Page 693 of Hell Hath No Fury
Shaking my head out of my morbid thoughts, I tried to zone back into the room.
Colt was thanking his beautiful fiancée. A sweet kiss on her lips.
We were to raise our champagne glasses—shit, mine was empty.Hope no one notices. I pasted on a strained smile.
After my soon-to-be brother-in-law settled back into his seat, the murmur of conversation started again, and Jade covered my hand nearest her. “Are you okay?”
I wanted to say I needed more champagne, but the last thing I should do was get drunk at my sister’s rehearsal dinner in front of my ex.
Was he even my ex?
Did five weeks of mind-blowing sex really count as a relationship?
My heart throbbed in answer.
Opening my mouth to assure her, I was abruptly cut off by the chime of cutlery tapping against glass. Jade turned her head to the left and I followed suit, shrinking back in my seat as I realized Foster was standing to address the room.
Oh, gosh, were we supposed to prepare best man and maid of honor speeches for the rehearsal dinner too? I thought, panicked.
“Uh, I’m not scheduled to talk tonight.”
Oh, thank God.
“But Colt gave me permission to hijack the rehearsal dinner.”
What?
A murmur of confusion shifted through the room.
“What is he talking about?” I whispered.
Jade shook her head, looking as confused as I felt.
And then Foster turned and looked directly at me.
His expression open, pleading, tender.
Holy. Crap.
“Months ago, at Colt and Jade’s engagement party, I met a woman who knocked me on my ass. And I was so unpreparedfor it, so not in the place where I could handle it, that I was unforgivably rude to her.”
Tears of shock glistened in my eyes, and I could hear my sister’s indrawn breath.
“I never believed in fate.” He shrugged, looking boyish and uncertain. “Not until you, Ember. Not until I bought the house next door to yours without knowing it. It’s like the universe wanted us to be together.”
“Foster,” I whispered.
“And somehow, because you’re a goddamn miracle and you’re so kind”—his emotion made his eyes wet—“you not only forgave me for being an asshole …” The room tittered, but I was barely paying attention to anything but him. “You took care of my daughter, and you helped us through a really horrible time.”
He stepped out from his chair to approach mine, and I tilted my head to hold his gaze. “Ember Bonet, I know I don’t deserve you. You are incredible, smart, kind, funny, loving, and passionate, and there is no doubt in my mind that someone who is your equal is out there waiting for you. But I’m a selfish bastard because the mere thought of letting him have you feels like my heart is being ripped from my chest.
“And that guy, whoever he is, might deserve you … but I promise”—Foster lowered to his knee in front of me and reached for my hand—“I promise you that no man will love you harder than I do or work harder to prove it. Please forgive me for being a blind fool?”
I couldn’t breathe.
Foster Darwin had just declared himself in front of all these people, including his parents.
“Let me make it up to you,” he pushed, trepidation glittering in his eyes. “I will never give you cause to regret it. I love you.”
