Page 42 of Buckled in Barbwire

Her giggle is too innocent. “What? I’m ready to be a grandma. Sue me. Besides, it’s a reasonable assumption based on how fast Brody wants to have the ceremony.”

It feels like the control on my destiny is slipping from my grasp. I clap a palm to my clammy forehead. “There’s no baby. He’s in a hurry to get down the aisle because—”

“Twinkles?”

My shoulders take a hike to snuggle my ears. There goes the privacy protection this wall is supposed to offer. I expel a silent curse before stepping out from my hiding spot. “Yes, boss?”

His chuckle is warm, sliding over me like meltedchocolate. “You can drop the formality. We’re far past that point, right?”

“Mhmm, sure.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.” His smile is soft and kind.

The unfamiliar expression boosts his devastating appeal and gives me pause. He wasn’t lying about his charm being potent. My pulse gallops as I absorb the catastrophic impact. It’s no wonder he has my parents fooled. But I know what’s hidden underneath.

That reminder chases off the fog and I remain firmly planted at a safe distance. “I hear you’ve been busy plotting my demise again.”

Brody rises from his seat, rushing toward me like a lovesick fool. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

“Don’t you dare,” I grate out.

But he lowers to one knee regardless of my warning. The motion is smooth and practiced as if he’s been preparing for this romantic gesture. A muffled cry escapes from Mom, who’s watching this train wreck from the sidelines. She’s shedding tears like a winter coat in spring. A sideways glance at Dad reveals that he’s in a similar state of distress. That’s what I’m choosing to refer to the blubbering emotion pinching his face. Meanwhile, I’m two seconds away from fleeing the scene.

“If you don’t tell them the truth, I will.”

“Go ahead,” he taunts.

Another peek at my parents squeezes my heart in a vise. A painful ache spreads through me as I bring my glare back to Brody. “I despise you.”

His lips quirk. “I wouldn’t have our blissful union begin any other way.”

Clarity washes over frazzled nerves, filling me with a sense of calm. I can play the part. At least until a feasible exit strategy presents itself. Revenge is patient and often underestimated until it’s too late.

A wide smile stretches my lips as I slip into the role he’s so desperate for me to fill.

I fan my eyes and release a dreamy sigh. “This is very sudden, darling. It’s almost surreal, like we’re in a fairytale. I can’t believe how much you love me, but you never skip an opportunity to lay it on extra thick. Isn’t that right?”

His right eyelid twitches. “You’re impossible to resist.”

“Well then? Go ahead.”

“Paisley Jane,” he croons. “I’ve been infatuated with you from the moment we first met.”

It takes strength I don’t possess to hold back a snort. When Brody pauses to let me recover, I roll my wrist. “Please continue.”

“As I was saying, your beauty is captivating. You have an undeniable sparkle—both inside and out—that illuminates any space you choose to enter. I’ve become addicted to that glow, wanting it solely for myself. Call me selfish and I’ll admit it. You’ve got me hooked on you, Twinkles. But more than that, you inspire me to be a better person. One who deserves you. I had no idea what I’d been missing until you showed me. With you by my side, I’ll be complete. That’s what our love does to me. If you’ll let me, I’ll prove myself worthy of your love. I can’t wait to spend my life making you happy.”

I try to remain unaffected, but I’m not a slab of concrete.The flutters in my belly expand and spread until I feel like I’m floating. This man knows how to win. That’s precisely why I’m caught in this predicament. But I can’t show weakness.

“What a fitting speech to describe our future together.” My breathy tone is too revealing.

Brody winks and whips out a blue box from his pocket. He cracks open the lid, nearly blinding me in the process. “Will you marry me?”

“Is that meant to resemble”—I squint at the glittery band tucked in velvet—“barbwire?”

“All the better to buckle you with,” he murmurs.

“You turned my contempt into an engagement ring. How appropriate,” I deadpan.

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