“Did she fire you?” the reporter asked.
Evan wished he could end the call, but he wanted to keep the press satisfied, and the last thing he needed was to ramp up the story any further. “I resigned from Lassiter Media. I’m now pursuing some independent business opportunities.”
“Will you go back to Lassiter Media after you marry Angelica?”
“Lassiter Media is in very capable hands. Angelica Lassiter will make an excellent CEO. And I’m certain her father would be proud.”
“Proud of the way she fought his will?”
Evan felt like he was navigating a mine field. “It was a complicated situation. But we’re all focused on the future. And I’m afraid I have another pressing appointment right now. Do you have a final question?”
“Did you give her back her ring?”
Evan hesitated for a moment. “Can I go off the record?”
Geoff Wilson paused. Evan knew the man would hate to get a juicy scoop off the record, but he’d hate it more to miss a juicy scoop altogether.
“Sure,” he finally answered. “Off the record.”
“Not yet. But I am planning to give it back.”
“When? Where?”
Evan chuckled. “If we decide we want our pictures in the paper, you’ll be the first person we call. Goodbye, Mr. Wilson.”
“But—”
Evan disconnected the call.
“Off the record?” asked Deke. “Are you kidding me?”
Evan took Deke’s phone and pressed the microphone against his leg to block his voice. “I know it’s a long shot that he’ll respect it. But I had to give him something. And it would be worse if he printed his suspicions that we’re not really getting back together.”
Evan raised the phone to his ear. “Angie?”
“What’s going on?” She sounded breathless.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine.”
“Are you running from someone?”
“I’m on an exercise bike.”
Evan struggled not to picture her in tight exercise pants and a cropped T-shirt. “I just had a call from a reporter. A guy from the Los Angeles Star Daily.”
Her tone turned guarded. “What did he want?”
“To grill me about our relationship. You’re going to the fitting tonight?”
“The bridesmaid dresses? Yes. Grill you how?”
“The usual. Are we back together? How do I feel about it? Am I working at Lassiter Media again? I’ll pick you up, and we can go together tonight.”
“I can get there myself.”
“If the press is calling me, they’re likely following you. We have to make this look good.”
“Evan, I am not going to spend the next two weeks—”
“Yes, you are. You’re going to spend the next two weeks pretending you like me.”
“Evan.”
“We’re too far down the road to back off now. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I won’t be home.”
“Where will you be?”
She went silent, and he could feel her stubbornness right through the line.
“Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll be home.”
“I’ll see you at seven.”
* * *
Kayla had a flare for the feminine and the beautiful, and everything about her custom-made wedding reflected her good taste. Her bridal gown was both traditional and spectacular. Made of pure, white satin, the wraparound bodice hugged her slim torso. A band of delicate jewels accentuated her bust, while the full skirt, with its cascading jeweled vine pattern, started at her hips and flowed to the floor where it flared out in a three-foot train.
“It’s absolutely stunning,” Angelica breathed, blown away by the picture Kayla made in the dressing area of the wedding store.
“You look like a fairy princess,” said Tiffany, moving around for a look at the back.
“I was thinking hair up,” said Kayla, demonstrating.
“Definitely,” Angelica agreed. “Do you have a diamond necklace?”
“And dangling, diamond earrings,” said Tiffany.
Angelica moved closer to check out the pattern of the jewels on the dress. “I’ve got the perfect thing,” she told Kayla. “It’s a four-row diamond choker.” Then she wondered if she was being too presumptuous. “If you’d like something borrowed, I mean.”
“I don’t remember it,” said Tiffany.
“I don’t wear it very often. My brothers gave it to me for my nineteenth birthday. It’s a little too dressy for most occasions.”
“I’d love to borrow it,” said Kayla. Then she took a step back, turning away from the mirror. “Now let me get a look at the two of you.”
