Page 55 of From Best Friend to Bride
“What if I don’t want to share you with anyone?” His lips pulled upwards at the corners, and his gaze seemed to darken the slightest amount. “What if I do want to monopolise you and keep you all to myself? Then what?”
12
DELILAH
Ipressed my lips together in a thin line.
How the hell was I supposed to respond to that?
I knew he was just playing along for the sake of the others, but that didn’t mean I was entirely immune to those words. The knowledge that it was all an act didn’t stop that little fizz ofsomethingin my stomach, nor did it negate the stir in my heart.
Of course, if anyone ever actually tried to do that to me, I’d smack them clean in the face and break their nose.
But I was only human.
And the thought that I could be so important, so treasured, so special to someone that they wanted to keep me only for themselves?
Phew.
That was a turn-on.
And how the hell was I supposed to cope when that little turn-on was delivered by Fred, of all people?
“Dinner is ready!” Aunt Vi announced from the doorway. “Come through, come through!”
That was another sign something was up.
None of the household staff were around.
This was a good ol’ fashioned family dinner.
Henry helped Nana to her feet and let her link her arm through his, while Mel followed up the rear. Fred stood up before me and offered me his hands, and I stared at them for a second.
“You don’t have to pretend now they’ve gone.” I scooted to the edge of the sofa cushions.
“This is practice,” he said dryly. “So you don’t look like you’re being fed to wolves every time I touch you.”
“Hardy-har-har,” I retorted, slapping my hands into his and letting him pull me to my feet. “Is this not weird to you?”
“A little.” He released my hands and scratched the back of his neck. “I’m glad you’re not big on displays of affection, or this would be really awkward.”
I snorted. “No kidding. Could you imagine if we had to act like your sister and Henry do?”
He visibly shuddered. “That’s too much, even for me, and it doesn’t usually bother me.”
“Well, it bothers me and will do so for the entirety of our marriage,” I said firmly. “So, let’s keep the affection to a minimum, yeah?”
“As you wish, my lady.”
“And don’t ever call me that again.”
“You’ll have to get used to it.” He glanced over at me. “That’s how the staff will refer to you when we’re married. You’ll formally be Lady Coventry, after all.”
“Yeah, I keep forgetting that part.” I tilted my head to one side. “That’ll be weird. I’ve known half the staff here since I was born.”
“They’ll just call you ‘my lady.’ Half of them already consider you my wife.”
Yes.
