Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 109976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“But I didn’t answer.” She was scared out of her mind. It was written all over her face.
“It was a rhetorical question or better yet a statement of fact.”
“But…” She wrung her hands and looked ready to bolt.
“It’s the only way to protect you.” I walked over and took her hands in mine. “And besides, I’d already planned to marry you anyway so what difference does it make if it’s now or later?” I hope she didn’t think for one second that I’d put it off because of her asshole ex.
“Shouldn’t we get a prenuptial agreement?”
“It’s not needed.”
“How can you be so sure that I won’t…”
“Because I know you. If you’d been the kind of woman to cheat you and I would’ve been together long before this.”
I knew she wasn’t trying to find a way out of marrying me but was genuinely asking that question. No doubt the asshole had put her through all of that when in the end he was the one who’d robbed her of all she had.
“Speaking of which.” I walked over to the night table where I’d dropped the package I’d prepared for her.
“What’s this?” She looked it over when I handed it to her before opening it up as she sat on the bed.
“Just a little pre-wedding gift.”
Inside was a new phone as well as a computer and tablet for her use. I reached into my pocket for the ring I’d kept there the whole flight and walked over to stand in front of her. “Give me your hand Giselle.”
She lifted her hand and looked up at me questioningly. I removed the ring from the box and her eyes widened. “It was very easy for me to get this at the last minute do you know why?” She shook her head no and looked nervously back at me.
“Because I picked it out a long time ago.” The ring set me back a cool thirteen million but she was worth every penny. It had caught my eye when I was looking for a ring for Amy. One look and I knew who it belonged to. But of course I didn’t buy it at the time and thought I would never have the need to.
I slipped it on her finger, a perfect fit. “This never comes off for any reason.” I lifted her hand and kissed her finger before holding her hand in mine and looked down at the diamond that sparkled in the light.
“It suits you.” The Asscher cut forty-carat diamond shone brilliantly in the overhead lights but it was no match for her blonde beauty. I felt my heart shift in my chest. Another dream fulfilled, putting my ring on her finger. I was actually choked up and just stared into her eyes until she looked away to look down at her finger.
“Gavin, this…” She looked up at me speechless with her mouth hanging open. I have no doubt she knows fine jewelry since she’d modeled this jeweler’s collection in the past.
“I know this ring, you spent…”
“I know. I became aware of this jeweler because of you. After we met I went in search of anything I could find about you. The only thing I could easily find on the web were pictures from your modeling days. I thought that was one of your best shoots. Very regal.”
This wasn’t the ring she’d modeled, it hadn’t been made back then, but it looked as amazing on her finger as I knew it would. “Why are you crying?” I caught the lone tear that fell with my thumb and cupped her cheek, waiting for an answer.
“This all seems so surreal, like a dream. Just a few days ago my life was… my life…” She choked up and I lifted her from the bed and sat, putting her on my lap. “I’m afraid it’s all going to end. That something bad is going to happen and the dream will end.” She curled herself into me and made my heart ache.
“That’s not going to happen. Look at me.” She turned her face up to me with my finger under her chin and the look in her eyes was gut wrenching. “I promised you that I’d take care of you. You acting like this says you don’t believe me. I know some of what you went through and it sucks but I’m not him. If I could go back and erase him before any of this happened I would, but I can’t. All I can do is promise you that no one will ever harm you again. Come ‘ere.”
I pulled her in and kissed her forehead feeling the weight of her burdens on my shoulders. If only it was that easy, that she could pass them all to me, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But I’m doing the best I can for her in the circumstances.