Page 23 of The Unwanted Wife

"I wasn’t hiding from you; not exactly." She raises her shoulder.

We sit quietly, and there’s no missing the tension radiating from her that I can't ignore. "You don’t have to worry; I’m not going to do anything... Nothing that you don’t want, at any rate."

She blows out a breath. "That’s what I’m afraid of. This… thing between us… It’s clear it hasn’t ebbed with time."

"It hasn’t," I agree.

"It’s only gotten stronger."

"It has."

"You going to agree with everything I say?"

"Only for the moment, and only because you’re saying things I want to hear."

She throws up her hands. "You’re maddening."

"And you still owe me."

"Oh." She seems taken aback. "Wh-what do you want from me?"

I hold out my hand. She hesitates, then slowly places her left palm in mine. I rub my thumb across the ring I placed there less than an hour ago. It looks right. It looks like it belongs to her. And she belongs to me. I promised Ben I’d look out for this sister. And this is the best way I can deliver on it. I bring her palm to my mouth and kiss the ring. "I want you to marry me. I want you to let me take care of you. I want you to… let me give you everything you deserve."

She pulls her hand from mine, and I let her. She places it in her lap and looks out over the rooftops. "I wish he was here." She swallows.

"So do I."

"Do you think he’ll be happy when he finds out?"

"I think… He’d be happy if you’re happy," I offer.

She half laughs. "Not that I need his permission, but I would like to have his blessing."

"He’d want you to do what you think is right for you and your business," I murmur.

She turns to me. "Why are you being nice to me?"

"Why shouldn’t I be?"

"I’m not used to you being this agreeable. Almost pleasant. It’s not the kind of man I thought you were."

"But then, you don’t know me well, do you?"

Our gazes meet, and that connection which has always been there, flares to life between us.

"We’re both to blame for that. I was mortified I threw myself at you. I never told Ben what happened. After that day, I never asked him about you, either. Every time he mentioned you were coming home for a visit; I made sure I wasn’t there."

"And I tried my best not to accept his invitations home. But there were times I couldn’t say no. I'd dread running into you, then be disappointed when I didn’t.”

"And now, here we are—engaged." She glances down at her ring.

"And you’re going to get the money to save your bakery."

"Right." She swallows.

"The money will be deposited in your account as soon as we’re married."

"Which will be?—"

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