Chapter 17
Brody
What am I doing?
I sense the shock ripple through her. Then she stiffens and casts me a confused glance. It’s a testament to how upset she is that she doesn’t try to pull away.
As for me? I overheard what her fiancé told her; knew it would be mortifying for her that I’d heard it; but I saw the anger and embarrassment on her face and could not stop myself from stepping in.
I knew I had to help her salvage her pride. And if I could do so by embarrassing this sorry excuse for a human standing opposite us, then even better.
I glare at him.
He grows so pale, I wonder if he’s going to puke. What a pussy. Seriously, she could do better. Much, much better.
In fact, I can’t think of anyone who’d make a good husband for her. She’s incomparable. There’s no one who’d be good enough for her.
Except me.
I shove the thought aside.
"Wh... Who are you?" The other man swallows.
"I’m her boss."
As if the sound of my voice pulls her out of her reverie, Lark tries to pull away.
I tighten my arm around her and hold her in place. "I’m also the man who’s crazily in love with her."
What the—? Where did that come from? I did want to say or do something that’d wipe that smug expression off his face. But love?
"Love?" The other man’s jaw drops.
"Love?" She jerks her chin in my direction.
"Yes, baby. I’m sorry if this comes as a surprise. But from the moment I saw you, I knew there was no one else out there for me."
"Wh-what?" she chokes out.
I look into her eyes, willing her to play along.
I know the exact moment recognition dawns on her, and she realizes that I’m doing this for the benefit of her loser ex, for she draws in a breath. “You have feelings for me?”
I take her hand in mine. “I understand how overwhelming this must be for you. But I want you. It was killing me that you were planning to marry this loser. But I understand your value in my life. I can’t do without you, sweetheart."
Her features soften. “That’s a very sweet thing to say.”
"I want you to come home with me, so I can introduce you to my family."
She blinks rapidly.
The expression on her face shows she’s game to play along, but also, that she’s confused. Then she seems to pull herself together. “I’d love to meet your family, honey.”
She snuggles in closer.
For a few seconds, I revel in the feel of her body close to mine and the sound of her calling me “honey” in that sweet voice of hers.
I used to wince at how couples used such saccharine endearments, but somehow, coming from her, it feels different.
It feels right. And with her curvy body melting into mine, I’m in heaven.
Then the douchebag who caused her so much grief clears his throat. “Umm… That’s my fiancée.”
“No, she’s not,” I growl.
“Not anymore,” she snaps.
He looks between us. "Uh… What… What’s the meaning of this. Lark… You, what are you doing? This man—"
"Is going to take care of her the way you never would. You had your opportunity, buster, and you lost it." I jerk my chin in the direction of the doorway. "Get gone."
"B-b-b-ut I—"
“You’d best haul arse before I call security. And Keith, aw, that’s sweet.” I bare my teeth. “Is your middle name mediocre? No wait, I bet it’s shitstain.”
I have the satisfaction of seeing the twatface turn purple in the face. "Look here, there’s no need to get personal,” he blusters.
Without taking my arm from around Lark, I swipe out my free hand and grab the other man’s collar.
I shove him with enough force that he stumbles. He also seems to get the message, for he makes tracks to the doorway.
Where he pauses. "Good luck, dude. You'll need it with that dead fish. It won't be long before you're looking elsewhere too.”
Lark winces and curves into herself.
What. The. Fuck. How dare he talk like that about this gorgeous woman?
When I narrow my gaze, whatever he sees on my face is enough to have him swallow audibly.
"Leave. Now.” My voice, like a whip, cracks out in his direction. It seems to catch him with the impact of a body blow, for he shoves the door open and lurches out.
It swings shut behind him.
Lark trembles against me. Tension leaps off her body. When I look down at her face, it’s to find that rage has her in its thrall, not disappointment.
“Oh my God, I’m so mad at myself.” Her voice quivers with fury as she clenches her fists, stamping her foot like she’s trying to drive her anger into the ground.
She’s fire. Defiant. Glorious in her fury. And hell, if that doesn’t make her even more irresistible.
“I can’t believe I was engaged to that…that sorry excuse of a man.”
Exactly.
“I don’t understand how I missed the signs.” She tosses her head, hair flying, eyes flashing.
“It wasn’t your fault—” I begin, but she cuts me off.
“You bet, it’s not my fault. He made sure he traveled as much as possible. He kept out of my way and made sure I never got a hint of what he was up to.”
She squeezes her eyes shut and gulps a few deep breaths. When she opens her eyes, she seems more composed. “Thanks, anyway, for the backup.”
She hasn’t pulled away from me. Maybe I should feel like a heel for taking advantage of the fact that I have my arm about her, but she’s single. And so am I. And I love the feel of her curves against me. So, I don’t release her either.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could be of help,” I rumble.
