Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
"I was hoping the photo would make you think I was pretty."
She saw him jerk, almost as if he couldn't believe she was admitting to such a thing.
And then...
A flash of emotion, his gorgeous face softening with an almost boyish expression of tenderness—-
"I always thought you were beautiful," he said simply.
And Audra felt that she, too, was going crazy, with how Lucian was making her heart sing and weep at the same time.
"Why didn't you ever..."
His lips twisted. "Tell you how I felt?"
Audra slowly nodded.
"You were too young," he answered roughly. "If I had approached you then, I knew there was a chance...I'd take complete control of your life—-"
"So you stayed away instead?"
"It was the only way," he grated out, "I didn't risk breaking your wings before you knew what it meant to fly."
He was doing it again, Audra said helplessly. Saying words that were so trite and un-Lucian-like...but because he was the one saying it, and she knew that he would never say such things unless he meant them...
It was almost like hearing him read out a love letter.
His love letter.
For her.
"I'm sorry I fucked up, Audra. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I'm just fucking sorry—-"
Audra took a trembling step towards him, and he stopped speaking, his entire body stiffening, and she realized then that he was expecting her to end things then and there.
The way he was looking at her, with his dark gaze shuttered, and his face grey with pain...
Oh, Lucian.
She could see that he believed she would be unable to forgive him.
And maybe if it was another girl in her place, maybe it would be so.
Maybe the hurt would be too much, his betrayal and doubts impossible to get over...
But because this was her, and this was him...
And for as long as he had loved her...
It had been the same for her, too.
She might not have known then, but Christopher had helped her realize the truth.
And it truly was the same for her.
Just as Lucian had loved her from the start, so had she. And with these two things to be true, it became clear to Audra that there couldn't be anything else for her to do—-
Nothing else but this...
Her gaze lifting to his as she reached for his hand—-
Lucian swallowed audibly.
And close her eyes as she laid her cheek against his palm—-
"Oh God, Audra."
Telling him without words that she forgave him—-
Lucian jerked her into his arms.
"I love you."
Her tears fell faster even as she felt her heart bloom at his words.
"I love you, Audra."
His voice was ragged, and his arms around her so, so tight that she just knew...
"Always."
This was what forever meant.
"OH MY GOSH, YOU GUYS look so cute." And while Cassidy did mean every word, she also enjoyed saying it because...
Lucian's lip curled at her, and she fought back a smile.
Mission accomplished, and oh, how the mighty have fallen.
It was not so long ago that Lucian Stanhope had been one of the hospital's die-hard bachelors, a man infamous for playing fast and loose with women's hearts. And now, here he was, wearing a bright red silk tie (when he was notorious for never wearing anything but black) just to match the color of Audra's dress...and the rubies that sparkled from the other girl's engagement ring.
Cassidy was about to start teasing the newly engaged couple again when a posh-sounding voice suddenly intruded on them—-
"I believe congratulations are in order?"
Cassidy turned to see Christopher "Kit" Masterton joining their small circle, and she had to work hard to keep herself from snickering when she saw the way Lucian curled a possessive arm around Audra's waist.
Audra, however, seemed fit to burst with excitement as she showed off her ring. "Can you believe it? Can you? Can you?"
While both Kit and Cassidy couldn't help wincing at the increasing pitch of Audra's tone, this only made the normally aloof Lucian Stanhope regard his fiancée with affectionate indulgence.
"Congratulations then," Kit said. "And if I may kiss—-"
Lucian swiftly planted himself between his friend and his fiancée. "No."
Kit's gaze gleamed. "Surely you aren't still thinking I'm after an affair with your girl?"
"Doesn't matter. Bugger off."
"It's just a kiss—-"
"If there's any kissing to be done," Lucian said curtly, "then I'll take care of it." And to suit action to words, the surgeon turned around and cupped Audra's face—-
Whoa.
Looking around, Cassidy could see that she wasn't the only one whose jaw had figuratively dropped at the sight of Lucian kissing Audra while—-
Whoa.
The kiss was over now, but he was also swiftly dragging his fiancée to the closest balcony doors, and well...
A lot of 'ahem' and throat clearing followed as the couple disappeared behind the tinted doors of the balcony.
"I seem to have a remarkable talent for pissing off the Stanhope men," Kit suddenly drawled.
Cassidy blinked up at him. "Why would you—-" Her voice trailed off as she followed his line of sight and saw William, standing at the opposite side of the hall, watching them with an impassive expression on his handsome face.