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next to impossible because her mind kept going back to Mateo. By showing back up in her life after all these years, it was as if he’d pulled her back in time. She raked her fingers through her hair. Okay, in all fairness he hadn’t actually had to pull very hard. She’d had an idea it was him when Jessie called with the offer and said a mystery man wanted to meet with her. She’d agreed to meet him for dinner and then again for breakfast.
    But now he wanted her to agree to play the role of his fiancée? The idea was ludicrous. Even if his intentions were honorable, and they certainly were, Mateo’s plan was crazy. In fact, if it weren’t for the fact that Sr. Ortega was facing his last days, she would question his grandson’s sanity. But she understood where Mateo was coming from. In fact, she wished she understood it a little less. But she knew all too well the desperation that Mateo must have felt to please his beloved grandfather before it was too late. But why her?
    Ava eyed the box on her desk. It was from Mateo. Somehow she knew it, just as she’d known that he was the one making an offer on her mother’s house. Not able to ignore her curiosity any longer, she reached for a pair of scissors and slit open the box. White tissue paper gave away to a black velvet jeweler’s box. Ava tipped the outer box upside down and shook it but no note fluttered out. She held the black jeweler’s box in her hand, knowing that opening it was not a good idea. It would be one step further into Mateo Ortega’s world.
    She opened the box and then gasped. Nestled against the black velvet was an antique cushion cut amethyst ring, the center stone surrounded by tiny seed pearls. Ava immediately recognized that this had once been Mateo’s grandmother’s ring.
    “Hey, Boss,” Marti opened the office door and stuck her head in. “I’m off for lunch and wondered if…oh, what’s that?”
    Ava snapped the jewelry box closed but it was too late. The curious expression on Marti’s face meant that her assistant had already gotten an eyeful. And that she had questions.
    “Okay, this is clearly not work related but I’m curious.” Marti came in and sat on the edge of Ava’s desk. “Spill.”
    “I don’t know where to start,” Ava said. Heaven knew that was the truth.
    “May I?”
    After only a moment’s hesitation, Ava took the ring out of the jeweler’s box and held it out to Marti. “Of course.”
    Marti examined the ring. “Oh, Ava, this is gorgeous.” She held the ring up and looked carefully at the inside of the band. “There’s an inscription. Looks like it’s in Spanish too.”
    Ava closed her eyes for a moment. She felt like such a fraud. This was Mrs. Ortega’s ring, not hers. Her earlier sense of understanding and compassion for the predicament Mateo found himself in started to wane. “Can you read it?”
    Marti walked over to the window and held the ring up so she could study the inscription. “It’s engraved in scrolled letters which makes me think this has to be an antique or family heirloom.”
    “What does it say?” Ava prompted her. Her guess would be Joaquin and Beatriz, or perhaps their initials, but Marti’s next words proved her wrong.
    “Para siempre.” She didn’t bother to ask if Ava needed the words translated, she knew her boss didn’t speak Spanish. “For always.” Marti touched her heart and sighed. “Isn’t that romantic?”
    It was. Ava sank down into her chair. For always. To be loved and cherished forever, wasn’t that every woman’s dream? With a sudden ferocity that surprised her, she realized it was her dream too.
    Marti sat in the chair opposite Ava. She handed the ring back to Ava. “Don’t even try to tell me this came from QVC because I’m not buying it. Who sent this to you? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
    “Trust me, this is all very recent.” Ava held the ring in her palm and then couldn’t resist trying it on. She slipped it on the third