Long Excerpt of Let’s Not & Sleight We Did by J.P. Sterling:
A ring.  

Not just any ring, a rose gold band. 

“What are you doing?” I whisper, a little harshly, the ring pulsating in my peripheral vision.  

“We talked about this, remember?” Luke’s voice drops, rasping.  

“We talked about marriage.” I tilt my head to one side, as if I’m physically dividing this argument in half., “But not this, and not in front of them.”  

“You’re being modest.” He laughs, tossing a look back at his parents. “I thought it would be nice to share this moment with them.” 

“You did?” my voice squeaks, as I’m totally blindsided and wishing I had at least a heads- up. The arrangement had sounded so much more business casual than what’s going on right now. A proposal on one knee is not business casual. This is my heart in my throat, and I’m about to throw up. “Where did you get a ring?” I hiss. 

“I bought it today.” 

“Today?” I grapple for my throat, praying something gives before I pass out. 

“Yeah, today when I was thinking about you.” 

Doing a hard pause on the word, you, he’s still holding the ring awkwardly in his hand. I frantically search his face for signs of a prank, but he doesn’t have an ounce of humor curved into a smile.  

He’s one-hundred-percent serious.  

Quakes rumble against my rib cage. This is an act. I’m clearly about to blow our cover as I’m acting so confused, but this whole thing is blowing my mind. “This is happening so fast.”  

“It’s okay. Better than okay.” He takes my hand in his, holding it in front of him. “Ten years ago, you kissed me on a dare. You didn’t know it at the time, but I was already falling in love with you. You were my first kiss, but I knew in that moment, I wanted you to be my last.”   

I blink. Everything about his proposal sounds genuine. 

My gaze floats to his mom; her hands clasp together in front of her, but her gaze is piercing in my direction. Luke’s dad has a that’s-my-boy grin laced on his lips.  

And Luke! 

Luke’s winning an Oscar for his acting. His gaze dials right into mine, like it’s boring a trail through my eyes right to my heart. I can’t even tell it’s a fake proposal, and I one-thousand- percent know it’s fake.  

It is fake . . . right?  

Short Excerpt of Let’s Not & Sleight We Did:
I shake my head back and forth, with his gaze still pinned on me, and I place my hand on his forearm to steady myself. I lean up on my toes and plant a kiss on his cheek. As I pull away, I begin to murmur, “Thank you for—” 

Before I have a chance to drop all the way to my flat feet, his hand finds my chin, locking it in place, while his other hand wraps around my back, sweeping me right against his chest, and his lips come crashing back down to find mine. 

Quite literally sweeping me into a kiss that takes me off my feet as I lean back into his arm.  

Soft at first, his tenderness puts me at ease, and I breathe into his kiss, as my heart unwinds with each unfolding.  

Maybe it’s Vegas. 

Maybe it’s the dress. I mean, I do look like a princess.  

I have an impossible time not believing whatever it is, is not real, and I’m breathless by the time I pull away. Our gazes instantly collide, finding their way back to each other, and there is something new between us now.  

“Sorry, I just felt like a bride as stunning as you needed to be properly kissed.” His expression isn’t sorry.

Read the rest in this fake marriage of convenience romcom, Let’s Not & Sleigh We did. 
J.P. Sterling would love to connect with you. Follow her on Instagram  @authorjpsterling