“It did feel good to get my comeuppance against my numbskull of an ex”—she rubs at her forehead—“but I’m not looking forward to what comes next.”
“You’re not marrying him. End of story.” I snort.
She gives me an if-only-that-were-true look. “I have to pick up the pieces.”
I heard the last part of her conversation with the douche, so I lower my chin. “You mean, having to tell your friends and family that the wedding is off?”
She hangs her head. “That is going to be agonizing. I’m going to look like such a loser. And my parents are going to be so disappointed. And I’m going to lose my deposit at the Town Hall and at the pub.”
“The pub?” I frown.
“That’s where we were supposed to have our reception.”
At a pub? I let her ex off easy. I should have kicked his arse for how much he let her down.
“This is horrible. And I had everything planned. I really thought—” She swallows. “I thought I was finally getting my dream life.”
“With him?” I stare at the door through which the arsehole walked out earlier.
She scowls up at me. Then as if realizing that she’s in the circle of my arms, she pulls away.
I miss the feel of her body against mine. Which does not surprise me. I’m realizing, where Ms. Lark Monroe is concerned, the more I have of her, the more I want of her.
“It may not seem like much, but I had the life I wanted all planned out, and now—” She swallows and looks away. “And now, all I’m left with is having to send out emails cancelling the wedding and a stack of unpaid bills.”
Her chin wobbles, and fuck if my heart doesn’t hurt. And if my chest doesn’t tighten. And if every part of me doesn’t want to do something… Anything to help her. In fact, I could help her and myself.
An idea forms in my head. One which excites me in its simplicity and its ease to carry out.
“I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.” She hunches her shoulders. “It’s not like this has anything to do with you.”
“What if it did?”
Even as I say the words, the idea takes root in my mind.
It’s Arthur’s suggestion that made me look at her in a new light. And now that the opportunity has presented itself, I can’t help but consider that it’s perfect timing. I could marry her.
The better I’ve gotten to know her, the more I realize how compatible we are. She’s the best match for me.
It’s also going to help salvage her dignity, so it’d work for both of us.
Now, I only have to convince her.
She looks around the room, but I know she’s not really seeing it. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“What if everything I said earlier was real. What if I really was in love with you?”
“Eh?” She stares at me.
“I’m not in love with you, of course.”
“Okay.” She nods slowly.
“But what if I were, and what if I asked you to marry me?”
She freezes.
So do I.
The words hang there, shocking with how right they feel.
I said I was in love with her to mess with her ex.
I wanted to show him what he's missing out on. I wanted him to be sorry for putting her through that ordeal. And now that he’s walked, and she’s no longer engaged, there’s no reason for me not to act on this insane attraction I feel toward her.
I don’t love her, of course. I’m not stupid enough to get my emotions involved in this situation. But she’s mine to help. Mine to protect. And if I can help ease this situation for her, then why not?
“I—” She coughs. “I thought I heard you ask me to marry you?”
I jerk my chin. “I did.”
She stares at me for a second longer, then begins to laugh. There’s a touch of hysteria to her laughter which tells me I might have sprung this on her a little too quickly. She’s had a huge emotional shock. She needs to digest it.
She needs to understand the ramifications of what I’m proposing. For someone who’s known for being strategic, I sure didn’t think through how to broach this in a way that would inspire confidence in her. And make her say yes.
When she finally subsides. I walk over to her desk, pick up the bottle of water there and hold it out. “Drink it.”
She eyes me with curiosity but does as I ask. Then she places the bottle back on her desk before she rounds it and sinks into her chair. “I’m not sure I can make sense of what you’re saying.”
“It’s simple.” I follow her around her desk and lean a hip against it.
“Arthur thought you’d make the perfect bride for me.
And if I marry you, I’ll get access to my inheritance with his blessings.
And you”—I cross my arms across my chest—“can go ahead with the wedding as planned. No need to cancel the Town Hall appointment. No need to send out a wedding-is-off email to your friends and family. No need to even cancel the reception at the pub, though frankly, I think we could do better than that—”
“Stop, right there—” She holds up a hand. “You’re saying—” She stares at me with intent. “You’re saying we should get married.” She gestures to the space between us.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
She opens and shuts her mouth, then gulps a few breaths. “I think you’re crazy.”
“I’m not. Think about it. Arthur seems to think we’d make a good couple. Which means, he’d bless this marriage right away. And you get to save face and get your plans back on track.”
“I… I…” She seems at a loss for words. “This is completely crazy.” She squeezes the bridge of her nose. “I don’t think—"
I have a feeling she’s going to say no, so I jump in with, “I’m not asking you for an answer right now. Why don’t you think about it?”