Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Eight

The knot in Ryder’s stomach intensified as the lights of the Vegas strip greeted them. Madison shifted in the seat, and her body visibly tensed. He was sure it had everything to do with the fact she was going to have to face her family. He laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Thankfully, they had an excuse to stall the inevitable a bit longer. Their first stop was a jewelry store. He swung into the parking lot of the first one he found and parked. Madison took a deep breath, and he risked a glance at her.

“You sure you want to go through with this?” he asked.

She nodded. “It’s too late to change my mind now. Let’s go buy a fake engagement ring.” She smiled, then opened the door and got out.

Ryder was right behind her. He help open the door, and she walked in ahead of him. Even though he’d wanted to propose to Amy, he’d never gotten to the point where he’d started shopping for rings, and he never thought the first time he did it would be under these circumstances.

“Hello. How can I help you today?” The sales associate stood near one of the display cases. Her nametag read Rosie.

“We’re looking for an engagement ring,” Ryder said, his voice loud and clear and unflinching.

“Well, congratulations!” Rosie beamed a blinding smile, followed by a shrill laugh. “All of our wedding sets are over here.” She waved toward a massive case lining the entire back wall, which had to be twenty-feet long. “We sell individual engagement rings along with full sets that include the engagement ring and two wedding bands. Are you two getting married here in Vegas?”

“No,” Madison said and reached for Ryder’s hand.

“We just need the engagement ring right now,” Ryder said. His plan was to buy it, let Madison wear it for the weekend, then return it before they left to go back home.

“Well, all right then. Follow me.” Rosie led them to the far left side of the case. “Here is where all our individual rings are. Everything can be sized on the spot, so don’t worry too much about that. We can also do personalized engravings on site, for a nominal fee.”

Madison nodded as Rosie spoke, but he wasn’t really paying too much attention. He was browsing the case, hands tucked in his pockets. Despite the insane situation that led them to this moment, he couldn’t shake the need to find something she’d love, something that was all her and not pretend.

“I’ll let you two look around. Let me know if you need any help,” Rosie said before she returned to her position near the door.

His gaze swept the display of sparkling diamonds. Most of them were ostentatious and gaudy. Then again, they were in Vegas, land of quick and flashy weddings. He moved down the case, and then stopped when one ring in particular caught his attention.

It had tiny diamond chips embedded in a white gold band with a conservative sized diamond in the center. Simple but elegant. Exactly like Madison.

“What about that one?” he asked, pointing to the ring he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of.

She moved down to stand by him, and he heard her small, sharp intake of breath. “Ryder,” she whispered. “That’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah?” He turned to her with a smile and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Ryder motioned for Rosie, and she bustled over. Removing the ring from the case, she held it out to Madison to try one. She took it and slipped it onto her finger, then she held up her hand, admiring the ring.

He studied her intently, watching for any signs that she might be reconsidering this whole thing, but her face was flushed, and her eyes sparkled brighter than the ring on her finger. The sight of her stole his breath, and all he could think about was giving her a real ring with a real proposal.

Shaking the thoughts away, he asked, “I take it you like it?”

“Are you kidding? I love it, and it fits perfectly,” she said, turning to him with the biggest smile she’d ever given him.

“Okay.” He nodded. “We’ll take this one,” he said to Rosie.

Ryder paid for the ring—way more than he probably should have considering it was nothing more than a prop, but truth be told, he’d have paid a hundred times that amount just to see that smile on Madison’s face again—and then they headed back out to his car.

He reached for the passenger door, but he didn’t open it right away. Instead, he removed the ring from the black velvet box and held it up to her. “Madison, will you allow me to pretend to be your fiancé this weekend?”

Laughing, she stuck out her hand. “I thought you’d never ask.”

His heartrate sped up as he slipped the ring on her finger, and he hesitated with her hand in his. A pang of longing slammed into his chest. He didn’t want this to be fake. Not with her. And that realization had him fighting to draw in a breath.

“Ryder? You okay?”

“Yeah, fine,” he said and cleared his throat. He dropped her hand and opened the car door for her. “C’mon. We should get to the casino.”

Once she was in the car, he closed the door and took his time walking around to the driver’s side, hoping the anxiety coursing through his veins would disappear. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

****

Ryder drove down the Vegas strip, the lights nearly blinding him. Then again, he wasn’t exactly as focused on the road as he should be. All he could think about was the look on Madison’s face when he’d picked out that ring, the way she’d smiled, how it had felt to slip that ring on her finger.

“It’s up here on the left,” she said, nodding toward a massive glass building.

He slowed and turned into the parking lot, following the curve around to the front entrance. A valet stood at the ready. Ryder put the car in park and glanced at Madison. “Ready?”

“No.” She laughed nervously.

The valet opened Madison’s door, and she got out. Ryder was right behind her, heading for the trunk when he stopped cold.

“Madison?” The valet’s eyes widened, and his face split into a bright smile.

Recognition flashed across her face. “Jerome?” She flung her arms around him, and he lifted her, spinning her around twice before setting her back on her feet. “God, it’s been forever. You look great,” she said.

