Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Bri!”
“Who the heck is this Garrett guy? I thought he was just a business associate?”
“What do you mean?”
“He sent us a dossier, all of us.”
“What?” I looked over at Garrett, who had his back turned with his hands in his pockets, looking down at the ocean.
“Listen, I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say because of this NDA thing, but I had to make sure you’re okay.”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m at his…”
“Yes, we know, you’re at his villa; we even got the address. Just…just call me if anything seems hinky. Are you sure you’re safe? I’ll come and get you right now.”
“No-no, it’s fine, I’m fine.”
As soon as I hung up the phone, Garrett walked back to my side and just took my hand, and led me through a huge wooden door that was built into the cliffside, or at least it was made to look like it was.
The door led to the most beautiful courtyard filled with the local flora, and the scent of the frangipani was like a calming balm to my otherwise frazzled senses.
I got so caught up in the beauty of my surroundings that I almost forgot he was holding my hand. “Come on; your dinner will be cold. You’ll have plenty of time to look this place over.” For some reason, I felt that there was more between the lines of that statement, and my tummy started to tingle in ways that I did not understand.
It was more conducive to sexual stimulation, but there was something sharper, more intense beneath the usual sexual urge I’m accustomed to. I didn’t voice my thoughts, though they were itching on my tongue and just let him lead me up the outside stairs to a balcony with a table that had been set for two.
There were candles and flowers, champagne chilling in a bucket, and two people, a man and a woman, waiting there to serve us. I let him seat me before taking his chair and said nothing as I once again lost my breath at the beauty around me.
If this place looked like something out of a fairytale from the ground, seeing it from up there left me speechless. For some odd reason, the view almost brought me to tears. I turned from looking out over the ocean to find him watching me.
He didn’t say anything until after our dinner had been placed in front of us, and he’d dismissed the staff. He removed the warming covers himself, and I looked over at him in surprise. When he’d mentioned my favorite dinner, I thought for sure he was going to fall flat on his ass because there was no way he could know what that was.
“Who told you? My brothers?”
“I told you, I know everything there is to know about you, the things that are important to you at least.”
“Why did you send a dossier to my family?”
“Why do you think?”
I ignored his question and looked down at the plate of spicy chicken mac and cheese and wasn’t sure if I should be embarrassed or impressed that he knew this was my favorite dish since I was a teenager. I’m sure his palate is way more refined.
What the hell am I thinking? What the hell do I care? “Where is this going? Why are you here?”
“The truth? I’m not sure. I’ve been asking myself that very question since the first time we met. I’m not sure if I just want to fuck you or marry you.” Who the hell talks like that?
“So, what have you decided?” I asked tongue in cheek.
“I think we should get married.” I dropped my fork on the table and picked it right back up again. Welcome to crazy town, Alyssa. This is what you get for being a raging bitch.
It was on the tip of my tongue to inquire about his sanity, but I knew for a fact that he was very sane. “Aren’t you afraid that I would call your bluff?” I could barely hear myself above the beating of my heart.
“I’m not bluffing.” I looked at him across the table in the candlelight, and he was dead serious. I had to look away quickly because his dreamy dark blue eyes were making my head spin a little. He has this way of looking at me as if he could see right through me. I noticed it that first day at the meeting but didn’t think much of it.
“So, you just go around proposing to women you don’t know.”
“No, you would be the first. I have a question. Did you love him?”
“Who?”
“The one you were set to marry.”
“No.”
“So, I’m guessing that’s not a prerequisite for you then.”
“People have arranged marriages every day.”
“Exactly, so what would be so hard about marrying me?
“But I have known him for four years. I only met you once.”