The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(14)

Before my thoughts could wander further down that road, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the incoming call screen and smiled as I pressed answer.

"Hello, Mother. How are you today?" I asked.

"I'd be better if you told me what you're playing at," she answered.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Don't play dumb with me, Robert. What's this I hear about you dating an actress?" she said, cutting to the point.

"Oh, you mean Emilia. I meant to tell you about her earlier, but it's just been so crazy lately, I guess it slipped my mind," I said. I tried to infuse my voice with a dreamy, love struck quality, and hoped my mother bought it. She remained silent for several moments, and I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face. That'll teach her to meddle in my life.

"This is news indeed," my mother said, sounding slightly alarmed. "And you're serious about her?"

"Absolutely. She's perfect, Mum. I just know you'll think that once you meet her, and get to know her. Now, you might have heard about some of the garbage that's been written about her in the tabloids, but don't let that prejudice you against her. She's so refreshing and honest. She really doesn't hold herself back," I said.

I could tell my assurances did little to convince my mother to give Emilia a chance, and that just made me smile even wider. Being the consummate lady that she was, my mother would agree to meet Emilia, but she'd hate every second of it. And hopefully, she'd be so turned off by the prospect of me marrying Emilia that she'd agree to leave me alone, and stay out of my business once the engagement was ended.

"I see," she said, her voice sounding strained. "Well, I'm anxious to meet this woman who has captured your heart. When were you planning on introducing her to your father and me?"

"I was thinking of bringing her over for your Ruby anniversary party. You know, meet the whole family and all our friends in one go," I said.

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" she asked.

"What do you mean? I thought this is what you wanted me to do--find a girl and settle down. Now I've found her, and I know she's the one. What's the problem with bringing her to your party?" I asked.

"If you feel that strongly about it, then bring her to the party. I just wondered if it wouldn't be easier for her to meet in a more--er--intimate setting," she said, sounding a bit peeved.

I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud. "Oh, don't worry about that. She's not a shy wallflower. I think she'll love the attention, and is quite keen on seeing the grandeur of Kettering Hall all lit up and dazzling for one of your famous parties."

She made a slight choking sound in her throat before clearing it. "Well that just lovely," she said.

Once she hung up, I flung the phone on the couch and threw back my head and laughed. It was all worth it, everything--the paparazzi, the abstinence--for that one phone call.



***

"You look like you're in a good mood," Emilia said as I entered the theater.

She spotted me immediately and headed over my way. We were at the premier of her latest film, and had decided to arrive separately. We wanted to give off the impression that we were fiercely protective about our privacy, even though she had just been on the talk show circuit bragging about us. It was always this cat and mouse game. You had to be open, but only to a certain extent. If you crossed that line, it would come off as fake or desperate. I learned very quickly that if there was one thing people despised in this town, it was desperation.

So we played the game and gave the people enough to entice them, but not too much that we were shoving our relationship down their throats. It was all rather amusing, and I had to admire how well Emilia played the game.

"I'm in a much better mood now," I said taking her hand and lifting it to my lips. The gesture felt very natural and I didn't even think about it, but when I saw the flash of a camera phone, I realized it would probably be plastered over the gossip blogs the next day.

Emilia gave me a satisfied grin and leaned in close so she could whisper into my ear. "That was very good of you," she said. "Have you given any thought as to how you want our first public kiss to go?"

Everything about her gestures and movements gave off the impression that we were in our own little lover's cocoon, oblivious to the world. She wasn't a fool and knew that all eyes and most camera phones were trained in our direction.

"Hmm, how about now?" I said lifting her chin with my fingers and staring into her eyes. I found myself taking to this charade very quickly, like a fish to water. I saw her eyes darken as she licked her lips, and felt a surge of excitement. So she wasn't indifferent to me after all. Before I could capture her lips in a kiss, we were interrupted by a loud piercing voice bearing down on us.

"Oh mah gaw! Emilia you sly little thing. What are you doing hiding away in this little corner with this handsome man? You can't keep him to yourself all night, girl!"

I looked down at Emilia, whose eyes were flashing, and whose lips were turned down into a frown. She quickly gathered herself, and pasted on a smile before turning around to greet the intruder. I looked up past her to get my own look at the owner of this piercing, yet nasally voice with an exaggerated southern twang, and smiled politely. She was extremely tall and thin, with curly black hair. Her face had that smooth, plastic look that so many women of a certain age in this town had. Her lips were grotesquely plump and her nose ridiculously thin.