Ruthless Heart

I shake my head, absorbing the news. “Wow. That’s… Wow.”

“I hope it’s OK to tell you,” Juliet pauses. “Since you’re joining the family, too.”

“Right,” I blurt. The fake engagement.

Juliet’s gaze moves to my hand, and she frowns when she sees there’s no ring on my finger. “Did he not give you a ring? I swear to God, some men—”

“No, it’s okay,” I interrupt, thinking that if this charade goes on too much longer, I’ll have to get Nero to buy me a rock. Although, for some reason I can’t explain, I don’t like the idea of that. It makes it feel too real. “It’s at the jewelers, getting resized.”

“Oh, okay.” She smiles. “I’m a big jewelry fan. Comes from spending all that time at Sterling Cross. But we should talk about the real reason I invited you here.” she pushes her plate aside and fixes me with a serious look.

Fuck. My heart sinks. Not more ulterior motives.

“I need to know everything about you and Nero,” Juliet lightens into a grin. “How did this happen? I thought nobody would climb those stony walls of his.”

Gossip. That’s all. She wants girl-talk and gushing.

I exhale in relief.

“How did you guys meet?” Juliet prompts me eagerly.

“We actually had a thing years ago,” I say slowly, figuring a version of the truth is best. Juliet seems so nice, I don’t want to spin a wild story for her. “I moved away for a while, but since I’ve been back, we’ve rekindled things.”

“How romantic,” she beams.

I can’t help flashing a wry look. “Well, that’s not to say things aren’t… Complicated.”

Juliet smiles. “I know a few things about complicated.”

Does she? My skepticism must show, because she pauses, assessing me again.

“Lily, I know I’m just a stranger but, I’d like to be your friend. And if you ever need to talk…”

I nod and give her a closed lip smile. “Thanks.”

I appreciate her offer, but I know I can’t ever reveal the truth. Besides, what could I say? “The man I loved is threatening me with death in revenge for my father’s betrayal, so now I have to pretend to the world I’m happy with him just to make it through the week’?

Not exactly girl-talk for lunch and bubbles, is it?

I don’t want to talk about Nero anymore, so I change to the subject to movies and TV shows. I’ve had more free time on my hands lately since I’m stuck in Nero’s apartment ninety percent of the time. The only saving grace has been that the man has every streaming service available. I’ve wasted way too many hours binging TV shows, but at least I’m up to date on the latest reality shows, and soon we’re gossiping about wild dating programs and new books.

“This was so much fun,” Juliet says, after we bicker over who gets to pay the bill and make our way to the exit. “Let’s do it again soon.”

“Sure,” I lie. I could see Juliet becoming a friend if things were different. If I were going to stick around.

If I were really with Nero.

We’re on our way out when we pass a group of women just entering the restaurant. I recognize one of them, it’s Brittany, the redhead from the hunting retreat.

The one who has a problem with Fiona McKenna.

“Brittany?” I pause to greet her, pasting on a big smile.

“Lily? Oh, my God, what are the chances of running into each other?” she says, hugging me like we’re sisters instead of women that spent a single day together last weekend. “These are some of my old sorority sisters.”

She rattles off names, and I don’t retain a single one. It doesn’t matter. I introduce Juliet.

“That’s a beautiful necklace,” Juliet compliments her. “I recognize it from the Spring line.”