Page 121 of Blindly Yours

“Maybe you should take this opportunity, Rose.” My mother ignores him as she sits back and regards me hopefully. “Just end things now, before they get messier.”

“Please, stop, Mom.” I grit my teeth.

“I’ll have Mrs. Coates tell Archer to give you a call tomorrow—”

“STOP,” I say loudly enough to draw a few glances from nearby tables. I set my wine glass down hard and lay a firm gaze on her. “Just stop. Please. I can’t take it anymore.” A knot forms in my throat as I catch Henry’s shocked expression in my peripheral. I’ve never stood up to her like this. “I’m notyou,Mom. I’m not choosing my future husband based on how many sports cars he owns.”

She leans back and blinks at me like I’ve just stabbed her in the chest with one of the steak knives from our table.

Tears prick my eyes as I glare at her. “You’ve never once asked me whatIwant. WhatI’mlooking for. Not once.” I gulp back the sting in my throat. “All you care about is making sure yourpreciousdaughter marries a man with the right last name. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’m so done with it.” My chest heaves up and down as I try not to lose my confidence when her eyes widen. “I’m done trying to live up to your outrageous expectations. You’d rather coerce me to marry the man who cheated on me because he’s got a nice car—which he almostcrashedwith me in it, by the way—than let me be happy with the man I actuallylove.”

It slips out before I can stop it, and I clasp my hand over my mouth as a sob threatens to emerge. I momentarily catch both hers and Henry’s jaws hanging open before I turn from them and push my way back through the crowd, absolutely crushed that I’m admitting this while Nate sits at home stewing in his anger and betrayal.

But it’s true.

I love him.

Fully and truly and deeply. I love the man who’s made life feel more real and raw and beautiful than it’s ever been. Nate is the key to freedom after a life living in a diamond-studded cage, and I can’t imagine locking myself inside again.

I eye the exit and shield my teary eyes from prying guests as I rush through the room. Then I push open the door and step out into the chill of evening air. But just as I do, I collide with the chest of someone who was coming inside.

And it’s warmth, and cedar, andcinnamon.

I’d know that scent anywhere.

I peer up at Nate as he takes my shoulders in his hands and steps back, concern spreading across his face.

“What’s wrong?” he asks urgently, pulling his brows together and running his hands down my bare arms. “What happened?”

“You’rehere,” I gasp.

He’s wearing a perfectly tailored black tux with a matching vest and a grey tie andoh my,I’ve never seen him so dressed up like this. I wipe my cheeks and step back to get a better look. His beard is trimmed closer than he usually has it, I’m pretty sure he has actual product in his hair, and he’s exchanged his brown work boots for a pair of black patent leather oxfords. I lift my eyes back to his and gape at him. “Why…why are you here?”

“Because I was stupid to leave things the way I did, and I had to see you. I’m sorry.” His blue eyes express his apology more than any words could. He tilts his head. “Why are you crying?”

I shake my head. “I just…ugh, I went off on my mom. I’m so…” A sob catches in my throat again. “I’m just so tired of it…”

Nate wraps his arm around me and pulls me toward a bench on the sidewalk in front of the resort. Then he shrugs off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. “Sit. Tell me what happened.”

TWENTY-EIGHT

Nate

Rose sinks down next to me and hangs her head in her hands. “My mom just won’t stop. It seems like every week she’s trying to set me up with another one of her friend’s sons, let alone trying to get me back together with Malcolm—” she raises a set of shattered eyes to mine, “—There’s nothing going on with him. I promise. I’m so…” She sniffs. “I’m so sorry…”

“I know,” I whisper, running my hand up her back. And I do. I was an idiot to leave her hanging yesterday, but these last twenty-four hours gave me the clarity I needed.

“I was so stupid to get in the car with him,” she continues. “You have every right to be angry with me.”

I sigh and return my hands to my lap. “I know you’re not going back to him. I never really worried you’d be unfaithful, but I thought we agreed you’d call me before you found yourself in a situation like that with him again. He’s manipulative…” I pause and grimace at what I have to say next, “and so is your mother. And it'ssohard for me to sit back and watch you struggle against the both of them.”

She sniffs and wipes her eyes as she sits up straight. “I’m done with all that. Right here, right now.” She points at the ground. “I’ve tried so hard to live in the world she’s created for me. But Ihateit.” She clenches her fists. “I hate the constant conversations about status, and bank accounts, and doctorate degrees. I’ve never cared about any of that. I don’t want to be with someone just because they haveconnections. I know she thinks hers is the only way, but it’s notmine.” She looks toward a window that’s glowing with the warmth from the party inside. “I said some really tough things to her. She’s probably furious with me…”

I’m proud of her. Even if it creates a strained relationship with her mother, she deserves to choose her own path. “If what you told her was the truth, then it needed to be said.”

She peers at me with cautious eyes and begins to chew on her lip, but she doesn’t say anything.

“When we first met, I thought you were like them.” I nod toward the window and the people inside. “And after Blindly, when we started to give things a try, I was so afraid I’d be pulling you away from the world you love. The last thing I want is for you to feel stuck in a life you hate. But now I see you were dying for a way out, even if you didn’t realize it then.” I take her hand in mine. “Maybe my world is too far a leap, but,” I pause, “I want you in it.”

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