Chapter 16
***RYAN***
Everyone sitting at the table with them suddenly had other things to do. In a matter of seconds, the room emptied out, leaving just the two of them. “I guess that wasn’t the right way to ask, but I’ve never done this before,” he said. “Paula, will you marry me?”
She just stared at him for several heartbeats, then began to shake her head.
“You’re kidding, right?” she asked, but when she saw the serious look on his face, she shook her head again.
“Ryan, we’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks, you can’t honestly think this is a good idea.
Marriage is a big step; we haven’t even been on a date yet. ”
“Yeah, we would kind of be doing it backwards, but we can still go on dates if you want. That would be fun,” he said, then shrugged when she just stared at him, not finding any humor in the situation. “It’s the only way that I can guarantee your safety.”
“That can’t be our only choice, what are the other options?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. “You’d better not be leaving anything out. I don’t understand why you’re not more upset at the idea. I thought guys hated the idea of marriage.”
“The other option is to turn you over to the council, where they’ll spend hours grilling you and might end up turning you over to Alex’s clan just to keep the peace,” he said.
“I’m sorry, Paula, this is what I was trying to avoid, but if we just get married, that will solve everything.
You’ll be part of the clan, and they’ll have to offer you protection then. ”
She sat back in her chair, then looked over at him. “This isn’t the way I imagined things would go,” she said. “Why aren’t you freaking out? Why am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea?”
“Because you don’t have all the information,” he said, leaning closer to her. “We’re meant to be together, Paula. I was hoping to give you more time to figure that out, but it looks like we’re going to have to rush things a little bit.”
“A little bit?” she asked, shaking her head. “Don’t you think that’s a bit of an understatement?”
“I’ll admit it’s not ideal, but your safety is the most important thing,” he said, thinking he was getting through to her.
“I’m not marrying you because we have to, that’s not the way I imagined things,” Paula said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re supposed to be in love when you get married, there’s supposed to be a connection…”
Before she could go on, he grabbed her and pulled her into his lap, then captured her face in his hands. “Stop talking for a second and let me kiss you,” he said. “Then we’ll talk about connections.”
Her mouth was open when he leaned in to kiss her, which was fine with him; it gave him the access he wanted, and whatever she was going to say turned into a moan of pleasure.
She was stiff in his arms for only a second before a sigh escaped from her chest and she wrapped her arms around his neck, then melted into him as the passion between them burst to life.
He felt the warmth of their connection soaking into him, fanning the flames of the desire that had begun to make him throb painfully between his legs and the dragon inside him think about claiming its mate.
When he pulled away from Paula, her eyes were foggy with desire, and he wanted to take her upstairs to his room and follow through with what he’d started, but he held back, knowing that she wasn’t ready for that.
It took her a few seconds to come back down to Earth, then she jumped out of his lap, her cheeks pink, her face full of anger.
“What is it about you men and kissing without asking?” she demanded. “Besides, that doesn’t prove anything; a little lust isn’t enough to base a marriage on. There’s supposed to be more.”
He got to his feet and pulled her into his arms, noticing that she didn’t fight him.
“There is more than just lust, and you know it. I don’t blame you for being scared,” he said, looking down at her.
“We’ll take it slow, and I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do.
I just want to keep you safe, and this is the best way. ”
“How did this happen?” she asked, burrowing her face in his chest. “How did my life get turned upside down?”
“Fate has a way of tripping us up when we’re not looking,” he said, rubbing her back. “Paula, I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think we were meant to be together. I think you’re just going to have to trust me on this one. I promise everything will be fine.”
She took a ragged breath, then looked up at him, searching his eyes for the truth, and he felt the connection between them come to life, sending a wave of warmth spreading through him again.
Paula gasped but didn’t look away, not fighting what she was feeling for the first time, and the bond began to get stronger, twisting them together even tighter.
“Oh…that’s strange…” she whispered, a little smile spreading across her face. “How do you do that? How do you make me feel like everything is going to be just fine?”
“It’s the bond, I feel the same way when I’m with you, that’s how I know this is right,” he said. “Listen to your heart, Paula, it will tell you the right thing to do.”
Paula closed her eyes and he held his breath, knowing there was nothing more that he could do or say to convince her.
“I guess marrying you wouldn’t be the worst decision that I’ve ever made,” she said when she opened them.
“But my parents have to be there, and I don’t want a courthouse wedding; it has to be someplace special. ”
“Your wish is my command, princess,” he said, grinning at her.
He reached into his pocket and brought out his grandmother’s ring.
“I think this belongs to you now. My grandmother gave it to me before she died. She said it brought her a lot of happiness, and she wanted to share it with the woman I chose to spend my life with. I doubt she imagined this is how I would get married, but I think she would have liked you. She was a wonderful woman.”
“I’ll wear it with pride,” she said when he slipped it on her finger. “I guess we should tell everyone it’s safe to come back in the kitchen now.”
“Not quite yet,” he said. “I’m going to kiss you first.”
