Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
A sound halfway between a laugh and growl burst out of her. “I don’t think I used those exact words—”
“Nope, that’s what you said. Verbatim.”
“I must have been sleep talking.” Golden eyes crackled up at August and hell if that temper wasn’t turning him on. “People are known to talk in their sleep,” she continued. “In rare cases, people are even known to murder loved ones in their sleep. Did you know that? You might want to keep it in mind.”
August dropped his head back and laughed. “There’s that sense of humor again. One of the million reasons I can’t wait to call you my wife.”
You could hear a pin drop in the tent.
“What was that?” Corinne inquired in a smooth whisper, though her color had lightened by several shades. “Did he say ‘wife’?”
“That’s definitely what I heard,” Julian responded, those studious eyes traveling between his sister and August. “What about you, Hallie?”
“Don’t drag me into this.” Then, out of the corner of her mouth, “But if that is what you said, there’s a family discount on floral wedding arrangements.”
Apart from the brief, appreciative smile Julian sent his girlfriend, the tension in the tent remained thicker than a porterhouse steak. All right, August had gone too far. He’d been having his fun with Natalie, but now her temper had faded into something close to regret and panic.
Thank God he’d run that errand last night.
Struck with panic-induced amnesia, he started slapping at his pockets, trying to locate the ring box—
Corinne distracted him by stepping between him and Natalie, her fingers digging into both of their forearms. “Listen to me very carefully. You’ve just set something very delicate in motion. Do you understand?” She drilled August with a look. “You obviously think this is some sidesplitting joke, but a sham marriage could do lasting damage to our family name.” Her attention transferred to Natalie, sharpening so much that August almost dragged Natalie behind his back to shield her. Would have, if he didn’t suspect the matriarch had something important to say. Something he needed to hear. “Ingram Meyer is in attendance today. He is always in attendance. At everything. He has eyes and ears all over St. Helena and takes his responsibilities at the bank very seriously. If he suspects this relationship is all for show, he will deny the release of your trust fund faster than you made this idiotic plan, Natalie.”
Pulse rippling, August did a quick scan of the crowd, and sure enough, there was the loan officer from the bank—tall, slender, and pasty in a straw hat. This guy had barely glanced at August’s application before dismissing him completely. The same man who held Natalie’s fate in his grip.
“Either drop the act now,” Corinne continued in a low hiss, “or understand that this needs to be a serious endeavor. You’re not just convincing the bank, you’re convincing the whole town of St. Helena because it’s all one giant, plugged-in pipeline. You’ll need to share a residence, be seen together in public. Have a proper wedding. If that’s the direction of your choosing, then act accordingly. Now. Before you two make this family out to be nothing more than a bunch of cheap con artists.”
Was it too late to leave and try his entrance again?
Natalie’s features were carefully schooled, as usual, but the blood had drained from her face—and August loathed himself for causing that reaction.
Why do you do things like this?
No time to explore the mysteries of his universe now, because he had a feeling Natalie was seconds from backing out. Dropping the act. Of course she was. Who would trust him with something so delicate after he’d entered like a bull walking into a china shop?
He could not let this chance slip away. His dick/gut told him he’d regret it forever.
As fast as humanly possible, August drew the ring box out of his pants pocket and got down on one knee.
Natalie swayed backward a little and August’s free hand shot out automatically to steady her. She looked down at him without breathing, her gaze tripping between him and the ring box, then . . . just on him. For a moment, there was no one else in the tent. Only them. And he was slightly alarmed by the rough grind in his chest, even as he was secretly grateful for the rise of nerves. She deserved to have a nervous man down on one knee, didn’t she?
Hell yes, she did.
“What I meant to say, Natalie, is . . . I would like to call you my wife.” He thumbed open the black velvet box without taking his attention off her. Couldn’t have pried it off with a crowbar. Jesus, was there even a chance she’d say yes now? His heart lifted and wedged itself behind his jugular. “I’m asking you to spend the rest of your life trying not to murder me in your sleep. Please.”