Page 9 of Broncos and Ballads (Healing Springs Ranch #2)

He offered her his elbow. “I’m all yours tonight, darlin’. You can do anything with me that you want.”

For the first time since their unusual encounter earlier, a genuine smile tugged at her lips. “Anything?”

“Promise. Anything.”

With a widening smile, she tucked her hand into his elbow and began to stroll forward. “You might come to regret your promise.”

He grinned back. “Doubt it. Not with you.”

She squeezed his arm. “You are the world’s biggest flirt. You do know that, don’t you?”

“Course I do.”

This time she laughed lightly.

The sky was growing dark with the coming of night, and the decorative lights strung overhead provided a beautiful ambiance to the arboretum. With the open bar and the food tent, everyone seemed happy.

They’d reached the edge of the party again, and the conversations lulled around them at their appearance. Probably because she was so breathtaking that no one could resist staring at her.

Either she pretended not to notice, or she was so used to turning heads that she didn’t pay attention to it anymore. She kept her eyes on him, walking with perfected poise. “Thank you for making me laugh.”

“Anytime.”

She slipped her arms through his more securely and pressed against him, clearly playing up their role as a couple. “Anything? Anytime? You’re not only the world’s biggest flirt, but you’re accommodating enough to be the world’s most perfect boyfriend.”

“I try.”

For a while, they wandered along the edges of the party, managed to eat a little, and thankfully deflected most inquiries about their relationship. He found himself enjoying the time with her like he usually did, and as the party progressed, she seemed to relax.

She’d just finished dipping a strawberry into a chocolate fondue when a camera flashed in their faces. She set aside the chocolate and then peered up at him with wide eyes filled with adoration.

Even though he knew it wasn’t real adoration and that she was performing for the photographer Reed had hired, a small part of Brock wished this were real and that she really did adore him.

He wasn’t sure where that thought came from—maybe from the growing awareness of how empty his relationships had always been and his desire to move beyond that.

Whatever the case, he couldn’t read more into her poses—because that’s all they were, poses for the camera, something she was an expert at. In fact, it would be better for both of them if he kept things from getting too serious tonight when she was having a hard time over Reed.

As the photographer angled in for another picture, Brock kicked up his crooked grin, the one that earned him the most fan comments.

Then before he could stop himself, he bent down and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Again, he wasn’t sure where that’d come from, but it felt right, like she needed it in the moment.

Her eyes turned glassy, and she looked away, blinking rapidly, all the while maintaining her perfect smile.

“Attention, everybody.” Reed’s voice suddenly filled the lull. “Could I have your attention, please?”

Immediately, Venus stiffened.

And as the guests all shifted to look at Reed, Reed stuck his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out a small ring box.

So this was it. The big moment.

Reed darted a glance toward Venus, as though making sure she was there and watching. Then he smiled at Lexi and dropped down to one knee in front of her.

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, as if she were surprised. Maybe she was.

“Lexi,” Reed started. “I’ve never met another woman like you.”

Venus’s fingers dug into Brock’s arm, and Brock couldn’t help but feel irked at Reed’s callous statement too.

“You make me the happiest I’ve ever been,” Reed continued as he opened the ring box. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

It wasn’t a poetic proposal. It wasn’t even all that creative. And it was even a little selfish. After all, the relationship wasn’t about how happy she was making him . It ought to be the other way around and about making her the happiest she’d ever been.

Brock’s fingers itched again to pull out his phone and jot down the ideas, the lines for a new song.

A thrum of excitement pulsed through him. What was going on? He was starting to find inspiration everywhere. And it was awesome.

“Lexi,” Reed continued, “I would be honored if you would agree to marry me.”

She waited until the box was open and the ring in sight, then she dropped her hand and gasped again. Her smile was wide and genuine and happy, and her eyes were glassy with tears.

Reed was watching her expectantly.

She nodded and held out her hand. “Yes! Yes! Of course I’ll marry you, baby!”

Reed took the ring out and slid it down her finger. All the while, the photographer was capturing every moment of the proposal.

Brock felt Venus tremble against him, and he brought up his other hand and laid it over hers on his arm.

She glanced at him, giving him a glimpse of the despair in her eyes.

He squeezed her hand, hoping to reassure her that he was there for her.

Reed and Lexi embraced, then kissed. As they did so, the rest of the guests clapped and cheered, all except for him and Venus. Instead, she held herself stiffly, her smile gone.

