Page 92 of Mr. Edwards
“Not as beautiful as you.”
One day I’ll tell her the story behind the large, round diamond sitting in the center, but not today. It holds special meaning to my family,to me, because it’s something my dad bought for my mom. That’s why I wanted my mother to be present for the proposal. In a small way, it brought things full circle for her. It also felt like my dad was part of this too.
When my parents first got married, my dad was fresh out of college and hadn’t made his fortune yet. So, the small diamond ring he gave her, the one my mom still wears to this day, was all he could afford at the time. One of the first things he did when he made his millions was buy the large diamond that now adorns Carlee’s finger. He intended on using it for a new, improved engagement ring for my mom, one he said was more worthy of her. Butshe loved the one she already had and didn’t want a replacement.
Even when times were tough after my father passed, she couldn’t bring herself to part with the expensive diamond, no matter how badly she needed the money it would bring. When I told her, I was going to ask Carlee to be my wife, she gave it to me.
“Your dad would want you to have it,”she said, cupping my face.“If he was still here, he’d be honored to see his future daughter-in-law wearing it… he’d be so proud of you, my boy.”
I didn’t want to take it because I knew how much it meant to her, but after her words how could I not? When I picked up the ring from the jeweler, Mom was the first person I wanted to show, and she cried as soon as she saw it.
“Grayson,” Carlee whispers, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah, babe?”
“Take me upstairs, you’re so getting laid.”
Without hesitation, I lead her toward the ladder and lift her onto the first rung. I grab a handful of her ass cheek as she starts her climb. “I’m going to fuck you so hard we’re probably going to break this bed as well.”
She looks at me over her shoulder, grinning. “You’re rich, you can afford to replace it.”
I open my eyes, and the first thing I do is reach for my fiancée.My fiancée.My lips turn up at the thought. Lightfloods the room, so I know it’s still daytime, but I’m disappointed to find the space beside me empty and the sheets cold. I reach for my phone that’s sitting on the bedside table and see it’s almost four in the afternoon.
There are two unread messages from my mom on the screen and another from my sister, but I’ll get to them later. All I can think about right now is my girl.
We’ve been in bed all day. In between making love to my future wife, we talked about our life going forward and our upcoming wedding. Like me, Carlee wants a short engagement. We’re both eager to start the next chapter together.
Flopping back down onto the pillow, I grin up at the ceiling like a besotted fool. Don’t judge, I’m still riding my high. I can’t believe Carlee said yes; a part of me worried it was too soon for her, but she didn’t hesitate with her answer. Okay, maybe she hesitated for a beat, but in the end, I got the reaction I was hoping for.
Dropping my phone onto the mattress beside me, I flip back the sheets and rise from the bed. I grab a pair of sweats from my suitcase and slip into them. I’m being a needy bitch, I know, but I want her close. A part of me feels like it’s missing when she’s not around.
“Sunshine,” I call out as I climb down the ladder to the lower level. Jumping from the last two rungs, I turn as my eyes scan the room. “Carlee.”
I search the interior of the cabin, and when I don’t find her, my stomach dips. Heading for the glass sliding doors at the rear, I walk out onto the back deck. “Carlee,” I call out, but there’s still no sight of her. I’m starting to panic as I reenter the cabin and jog toward the front door. Where I again find no sign.
I place my hands on either side of my mouth, this time yelling her name as loud as I can.Where the fuck is she? My Range Rover is still here, so she couldn’t have gone far.
Turning around, I head back inside. My gut tells me something is off, but she wouldn’t leave without telling me, would she? The cell reception is spotty at best here in the cabin, maybe she went for a walk to make a call. Emma and Ashton knew I was planning on proposing, but they were both sworn to secrecy. I can imagine she’d want to tell her best friend the good news, even Reece. I know how close they are.
That’s where she is, I tell myself.
As I’m crossing the main room, heading back upstairs to grab my shoes so I can go and find her, a glint to the right catches my eye. I race in that direction. The light shining through the window illuminates the large diamond ring sitting on the kitchen counter.
My heart drops the moment I reach it. There’s a note sitting underneath, with two words scrolled across it.
Two fucking words.
I’m sorry.
This can’t be happening. It has to be some kind of cruel joke.
I dash toward the ladder, scaling it in record time. My eyes frantically scan the loft the moment I reach it. The backpack she brought with her is gone.Fuck.
I reach the bed in two long strides, scooping up my phone. My hands are trembling as I pull up her number and press call. It goes straight to voicemail and the bottom falls out of my world. I drop to my knees and cradle my face in my hands as the realization sinks in.
She’s gone.
She’s fucking gone.
