Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
* * *
I pull a face at his message before I switch my phone off.
“Are you mad?” I ask, trying to read his expression. I can’t tell if he’s amused, horrified, or somewhere in between.
“No, just confused as to why.”
“It’s arranged and has been since I was a kid. It’s something I can’t say no to. Please believe me when I say that.”
His pink nails tap on the table… once, twice, three times. “You haven’t lied to me before, and I hope you aren’t starting now. So, yes, I believe you.”
“Thank you.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like him.” He smirks.
“No, you don’t. I’m not even sure I like him.” I smirk back, making him laugh.
“Oh, gosh, this is going to be so good.”
“If you say so.” I shrug, not believing a word coming from his mouth.
“Do you ever answer your phone?” I jump at the sound of the voice as I enter my apartment, and a scream rips from my throat. Clutching my bag, I quickly scan the area and find Joey leaning up against my counter, his phone in hand and his eyes on me.
“Do you usually break into people’s apartments?” I bite back.
Closing the door, I approach the other side of the kitchen counter and face him. He slides his phone into his pocket and locks eyes with me. Icy blue eyes stare at me. I’ve seen that shade of blue once before, when I was visiting Thailand and went to the Phi Phi Islands. The crystal-clear water with hints of blue, the color is exactly what his eyes remind me of.
“If you’d answer your phone, you would have known I was trying to be respectful of your time by arranging a time to speak. But since you chose to ignore all my calls and text messages, here I am.” He throws his hands out at his sides, indicating that he is indeed here.
A bit dramatic, I think.
“How did you even find out where I live?”
“It was easy once I knew who I was looking for.”
I turn, giving him my back as I move to the refrigerator and pull out a bottle of water. “That’s what a stalker does.”
He bites his bottom lip, and I must remember I don’t like this man because he looks way too good doing that.
“We need to talk.”
“Talk! Ah-huh, since you broke in and all.” I smile. “Or leave! Yeah, that would be better, so I can change the locks.”
“You won’t be living here much longer, so changing the locks would be a waste of everyone’s time.”
While I digest his words, I stare at him blankly. “Where will I be living?” I ask, confused.
“With me, of course.” He says it so easily, so clearly, so precisely…
I want to run.
“Of course, what was I thinking. Do I get any sort of say in this?” I steady my breathing because, unfortunately, I already know the answer.
“I don’t believe you do.”
“Is that all you came to say?” I nod to the door. “Because you can show yourself out.”
“No. Actually, I came to tell you our date.”
“Date?” I huff. I am more than ready for him to get out of my space.
“Yes, of when we’re getting married.”
“I don’t care about dates. Just text it to me.”
“It’s next week,” he states nonchalantly.
I swear my soul has left my body.
It’s drifting somewhere in outer space.
My mind has gone with it.
I thought I would have time.
Maybe get myself out of it somehow.
Some way.
But now I see that’s not an option.
When I finally look up at Joey, he’s been watching me, assessing me, as he waits for me to finally speak and when I don’t, he says, “The bridal shop has my card. Go there and pick what you need.” He moves to walk past me, but I stop him with a hand to his chest.
That was a mistake.
I realize it the minute my hand touches him.
I pull it away quickly, bringing it back to my side.
His brow scrunches at the brief contact.
“I don’t need your money.”
“Why?” he asks.
“I have my father’s. How do you think I pay for Abigail’s schooling?” I say, referring to my sister. “I probably have more money than you.”
“So why did Lucas need to buy into your little bookshop, then?”
I scoff at his choice of words, my little bookshop.
“I was still waiting for the money to come through when I met him, and it seemed like a good fit. Lucas is a good man.”
Joey throws his head back and laughs. His hands clutch his stomach as his laughter picks up and becomes louder and louder.
I cross my arms over my chest as I wait for him to finish.
I hate to say it, but his laugh is attractive.
How is that possible?
For a laugh to be attractive?
I’m not even sure.
I don’t like this man, not one bit. And if I had a choice, I would never marry him. I’ve seen what marriage does to people, and it’s not good, that’s for sure.