He’s teasing me; I know he is, because he’s wearing his best smirk. The one he uses when he’s pulling my leg.
I refuse to let him win. “If we ever get married and any of the guys disappear, I’ll castrate them.”
“If?” he challenges, leaning in over the door.
I swallow.
Six months ago, I would have had many words to say. Most of them, a clear denial that this could even be happening.
Except it is.
I know exactly what he’s not saying.
“You’re not proposing to me on Less’s wedding day. Ivywillcastrate you, and I like your balls.” I slide in the seat, determined to look unruffled.
Except…holy shit.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He shortly slides onto his seat in the classic Jaguar.
“And there’d better be a ring when you doask.”
“Like I don’t have that in my pocket.”
I gasp, and dive into his breast pocket with a squeal.
I’mnotaccepting a proposal today. But that doesn’t change the fact that I wanna see the shiny.
bonus
CADEN
“Hello, Mr. Barrett,” I say politely as I walk into the temporary rental.
He’s lived here for a month and hasn’t bothered to look for accommodations that wouldn’t drain his recent influx of cash.
“It’s a pleasure,” I lie smoothly.
The drunk, barely standing waste of space brings his bottle of scotch to his mouth. “So you’re that twat my girl’s shacked up with, huh?”
He hasn’t met Cal; their interaction was purely virtual, but if he had, he could still confuse the two of us. Firstly because he’s drunk, and secondly because we do look alike.
“No, that would be my first cousin, Callum. I suppose I would have been your nephew-in-law, under different circumstances.”
He hasn’t invited me in, but I close the door behind me.
“Different circumstances?” he repeats, butchering both words.
“Yes. See, my cousin is a simple, reasonable man. The best, truly. I want to assure you, your daughter couldn’t be in better hands.” Not that this piece of shit cares. “But you see, my cousin is, well…optimistic. He believes giving you a little money will rid him of you. I know better. I know that man came after your daughter because you told him to, and you’d happily do it again. I’d wager you actually already decided you would when you’ve run through the cash you just got, right?”
“Now wait a minute…”
“Shhhh.” I grin. “It won’t be long now, my friend, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
My victim blinks, his slow brain not getting it.
“’bout what?”