Page 154 of Chasing Sparks

Yeah, it sounded fantastic, too.

But it’s not the case. Ash and I aren’t getting married. Hell, we aren’t even together anymore.

And although I’m extremely turned on by his dominant alpha showing, he also just pushed away an investor who might have allowed me to unload the Dean Estate.

I bite back a smile and force myself to appear stern, shaking my head at his outburst. “What if I want to sell the house?”

“But you don’t.”

That’s not entirely true.

“Ash, I’m so out of my depth with that place. Eddie is busy on some secret project, I can’t find another contractor, and the repairs are endless. I never should have bought it.”

He takes a step closer, hesitating for a moment before framing my face in his hands, his touch warm and comforting. “We’ve got it, Ori. You and me.”

But there is no you and me.

I swipe at a stray tear. “I can’t ask that of you. It’s not fair.”

Ash nods, a strange smile crossing his face. “You’re right. It’s a lot to take on.”

“Exactly.”

“So, like I told you before. We’ll get married.”

Excuse me while the earth tilts on its axis.

“Wha-what?”

“You heard me. We get hitched. Then it’s something we handle together. Done and dusted.”

He shrugs and offers me that crooked grin I love so much, but all I can manage is a blank stare as his offer seeps into my brain.

“I have a client, but I’m right next door if you need me, okay?”

I nod, snapping back to reality just before he walks out the door. “Ash?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll stop by your party.”

His grin widens. “You better. Have to have my wife there.”

Then he’s gone, disappearing into Black Lotus.

“Holy shit, Ori. Did I hear him correctly?”

“What?” I jerk my head toward Mina, her face awash in shock. “Um, yeah. Ash doesn’t want me to sell the house.”

“Not that part. The part where he referred to you as his wife.”

“Oh, that.” I wave a hand dismissively and focus on straightening a stack of flyers on the counter, my tone intentionally casual. “He just wants to make me feel better.”

Mina grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly, and starts bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I want to make you feel better, too, but I’m not proposing marriage.”

“He didn’t propose, Mina.” I yank my hand free and busy myself with the flyers again, shuffling them unnecessarily.

“Or did he? Either way, now you know how he feels.”

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