At Your Service - A.C. Arthur Page 0,31
House Playboy is actually getting married, why can’t we talk to him or his fiancée about it? Why wasn’t the business collaboration announced the other night at the Sip ’n’ Chat? Oh, and the most important question, where’s her engagement ring?”
It took every ounce of control Nina possessed to not look down at her left hand or the finger she knew was missing an engagement ring. Dammit! Why hadn’t she thought of that in her quest to make this fake plan seem as real as possible?
A better question: Why should they have to talk about anything they didn’t want to, or that wasn’t directly related to this show? But then, that’s how this marketing plan was supposed to work—to spark interest and keep the buzz going around the Golds and their new bridal collection. It was her debut in the industry and its very public lifestyle, so if she didn’t like invasive questions about an engagement ring she probably should’ve been wearing, well then, she’d just have to get over it.
“I’m not in the habit of answering questions about my personal life,” Nina said to the shock of everyone in the room, except maybe the reporter.
Nina moved until she was behind the podium, multiple microphones banked on the edge to point directly at her.
“But I recognize your need to intrude, especially since we made such a bold and exciting announcement just a few days ago.”
“Exactly,” the reporter replied with a look of measured satisfaction. “Shall I repeat my question?”
Nina held her gaze and smiled. “That’s not necessary. Major and I believe in keeping our personal relationship to ourselves. So while we’ve announced our engagement, and you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about the upcoming wedding plans, everything else between us, including the ring, will stay that way. Regardless of how many surprise questions are tossed at us. And on the business front, the At Your Service app is designed to work alongside fashion houses to offer customers a complete experience. There was an announcement on the home pages of RGF’s domestic and international websites a few days ago, which is how I presume you found out, so that hardly qualifies as a secret.”
The woman’s smirk faltered a bit at Nina’s words and, out of the corner of her eye, Nina could see Maurice grinning. She didn’t bother to try to see Major’s reaction. He probably wasn’t having any.
“So you’ve been dating for four months and now you’re getting married. How nice. When’s the big day? Have you picked out a dress? Will Riley be one of your bridesmaids? I must admit I thought if there were going to be a wedding in the Gold family, it would be Riley. But then again, she is dating the company’s biggest competitor, so making that union legal would probably be a stretch.”
This woman is a piece of work. Correction, she’s an ass.
“So glad you mentioned Riley. She’s been such a great sister-in-law-to-be these past few days. You’re correct in assuming she’ll be in the wedding, along with my sisters, and we’ll all be wearing dresses from the Golden Bride Collection. I’m very excited about selecting the perfect gowns. Are there any more questions about the wedding plans, or should I turn this over to the talented men who made today’s show possible?”
Another reporter thankfully spoke up, directing a question to Expo and the phenomenal—his word, not hers—turquoise gown they’d just seen in the show’s finale.
As Nina stepped away from the podium, Major reached for her hand. She hesitated just a second, looking up at him in question. His facial expression was still grim and he didn’t offer any explanation, but she placed her hand in his and stood beside him for the remainder of the press conference. If he’d thought them not touching for the past few days was in any way going to dull their attraction to each other, he was wrong.
Warmth instantly spread through her body at his touch and her fingers clung to his as they walked. He didn’t say a word until they were in the backseat of the car, and that was when he pulled her so close her lips parted on instinct in preparation for his kiss.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I’M NOT GOING to kiss you, not again.” The words hurt his throat as they came out in a scratchy growl.
His chest was heaving as anger poured through him. How dare that annoying Morgana McCloud question Nina the way she did? Major should have known this would happen. There