Forbidden Bride - Penny Wylder Page 0,52

settled.

“Any ideas on time frame?” I ask.

“For the wedding?” She laughs. “Let’s get through the gala next week and telling my parents before we start picking dates.”

I kiss her neck, ready for another round if she is. “We could just elope and go to Vegas.”

“No,” she responds. “That’s one thing I know for sure. I’ve thought about marrying you for years, and I’m going to do it in front of our friends and family.”

I take the wine glass out of her hand and place it on the bedside table along with mine before pulling her on top of me. “Fair enough.”

She grins. “If I promise to buy you can I rope you into the auction last minute?”

I raise an eyebrow. “For charity?”

“Yep.”

“On one condition.”

She smiles down at me. “Name it.”

“When you win I get to take you to the nearest available private room and do unspeakably dirty things to you with all the people nearby, completely ignorant of the fact that you’re getting fucked senseless.”

I watch for the blush I know is coming, and am rewarded when she bites her lip. “Deal.”

I pull her down so I can kiss her perfect mouth, and show her what the rest of our lives are going to be like.

13

Nicola

The space for the gala looks amazing. Jill has really outdone herself. The ballroom in a hotel downtown has been utterly transformed into a Valentine’s Day wonderland. Red and pink are draped over every surface with glittering gold accents and gorgeous flowers. She’s really struck the balance between making it tasteful and luxurious as opposed to gaudy.

I’m here helping her arrange the last minute things, but if I’m going to be ready in time, I really need to leave soon. Tristan is here as well helping and getting ready to be one of the ‘bachelors’ in the auction, but we’ve been studiously ignoring each other because of all the people coming in and out. Jill thinks it’s hilarious.

I was also here making sure everything was in place to unveil the new flavor. The focus group for orange basil went phenomenally well, and Dad decided to launch it here. We should be all set to go.

My ring catches the lights and blazes like fire out of the corner of my eye. I’m still not used to wearing it, but I’ve refused to take it off even with the potential for questions. I’ve just been more careful with my hands around people that might notice.

But tonight is the night. I’m going to tell my dad that I’m marrying Tristan. My stomach is filled with nerves, but it has to happen tonight. Neither of us want to wait anymore, and with the auction, they’re going to see it. Because as hard as we try, Tristan and I can’t hide our chemistry when we’re together anymore.

I finish arranging a bouquet of flowers on one of the side tables when Jill walks up to me. “You should really go, Nicola. Get ready.”

“What about you?”

She laughs. “My clothes are already here, I’ll be fine.”

“I should have done that,” I mutter and tweak one last flower in the arrangement. Too late, I realize that I reached for the flower with my left hand. I told Jill the truth about Tristan’s father, but not about the engagement. Not that I don’t think she’ll be fine with it, I just wanted to tell my family first. But the cat is out of the bag now as she grabs my hand and whispers. “Holy shit, Nicola.”

I smile. “I know.”

“When did that happen?”

“Last week.”

She shakes her head in disbelief but she’s beaming. “I mean, it’s kind of fast, right?”

“It is, but this has been a long time coming.” I’ve since explained our history and how we’ve both been waiting for this. “Hopefully we’ll get to tell my parents tonight.”

Jill flinches. “Good luck with that. I mean, I know that Tristan is a good guy, but that’s still not going to be an easy conversation.”

“Tell me about it.”

She grins. “Well go get beautiful so you can win your man at the auction.”

“He’s already mine anyway,” I say, sticking out my tongue.

The man in question catches me around the waist in the lobby and pulls me into a shadowed corner. “Hello beautiful.”

“Hi.” I let him kiss me, and melt a little into him as he does. “I’m going home to get ready.”

“I know, I wanted to give you this.” He hands me a red gift bag. “For tonight.”

“What is it?”

Tristan smirks. “Don’t open it until you get home.