Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
“An arranged marriage?”
“Yes.”
He nodded. “People have to make decisions on the kind of woman he has to marry.”
“Why?”
“That is … tradition.”
“And you don’t think tradition has to be broken?”
Antwone chuckled but he didn’t answer.
Candice nibbled her lip. “You said ‘kind’ of woman, what does that mean?”
“She has to be a virgin.”
His lip twitched at the word.
“You don’t like virgins?” she asked.
“Not particularly.”
“Have you been with any virgins?” Candice asked.
“Are you a virgin?” he fired back with a question.
She sighed. “No, I’m not. I lost my virginity when I was twenty-five years old. I thought I was going to be with him forever.” He was her one and only boyfriend. They broke up last year because Devon started to get mean. He worked in a corporate role. He rarely talked about his job, but overnight, he wanted her to learn to be like other wives. He called her thick and stupid. Then of course he would start on her body. He suddenly didn’t like her curves. She figured at the office she had become the butt of all the jokes, or at least he had because of her.
Candice was pleased she never married him, but the first time he hit her was the last time he hit her. She also never moved in with him either, preferring her own life and seeing where their relationship went. It was something her parents had always told her—to be sure of herself and the person she was with before committing to anything. That was what she tried to do.
“But you’re not together anymore?”
“Nope.” And she wasn’t about to tell him why either.
She had a feeling this friend wasn’t a friend at all. “I guess what you could do is wait to see what woman they choose.”
“For my friend?” Antwone asked, brows raised.
Rather than call him out on his lies, she offered him a smile. “Yeah, tell him to see who they choose. It might be a woman he can be with, or even fall in love with.”
Antwone snorted.
“Are you about to tell me you don’t believe in love?” Candice asked, hand on her hip.
“Do you?”
“Look, I’m getting tired of you avoiding the answers, but for your information, yes, I do. I believe in love.”
“Even though you’re not with your boyfriend?”
“I saw my parents,” Candice said. “And even though they’re not with me anymore, I saw their love and yes, I know it’s rare but I also know it’s something precious and special and sweet. That kind of love is out there, with a special person.”
Antwone stared at her. “You really believe that?”
“I’ve witnessed it. Haven’t you?”
She waited as he looked past her shoulder. “My brother has it.”
“See, there is proof. Didn’t your parents?”
“I don’t have any parents.”
She had a feeling he didn’t want to be asked questions about his parents, so she picked up the last of the water and poured it into his glass.
“Then maybe what you could tell your friend is to have hope and an open mind. This arranged marriage could be the best thing he’s ever experienced.”
“And if it’s not?” Antwone asked.
“Then, make the most of it, or even before the marriage, stand up and say no. No one can make us do anything. It’s the modern world, after all.”
This time, Antwone did laugh but it didn’t sound like it was anything other than hysterical.
“You think because this is a modern world, we’re free to do what we want?” he asked.
“I like to think so, yes.”
“You’re adorable.”
Chapter Three
“Well, well, well, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Candice asked.
Antwone didn’t say anything to her the following day as he took a seat at the bar. There was nothing to say. He didn’t know how he ended up here, only that he took a drive, and this was exactly where he stopped.
“A drink,” he said.
“Scotch, beer, or water?” she asked.
“The water.”
“If I keep seeing you this regularly, I’m going to start thinking you’ve got a thing for me.” She gave him a wink after pouring him a glass of water.
She put the lid on the bottle and placed it beside his glass.
One of her hands rested on the bar while the other was on her hip. Last night, he had also walked her home, and they talked about absolutely nothing on the way. There had been silence.
He knew he took a risk. With all his enemies, he shouldn’t be risking his life like this, but he found himself unable to stop. He wanted to make sure she got home safely.
“Is that what you think about every guy who walks into this bar?”
“Nope, but not every guy attempts to walk me home. You’ve got to be careful, Antwone, I might start to think you’re a perfect gentleman.”
Now this made him laugh. If only she knew that he had killed someone this very day. The man himself hadn’t been anyone important, but he’d attempted to kill him. An amateur hitman.