Page 12 of Be My Bride

“First time?” I ask, stopping in front of him.

He blinks rapidly. Warm brown eyes trail up my body until they find my face. Awareness thrums beneath my skin, intertwining with the anger, pain and hurt. There’s something in his eyes. Some brokenness that I feel and respond to. He’s swimming in it.

Then he blinks and the hurt is gone, replaced by a practiced smile.

My heart is in pieces, but it’s still got enough juice left to flutter at how devastatingly handsome he is.

I push the feeling aside.

This isn’t about flirting.

This is about saving a life. A future.

I shake my head. “It’s not too late to turn back.”

“What?” His voice crackles with amusement.

“Listen up because I won’t say this twice.” Grabbing either arm of the chair, I lean in. Close enough that I can smell his cologne.

It’s something light. Expensive.

His lips part. They’re a muted shade. A dark pink.

Not plump like mine, but not too thin either.

His jaw slopes down in a sharp, cutting line. Sexy stubble shades his cheek, around his mouth and down his chin. It adds a masculine, rugged appeal to his perfectly wavy hair and the fancy blue shirt.

I keep my voice low. “You have no idea what you’re signing up for. That fairytale in your head? Chuck it. It doesn’t exist. That perfect love? It won’t happen.” I jut my chin at the exits. “Go. Figure it out on your own. You’ll still get hurt, but at least it’ll be on your terms.”

He keeps sitting there. Studying me.

Soaking me in.

I pull back, wondering if I’ve offended him. Not everyone is open to a total stranger’s advice and I probably look like a crazy woman with my eyes puffy from crying and mascara running down my face.

As the silence lengthens, I try to take a step away.

He snatches my hand.

Wraps long fingers over my wrist.

Holds on tight.

His hands are warm.

Pale.

A shock of white against my dark skin.

I should be scared.

Some stranger is touching me.

Some guy I don’t know.

But I’m not.

I feel… safe.

---