A Very Exclusive Engagement(19)
“No,” Francesca insisted. “You’ve been so busy with Cara and Max’s wedding and now, planning your own big day.” The former newscaster and the public relations specialist for the White House press secretary had married at the end of March. Scarlet’s beau, Daniel, had proposed to her at the wedding reception. “Don’t worry about us. We’re probably not going to—”
“Nonsense,” Scarlet said. “I insist. I’m on my way back to the office right now. I’ll tell Ariella the good news and we’ll get right to work on it. When would you like to have it?”
“Soon,” Liam interjected, cutting off another of Francesca’s protests. “This weekend, if at all possible. We can’t wait to share our excitement with all our friends and family.”
Scarlet’s eyes widened, but she quickly recovered with a pert nod. She was used to dealing with the unreasonable demands of powerful D.C. couples. “I’m sure we can make that happen. Short notice makes it harder to find a venue, but I’ve got a couple of people who owe me some favors. For you, I’m thinking an afternoon garden party. Something outdoors. Light nibbles, champagne punch. Maybe a gelato bar. How does that sound?”
Francesca choked down a sip of her water. “That sounds beautiful.” And it did. It was just what she would’ve chosen for her engagement party. Her friend knew her well. She just wished they weren’t wasting their efforts on an engagement that wouldn’t lead to a loving marriage.
Scarlet was bursting with excitement. Francesca could see the lists being made in her head. Flowers, caterers, maybe even a string quartet to serenade the guests. Scarlet did everything with a stylish flair that was famous in elite D.C. society. “I will give you a call tomorrow and work out some details.”
“Just tell me where to send the check.” Liam smiled.
“Absolutely,” Scarlet said. “Talk to you soon.” She swung her bag over her shoulder and disappeared down the sidewalk with an excited pep in her step. She really did live for this stuff.
Francesca wished she could work up as much enthusiasm. And she needed to if they were going to pull this off. Because this was really happening. Really, really happening.
What on earth had she done?
Five
Liam hadn’t planned on their having dinner that night, but seeing Francesca with Scarlet had made it absolutely necessary. They really knew nothing about each other. They had no relationship backstory. Once the news of their engagement got out, people would start asking questions and they needed to get their stories straight.
Usually this kind of discussion happened before the engagement, but they were working on a steep learning curve, here. After the waiter took their orders, Liam settled back into his seat and looked at his fiancée. He knew she was beautiful, feisty, caring and exciting. He knew that he desired her more than any other woman he’d ever known. And yet, he knew almost nothing about who she was and where she’d come from. That was a problem.
“So, Francesca, tell me all about yourself. I need to know everything to play this part properly and convince everyone we’re really together.”
“I feel like I’m trying to get a green card or something.” She took a sip of wine as she tried to determine where best to start. “I grew up in Beverly Hills. My father is a Hollywood movie producer, as you know. He met my mother on a film set in Sicily and they eloped within a month of meeting.”
“So they have no room to complain about our quick engagement?”
“Not at all.” She smiled. “Although that didn’t stop my father from giving me an earful on the phone this afternoon. I had to assure him that we would have an extended engagement to keep him from hopping a jet over here and having a chat with you.”
“The longest engagement in history,” Liam quipped.
“My parents are my model for what a marriage should be. It’s what I’ve always hoped to have one day when I get married.”
Liam took note. Francesca wanted the real deal for herself, just like her parents. This was probably not what she thought her engagement would be like. He felt bad about that. But she still had her chance to have the fairy tale with the next guy. This was just a temporary arrangement.
“I have a younger sister, Therése,” she continued, “who lives in San Francisco. She’s a fashion photographer. I moved to D.C. after graduation to go to Georgetown.”