Page 77 of Pinky Promises

I picked this date because it was perfect for Brynn. It was what she wanted, and now some other woman will win it.

“Callum Murphy is a twenty-seven-year-old sales engineer specializing in website design. He is originally from Havenwood, Connecticut, but has called our wonderful city of Willow Creek, New York, home since graduating from Willow Creek University, where he was voted Best Ass to Watch Walk Away. In his spare time, he enjoys partaking in Netflix and Chill and doing Pilates.” A huge smile appears on the MC’s face. “Well, I guess that’s how he earned Best Ass.”

Fuck me. That’s what I get for telling Lexi the date idea but that she could come up with the rest of the biography.

“Purchase this bachelor and spend the afternoon getting lost in a bookstore. Browse the aisles, load your cart, and he will purchase all the books you say you’ll read but never do.”

The MC whistles. “Look out, ladies, this is what dreams are made of. Good thing my wife’s not here, or she would be your highest bidder. I’m pretty sure she will die before she finishes her to-be-read pile.” The crowd laughs.

“The starting bid is $200.”

Bids are shouted in $25 increments. My date choice seems to be quite popular. An older woman, sitting in the front right corner, seems set on winning me because she quickly counters every bid.

“$2075, going once, going twice,” the MC calls out.

“Eighteen thousand dollars,” a voice shouts from the back.Is my mind playing tricks on me?Is that Brynn, or do I just want it to be her so badly that it transforms that voice to sound like hers by the time it reaches my ears?I squint to see where the voice came from to confirm, but the stage lights are too blinding.

“Wow, okay, we have eighteen thousand dollars. That’s quite the increase. Do I have $18,025?”

My fan club president shakes her head and walks away while the rest of the crowd remains silent. Well, not silent—folks fail at their attempt at hushed whispers at the shock at the bid just placed. I look to the side of the stage to find a few of the bachelors’ mouths gaped open.

“Eighteen thousand going once, going twice, sold—” The MC smacks a gavel against the stand. “—for eighteen thousand dollars to the female in the back. Ma’am, can you please come forward to claim your prize for your happily ever after.” I smirk at his book pun.

The crowd begins to split, and my heart skips a beat. Like literally skips a beat. I clutch my chest when Brynn comes into view. My head hadn’t been messing with me.

The most beautiful woman I have ever seen is making her way toward me.She’s here. I can’t believe it.

Brynn walks toward me, holding the bottom of her coral floor-length dress that drags behind her. I’ve never seen this dress before, so it must be new, and I approve. The light catches on the diamond choker that holds the dress around her neck in a halter style. But the peephole of the material between her breasts has me torn between ripping the material off her and quickly covering her with my suit coat. Her brown hair cascades down her back in loose curls, framing her beautiful face.

The MC clears his throat behind me, and when I reluctantly take my eyes off Brynn for a second, he tilts his head, indicating for me to get off the stage to meet her.Oh right.I quickly turn back to face her and sigh in relief that she is still walking toward me. It wasn’t a figment of my imagination.

She’s here and just bought me for a shit ton of money. Either my display of love at the apartment worked or, shit, another idea plays in my mind.What if it all backfired and she just paid eighteen thousand dollars to just up and yell at me and leave me?

Panic sets in as I take the stairs two at a time and walk down the aisle to meet Brynn halfway.

“I’m sorry I’m late.” Brynn gives a shy smile and tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“And here I thought I was the one who always made dramatic entrances,” I smirk. I begin to close the distance to kiss her, but she holds up her hand against my chest, stopping me before our lips can meet.

“Look, just let me get this out, okay?” I nod.

“You and I haven’t been just friends in I don’t know how long, definitely way before we took our relationship to the next level. Hell, maybe we’ve never been just friends. We’ve always been destined for more. Either way, I crave your touch, your company.”

My hands land on her waist, and she doesn’t push me away—another good sign.

“Everything I’ve always wanted has always been right in front of me. I’ve just been scared to take that risk in case it all fell apart. But I’ve decided I want it all with you. I don’t want to be afraid of the what-ifs because I’ll have you by my side every step of the way. I’m sorry for wasting so much time letting my head get in the way of my heart. I can’t promise that we won’t have bad times because you know I’m stubborn and a pain in your ass.”

I laugh in between my tears. “But you’re my favorite pain in the ass.”

“And you’re mine.” I hope she means that in all ways possible.

I’ve gone long enough—I need to kiss her, so I do. I seal my lips to hers, cutting off her next words. Her gasp gives me access to slide my tongue in with hers without hesitation. I’ve missed this. It may have only been days since I’ve felt her lips on mine, but that was too long. My hand on her lower back holds her to me as we both fight for dominance in this kiss.

“I love you,” I cut her off. Allowing those three words to finally leave my lips the way I mean them feels like heaven. Her eyes light up.

“I love you, too. I should have said it already.”

“You really mean all this and didn’t just buy me just so I would take you to the bookstore and buy you whatever books you wanted, right?”

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