Page 31 of Dirty Temptation

MOLLY

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Knock, knock.

I glance up as Payton opens the door and peeks inside.

“Come in.” I smile from the edge of the bed I’m sitting on, trying to untangle my phone charger.

She closes the door and walks over, sitting next to me.

“You okay, Molly? Is this all too much?” she asks, looking awkward.

Damn.

The last thing I want her to be thinking about on what should be the happiest day of her life is me. It’s her wedding weekend. She’s blissfully in love and about to become a wife and mother.

“Not at all. I mean the helicopter and ten-million-dollar property we’re standing in is a lot but”—I grin at her—“it’s amazing.”

“Twenty. I think.” Payton shrugs.

Holy hell.Twenty million?

“You serious?” I gasp quietly.

She giggles. “Is it bad that I googled it?”

I start giggling back. “Please don’t change and become one of those dumb rich people.”

She bumps my shoulder with hers. “Never, babe.”

We both stare at the clump of cords in my hands silently for a moment.

“I missed you when you were in England,” Payton says. “I know we talked most days on messenger, but my life has changed so much, and I feel...I dunno...like the ground under my feet is shaky.”

I turn and tuck my leg under me.

“But you’re happy right? I mean, you can call this off if it’s all too soon.” I encourage her. “No one will care. Well Knox might. Don’t tell him it’s my idea if he gets mad.”

Payton goes from wide-eyed at my first comment to snorting.

“Mad? He would kidnap me and force me to marry him.”

I stare.

“That’s not healthy. You know that right?”

She lifts her shoulder, and I frown as she turns into a blushing Cinderella before my eyes. “He’s possessive. It’s hot.”

I get the feeling it runs in the family.

And the vision of Atlas throwing me over his shoulder and doing lots of bad things to me makes me a little aroused.

How dare he make that comment earlier about Greg?

Goddamn him.

“I want to marry Knox. It’s just happening so fast. One minute I’m trying not to fall in love with the grumpy man, next minute I’m living with him and wearing his ring.”

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