Page 4 of Sunrise Malice

And there’s the way he’s staring, like he’s out of patience and he’s going to take what he wants now.

“Don’t pretend like you give a shit about me,” he says, low and rumbling. Kim’s standing to the side, her mouth hanging open. “I have my reasons for wanting a marriage and I’m sure you do too. Let’s not pretend like they have anything to do with each other.”

Well, crap. I didn’t know someone sayingyou’re unimportant to mecould be so freaking sexy.

And also infuriating.

I brush his hand away and set my jaw. “You’re right about that. I don’t care about you at all.”

“Perfect. Then we can agree on something. That’s the basis for a good marriage, no?” He holds out his hand again. “Give me your phone.”

Kim chooses that moment to find her voice again. “Don’t you dare, Brianne. This outrageous piece of shit doesn’t deserve your number, let alone your hand in marriage. Why don’t you scamper back to your stinky cheese and shitty French threesomes, you pathetic surrender monkey?” She pushes his shoulder, but he doesn’t even budge, and he still hasn’t looked at her.

His eyes are entirely mine.

“Kim,” I say, cutting off another tirade. “Will you give us a second?”

She lets out a shocked grunt and throws up her hands. “Unbelievable. You should be kicking him in the nuts right now.”

“Kim.”

“Fine. I bet you’re going to tell him about your littlelistnext.” Kim storms off, looking frustrated, and I glare after her. Heat fills my cheeks. That comment about the list was childish and stupid, and when I look back, Julien’s face has softened.

“What list,mon minou?”

“It’s nothing, and don’t call me that. Whatever it means.” I’m completely knocked off balance now and annoyed with my friend. And I’m picturing Julien ticking off all my boxes, whichis… not unpleasant. “Listen, you really screwed this up. I don’t know what your deal is, but that was just about the shittiest way to introduce yourself to your future wife imaginable.”

“I can see why you might think so, but from my perspective, we are doing this for our own reasons.”

“Still, we can at least be civil.”

“Yes, I agree with that. Give me your phone and we’ll be civil.”

I want this to be over with. More people are staring now and I’m totally embarrassed by Kim’s behavior and by Julien’s overly intense attention. I want to melt back into the background and let this be done with, and if giving this guy my phone and letting him type in his phone number is what it’ll take to get out of this interaction, then I’ll do it.

“Just be fast.” I unlock my phone and shove it at him. He takes it, a slight smile coming across his face as he swipes a few times. I glance back at where Kim’s waiting near the bar and cross my arms over my chest.

This is a total disaster. My meeting with Julien wasn’t supposed to go like this. I didn’t expect to have some instant true love connection with the guy, but I also didn’t imagine he’d express nothing but disdain at first. He’s being okay now, if at least a little dickish and pushy, but it’s that first impression still lingering in my head.

I’m not the greatest beauty in the world. I think I’m okay-looking, sometimes even decent, but I’ve never had a man look at me with utter disappointment before. I know Kim’s prettier and more outgoing than I am, but I like to think I can hold my own.

Now I know that’s all stupid vanity.

Julien wanted her, and now he’s settling for me because Ronan told him to.

Which shouldn’t matter. He’s right—I’m not marrying him because I give a crap about who he is or what he looks like. I’m open to it for my own damn reasons.

But that still felt like total crap, and I just want to be done.

“Alright, mon minou, I’m in your phone as Julien Moreau. I’ll be in touch.” He hands me back my device.

I lock the screen. “Okay, great.”

“And as for our marriage?—”

“I’ll think about it. I mean, nothing’s decided. We have some time.”

He nods slowly. “That’s true. Nothing’s decided yet.” Then his lips pull into a handsome, arrogant smile. “But perhaps I can change your mind.”

---