Page 17 of Ensnared
I frowned. “How would that be? I’m across the lawn.”
Colson ran a cold finger over my lips. “Sweet Josephine, once your parents no longer work for me, they will be required to move. I can’t have you living in town.”
My mouth dropped open. “Town? But that little house is our home.”
“Then you should’ve negotiated it. This is a lesson for you. With your father’s business and your brother’s promotion along withyour mother’s new job, there should be plenty of money to rent a new place.”
Fuck. I hadn’t thought of our home, the one I spent my entire life in but would now have to move. There would be no more sitting under my favorite tree and reading one of my dog-eared copies of well-read books.
“But I thought…”
“Never assume, Josephine. Now go home and pack. I’ll have your room prepared and ready tomorrow.”
I ran my tongue over my bottom lip and Colson fixed his gaze there, watching me.
“And my family?”
“I’ll need to have a discussion with your father as to what equipment he will require and the purchase of said equipment will be handled immediately. My attorney will take care of the paperwork. I’ll place a call to Jean Paul Allard after you leave. I’ll miss your mother’s cooking, the best in Windmere Haven.”
I sighed. “And Logan?”
“He’ll have his raise and promotion come Monday. I keep my word, now I need you to keep yours.”
Colson rose from the chair next to me and held out his hand. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me once again. As his tongue stroked mine, he ran his fingers over my spine and goosebumps peppered my skin. He moved to my neck and finally up to my ear, sucking on the lobe.
“Are you a virgin,” he whispered.
I whimpered. There was no use for me to lie because he would find out I was on our wedding night. He slipped his hand into my hair.
“Tell me, Josephine. Has another man been inside you or were you saving yourself for marriage.”
“I…no,” I whispered.
“You’re a virgin then?”
I nodded as embarrassment flushed my cheeks.
“It’s perfectly okay. I like that no one has touched you before me.”
“I should go,” I choked out.
Colson let me go and I hurried out of his office, twirling the ring on my finger. Orville was waiting to walk me back home, but I held my hand up wanting to be with my thoughts. He tipped his head, and I practically ran out the front door.
Chapter 7
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I vacuumed my room, the hum of the machine barely muffling the sound of my quiet sobs. This would be the last time I would ever clean this space, the last time I would reside in this humble home. In a week or two, this house would be vacant, my family and I moving on to new lives, new futures.
My parents and Logan were grateful for the sacrifice I was making, but I couldn't help the creeping doubts that lingered in the back of my mind. Colson Ashworth was not going to be an easy man to live with. Mercurial, stubborn, and oftentimes cruel - could I truly handle being his wife?
I suppose part of the reason I accepted his proposal was a desperate desire to stop being anonymous, to no longer be seen as the poor girl among the wealthy elite. As Colson's wife, my status would be catapulted to the top of the social hierarchy. But at what cost?
The vacuum suddenly fell silent, and I turned to find Logan standing behind me, his arms enveloping me in a comfortingembrace. The gesture only made my tears flow harder, and I turned in his hold, burying my face against his chest.
"You can still change your mind," Logan murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “We want you to change your mind. We’ll figure it out.”
I shook my head, sniffling. "It's done. I'm not crying because I have to marry Colson. I'm crying because I'll miss everyone. This place, our life."
Logan's grip tightened. "I'll never forget your sacrifice, Joey, but it wasn't necessary. We could have found another way."
