laugh. On her worst days. Even when she was her meanest to him. He’d steal a smile from her. She said that in the end, if the only husband she could choose were the men at the cove, she wanted the man who was patient, kind, and made her smile.”
“That’s a sweet story too.”
“It is,” he agreed. “My whole life she’s been using it to convince me I should go the same way.”
“I very recently have come to understand how you feel.”
“God save us from mothers who know best.”
I burrowed deeper in his arms. “I’d drink to that, but then we’d have to go downstairs.”
“We should go,” he whispered.
“Why?”
“Because the carriage is about to turn into a pumpkin.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re seriously committed to this fairy-tale thing.”
“My mother will come looking for me. Strong assumption that my room is the first place she’d look. Either way, we can’t stay in here all night.”
No matter how much I want to.
I left Dad holding my purse when I went off for air. On top of me going missing, they can’t call me. They would be going frantic, and as angry as I was at them, I didn’t want those thoughts going through their heads.
With more willpower than I knew I possessed, I dragged myself out of the tub and we got dressed. I stood before Preston’s mirror, returning my hair to its perfect bun while he did up the buttons on my dress. I lowered my hands and he clasped my necklace, kissing the nape of my neck as he did.
Sweet, kind, and makes me smile.
Maybe I found the last beautiful boy worth breaking the rules for.
“How do I look?” I asked. “Can you tell I’ve been ravaged for the last hour and a half?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I like that look on me.”
“Ready to go?”
Nodding, I let him take my hand. We left our haven, walking into the brightly lit hallway. I took two steps and was stopped by Preston. Mimicking our earlier position, he pressed me against the wall, resting his forehead on mine.
“Let’s not do another two years, Belle.” He brushed a stray strand behind my ear. “Dinner on Friday. Say yes.”
Yes rose to my lips. I caught it in my throat and shoved it down. “I can’t. I don’t date, Preston. But if you want to skip dinner, we can go straight to dessert.”
“My body is really all you’ll take.” Though he said it with a grin.
“It makes the most sense. You have Europe this summer and I have everywhere. After that, it’s college in different parts of the country. Why start something we can’t finish?”
He sighed, eyes falling shut. “Damn. I was hoping you’d have another batshit crazy excuse like the siren thing. How am I supposed to counter that argument?”
I swatted his arm. “You’re not. What you do is take my tempting offer of hot, freaky sex to last up until one of us leaves.”
Preston placed his hand over his chest. “I humbly and graciously accept your terms.”
“The goofy trait runs in your family I see.”
Tilting my chin up, Preston closed the scant distance and—
“Preston! There you are.”
He ripped away from me, spinning in time to catch the brunette bombshell that launched into his arms.
“Delilah?”
She pouted, wrinkling her perfect bow-shaped mouth and enhancing her cuteness in the process. “I’ve been looking all over for you, baby.”
Baby?
“Delilah, I—”
The girl cupped his cheeks and kissed Preston square on the mouth.
I rocked back. My head struck the wood with a thud that flicked her attention to me. “Who is this?”
“Who are you?” I shot back.
“Delilah Winthrop.” She tapped his nose. “Preston’s fiancée.”
“His fiancée?” My voice was nothing more than a croak. “You have a fiancée? But on the terrace you said...”
“Belle, I can explain.” Preston peeled her off of him, pushing her to the side. “It’s not what you’re—”
“What’s there to explain?” Delilah was suddenly in our way again. In my air. Latching on to the man I was holding minutes ago. “We’re making it official at the end of the summer, but going to the cove is just a formality. Respecting tradition and all of that.” She laid her head on his shoulder, looking me straight in the eye.
“The truth is Preston already proposed and I said yes.”
I stilled. I didn’t so much as lift my head to meet his eyes. Why should I when I saw him tracing my figure in the garden? Felt his arms around me and his lips on my neck. Why should I look at