Kate Hardy - Taken by the Millionaire - Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded

He smiled. ‘No. My fiancée does.’ He draped one arm around Isobel’s shoulders. ‘I just hijacked her exhibition. But that’s how people got engaged in Roman times—exactly as we got engaged just now.’ He took Isobel’s left hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Sorry about that, Bel. I mean, Flavia.’

‘He’s … I …’ Isobel squirmed. ‘Sorry, everyone. This wasn’t planned. And he isn’t supposed to be here.’

‘Don’t worry, she’s not going to get into trouble,’ Alex said in a stage whisper. ‘I talked to her boss first.’

He’d talked to her boss? What? When?

‘Oh, that’s so romantic,’ another of the women said, sighing. ‘To surprise you at work like that.’

‘Given what she does for a living, I couldn’t really do anything else,’ Alex said. ‘And if you’ll excuse us, Flavia has finished work for today.’

‘Alex, I—’ she began.

‘Shh.’ He placed his finger on her lips. ‘I cleared it with your boss. Thank you, everyone, for being our witnesses today in a genuine Roman betrothal ceremony.’

Everyone started clapping and calling out their congratulations. Alex smiled back, then simply picked up all the elements of Isobel’s display, took her hand, and shepherded her out of the gallery.

‘Alex, I can’t believe you just did that!’ she said in a low voice.

‘Stop worrying. I really did clear it with your boss. Rita also let me borrow the outfit—which I need to return, so let’s go and change.’

‘You borrowed the senator’s outfit?’

‘I wanted to surprise you,’ he said with a grin.

‘You did that, all right. I thought you were in the interview this afternoon?’

‘I was.’

‘And you were going to text me to let me know how it went.’

He shrugged. ‘I decided to come and tell you in person.’

‘So did you get the job?’

‘This morning, you were very confident in my abilities.’ He tutted. ‘Clearly I’ll have to take you home and remind you just how able I am.’

‘Alex,’ she said warningly, ‘if you don’t tell me right now, I’ll stab you with these tweezers. They might be replicas, but they’ll hurt.’

He laughed. ‘Yes. I got the job. And I’m taking you out to dinner to celebrate—that, and our engagement.’

‘Our engagement?’ She glanced at the ring. ‘I thought you were … I dunno … hamming it up.’

‘No. You just got engaged to me, Bel. In public, so you can’t back out—and, besides, we’re meant to be seeing the parents at the weekend. They’re expecting to see a ring.’ His eyes glittered. ‘Do you like it?’

‘It’s gorgeous. And it’s a perfect fit—but how did you know my size?’

‘Give me some credit for resourcefulness.’

‘No, I want to know.’

‘While you were in the shower a few days ago, I borrowed one of your rings and drew round it. I took the drawing to the jeweller’s and asked them to size it for me—and I gave them a photograph of exactly what I wanted them to make for me. I picked it up on the way here. It’s eighteen-carat so it’s more durable.’ He paused. ‘I know it’s not exactly a modern engagement ring, but I thought this was more you.’ He smiled at her. ‘Though if you want a diamond, that’s fine—we can go shopping for one whenever you like.’

‘No. This is perfect.’ She shook her head. ‘I can’t quite believe this just happened. You borrowed the senator’s robes and hijacked my show—’

‘With factually correct information,’ he cut in.

‘Skimpy, but I suppose it’ll do.’

‘Skimpy?’ He scoffed, then bent his head to whisper in her ear, ‘But, seeing as you brought it up … skimpy can be good. Are you dressed completely as a Roman woman?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Because, if you are, then I know you’re not wearing very much underneath that robe. And in that case I sincerely hope your office has a blind at the window and a lock on the door.’

‘It’s open plan.’

‘Pity.’ He nibbled her ear lobe. ‘Looks as if we’ll have to go home before dinner…’

WHEN Isobel walked into the office, she was surprised to see a large card propped up in the middle of her desk along with a beautiful bouquet of flowers; the card attached to the flowers made tears well up in her eyes when she read it. ‘Isobel and Alex. Congratulations and much love.’ It was from the whole department—and they could only have known about this a few minutes ago. Someone must have organised a collection at record speed and gone straight out to buy the flowers even as Alex had been striding towards her in his toga.

‘Congratulations, Bel.’ Rita, Isobel’s boss, came over to her and hugged her. ‘I’m so pleased for you, love.’

‘Though you kept it very quiet,’ Siobhan, the department secretary, said. ‘I thought you two were just good friends?’

‘Not any more,’ Alex said, smiling back at her and draping his arm round Isobel’s shoulders.

‘Let’s see the ring.’ Rita looked at it, then nodded her approval at Alex. ‘It’s lovely. And very much our Isobel.’ She smiled at Isobel again. ‘And don’t you dare sneak off and get married in secret, do you hear?’

‘We won’t,’ Alex promised with a smile. ‘In fact, I want to have a chat with you about that.’

Isobel could guess exactly where this was heading. ‘No, Alex, we’re not having a Roman wedding in the middle of the Roman gallery. Apart from the fact it’s not licensed for weddings … No. ’

‘Spoilsport,’ Alex grumbled, but he was laughing. ‘Rita, I know it’s a bit of a cheek, but would you mind if I sweep my new fiancée off for dinner right now rather than waiting until the end of her shift? We’ve got a few things to celebrate.’

Rita smiled broadly. ‘It’s not every day someone gets engaged around here. Of course I don’t mind. Shoo. Go and have fun.’

‘I’ll stay late tomorrow night to make up the time,’ Isobel offered.

‘No need, love. Apart from the fact that you already put in more hours than you should, I believe a happy staff is a productive staff.’ Rita smiled. ‘Though you two might want to change back into normal clothes before you leave the building.’

‘We’d turn a few heads, dressed like this,’ Alex agreed, laughing.

By the time Isobel had changed, Alex had ordered a taxi, which was waiting outside for them.

‘That’s so extravagant ,’ she said.

‘It’s also much easier than carrying a bouquet on the tube in the rush hour,’ he pointed out as he opened the taxi door for her, then placed the flowers on her lap before climbing in beside her.

‘I can’t believe they managed to do all this between you asking Rita if you could hijack my display, and you taking me back to my office.’

‘Everyone likes you, Bel,’ he said simply. ‘Of course they’d want to do something for you—and not wait until tomorrow, either.’

She opened the card. ‘Everyone in the department’s signed the card. Look at all these messages wishing us luck and so much happiness together.’ She blinked back the threatening tears. ‘This is all wrong. I feel such a fake, Alex.’

‘You’re not a fake. And it’s not wrong. We’ve been through this, Bel. This marriage is going to work, because we’re very, very good friends.’ He moved slightly closer, and whispered, ‘Plus we’re having great sex. Which in my book is a million times better than falling in love and being as miserable as hell.’

She frowned. ‘What happened, Alex? Who was she?’

‘Who?’

‘The woman who made you so bitter about love.’

He shrugged. ‘It was a long time ago.’