Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
I visibly start to tremble. I hate confrontation, and I’m usually good at avoiding it. Chrissy stops talking and quietly walks beside me toward the opposite side of the room. We don’t stop until we’re standing in the corner. Somewhere along the way, she picked up two glasses of wine and hands one to me. “Here. Drink up.”
I take it from her and take a sip. I’m expecting to have people watching me, but I can’t see any of them because King comes to stand right in front of me. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Chrissy throws a hand up. “Karen Reynolds happened! She’s such a bitch,” she seethes.
King reaches for me. “What did she say to you?”
“I’m fine. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sorry if it comes—”
Chrissy interrupts me. “Don’t even finish that sentence. King would not expect you to let someone talk to you the way she did. You handled it great and with such class, Haven. I was impressed. I get mad, and I start crying and get hysterical… You were calm and put her in her place.”
I take another sip of the wine, and then Chrissy nudges her brother. “I’m going to give you all a minute. I’ll be over there if you need me.”
I see the look Chrissy gives King, and I’m literally sick over all this. “This is a bad idea, King,” I tell him as soon as his sister walks away.
“What do you mean, this is a bad idea?”
“I mean I’m not cut out for this. I’m not into these social parties and—”
“This charity is important to me, Haven, and I attend every year. But this is not something I do every week. Two or three times a year, I’m expected to make an appearance.”
My stomach does a little flip. It soothes my heart to know that feeding hungry children is important to him. I don’t want him to think that’s my problem because it’s not. “I understand that, King, and I love your giving heart, but what I’m saying is that people are shocked when they find out I’m your fiancée.” I gasp, and my hand goes to my mouth. “Oh my God, Chrissy told them we’re engaged. Everyone is going to know.”
“Good.”
I grab on to his wrist. “No, you don’t understand, people—”
He cuts me off. “The only people I care about is you, peaches.”
I search his eyes and see the sincerity on his face, but I still feel uneasy. I can feel the people watching us and no doubt talking. “Maybe we should put off the wedding… I just caused a scene, and maybe we should see if it blows over… maybe….”
I stop and blow out a breath, overwhelmed by it all.
“Marry me tonight, Haven.”
“Tonight?” I exclaim.
He nods and puts his hand over his chest pocket. “I’ve been carrying around your rings. I wanted you to be wearing it when we got here tonight, but I didn’t think you’d appreciate me asking you with my sister and an audience.”
I tilt my head back to look at him. “You should think about this.”
“There’s nothing to think about. I want you to be my wife.”
I don’t know what to think about any of this. The night has been a roller coaster of emotions. First seeing him with Chrissy and the jealousy that raged inside me. It was Chrissy in all the pictures with him. It was his sister that I was jealous of and have been stewing about. Then him coming backstage and automatically knowing how I’m feeling and putting me at ease. The way he’s held my hand or touched me all night is making me want all kinds of things.
He crowds against me. “I’m sorry for leaving you… I shouldn’t have.”
“I can take care of myself, King. It’s not your job—”
“You don’t have to take care of yourself anymore. I know you can, I know you’re self-sufficient and you don’t need me, but I still want to be the one that’s there for you.”
I lean into him. “How can I say no to that, King?”
He leans down and whispers to me, “I hope you can’t, Haven. Be my wife.”
Oh God, there’s something about the way he says my name. “Okay.”
His eyebrows raise. “Okay? You’ll marry me?”
I go up on my tiptoes to whisper to him, “If you’re sure.”
He doesn’t wait to seal the deal. He puts his hands on each side of my face and leans down to kiss me. This is all going so fast, but it feels right. When he pulls away, he takes out his phone. “We’ll give Callan your key; he’s going to grab some of your clothes.”
“But why?”
He smiles and pulls me to his chest. “Because we’re getting married tonight.”
“Tonight? But how?”
He anchors his hand around my neck and leans down, pressing his forehead to mine. “Let me take care of it.”