Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
There’s another growl from somewhere behind me when I become the highest bidder again. Obviously, I’m pissing off someone in the back. I turn my head, seeking out the man that thinks he can have what’s mine, but all I see is darkness. He might as well forget it because there’s no way I’m letting him win. Even though the audience was ordered to remain silent, I still holler out to the man in the blackness, “Give it up. I don’t have a limit. She’s mine.”
When the bidding gets to twenty million, Coco announces, “Twenty million going once, going twice... sold.”
I open the app on my phone to transfer the money before shooting out of my seat. A security guard grabs Nikki’s wrist and walks her down the steps. Her eyes meet mine as I step out of the shadows, and she gasps as a look of relief crosses her face. “Ethan,” she whispers.
I reach for her because how can I not, but the security guard doesn’t release her. “I need to confirm payment first.”
I grit my teeth, and my tone is deep as I stop in front of the guy. “That’s fine, but you’re going to need to take your hands off her.”
The security guy drops her hand immediately, and I stand to the side, waving Nikki on. “After you, Nikki.”
She walks past me, and her shoulder brushes against my chest. I suck in a breath at the contact and realize that some things never change. Even now, after all this time, my body reacts to her like nothing else.
I follow behind her, and the security guy is behind me. When we get to a side door, we walk out into the light. The cashier nods at the security guy, and I position myself so that my left side is away from Nikki.
The cashier smiles between us, and I see the instant that she notices the scars on my face. I did cut my lopsided beard, but I left my hair long. She stares pointedly at the marred skin, and I untuck the hair from behind my ear and let it fall like a shield over the side of my face. Her face is filled with pity, and she murmurs, “Sorry.”
I want to look at Nikki, but I don’t trust myself. I can feel her shiver next to me, and I automatically start to slide my jacket off. I move behind her to put it over her shoulders. She puts her arms through the sleeves and then reaches for my hand.
I wrap my hand around hers and hold on to it tightly. The cashier looks down at her clipboard and then at me. “And the marriage... do you want that option?”
I answer her quickly. “No.”
But at the same time, Nikki says, “Yes.”
I still don’t look at her even when she squeezes my hand and says loud and clear, “I’m not leaving here unless we’re married, Ethan.”
Finally, I turn my head and look at her. My hair masks half my face, but I’m still vulnerable. The long-sleeved shirt hides the scars on my arm, but I wonder what she’d think if she was looking at them right now and saw it all. Would she still want to marry me? I could get lost in the emotion that’s filling her big blue eyes. “Nikki, I don’t think...”
She clenches her eyes shut and opens them again. “That’s right, you don’t think, Ethan. I signed a prenuptial agreement that your brother sent to me in case you did show up today.”
“Fuck, it’s not that, Nikki.” I’m going to kill my brother. How could she think I’d care about something like that?
Nikki puts her hand on my chest. She’s always been able to read what I’m thinking. “Bobby didn’t want to send it, but I made him do it just in case you showed up today.”
I blink down at her. “I couldn’t stay away.”
She nods one time at me and then smiles. “Then marry me, Ethan. I’m yours. I always have been.”
Too choked up with emotion to answer her, I look back at the cashier and nod my head. The ceremony is quick and performed at the edge of the mountain with a beautiful overlook. But even being surrounded by God’s beauty, I still hate myself because Nikki deserves more. She deserves to be surrounded by her family and friends. She deserves to be married to a man that can hold his own in the community and not feel compelled to hide. She deserves so much.
But when we say our vows to each other, she doesn’t look as if any of that matters. She looks happy.
After we sign the papers and pose for a picture, I help her into the helicopter. Her bags have already been loaded, and we are high in the sky before I chance a look at her. She’s gripping the edge of her seat with one hand and the other has a death grip, hanging on to the overhead handle. She’s white as a ghost, and I turn to her worriedly. “Nikki...” When she doesn’t answer me, I realize she’s afraid to fly.