Sebastian answered with a nod. “Evening, Willa.”

She excused herself from the customers she was waiting on. “I’m all set up for you in the back. Come around the counter and into my office.”

She went ahead of Sebastian and Tessa, slipping into the back room but standing at the door until they were in. A large orange cat lounged on the desk.

“Hi there, kitty cat.” Tessa smiled and gave him a little scratch. Without opening his eyes, he stretched and put his paw on her arm.

“Now you’ve done it,” Willa said as she shut the office door. “You’re his new best friend.”

“He’s very sweet. What’s his name?”

“Jasper. Feel free to put him on the floor, too. We’re going to need that desk.”

Tessa couldn’t bring herself to move the sleepy beast. “But he’s so comfortable.”

Sebastian cleared his throat. He wasn’t interested in cat talk apparently. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. And for understanding.”

Willa gave a little nod. “I know all about how your past can sneak up and bite you.” She opened a safe and pulled out a large, covered velvet tray, then carried it over and gave Jasper a little shove off the desk. “Sorry, baby, but I need the space.”

He jumped down and skulked off, finding a new place to lounge on top of a low filing cabinet.

Willa put the tray down and lifted the top.

Tessa sucked in a breath. There had to be twenty diamond rings on display, all of them enormous and sparkling like the sun and completely over the top. She hated to think of such assuredly expensive baubles gaudy, but to her that’s what they were. Not that she would say that to either Willa or Sebastian. “Wow.”

Willa laughed softly. “I feel that way too. All the time. Which one do you like?”

She looked at Willa, then Sebastian, then back at Willa. Clearly they both expected her to swoon over them. “They’re all lovely.”

Sebastian came closer and motioned to the tray. “Pick one.”

She looked at the rings again and finally shook her head, unable to make a decision. “None of these are really me.”

He sighed. “This isn’t about which one best suits your personal taste, it’s about fooling Evangeline.”

She frowned at him. “I understand that, but it seems to me that picking a ring that’s unlike something I’d actually wear goes against the whole idea here. You want it to be convincing, don’t you?”

His expression took an exasperated turn. “Choose a ring. You only have to wear it tonight and tomorrow night.”

Willa put her hand on Tessa’s arm. “Just a moment. I have something else.”

She took the tray back to the safe and returned with one half the size. She put it on the desk and opened it. The rings inside held diamonds just as large but all in much simpler settings, some without any accompanying side stones. “Better?”

“Yes,” Tessa answered.

Sebastian shook his head. “These are too plain.”

“These are more me,” Tessa shot back. If that meant she was plain, so be it. “But they’re all still so large.”

“I’m not compromising on that. I’d never buy the woman I love anything less than…that one.” He pointed to a ring that held the second-largest center stone with two long tapered diamonds on the sides.

Willa smiled. “A classic round solitaire with two tapered baguettes set in platinum. An enduring style for sure.” She looked at Tessa. “A good choice, don’t you think?”

The center stone was the size of a fat, spring pea and Tessa was already having palpitations at the thought of how much such a ring cost and what would happen if she somehow lost it, but Sebastian was right. To a point. It was a prop, not a symbol of his anything. Unless his desire to fool his ex-wife counted. “It’s beautiful.” And it was.

Just so unlike anything she’d ever thought would end up on her finger.

Willa pulled the ring free of the insert that held it in place and offered it to Sebastian. “Why don’t you see if it fits your bride-to-be?”

He made a gruff little noise of complaint but took the ring anyway.

Tessa offered her hand. And realized he was about to touch her. She went very still, unable to focus on anything but the ring in his fingers and the subtle trembling of her own. No man had ever put a ring on her before and she suspected no man might ever again.

To have the whole thing be a sham made her unexpectedly sad.

He wrapped his fingers loosely around her wrist while he guided the ring on.

His fingers were long and perfect and slightly callused, which surprised her. She’d thought a man who worked with numbers would have smooth skin. She couldn’t help but think that he had the kind of hands that looked like they’d be nice to hold. Large enough to envelope hers. And his touch was surprisingly gentle and warmer than she’d expected. Of course, she’d never touched—or been touched by—a vampire before.

She stared at the ring shining like a spotlight on her finger. It sparkled and glittered, demanding attention.

“It fits perfectly,” Willa said.

Tessa just nodded, a little blinded by the diamond’s brilliance.

Sebastian grunted, which apparently was a big part of his vocal repertoire. “I’ll have it back day after tomorrow.”

“No rush.” Willa’s voice held a smile. “I know where you live.”