‘You look pretty damn spectacular too,’ she said huskily.
The classic black dinner jacket fitted his muscular frame perfectly, and although all the male guests at the party would be similarly dressed, she knew that beside Ram they would look ordinary. His beauty and charisma would ensure that.
He glanced down at himself, then up to her face, his grey gaze dark and mocking. ‘I doubt anyone’s going to be looking at me.’
She shivered. ‘Hopefully they won’t be looking at me either.’
‘They can look. But they can’t touch.’
His arm tightened around her waist and she saw that his eyes were no longer mocking but intent and alert. Tipping her chin up, he cupped her face in his hand.
‘You’re mine. And I want everyone to know that. After tonight, they will.’
She felt her heart slip sideways, like a boat breaking free from its moorings. But of course he was just getting into the mood for the evening ahead, and it was her cue to do the same.
‘I’ll remind you of that later, when we’re dancing and I’m trampling on your toes,’ she said lightly. ‘You’ll be begging other men to take me off your hands.’
His face shifted, the corners of his mouth curving upwards, and his arms held her close against him.
‘And what will you be begging me to do?’
Their eyes met, and she felt her face grow warm. She hadn’t begged yet, but she hadn’t been far off it. Remembering how frantic she had felt last night, how desperate she had been for his touch, the frenzy of release, she swallowed.
‘We shouldn’t—’
He nodded. ‘I know. I just wish we could fast-forward tonight.’
She could hear the longing in his voice. ‘So do I. I wish it was just the two of us.’
‘It will be.’ He frowned. ‘I know you’re nervous. But I’ll be there with you, and if for some reason I’m not—well, I thought this might help. I hope you like it.’
He lifted her hand and Nola stared mutely as he slid a beautiful sapphire ring onto her finger.
A sweet, shimmering lightness began to spread through her body. ‘It—It’s a ring,’ she stammered.
His eyes glittered. ‘You sound surprised. What were you expecting?’
‘Nothing. I wasn’t expecting anything.’
‘We’re getting engaged tonight, sweetheart. There has to be a ring.’
She nodded, some of her happiness fading. He was right: there did have to be a ring.
‘Of course,’ she said quickly. ‘And it’s lovely. Really...’
‘Good.’ Pulling out his phone, he glanced down at the screen and grimaced. ‘In that case, I guess we should be going.’
* * *
Bypassing the queue of limousines and sports cars in the drive, Ram used the service entran
ce to reach the house. As they walked hand in hand towards the two huge marquees on the lawn Nola shivered. There were so many guests—several hundred at least.
‘Do your parents really know this many people?’ she asked, gazing nervously across the lawn.
He shrugged. ‘Socially, yes. Personally, I doubt they could tell you much more than their names and which clubs they belong to.’
He turned as a waiter passed by with a tray of champagne and grabbed two glasses.