Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“But none of that is on you, Faith.”
“We’ve never been upset with you, Faith,” Rod told her.
“We love you, Squirt,” Lance added.
“I just feel so ashamed.”
Reuben reached up and wiped her tears away. “I know you do, but you’ve nothing to feel ashamed about.”
“You really think Matt took that money? That the business was doing all right?”
“He did the accounts?” Reuben asked.
“Yes,” she said. “On his laptop.”
“You going to try and prove he stole Faith’s money?” her father demanded as she heard a car door slam. Was someone else here? Folks were giving them space, busy dancing and eating. But she didn’t feel like greeting anyone else.
“Well, it would likely take a forensic accountant to prove that. But my friend who was looking into him did discover something interesting. Matt Bower’s actual name is Matthew Lowell. And he has some outstanding warrants in Utah for scamming some elderly people out of their life savings.”
Oh my God.
“I’m going to be sick. I can’t believe I let him dupe me like that.” She put her hand on her tummy. And then she glanced up and saw the man himself walking toward her. A fake smile on his face.
And Shelby Colby, her nemesis since kindergarten, was plastered to his side.
Standing, she watched him walk closer.
“That bastard,” her dad said, standing as well.
“Let me handle this, please, Daniel,” Reuben said to her dad.
“Faith, hey. It’s so good to see you . . . after everything,” Matt said.
Had he ever loved her? She studied him carefully. How had she never noticed how beady his eyes were? And why couldn’t he look her in the eyes?
God, she’d felt bad about how things had ended. She’d even sent him money.
“Faith, easy,” Reuben murmured.
He had something up his sleeve, so she took in a deep breath and nodded.
“Hi, everyone. Isn’t it nice of Faith to visit? I know she’s been working hard in the big city to make up for her mistakes.”
Everyone sucked in a breath.
Oh no, he fucking didn’t.
“Hi.” Reuben stepped forward. “I’m Reuben Jones.”
“Hi, are you a friend of Faith’s?” Matt asked, eyeing Reuben.
Shelby Colby smiled and stuck her chest out. But Reuben didn’t even look her way. Faith gave her a dirty look. She’d always wanted what Faith had.
“Friend, no.” Reuben laughed. “I’m her fiancée.”
“She don’t have no ring,” Shelby Colby said, as she blew a bubble with her gum.
Gross.
“I knew I was forgetting something.” Reuben spun around toward Faith and got down on one knee. Then he drew a velvet bag from his pocket, holding it up.
“It doesn’t even come in a ring box,” Shelby Colby said with a sneer.
“I didn’t want anyone seeing a box in my pocket and guessing,” Reuben told Faith.
She didn’t care what it came in. All she cared about was whether this was real or not.
“Really?” she whispered.
“Really. The timing might be . . . planned. But the question is real. Although it’s not really a question, but a command.” His voice grew louder. “Faith Blossom, the day I met you I knew I was in trouble because I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. The most beautiful, sweet woman to walk into my office and I knew you had to be mine. That’s why I need you to marry me, so I know that you’ll be mine forever. My heart. My girl. The other part of my soul.” Opening the bag, he drew out the most beautiful ring. It was a huge oval-shaped pink diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds. “Marry me.”
And it wasn’t a question, although most people might think it was. But she still answered. “Yes.”
He slid the ring onto her right ring finger since her left was in a cast and her fingers were still swollen. Then he then stood, gathering her close to kiss her. Hard. Fast. Deep.
“How long have you two even known each other?” Matt demanded. “Is this for real?”
She glanced over to see him watching, his face red and filled with anger. Shelby Colby was standing at his side, but he was no longer touching her. She was glaring at the ring like it offended her.
Good. Because she offended Faith.
“What right do you have to ask that?” she asked. “It’s not like you ever actually cared about me. You were only using me for money.”
“That’s not true. I loved you. I think we should talk, Faith. Just me and you.”
She made a scoffing noise. “That’s not happening. And, love me? Right. That’s why you stole from me, made me believe that the shop failing was all my fault, oh, and kept taking money from me. You’re a . . . you’re a fucking jerk!”
Everyone sucked in a shocked breath.
She said it. And she wasn’t taking it back.
“Well, he’s my jerk now,” Shelby crowed. Then she frowned. “Wait.”
“You always were dumb, Shelby,” Faith told her. “The two of you deserve each other.”