Page 122 of Tempting Promises
“Wait, you’re actually with Charlotte?” Grady asks. My sister and future sisters-in-law are doing some girl date thing where they’re spending money on candles or some shit. The guys are all sitting around the fire.
“Yes.”
Asher snorts. “Didn’t see this coming. You’re like a walking cliché.”
“Says the man who is marrying his daughter’s nanny in a few months. Yeah, I’m the cliché.”
“Got you there,” Grady says with a smirk.
“I’m just saying she’s the girl next door, literally, and the one you’d never date. Although, to be fair, I didn’t think you’d ever date in general,” Asher explains.
I shrug because it doesn’t matter what she is out of all the labels, she’s the woman I want. The one I’m falling in love with and the one I might lose.
“She’s all that and more.”
Grady looks at Asher, eyes wide, and then stares at me. “You love her?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been in love, so I have no cluewhat it feels like.”
“Do you think about her all the time?” Asher asks.
“Yes.”
“Do you feel like if you could just see her, it would make everything better?” Grady questions.
“I do.”
Asher speaks this time. “Does it feel like nothing makes sense anymore?”
I nod. “She’s got me completely twisted.”
“But, at the same time, the world makes perfect sense because of her,” Grady says with a laugh.
Asher smirks. “Would you lay down your life for her?”
“In a fucking heartbeat.”
“Then, brother”—Grady lifts his beer in salute—“welcome to the club, it’s miserable here, but none of us have any desire to leave.”
“So what you’re saying is that this sucks and I’m going to be miserable?”
Asher shrugs. “Pretty much. You’re going to live in a perpetual state of anxiety. First, she’s going to do the opposite of what you think she’ll do, trust me. Second, you feel like half your heart is missing from your chest and you can do nothing to protect it. If she hurts, you’re going to want to kill the person who did it to her. If she’s in a bad mood, you’re going to want to kill the person who put her in that mood because you’re now reaping the benefits of said mood. You’ll worry when she isn’t around, and you’ll sometimes wish she wasn’t around because she’s a bit unglued. It’s wonderful.”
Sounds it. I drain my beer and grab a new one out of the pack. “I don’t know how long this will last anyway,” I say, feeling frustrated by the current situation.
“Why is that?” Grady asks. “You started officially dating yesterday? Even Asher didn’t fuck up a relationship that quickly.”
Asher flips him off.
I go over the series of events from yesterday. Both of my brothers listen, nodding when I explain my decision not to tell herabout the email and enjoy her day. I wish I’d known it was Carson calling, I would’ve held the fucking phone.
After I’m done, both Grady and Asher are leaning forward, elbows resting on their knees. “Well,” Asher starts. “I’m not sure what to say. On one hand this contract is great for you, but it’s clearly going to destroy your relationship.”
“I know.”
Grady clears his throat. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m going to tell Carson I can’t do it. I’m not even certified organic yet and that was part of the deal,” I explain. “She deserved it.”
