He handed off his glass of whiskey, reaching behind the nape of his neck to unclasp a necklace. Summer draped a thin delicate chain made of white gold along his opened hand. “I had the jeweler make a few changes.”

Carrie Ann twisted and he slipped it around her neck. The precious stone fell precisely into the nook of her voluptuous cleavage. The corner of his mouth curved upward in an indulgent grin. Happiness radiated through her core, warming her all over, as she peered downward. A misty film glazed over her eyes causing her to blink back the sentiment.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love the ring, but this…” She touched her fingers to the diamond between her breasts. “This means the world to me.” Holding her hand out to the moonlight, she continued, “It’s so big.”

“Christ, I love it when you say that.” He growled, pulling her in for a tumultuous kiss.

Early the next morning, she sent her father a text.

Summer asked me to marry him.

I said yes.

I wanted to tell you in person, but with you being so bogged down at work, we haven’t had a chance to talk in person. Sorry you had to hear it this way, but I didn’t want you to see it splashed all over the media. Hopefully you’ll be able to make time for me soon.

Love, Carrie Ann

*

Week four of the paparazzi frenzy, started with a fueled headline revealing Ry-Ann have an easy chemistry together which is heartening to all. She compliments him perfectly.

“Well, it’s much better than the headline two weeks ago. Bought and Paid For – Ryan’s million dollar bride. I really hated that one.” She smirked flippantly over the rim of her coffee cup. Paparazzi had besieged during their second public outing and for weeks their relationship had been both universally ridiculed and praised, sparking an all-out media feeding frenzy.

“You are a very expensive date,” he teased, blush tinged the bridge of his nose and cheeks. She swatted at him playfully and he clasped hold of her wrist, drawing her into his arms. He shifted from foot-to-foot in a slow dance, navigating around the front of her desk. Summer curled his fingers over the top of her open laptop, closing the computer, shutting out the rest of the world. “In another two weeks we’ll be old news and…”

“And the vultures will move on to their next victims. I know, I know. For the record, I think you’re dreamin’.”

The night before, mayhem erupted when they emerged from the car making their way inside a trendy LA restaurant. Summer calmly escorted her inside, while a crush of paparazzi lined the curb jockeying to get pictures of her ring. Flashes continued to strobe even after a few photographers lost their footing, feasting on some grungy LA pavement.

“We do complement each other perfectly.” He nipped her ear, investigating the sensitive slope with his teeth, probing for goosebumps.

“Perfectly,” she agreed with a pleasurable sigh, raking her fingers through his disheveled morning hair.

“Where are you off to so early this morning?”

She waved a hand down her front as if modeling her workout attire. “The gym.”

“You sure you don’t want to stay home? I promise to give you a good workout.”

“Sounds very…tantalizing, but I need to go into the office for a few hours. Unlike you, I have to go to work.” Her eyes narrowed playfully.

Since returning from vacation, she cut her work days to three. Keeping to routine, Carrie Ann hit the gym first, leaving early in hopes of cutting off the rush hour traffic. Summer didn’t make it easy. The man had far too much sex appeal and endurance at seven in the morning.

After making the hour commute, she pulled into the sparsely occupied parking lot, ready to pummel the first piece of exercise equipment available. Retrieving her favorite blue water bottle from her gym bag, she headed for the water station to fill up, running straight into Jason.

“Hey,” slipped from her mouth in an awkward squeaky tone.

“Hello, Carrie Ann.” Jason dragged a stark gaze across her face before scoping out the near vicinity. “Where’s your fiancé?”

She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until she tried to reply. “He’s at home.”

“What’s he gonna do next? Try to get me kicked out of my gym?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Yes it is and don’t bother calling to apologize when the test comes back.” Steering her toward an empty corner near the water fountain, he continued, “I can’t believe you think I would do that to you. Or anyone. Or just in fucking general. And just so you know, I knew after the premier we were just friends, Carrie Ann.”

“Then why did you bother to throw down fifty grand at the auction?”

His lips remained zipped, forging a hard, telling smile. There was no need for Jason to reply, the answer was written on his face. Dad put him up to it. Bringing his face closer, talking in a low acidic tone. “I’m not sure how Ryan’s going to feel after the results come back in few days, but at least you’ll feel better.” He paused. “Or maybe not. Maybe you’ll feel worse, when you’re forced to consider all the possibilities.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, maybe you should be looking at your fiancé.”

“Summer would never…”

“And neither would I. Hell, even your old man knows it.”

“Jason…”

“Have a good workout.”

Her fists tightened securely around her water bottle as ice crystalized in her veins. It took every ounce of composure she could muster, not to chuck the twenty-four ounces of plastic at the back of his head. Anger simmered over, only it wasn’t Jason who stoked her fury. It was her father. Carrie Ann’s feet remained frozen to the floor while her mind deciphered the exact wordage she intended to unload on her dad. None of them were pretty.

Without thinking, she started toward her favorite spin bike in a brusque march. Tapping her finger aggressively to the screen, she worked through the settings, choosing the longest, most rigorous ride possible. Carrie Ann plugged in her earbuds and hopped on the bike, only to find the wire bottle holder missing. Fuck! Fuckity-fuck! Fearing an oncoming outburst, she tossed her things on the ground, shoved her feet into the toe cage and began to pedal.

Carrie Ann’s mind was numb, sitting tall, she worked through warm up stretches. She wasn’t listening to the music, she wasn’t watching the screen, or bothering with her heart rate. Her thoughts were lost, driven beyond the brink in an anger-filled daze. This was the reason her father had been avoiding her calls. If the test cleared Jason of any wrong doing, he would surely place the blame on Summer.

Tugging one arm across her chest, she drew in a deep breath filling her lungs with air. Her eyes drifted shut as she lifted her chin to the heavens, silently praying for strength and guidance to deal with her father.

Switching arms, she took another deep inhale. The scent of tobacco filled her nostrils. I must be delusional. He would never step foot in a gym. Her eyes popped open, head twisting from side-to-side, expecting to see her father’s face. She wasn’t ready. Carrie Ann needed to calm down before talking to him.

A familiar face took ownership of the bike to her right, but it wasn’t her father. She scowled, watching the man take a casual swig from her water bottle.

Taking notice of her apprehension, he gave her a half nod, gesturing for her to remove her head phones. “You look so familiar to me. Have we met before?”

Spotting her blue bottle still sitting on the ground, she holstered her ferocity, saving her explosion for the intended target…her father. Glimpsing his vivid green eyes, wide smile, and dark curly hair, she nodded, bending down to grab her water. “We’ve met before, but I just can’t put my finger on it.”

“Maybe it’s just from seeing you here at the gym.”