Ring of Truth

Erin's job as a marketing executive with the billion-dollar Silver Script Ad Agency has been her life for years. When she finally lands the coveted Smithson Jewelers account, she knows she has finally arrived. Now if her mom would just accept the fact that marriage isn't going to be happening any time soon.

Jake wants nothing more than to hit it big as an actor in New York City, but when he gets his chance at a big-time role in a jewelry commercial, it's overshadowed by the fact that his wedding-hungry parents are coming into town.

When Erin accidentally leaves a film shoot wearing a diamond ring and her mom mistakes it for a real engagement ring, Jake and Erin are desperate enough to run with the lie. Now they must figure out how to admit their story is false without hurting their family—or themselves.

 Erin’s day started out great, but went quickly downhill from there. She’d worked hard on the presentation for work, and it was a success. She won the account for Smithson Jewelers, and if her
proposal was accepted by the client, the ads would be displayed in all the top magazines in the country, just in time for the start of the Christmas season. Never mind that it was still August.

After the meeting, however, was announced that because of several cuts to the budget, most of her personal staff were laid off. She watched in dismay as they all left the office, carrying their belongings in cardboard boxes. She waved as her best friend, Carissa, trailed behind the others. They’d worked together from day one, and had been
inseparable since. In fact, Carissa had helped put this ad campaign together. Now, she was gone, and Erin hadn’t even had a chance to say good-bye.

Then when Erin had gone back to her office to put together a list of the reasons why she needed to have Carissa hired as her personal
assistant, she’d found a phone message that her cat had gotten loose and was now at the pound, and another one saying her parents would be in town for the weekend for a wedding.

She’d had it. She closed the door, walked inside her small, cramped closet and screamed. It was possible the others in the office could hear her, but she didn’t care. It was time to go home and take a hot bubble
bath and forget, well, life. After saving her poor kitty, of course.

Erin printed out the list, then stormed into her boss’s office and waited for her to get off the phone. Debra held up a finger and lowered her voice as she finished the call. She smoothed her perfectly pressed skirt and reorganized her spotless desk before finally looking up at Erin.

“Yes, Erin?” Debra’s eyes had dark circles under them.

“I, um, I wanted to ask if I could have Carissa rehired as my assistant.” Erin cleared her throat and handed Debra the list she’d made. “She is the big reason my ad is so successful.”

Debra sighed and handed back the list. “I’m aware of how valuable she is to the company, but it was out of my hands. Corporate told me I had to let go of thirty employees.”

Erin stared in shock. “She’s finally in remission, and this is how you congratulate her?”

“It wasn’t my choice. I was given the letter last night.” Debra rubbed her eyes. “I’m sorry. Now, please excuse me, I have another meeting.”

***

Erin stormed back out of the office and wiped a tear away. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She shut down her computer and grabbed
her purse and laptop bag before heading for the elevator. There was still another hour left of work, but she needed to get to the pound before it closed. No doubt it was her lousy maid who’d left the door open again. She’d have to talk to the landlord about her again. She chose the apartment because it promised free maid service once a week. What it didn’t say was that the maid
was the landlord’s daughter, who sometimes left the apartment in worse shape than it had been in before. Maybe Erin could get a discount on rent if she didn’t use the maid service.

The rain was coming down in sheets when Erin got to the front doors of the office building. She could have sworn it had been sunny that
morning. Apparently the weather wanted to match the mood she was in. She searched her purse, but the small umbrella was no longer inside. She pulled up the collar on her light jacket and hurried out, trying to flag down a taxi.

The taxi pulled up, Erin climbed in, and gave the drive the address.
This wasn’t the first time she’d had to save her cat, and she knew it wouldn’t be her last.

As soon as she arrived at the pound, she handed off a few bills to the driver and hopped out. She shook out her coat before walking inside. The barking and meowing from the pound was loud but welcoming after the day she’d had. While she waited for the attendant to come to the front of the store, Erin studied the animals in the cages behind the counter.. There were more than usual, and some looked like they’d been caught in the rain as well.

“Can I help you?” a deep voice asked. A man Erin had never
met before stood at the counter. His brilliant blue eyes and dimples had her breathless for a moment, and that southern twang made her homesick for Georgia. She cleared her throat while she tried to remember her name.

“Yes, I have a cat named Coco that was brought here. She’s white and fluffy, and has a pink collar with fake diamonds.” The collar had been a gift from Carissa for Christmas. She insisted that even cats need bling.

The man raised his eyebrows. “Diamonds? Wow. Spoiled cat.
Although, I guess she’s not too spoiled if she was left outside all day. You know that’s illegal, right?”

“Of course I do. She got away while I was at work.” Suddenly those eyes weren’t quite as tempting.

“Did you forget to lock your door on the way out? This is New York, after all.” He grinned, but instead of making Erin comfortable, it
annoyed her.

“Whatever. Just get my cat, please.” Erin was ready to get out of there before he found anything else to point out.

“I need to see some ID first.” He nodded to an older woman
who came in behind Erin.

“Oh. Right.” Erin searched her purse for the paperwork. Her stomach dropped. “Um, it’s not in here. Can I just use my driver’s license?”

“As long as you have proof of residence, and a way to prove
she’s yours.” His muscles rippled as he leaned on the counter.

Erin grumbled. “I told you, I don’t have those papers.”

He shrugged. “Sorry.  I don’t make the rules.”

“People keep saying that.” Erin pulled out her phone and flipped through her photos. “There. How about this?” She showed him the pictures of her with her cat along with her driver’s license.

“Good enough. That’ll be thirty-five dollars.” He tapped a few keys on the computer in front of him.

“Thirty-fi—that’s ridiculous. I came as soon as I heard she was in here.” Erin wanted to get out of there before she started crying, and she knew she was close.

He pointed to a sign behind her. “Sorry, new regulation.”

Erin sighed and paid the fee. “Okay, now can I please have her?”

He grinned and left the room. “I’ll bring her out.”

Oh, brother. Erin smiled at the woman behind her and glanced around the walls. She hoped this was the last time she’d have to be in
here. The new help just wasn’t the same as Mr. Dayley. He’d always been so accommodating.

“Here you go.” He held Coco out to her. “Maybe you should write your name on the collar, or get her microchipped. It would make it easier
for everyone.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “She must have pulled the tag off again, and I don’t like the idea of having her microchipped.” Of course, if
this kept happening, she might not have any choice. She held her cat close to her and took comfort in her purring. “Thank you …” Erin paused, realizing she didn’t know what to call him. She turned and headed for the door.

“It’s Jake,” the man called from behind her.

She turned back. “What?”

“My name is Jake.” His smile almost melted her annoyance. Almost.

“Bye … Jake.”  She left
the pound and smiled when she noticed it had stopped raining. She took a step toward the curb and shrieked when a car hit a puddle and water splashed all over her. Coco hissed and tried to climb up her shirt, scratching her in the
process.