Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
The hush gripped the room, stealing the speech of almost a hundred perfect and near strangers.
It broke in a blink.
“Aaahh,” an orgasmic cry broke through the silence. “Amazing. Magnificent! Bravo, bravo!”
The tide unleashed. Cheers, claps, and shouts of praise trumpeted my entrance, and put a silly smile on my face. Okay—maybe Sue did have a point about this dress.
The crowd parted, making way for three men more gorgeous than my gown ever could be.
Micah reached me first. Taking my hand, he dropped on one knee as he bowed over my hand—pressing soft, dusky lips to my knuckles. “Gods above, you’re the most contrary woman I’ve ever met, Soo Min.” His wicked grin thumped my heart hard in my chest. “I tell you that you couldn’t possibly get any more beautiful, so you had to go and prove me wrong.”
Rhodes leaned in. Taking my chin softly between his fingertips, he kissed me slow and sweet over the aahs from our audience. “Perfection,” he whispered against my lips. “Simple and absolute perfection.”
I was fluttering. I was on such a high, my wings truly could’ve lifted me into the air and carried me to the heavens. Why not? I was already there. Of course I was... because there was Alex.
Dusky-brown tousled hair was slicked back, showcasing his hazel eyes with no impertinent obstruction. The white tux he chose fit his form in all the right ways—doing nothing to conceal the rippling of his muscled thighs as he closed the distance. Gazing at me then, he did something I hadn’t seen him do since I walked through the door.
Smile.
“Wow, Sue, you look...” he breathed. Leaning in, his nose tickled my cheek—drawing a line in goose bumps from the corner of my mouth to the soft, sensitive spot beneath my ear. “...like the winged specter of death.”
Illusion shattered.
“For eight million dollars, you rented—rented—this ridiculous eyesore.” He drew back, still smiling away, but now I knew it was for the dozens of cameras and eyes on us. “You should be studied, because for fuck sure there’s something wrong with you that medical science has yet to diagnose.”
My jaw clamped down hard. Again, I knew his words were for Soo Min—the person who admittedly did throw away an astonishing amount of money for a dress she’d only be wearing for a few hours—but nonetheless, it was Sarang who was about to punch him in the face.
“This from the guy who wouldn’t let me cancel the party,” I gritted. “Can we just be civil, please? Can you manage that? Or is your unemployed ass secretly getting paid to be an unsucked dick, and you’ve got to commit to the only work you can get?”
“Guys,” Micah hissed.
But Alex just chuckled. “No, dear, I’m not being paid to be a dick, so if it’s your request, my love, I will take the night off.”
My eyes narrowed. I knew I shouldn’t have said that. Alex wasn’t unemployed. He devoted himself full-time to raising Lily, and considering that she was the best kid in the world, he was doing a great job. But being attacked, insulted, and punished for a crime Sue committed was a big-time trigger for me. Every time he did it, I lashed out thoughtlessly—
—and he never responded like this.
“What’s this?” I demanded. “What are you doing?”
“I’m doing as you ask. And to kick off this perfect night with my perfect wife...” He held out his hand. “May I have the first dance?”
I flicked from him, to the hand, then to our watching audience. “No,” I dropped, stealing surprise across his face. “But you can walk me to our table and signal the start of dinner. Not only did the beauticians refuse to let me eat, but it turns out eight million dollars’ worth of rocks is heavy.” I took his hand in a firm and steady grip. “Thank you, dear.”
A tight smile stole across his face. “Of course.”
“A ceasefire. I like it.” Rhodes kissed my cheek. “Alex, you help her to the table and I’ll tell the chef it’s time to serve.”
Micah pecked another quick kiss on my lips. “I’ll tell the deejay to turn down the music, so we can start the toasts.”
They went their separate ways, leaving me with Alex.
“Lean on me,” he said simply.
I did as he asked even though it quickened my pulse to do so. At some point in the last couple weeks I accepted that it didn’t matter how much of a jerk Alex was—my body would never stop responding to his nearness.
Together we walked through a sea of white, collecting greetings and well-wishes, but exchanging no words.
I broke first. Turning my head, I spoke into his ear. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that shit about you being unemployed the first or second time. I respect what you’re doing as a stay-at-home dad.” I saw his brows pop out of the corner of my eye. “You’re doing the most important job in the world, and you’re crushing it like you crush everything else because Nari is the best kid there will ever be. I’m sorry,” I said clearly, “and I make no excuses for lashing out like an immature baby, but, Alex, you have to know you’re not being fair.