesca held out her left hand, letting the flawless diamond sparkle in the sunlight. Scarlet looked at the ring, then at Liam and back at her. “You are engaged to Liam Crowe. Liam Crowe. You know, when Daniel proposed to me, I told you and Ariella almost the moment it happened.”
That was true, Francesca thought guiltily. And under any other circumstances, she would’ve done the same thing. This just didn’t feel like a real engagement. Because it wasn’t. “It just happened,” she insisted, grinning widely with feigned excitement at her groom to be. “We just picked out the ring before lunch.”
Scarlet smiled. “It’s beautiful. You two are so sneaky. I didn’t even know you guys were dating. How did this happen?”
“We, uh…” Francesca realized she had no clue what to say. They hadn’t really gotten around to deciding what they’re relationship history was. Certainly the truth wouldn’t do, or people would think they were crazy. “Actually, um…”
“We started seeing each other a while back when I first started looking to buy ANS,” Liam interjected. “With everything going on, we wanted to keep it quiet for a while. But after being trapped in that elevator with Francesca, I knew I had to spend the rest of my life with her.”
Francesca swallowed her snort of contempt as Scarlet sighed with romantic glee. “That is so sweet. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, of all people, but you two are just adorable together. So when is your engagement party? You have to let Ariella and I do it for you.”