Page 115 of The Proposal
“That’s not the point.”
“I’m adding this to our talking points for later.”
I roll my eyes. “You can shove your talking points up your ass.”
He chuckles.
“I’m not being funny. I’m scared shitless over here, and …”
I hiccup a breath, refusing to look at him.Fuck. I just made it perfectly clear that I’m afraid of what he will say.
Way to be transparent, Blakely. Not your best move.
He withdraws his hand from the doorknob and turns to me. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
A burst of laughter comes from the other side of the door. My stomach drops, and my palms sweat.
He squares his shoulders to mine. “I had things to take care of—things that I didn’t want to talk about until I found my way through them. Things I didn’t want you to worry about.”
I search his eyes. “That doesn’t help.”
“Blakely, you have to understand—”
“There you are!” The door flies open, and a tall, dark-headed woman stands like a model on the threshold. “We’re waiting on you. Get in here.”
Renn kisses the woman on the cheek and leads me in behind him. My cheeks flush as I take in the ornate furnishings in what’s more of a museum than a home. There’s a bust of someone important, I assume. Large paintings hang proudly on the walls and chandeliers the size of compact cars hang from the ceiling.
I’m out of my league.
“Easy, Mom,” Renn says, stepping to the side. “Blakely, this is my mother, Rory Brewer. Mom, this is my wife, Blakely. Don’t smother her.”
“Darling, hello.” Rory pulls me in for a hug. The medallion attached to her necklace presses sharply into my chest. I try not to wince. “It is so nice to finally meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Brewer.”
“No. I’m Rory or you can call me Mom.” She smiles brightly. It’s the same smile Renn uses when he’s happy. “You can set your purse right there unless you want to keep it with you. Let’s introduce you to the rest of our brood.”
I hang my purse on the hook Rory indicated and clutch Renn’s hand like a lifeline. We make our way into a massive kitchen. It’s all gray and white marble—the floors, backsplash, and the countertops. Copper pots and pans, which I doubt have ever been used, hang over the middle of the island.
But around the island—that’s the most fascinating part of the scene. By far.
They’re attractive. Stunning. Jaw-droppingly beautiful.
All of them.
“Blakely, this is my family,” Renn says. “That’s my sister, Bianca. She’s a child genius.”
Bianca grins, her perfectly red lips showing off perfectly white teeth. “I’m only a genius compared to these baboons.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say.
“That’s Gannon. He’s a dick.”
“Renn!” Rory gasps. “Where are your manners?”
He shrugs, smirking at his mother.
