Page 36 of The Devil's Deceit
“All I’m asking is for you to think about it. This could be good for youandme. A true partnership. Besides, you’re never going to marry for love, so if you have to enter an arrangement, why can’t it be with me? We like each other, we get along.”
“We hardly know each other.”
“Won’t that be the same with any arranged bride?”
More logic. I pluck at my bottom lip, chaotic thoughts making me dizzy.
“I wouldn’t stop you from living your life. If you want tosee other women, I won’t stand in your way. Better than that, I’ll cover for you.”
“De Vils don’t cheat.”
“But it isn’t cheating, is it? Cheating is when you sneak around and lie and betray trust. I say as long as we are both honest with one another and are happy with the situation, where’s the harm? Lots of people have open marriages, and they work just fine.”
Every argument she’s putting forward makes total sense. Whoever I end up marrying is a convenience in one way or another. Why not marry someone I’m currently attracted to, who has a keen intellect, is funny, kind, and thoughtful of others? I could do worse.
The idea of having my freedom curtailed through an arranged marriage doesn’t appeal, and here Grace is, offering a way for me to continue living my life while appeasing my duties as a De Vil. It’s a fucking win-win for me, and like she said, she gets the security that, until now, I hadn’t realized was so important to her. Or, more to the point, it hadn’t crossed my mind until she pointed it out.
The problem is how to persuade my father.
“I am taking this offer seriously. believe me. There are a few things I want to think over, but first, I wanted to say this.” I reach across the table for her hand. “Thank you. I know this arrangement would have benefits for you as well as me, but let’s be honest, I’m the real winner here.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she murmurs, eyes twinkling.
I grin. “Drink up, and I’ll see you home.”
“No need. I have a few things I have to do in town.”
We leave the café, but as we’re standing by my car, it’s clear neither of us is ready to say goodbye. Graceshuffles her feet and stares at the ground. I clip her under the chin until our eyes lock. Damn, she gets more beautiful each time I see her.
“You’re an incredible woman, Lady Grace Ambrose. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
“Well, if you play your cards right,you’llbethat man.”
When she puts it like that, it sounds pretty fucking good. I curve my hand around the back of her neck and lower my head. Each time I kiss her feels like it’s the first, and I never want them to end. That’s got to count for something, right? Being married to Grace and able to kiss her whenever I like until the novelty wears off sounds damn good to me.
We break apart, and I promise to call her once I’ve thought things through. She waves as my car drives away, and a piece of me feels this tug in my chest. All I need to do now is work out any kinks in her plan, and I know just the guy to help me do it.
“Well, bro.” Tobias blows out a stream of cigar smoke, then taps the ash into a cut-glass ashtray precariously resting on the arm of the chair. “I knew you were keen on this girl, but this is out of the blue.”
“So, will you help me convince Dad she’s the right choice?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Dad… he has these instincts. Look what happened when he gave Nicholas the choice. Doubt he’s going to go down that route again in a hurry.”
“But she will be his choice. Don’t you see? All we need to do is give him a chance to meet her and let her win himaround. She’s classy and fits in well with the elite. Our job is to allow Dad to come to that conclusion on his own.”
He scrubs a hand over his chin. “What do you know about this chick, really?”
“Chick?” My right hand curls into a fist.
Tobias smirks. “Wait… are you… are you in love with her?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not above punching you in the face.”
He laughs. “Okay, okay. But my question stands. What do you know about this woman, other than the fact she’s got the face of a model and the body of a goddess?”
“I know enough. I researched her, and if it makes you happy, I’ll pass it over to the team and havethemresearch her.”
“I wouldn’t bother. If she’s a contender, Dad will do that anyway.”