***Paula***
Connie was waiting for her when Paula walked in later that morning. “I’ve been worried sick, I thought something horrible happened to you. I was just about to start calling the hospitals,” she said, hands on her hips, eyes flashing. “I’ve called and called; it just goes straight to voicemail.”
“I’m sorry, Connie, I really am, but there was so much going on. I lost track of my phone, and then it died. But I really do have a good excuse,” she said, then held out her hand. “I got engaged. I know what you’re going to say, it is quick, but I’m sure this is what I want.”
“Quick?” Connie asked, clearly stunned. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone…”
“I wasn’t…I mean we haven’t exactly been on a date, but Ryan is the one, I just know it,” she said, then waited for her friend to say something. “I know you’re probably shocked, I was too at first, but you have to trust me, this is what’s best for me.”
“Best for you…” Connie murmured, then seemed to snap out of it. “Paula, have you lost your mind? You can’t marry someone you’ve only known for a few weeks. What the hell happened at that fundraiser?”
“Let’s just say that everything became very clear to me last night,” she said, shrugging her shoulders, hoping Connie would stop asking questions. “I can’t really say more. I know how that sounds, you’re my best friend and I tell you everything, but a lot of people could get hurt if I tell you.”
“Paula, what have you gotten yourself into?” Connie asked, her face full of concern. “Are you in danger? Should we call the police?”
“No, it’s nothing like that, I’ve just decided that Ryan is the one for me and I don’t want to wait to marry him,” she said. “I need your support on this; you’re my best friend. I want you with me when I take this giant step. Please say that you’ll be there.”
Connie studied her for a second. “You’ve got your mind made up, don’t you?” she asked, then sighed when Paula nodded. “Okay, then, I’m with you, you’ve got my support even though I think you’re crazy. When is this wedding anyway?”
“In two days,” she said, grinning at her friend. “And I still need to find a venue, get a dress, and put together the food.”
“You are crazy,” Connie said, shaking her head. “Do I need to remind you that your parents and mine are going to be here in a few hours?”
“Nope, I remembered. The timing is perfect, they can all come to the wedding,” she said, walking over and hugging Connie. “Thank you for being my best friend. I know it’s not easy sometimes.”
“My life would sure be boring without you,” Connie said, hugging her back. “But I’m not sure I want to be here when you tell your parents about this; your dad is going to throw a fit.”
By the time her parents rang the bell in the entryway to her building, the apartment was sparkling clean, the Christmas decorations were all glimmering, and Connie had just left for the store.
Her stomach lurched when she pressed the button to let them in, and she wondered if it wouldn’t be better to just sneak off and get married, but then thought about how hurt her parents would be.
They’d always been supportive of anything she wanted to do; this might be the first time they opposed a choice she’d made.
The prospect made her feel a little lost.
They enveloped her in hugs as soon as she opened the door. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you,” her mom said, pulling back to look at her. “You look good, but something is different…what is it?”
“Oh, Mom, I’m still just me,” she said, turning to her father to avoid her mother’s penetrating gaze. “You look good, Dad. I’m glad you came.”
“Your mom and I are staying at that old hotel downtown. We got a suite, it’s beautiful,” he said. “We soaked in the jacuzzi before we came over. I haven’t been this relaxed in months.”
Her heart sank. “That’s great, Dad. Come in and sit down. I’ll get us something to drink, and then we can catch up,” she said, leading the way to the living room. “I’ll be right back, make yourselves at home.”
She didn’t realize that her mom was following her until she got to the kitchen and turned around. “Mom, I thought you were in the other room,” she said, not liking the way her mom was staring at her. “Can I get you something?”
“I was just trying to figure out what was different,” her mom said, grabbing her face and twisting it back and forth, then a smile spread across her face. “You’re in love.”
“Mom…how did you…I don’t know if it’s…” she stammered, then sighed. “I got engaged this morning. I was going to tell you and Dad together.”
“Engaged,” her dad roared from the other room. “I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend.”
She sighed again. “Come on, we’d better go in there,” she said. “The drinks can wait.”
Her dad was sitting in a chair, his arms crossed over his chest, “Who is this boy?” he asked. “And why haven’t I met him?”
Just then the doorbell rang. “That’s him,” she said. “Please be nice, Daddy. Ryan is important to me; I care a lot about him. This isn’t one of my rash decisions.”
“Hmmm, we’ll see about that,” her dad said, a stubborn look on his face. “You’d better go and let him in.”
Her mother crossed the room and sat down on the arm of the chair. “Now, Paul, keep an open mind,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “It was love at first sight for us, remember?”
“That’s different,” her father grumbled. “This is Paula we’re talking about.”
She buzzed Ryan in, then waited for him at the door, trying not to pace, listening to her parents’ whispered conversation, wishing she knew what they were saying. “How did it go?” Ryan asked when she let him in. “Are they freaked out?”
“My dad is, my mom seems okay with it,” she said, shaking her head. “She guessed before I could even tell them.”
“We’d better get in there,” Ryan said, taking her hand, then gave her a quick kiss. “It’s going to be fine; your dad is just worried about you.”