Page 120 of River
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to.”
River was quiet again, her butt scooting down to her heels as she turned her head and looked away.
“Can’t it be a good thing that I’m rich?”
“I’m not upset that you have money.”
“It’s the part about me not telling you?” I concluded.
“Yes.”
“But can you understand that I didn’t want you to like me for my money?”
River gave me a hard stare. “You’ve known for months that I loved you despite the fact that I thought you had very little money. Don’t tell me that in all that time, you couldn’t find a time to tell me.”
“You’re right. It was shitty of me, but I was afraid of your reaction, and that’s why I pushed it away.”
Using both hands, River hooked her blond hair behind her ears. “I feel lied to.”
“I don’t blame you. But is it lying? I mean, I told you my father left an inheritance without telling you the exact amount. Is it different from me knowing you have money, but not how much? I never asked to see your bank statement, and you never asked to see mine. You just assumed my inheritance was small.”
“Because you talked about growing up in a small apartment, and it never occurred to me that…” River sighed and didn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she groaned. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s a good thing that you didn’t tell me.”
“Yeah?”
She gave a small nod. “Now, we both know that I don’t love you for your money.”
“And vice versa.”
“I never thought you loved me for my money,” River said, and this time she placed her hand close to mine.
Taking it as a sign of peace, I moved up to sit next to her with my back against the headboard. “Now you know my darkest secret.”
River huffed out air. “Not the worst secret to have.”
“Do you still want to marry me?”
She frowned and looked up at me. “Of course. I didn’t leave you and Charles because I wanted to break up with you, I just needed a minute to think.”
Pulling her under my arm, I pressed her against my body. “Do you think Charles is still going to insist on a prenup now?”
“Funnily enough, I think he’ll be fine with us marrying without it.” River turned her face leaving us nose to nose. “Although I’m happy to sign an agreement if you want me to.”
“Save your signature for the marriage license.”
“Noah, some people would call you a fool if you don’t make me sign a prenup.”
I lowered my brow. “Do I look worried?”
“No.”
“Then let’s not talk about it anymore. There are other things I’d rather be doing with you, my butterfly.”
“And what’s that?” River’s voice turned low and amorous.
“I’d like to make love to you.”