When the kissing was done and everyone had toasted the happy couple, Venus began to tug free. She’d done her duty and stayed for the proposal. Now that it was over, was she running off?

He wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to leave. Maybe he’d go too.

“Ready?” he whispered as he took a step backward.

She hesitated. “Ready for what?”

“I’m getting out of here. How about you?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

Keeping her securely by his side, he turned to go.

“Hold on, Venus!” Reed’s voice carried above the crowd. “Don’t leave yet.”

Under the glow of the little lights above them, her face looked especially pale, and her eyes held a panic that told him she didn’t want to stay.

Brock tossed a grin over his shoulder. “Hey now. It’s our last night together. We deserve a little time alone, don’t we?”

His comment was met with laughter from everyone except Reed. The guy forced a smile, but Brock was beginning to think Reed was jealous.

Reed’s eyes said it all. He was marrying Lexi, but Venus was his too, and he was making sure no one else could claim her.

Brock’s gut tightened. The guy was a selfish son of a gun. As far as Brock was concerned, Venus was better off without him.

“Venus,” Reed called again. “My best friend in the whole world.”

Curving her lips up into a bright smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes, she spun to face Reed.

Reed held out a hand as though he expected Venus to trot over to him like a hound dog begging for attention. “I would love it if you would agree to stand up with me at my wedding as my best woman.”

With all eyes turning upon her, Venus didn’t waver. She kept her perfect smile, her perfect pose, her perfect composure. “Of course, Reed. I would be honored.”

Reed smiled back. “I couldn’t do it without you.”

She didn’t respond except to nod at him graciously.

Lexi latched on to Reed’s arm as though to draw his attention back to her. “Everyone here is invited to the wedding. We’re having it in two months at Reed’s family’s home.” Which was an oceanfront mansion that had a private beach.

“Two months?” Venus’s whisper sounded strangled.

Obviously the engagement wasn’t a surprise for Lexi if she’d already been planning the wedding. So why bother to have a party? What was the point?

“Let’s go.” Venus tugged Brock back around. She couldn’t seem to leave the party fast enough. When they were inside the inn and well away from the party goers, she halted, released him, and bent over.

He wanted to ask her if she was okay, but he knew that was a stupid question. She was upset about not only the engagement but Reed involving her in the wedding party and the ceremony happening so soon.

Was there anything—anything at all—he could do for her?

As if hearing his unspoken question, she straightened and looked directly at him. “Let’s do this.”

He quirked a brow. “Do what?”

“Have your people talk to my people, and let’s work out an arrangement to have a relationship.” The hurt in her eyes said it all, that Reed had injured her not only as a woman but also as a friend.

“I know what’s in this for me,” he said slowly. “I’ll get to maybe repair my reputation. But what’s in it for you?”

“If I don’t do this, Reed will assume I’m breaking up with you because he told me to. And I don’t want to give him that satisfaction.”

“He told you to break up with me?” This conversation was the strangest and most confusing he’d ever had.

“He said you’re a player and can’t make a commitment.”

“Ouch.” Even if Reed’s description was slightly true, the comment still stung. Probably because it echoed what his family thought of him—that he was the wild child of the family. “Maybe I just haven’t met the right woman.”

“Well, how about if I’m that right woman?”

A fake right woman. But what did it matter? “So you want to do this to prove something to Reed?”

“I don’t want his pity. Just because he found someone doesn’t mean I can’t.”

Brock scratched the back of his head. The conversation was only getting more confusing by the second. “So you want to be in a fake relationship with me to prove to Reed that you can find someone?”

“Yes, exactly.” She held his gaze, her eyes bright. “If he can find happiness with someone else, so can I.”

“Except you won’t really be happy with me because it will all be pretend.”

“He won’t know that.”

Brock dropped his hand and stuffed both into his pockets. He didn’t like the idea of having a bogus relationship with Venus for any reason at all, not for her sake or his. But if she wanted it, he’d do it.

She was watching him expectantly.

He offered her a grin. “How long will we be in this fake relationship?”

She expelled a breath. “Our people can connect, and they can work out all the details.” Then she started down the hallway, away from him toward the elevators.

He was tempted to follow after her and ask her if he could take her out tonight. Instead, he just stood unmoving and watched her beautiful sway.

When she reached the elevator, she glanced back at him. “Thank you, Brock. I wish you all the best.”

The elevator opened, and she disappeared inside.

Her words lingered in the air, sounding a lot like goodbye. Strangely, he found that he didn’t want to say goodbye yet to Venus Vargas.