Page 63 of Charming Deception

Even the ones who have their own money. Some of the wealthiest women I know would happily find a way to relieve me of that two million, given the chance.

Clearly, Megan Hudson is not like the other women I’ve known.

But, interestingly, Graysen never told me I should get engaged to any of those women.

The more I think about it, the more interesting it gets.

Megan impressed Graysen, without even trying. Without even being aware of it. And that’s not an easy feat.

Graysen Vance is not easily impressed or won over. He’s not warm and fuzzy. And he’s definitely not trusting of outsiders.

But he liked Megan.

Hell, I have a hard time impressing my brother. If I show up with her on my arm, and a ring on her finger, it will go a hell of a long way to winning his vote right now.

I need her to say yes to me.

To meet Graysen’s expectations, for sure. But also, if I’m being honest with myself, for my ego. If she won Graysen’s stamp of approval that fast and I can’t win his or hers, what the hell does that say about me and the state of my life right now?

I just need to figure out how to convince her.

I told her at dinner that I’d give her anything she wants, but maybe that was too vague.

Maybe she didn’t even believe me?

As I read, I’ve been trying to find hints about her in Rowan’s character, but I really don’t know her well enough to know if it’s all fiction or if there are bits she’s pulled from her own reality.

But then I get to the trust-fall scene, and I’m pretty sure I feel Megan speaking right through the page.

It’s been bothering me all morning.

Wolf doesn’t seem bothered at all, which just bothers me more. All he does is walk and walk and walk and expect me to keep up.

But I know it bothers him.

“Why does it bother you being called a savage?” I ask him.

He frowns at me.

“What else should I call you? You have no tribe.”

“My people are nomads,” he says, like I’m stupid. “We live in tribes. We just don’t give our tribes fancy names that are supposed to mean something to anyone else. We know who we are. When I was born, my grandfather said I had the blood of a thousand men in me.”

“You say that like it’s something to be proud of.”

“Why not? My people are from all over the Eastlands and beyond. We mix with other tribes to keep our bloodline diverse. We take the best of all qualities and pass them down to our children.”

He does look like he’s a bit of all over. There’s something wildly exotic about his green eyes. His skin is tanned but not quite brown, and his hair is unruly and thick. He looks exactly like the epitome of the savage Aunt Rose warned me about.

He shakes his head. “You Westlanders give away your Ladies as brides and you think it’s noble, but it’s barbaric, sending a girl away from her home to marry a man she’s never met.”

“And I suppose you have a better way?”

“We trade, so it’s mutual, and both males and females leave for other tribes. And not without their choice.”

“It was my choice to leave my homeland.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

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