Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“So if the ring’s ugly, you might say no?” I asked.
She pulled in a breath as if she was thinking about her response. “I don’t know. I guess it depends on how ugly.”
I snapped open the box to reveal the princess-cut diamond solitaire.
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I would say that’s a pass.”
“A pass?” I asked, chuckling. The ring was four carats and the highest quality diamond I could find. “I thought this size was wearable, but if it takes something bigger for you to say yes, just say the word.” I sighed in mock exasperation.
She shrugged. “I guess you won’t know until you ask.”
I pulled her toward me and dipped to press a kiss to her lips. “Avery Walker, will you marry me?”
“Hayden Wolf, I’ll marry you anytime and every time you ever ask me.”
She was right. We didn’t need a ring or a ceremony to know we would be together forever. Our feelings—our love and respect for each other—were what bound us together. I’d gone looking for a way to save my business and found a woman who brought me to life. I’d never need anything other than Avery Walker. She was my sunset and my sunrise. My choppy waters and my calm seas.
My everything.
Another year later
Avery
I kept a careful eye on my speed as I made my way back from college on the last day of the school year. I was just so eager to get home. Three months of no studying lay ahead of me as I pulled into the driveway. Hayden waved and strode toward the car as I parked.
“School’s out for summer,” he said as he opened the door.
“Sure is, and I got a first for that paper I handed in last week.”
“The Piaget one?” he asked.
How he kept track with all the course-related stuff I talked about, I had no idea. He always seemed so interested in every little detail I ever told him about it.
“That’s the one.” I squeezed his hand before he released me to grab my books from the backseat.
“I have some pretty interesting news myself, actually,” he said as we wandered into the dining room. “I got a call today—Cannon is being sold.”
“Wow, are you going to buy it?” Although I’d admired the way Hayden hadn’t wanted to go after Cannon in revenge, I’d always wanted them to get their comeuppance, not just for what they’d done to my family, but also what they’d done to Hayden’s father.
He shook his head. “There’s no way he’d ever sell to me. But it was good to get the call. Apparently, they aren’t expecting any cash for it. They just want someone to take on their debt.”
I stopped walking and turned to face Hayden. “What, so it will be free as long as whoever buys it takes on their loans?”
“Exactly. I was right. They overpaid for the companies they stole from me. The man who sent my father into bankruptcy and tried to destroy us is paying the ultimate price.”
“Wow, how do you feel?” I asked as I headed inside.
“Pleased that I wasn’t the cause of their failure. I never wanted one man’s bitterness to affect the way I lived my life.”
“God, you know how hot it gets me when you’re all principled and ethical and shit.”
Hayden chuckled. “Hold that thought. My brother’s inside, talking with your dad and Michael.”
I huffed as if I’d been deprived of Hayden’s body for weeks, when in reality he’d fucked me this morning before classes.
“Hey, guys,” I called as we wandered into the kitchen.
“You really should get a games console set up in here,” Michael said. “I want to kick Landon’s ass at Sniper Elite.”
“Yeah, as if,” Landon said. “You know I was in the SAS, right?”
“As far as I can tell, you just sit behind a desk now,” Michael shot back.
I’d gotten used to Landon and Michael. They’d become firm friends and were always poking fun at each other.
“Aren’t you going back to America anytime soon?” Landon said, though he knew they lived here now.
“Landon,” Hayden called over in warning as he opened the fridge to take out some wine.
“Don’t worry, son,” my dad said, bringing up a plate and opening the dishwasher. “You’ll never get rid of us now. Can’t get enough of this beautiful weather,” he said, nodding to the windows where it had just started to pour with rain.
I laughed. “Thank God you’re handsome or I might have had to call this engagement off rather than live with the rain all year. It’s June, for Pete’s sake.”
“I thought you’d have had enough sun to last you a lifetime,” Hayden replied. “But perhaps we should charter a yacht this summer? Are you missing life on the ocean waves?”
I slipped my hands up his chest. “I don’t miss anything when I’m with you.”