Page 130 of A Convenient Secret

Corm scratches his jaw. “So what are we thinking here? Something small and subtle? Or are we going full-on ‘I own a sports team’ levels of obnoxiousness?”

“Something in between.”

He gestures vaguely at the tray. “Then congratulations, you’ve got fifty versions of that right here.”

I exhale slowly, studying the rings. A few have sleek, modern bands; others have intricate detailing. Some are massive, others more understated.

None of them says Lily.

Claire clears her throat delicately. “Do you have any preferences? Style, setting, gemstone shape?”

Corm leans in conspiratorially. “Do you sell ringsthat come with a cheat sheet? I don’t think my brother knows if it’s an engagement ring or just an ‘I like you very much’ ring, or perhaps a ‘please don’t leave—I can’t look for another nanny’ ring.”

I shoot him a look. “You’re not helping.”

“I’m not the one who invited me.”

Claire keeps her professional smile intact. “Does she wear jewelry often?”

“She doesn’t like anything too… much,” I say after a beat. “Something classic. Timeless. But not boring.”

Claire nods, already flipping through another tray of rings. “Perhaps an oval cut? Or something with a hidden halo? Elegant but understated.”

She places a ring in front of me—a delicate platinum band with an oval-cut diamond, the setting clean and modern, but not over-the-top. It catches the light in a way that reminds me of Lily’s eyes when she laughs.

“This one.”

“You sure? You barely looked at the others,” Corm asks.

“I don’t need to.”

His smirk fades slightly. Not much, but enough for me to notice. “Damn. You’re really in it, huh? It doesn’t surprise me actually.”

“It doesn’t?”

“I mean the woman stabbed you, and you didn’t even fire or report her; you hiredher permanently. She is great with your kids, and you stared at her like she was your lunch at the gala. You also almost ripped Xander’s head off when he teased you about her.”

Fuck, all of that happened before we even slept together. Tonight, I’m not giving up. We’re fucking announcing everything to everyone tomorrow.

I pay for the ring and put the box in my pocket.

I search for any signs of heaviness in my chest. But with the ring weighing in my pocket, I only feel lighter.

“Here they are,” Saar exclaims as we enter the foyer. Cal and Celeste are beside her, but I ignore them and approach Lily.

“Hello to you, too,” Saar says sarcastically, while I pull Lily to the side.

“You look wonderful.” My eyes roam down the simple black dress that hugs her body, leaving me desperate to peel away the layers and taste her.

“I got more flowers today.” A smile lingers on her face. “Why?”

“Just because.” I itch to touch her, painfully aware of the room full of people.

“Just because.” She repeats the words like they are a secret promise.

Not exactly the words, but our own language to use in the meantime while we’re finding our way.

It’s like our whiskey-sharing ritual.