Ryder scowled. He tried to stay calm, to remind himself that this was her hometown, that she was raised on the strip, immersed in this lifestyle. They were at her father’s casino for crying out loud. It would stand to reason she’d know people, but that didn’t make it any easier to see her in another man’s arms.

“Does your dad know you’re back?” Jerome asked, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

“Not yet, but that’s why I’m here. I’m going to see him.” She shifted on her feet and lowered her gaze.

Enough was enough. Ryder stepped up beside her and slipped his arm around her, his gaze leveled on Jerome, who took a small step back.

She smiled up at him. “Ryder, this is Jerome, an old friend from high school.” Her attention shifted back to Jerome. “Ryder’s a…he’s my fiancé.”

God, hearing her say that had too many emotions rising up in him. He had to remind himself that it wasn’t real, that he was here to play a role. Nothing more.

Jerome’s eyes widened. “Fiancé?” He whistled. “Damn. I thought for sure you’d end up with Will.” He laughed, and Ryder scowled. As if realizing what he just said, Jerome extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, man.”

Ryder shook his hand. “It’s always nice to meet Madison’s friends.”

“Well, hey, I need to get back to work, but make sure you call me. We have to hang out before you leave again,” Jerome said. He moved like he wanted to hug her again, but his eyes flickered toward Ryder, and he walked away instead.

When Jerome was out of earshot, Madison elbowed Ryder in the ribs. “He’s just a friend.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to.” She rolled her eyes, but the faint smile belied her fake irritation.

Ryder led them inside, the bellhop following close behind with their luggage. The inside was all marble and gold and velour accents. He walked up to the front counter. “I have a reservation. Ryder Collins.”

The young woman looked up from the computer screen. “Welcome to the Mad Monty Casino and Hotel, Mr. Collins.” She tapped a few keys on her keyboard. “Looks like you’re not scheduled to check in until Friday.” She frowned.

“Yeah, I’m a couple days early. Do you have a room available?” He hoped so because he didn’t want to spend time driving up and down the strip looking for another hotel.

She tapped on the keyboard again. “Actually, the suite you reserved is available. Would you like that room?”

“Yes, please.”

“Great.” She checked him in, then handed him a plastic keycard. “The other members of your party have already arrived. They asked you to meet them in the bar this evening. Seven p.m. sharp.”

His brothers were already here? He hadn’t expected them until Friday. Something was definitely up. He was going to call them and find out what. “Thanks. Can I get a second room key, please?”

“Sure.” She slid a second key into the paper holder. “Is there anything else I can do for you today, Mr. Collins?”

“No, thank you.” He took the keys and slipped them into his back pocket. Then he reached for Madison’s hand. Her ring poked against his finger, and he momentarily stumbled. That was going to take some getting used to.

“This way, please.” The bellhop took the lead, and the three of them filed into the elevator. The silence was deafening, and the knot in his stomach squeezed, threatening to expel his lunch. He inhaled slowly, letting the air calm him.

The elevator stopped, and the bellhop led them to their room. Ryder unlocked the door and held it open. Once their bags were unloaded, he handed the bellhop a tip, then closed the door behind him.

“It’s been forever since I’ve been in one of these rooms. They haven’t changed a bit.” She walked around the room, letting her hand trail over the furniture. She stopped behind the sofa, gripping the back of it.

“So, you’re going to call your cousin?” He really didn’t want her to leave, but they both needed to take care of things, and knowing his brothers were already here, too, he desperately needed to talk to them.

“Yeah. If you’re meeting your brothers at seven…” She looked away, then turned back to him just as quickly. “I can tell her to pick me up then, if that’s okay with you.”

In exactly two hours, they’d have to part ways for a little while. As much as he hated that, it was unavoidable. He crossed the room and took her face into his hands, crushing his mouth over hers in a kiss bordering on frantic. They’d been together nonstop for days, and he couldn’t stand the thought of being away from her, even if only for a few hours.

She parted her lips, welcoming him, and grazed her fingers along the nape of his neck. The band of her ring was cool against his skin, and he trembled, yanking her closer. Need fueled his every moment, drove him to deepen the kiss, stealing his ability to think rationally. Then, he lifted her off her feet and set her on the back of the couch. She wrapped her legs around him and rested her forehead to his, her hands branding themselves permanently to his chest.

The diamond caught the light from the lamp and drew his attention. He took her hand and ran his thumb over the ring. “This looks good on you,” he said.

She gave him that same beautiful blinding smile she had at the jewelry store, and his heart damn near stopped. She set her hand against his chest again and admired the ring, tilting her head from side to side. “It feels pretty good on me, too,” she said.

He was officially in over his head here. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the second key card, which he held up between them. “I want you to take this,” he said.

She pulled back slightly. “Are you kicking me out of your room again?” There was a teasing lilt to her tone.

“No. Believe me, I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.” He winked. Taking her hand, he placed the card in her palm and then closed her fingers around it. She held her hand close to her heart, but he didn’t let go. “It’s an extra key to this room. Come and go as you please. Any time of the day or night. I don’t care.”

“Ryder.” Her bottom lip trembled, and tears pooled in her eyes, although she did a hell of a job not letting them spill down her face. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He nodded. His heart was in his throat, making it impossible to speak. He kissed her again instead, letting all the unspoken feelings linger between them.