Angelica focused on the mirror, gazing at herself in an ice-pink, full-length bridesmaid gown. The tight, strapless, satin bodice glistened with silver sequins. It laced up the back, starting at the base of her spine and ending several inches below her shoulder blades in a sexy, low, V cut. An organza skirt, scattered with sequins, floated like a cloud around her ankles.
Given the time constraints, they were buying off the rack. But the store had a huge variety of styles to choose from.
“You both look perfect,” said Kayla.
Tiffany twirled around. “I feel like dancing already.”
“Matt says you’re bringing Deke as your date,” Kayla said.
“That’s right. He’s a fun guy and a really good dancer.”
Tiffany stopped twirling, and the three women stood side by side in front of the mirror.
“You’ve been dancing with Deke?” Angelica asked, curious.
“Just that one night after dinner. Neither of us was tired. Nothing else happened.”
“I assume you’d tell me if it did.”
“Maybe.” Tiffany grinned.
“I think it all works,” said Kayla.
Angelica pulled her attention back to the mirror. She agreed with Kayla. The dresses looked exquisitely beautiful—a little girlie for her normal tastes, but definitely beautiful.
“Well, that was quick,” said Tiffany.
“I’m nothing if not efficient,” said Kayla.
Both of the other two women groaned at the joke. Kayla could shop until she dropped.
“So, is the thing with Deke serious?” Kayla asked Tiffany.
Angelica found herself wondering the same thing. She knew Tiffany was attracted to him, and the reverse was obviously also true. But she’d thought it was more of a flirtation than anything else. She had been surprised when Tiffany invited him to the wedding.
“He’s hot,” said Tiffany.
“That doesn’t answer the question,” Angelica noted.
“It’s not serious,” said Tiffany, but her glance moved away as she said it. “Can’t a girl have a good time?”
“Of course you can,” said Kayla, an apology in her tone. “We don’t judge. You should have as many good times as you want.”
“Okay, I didn’t have that good a time.”
“My point is that you can,” said Kayla.
“I agree,” Angelica said with conviction. “All flings don’t have to be romantic.”
A fleeting expression of guilt crossed Tiffany’s face.
Before Angelica could consider what it meant, Kayla turned. “Can somebody unbutton me?”
As Angelica started unfastening the long row of tiny buttons, she couldn’t help wonder if Tiffany was masking deeper feelings for Deke. Could she be worried about Angelica’s reaction? Angelica didn’t mind if the two of them dated. Just like she didn’t mind that Kayla and Matt were a loving couple.
Her and Evan’s friends had gotten together, while she and Evan had split apart. That was life. It was ironic that she and Evan had been the ones to introduce both couples, but it didn’t change the fact that she wished them every happiness.
“You guys stay dressed up,” said Kayla as she made her way into the changing room. “We can’t let Matt see my dress, but I want to put you beside the groomsmen and see how you look.”
“It’s okay if you like him,” Angelica told Tiffany as the curtain shut behind Kayla. “Don’t hold back because of me.”
“Who says I’m holding back?” Tiffany was silent for a moment, then said, “I saw that you drove here with Evan?”
It was Angelica’s turn to feel a pang of guilt. She knew Tiffany had seen the Weekly Break article, but they hadn’t had a chance to talk about it yet. She felt sick at the thought of lying again.
She swallowed, girding herself to tell the fake story. She couldn’t look Tiffany in the eyes. “We’re, uh, trying to spend a little time together. You know...to maybe see what happens.”
“Angie.”
“Yes.” Angelica couldn’t seem to bring her voice above a whisper.
“Deke told me.”
“Deke told you what?”
“About the two of you tricking Conrad.”
Angelica was speechless.
“I understand why you’re doing it,” Tiffany continued, “but I have to say, I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.”
“How did Deke figure it out?”
“Evan told him.”
“But...” Anger formed in the pit of Angelica’s stomach. She went hot, then cold, her tone a hiss. “We swore. We swore we weren’t going to tell anyone. Not even my brothers.”