Page 171 of The Re-Proposal

“Someone is,” Vargas says.

My shoulders snap to attention and confusion descends.

“Tell me you’re joking,” I snarl, meeting Clarissa’s concerned look as she sits up.

“It’s Joel.” Vargas pauses. “He’s in the hospital and… Cody, it doesn’t look good.”

19

THE PAST

CODY

“You scheduleda business meeting on our wedding day?Our wedding day,Cody?” Ris yanks her suitcase off the bed and slams it on the ground. “Why would you do that?”

“Whitley and Carson’s is the most influential angel investment group in this year’s round. They’re the ones who chose the date. There was no way I could say no.”

“You can’t keep doing this to me.” Anger glitters in her brown eyes. “I’ve been patient, Cody, but this isn’t a photoshoot or a tux fitting this time. This is our wedding.”

“Ris, I’m not ditching our wedding.”

“Your meeting’s an hour before our appointment at the Vegas chapel.”

“We can push the wedding down an hour, but we can’t get another shot with Whitley and Carson’s again if I don’t show up.”

“Wow.”

“Princess, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I say no,everythingI’ve worked for would be for nothing.”

She frowns.

“This isn’t just my future, Ris. It’s yours too. I’m doing this for us.”

“Whatever. I don’t want to talk about it.” She gives me her back and kicks the suitcase for good measure.

I’m in trouble.

I slide my arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. “Don’t be mad, princess.”

She wiggles. “Get off.”

“I love you.”

“The feeling is not mutual,” she sasses.

I nibble her ear. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”

“Don’t try to charm your way out of this.”

I hear the smile in her voice and squeeze her tighter. “It’s my dream, Ris. It’s our dream.”

“Ourdream is not for you to go to an investor’s meeting on the day we say ‘I do’. My mom already thinks this is a bad idea. It’ll be hard enough getting married without her there. It’ll be impossible if you’re not there either.”

“I know. I know.” I rub my hands down her arms. “I promise my meeting is not going to get in the way of our wedding.”

“How can you promise that? You’ll have to catch a second flight to Vegas. So many things can go wrong between then. So many things already have. Besides, your phone screen is totally cracked.” She points. “That’s a bad omen.”

“My phone works perfectly fine. Don’t worry, Ris. I’ll make it. I swear.” I kiss her neck. “I want to be your husband so badly I can taste it. Nothing is going to keep me from walking down the aisle with you.”

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