Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Ah, love. “You had reasons not to trust, Bronte. I can’t be mad at you for that.”
Her chin lifted in that stubborn tilt he adored. “Why not? I’m mad at you for changing your mind about wanting me, acting like a jackass and disappearing from my life for over a month. Not a single delivery. Not one text to let me know you were alive when the last I heard, you were about to confront a damn criminal.”
Did she know how hard that had been for him? How hard it still was? “Bronte, what are we doing here?”
He saw the bag when she turned toward the center of the ring. It was stuffed with an emerald green blanket he assumed she’d made for him…and papers. Jesus, had she brought him here for the knockout punch? To make him sign on the dotted line and end their marriage once and for all?
It would never be over as far as he was concerned. He didn’t give vows unless he meant to keep them.
She held the papers out to him with shaky hands. “We’re here because I’ve recently been offered an exciting new business opportunity. It’s a once in a lifetime type of situation. A little risky, but lately I’ve been taking more of those. Risks. I’m told it’s good for the soul.”
He frowned in confusion, looking down at the paperwork as if it were written in hieroglyphics. “You bought this place? How?”
Why?
She leaned against the ropes, watching him. “You’d be surprised how much money you can save when you live with family. I haven’t made any big purchases since I went in with a few of them on the duplex, and real estate is always a good investment.” She bit her lip, clearly nervous. “There are a few other investors, of course, but the main stake and controlling interest is mine.”
Damn, interfering… He hated being right. “My cousins tapped their rich husbands, did they? How did they rope you into this scheme? Why, by all that’s holy, would you even want me around after everything I’ve done to you?”
“Because I love you, you punk ass leprechaun,” she shouted, pure frustration in her voice. She covered her mouth with her hands, as surprised as he was by her sudden outburst.
The room was spinning. “You what?”
She stared at the space over his shoulder and started to ramble. “It’s only Younger, your Uncle Shawn and my brother Robert. No rich husbands or fiancés allowed because they all knew you’d act this way. They wanted you to know it was strictly a family affair.”
“Nora put money down?” he joked feebly, his throat so tight he was strangling.
“Can I—Bronte, did you just say you loved me?”
He couldn’t help but reach for her then, dropping the papers to tug her into his arms. “That’s our future you’re tossing in the ring,” she said breathlessly.
“I’m holding the only future I want. I’m not usually one to question miracles, but are you sure?”
“That I love you?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and he almost groaned at the sheer pleasure of her touch. “That I want my husband to live with me, make a life with me and run this new boxing club, since I’m not planning on quitting my job at the hospital to watch grown men whack at each other all day long if I don’t have to?”
He was having a hard time believing this was real. “There you go, being sexist again. Grown women like to take whacks at each other, too.”
He smiled when she tugged his hair in retaliation. “I might take a whack at you if you don’t give me an answer soon.”
“What’s the benefits package?” When she glared he pressed his forehead to hers, all the stress and struggle of the last few weeks leaving in a rush, making him weak. “Ah, Bronte, when it comes to you my answer has always been and will always be yes. I love you, and I’ll spend the rest of my life earning you if you let me.”
“Consider me earned.”
“Never.” He almost kissed her then, stopping right before his lips touched hers. “But I do want the option to buy out the other investors. If we can even get this place off the ground, that is.”
“Your cousins owe me ten bucks each,” she said with a satisfied grin that brushed against his. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“You do know me better than anyone.” William was ready to seal the deal but this time she put her fingers over his mouth, halting his advance.
“Will you marry me?”
He raised his eyebrows. “Did I dream up that minister in Niagara Falls?”
“Again. In front of witnesses. While sober. My mother really needs a wedding, William. I kept mine secret, Emerson and Hugo dropped the ball and who knows when the other three will settle down.”