Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
I lift the blanket as a silent invitation, and she edges over to me. She nestles her face into the crook of my shoulder and swings her creamy bare leg over mine.
I run my fingers up and down her back, and within minutes, she’s softly snoring in my arms, right where she belongs. Now, I just need to make her see that …
Her left hand is resting on my chest, and I can’t help but notice her bare ring finger.
“… the ring would symbolize that love.”
Careful not to jostle Brielle, I reach into my nightstand and pull out the box that I placed in there a couple of weeks ago.
I told her it would be her choice, and it is, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to do everything in my power to convince her that the right choice is me.
35
Brielle
I told myself I would remain strong, that I wouldn’t let Kane back in until I knew I was making the right choice. I even accepted that there was a chance we might not end up together. But not even a few hours and one nightmare later, and I was back in the comfort of his arms.
Not that it should surprise me. The man forced me to marry him to avenge his father’s death. And I still fell for him.
But I can’t help thinking about what he told me when he found me in Russia—he had drawn up the divorce papers because he wanted to give me a choice. That shouldn’t be romantic, but it is.
Jesus, I’m fucked up.
And he didn’t give me the placebo pills. I found the bag and took them myself.
That has to count for something, right?
Yep, I’m fucked up.
Oh, and when I returned home, thinking I was going to spend the next couple of months cleaning up and renovating my Pilates studio, I found out that Kane had already handled everything. And he followed my plans to a T.
It’s probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.
Yeah, I know. I’m fucked up. We’ve already established that.
“I know you’re awake,” Kane murmurs, and even though my eyes are still closed, I can hear the humor in his tone.
“Don’t overthink it,” he says, his hand running down my back. “You had a nightmare, and we slept in the same bed together. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
Except that it does. It means everything.
But I can’t tell him that. Because I’m trying to be strong and think with my head and not my heart or libido.
I open my eyes, and I’m met with sunlight peeking through the windows. I’m not sure what time it is, but we most likely slept in. My gaze ascends to look at Kane, only before I make it there, I’m distracted by the black box resting on his torso, right next to my face.
“What’s this?” I ask in confusion.
“Open it.”
Since I can’t do that while lying with my face smashed against his abs, I take the box in my hand and sit up. It’s the size of a ring box, but that doesn’t make sense because I already have a ring …
I pop the lid open and gasp when I take in the gorgeous engagement ring. It’s a simple platinum band with a princess cut diamond in the center. It’s flawless and beautiful and …
“When I saw it at the store, it looked like something you’d like,” Kane says. “And then I asked the jeweler about it, and he said it’s a princess cut diamond.”
A boyish grin spreads across his face, and butterflies swarm my chest.
“Maybe it’s cheesy as fuck, but I didn’t even know princess cut diamonds existed, and I figured it had to be a sign.”
“You bought me a new ring?” I whisper. “I left you, ran to Russia, and you bought me a second engagement ring?”
“Well, when you put it like that …” He chuckles. “I returned the other rings. You were right. I’d picked out the biggest ring to prove a point. But with this one, I hope the point I’m proving is that I love you.”
I suck in a harsh breath. This isn’t the first time he’s told me he loves me, but every time I hear it, my heart pounds in my chest.
“You don’t have to put it on,” he says. “I meant what I said—it’s your choice.” He reaches into the nightstand and pulls out a manila folder. “I’ve already signed the divorce papers, so if you want a divorce, there’s nothing to stop you.”
He hands me the folder, but instead of taking it, I stare at it like it might attack me.
“My hope is that you’ll rip them up and put on the engagement ring so I can marry you for real this time.”
Just as he finishes his sentence, a horrible wave of morning sickness hits me. I hightail it to the bathroom and barely make it to the toilet before I throw up.