Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Danielle lifted her head. “You’re kidding me.”
“It’s what it looked like to me.”
“See, she’s plotting our wedding now. I don’t know if I can face her.”
“You can. Think about it, our parents had to fuck to get us.”
“It’s gross. I don’t want to think of them doing anything,” she said.
“I don’t think about it. I know it. Come on, it’s not so bad.” He rubbed at her back. “We’ll face her together.”
“You will?”
“Yes. We’re in this together. I wouldn’t let you do this without me.” He took her hand, and they walked toward the steps that led out of the pool.
“My bathing suit.” She made to turn back.
“You can wear a robe.”
“You’re very bossy.”
“And you’re trying to avoid your mother. She has already seen what she interrupted, so why try to make it easy on her?”
“We’re not getting married.”
“Why don’t you follow my lead?”
“I don’t know if I trust you. You’re the reason she’s here.”
“Yes, and I’m going to help you solve her problem.” He pulled her in close, kissing the top of her head. “Trust me.”
Five minutes later, she found her mother in the sitting room. The large folder was open, and different images of wedding gowns, cakes, and other items were on display.
She went to protest, but Brice kissed her, giving her a look that said to trust him.
Instead of saying anything, she allowed herself to be pulled down onto the sofa next to Brice as he picked up one of the designs for the wedding gown.
“This one is pretty. You’d look amazing in it,” he said.
She glared at him.
“We’re going to have to put you on a diet. Now, I’ve already talked to your agent, and we’re working to put back your latest cookbook,” her mother said.
“What?” Danielle asked.
“You need to look good for your wedding.”
“I’m making excellent time with this book. I have a schedule planned out. You can’t just take over with that. It’s one day.” Why the hell was she even fighting this? She and Brice were not getting married.
Brice leaned over and grabbed his cell phone. “Call your agent, tell them to put everything back to the way it was, and also inform them that from now on, all instructions will come through you and not your mother.”
“Excuse me, Brice, I know what I’m doing.”
“Clearly, you don’t,” Brice said. “I like Danielle the way she is. I don’t want her walking down the aisle starving for food. To me, she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I love her cooking. I love her independence.”
“We’re not walking down the aisle,” Danielle said.
Why were they missing that one important factor?
“Sweetheart, it has already been announced. Brice’s parents and I are really excited. In fact, I wanted to invite you all to dinner on Sunday. Your parents will be there, Brice.”
“Wait? What?”
“Sweetheart, keep up,” her mother said. “Fine, you don’t want us to interfere that is fine. I can make everything work around your schedule.”
“I’m not marrying Brice.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course you are. Now, I’m going to organize the dress and everything else.”
Before she knew what was happening, Brice and her mother were picking out venues as well as the dress, and even bridesmaids.
“I can’t do this.” She got to her feet and walked to her kitchen.
Gripping the edge of the counter, she felt the panic building inside her.
“Mom just won’t listen, Teresa. Why? Can’t she see that I’m happy? I love what I do.”
“Your mother means well.”
“Please, I didn’t believe it when I was sixteen, and I don’t believe it now.”
“Parents always think they know best. You’ve got to be strong. Show them that you’re not going to be walked over.”
This had been during her first-ever cookbook, when she’d been approached to do her show. Her mother had tried to stop it, and Danielle had wanted it so much, she wouldn’t let her mother stop it.
It was the first time she’d ever done anything against her mother’s wishes.
“You okay?” Brice asked.
She spun around, facing him. “No, I’m not okay. I’m not marrying you. This is not happening. Did you know it was announced? Did you know that people expect it of us?”
“Yes.”
She glared at him. “When?”
“This morning. Going to get condoms. I saw the headline on the paper. It was news to me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that as soon as you came home?”
“I was distracted by you. It’s news I can’t change. It’s already circling, and would it be so bad?”
“Brice, we’re talking about marriage here. A wedding.”
“Yes, and?”
“You’re not making sense.” She didn’t want to deal with this right now. In fact, she wanted to get as far away from this as possible.
Brice wouldn’t let her go. He kept hold of her arm, refusing to release her.
“Why?” she asked.
“Why not? This is perfect. We both know the score. We both know what our parents want. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it before.”