AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I padded into the kitchen and he glanced up, closing his laptop with a snap. The arms of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. There was a tattoo a few inches above his wrist, a single Welsh word. It occurred to me as I walked into the kitchen that I’d never bothered to ask him what it meant.
“Burning the birthday candle at both ends so early?” he remarked.
“What?”
“I was at the club briefly last night and I saw you and Candice.”
“Don’t spy on me, Merrick.” I rolled my eyes, opening the fridge.
“It’s my club and I was working.”
He took my elbow and moved me out of the way, steering me to sit down in his seat. I pretended to huff a little, but honestly, I liked it when he waited on me.
“Let me make the coffee,” he said.
He cleared away his laptop and took down the pour-over and the kettle. It felt so comforting to watch him move about the kitchen. Like finally being home.
I’d toured Italy, England, Ireland, and Wales for the final week and enjoyed it, but there was something about being home that made me feel so at peace. I loved Providence, Rhode Island and I loved sharing Merrick’s beautiful house with him.
Just existing alongside him was a pleasure. Eating out along the coast, scrolling my phone in the living room while he worked in his chair, or sitting on the kitchen counter while he cooked.
Merrick turned and crossed his arms over his chest. Behind him, the coffee leaked slowly through the pour-over and filled the bottom with rich, dark brew. In the corner of the kitchen, the radio was playing softly, barely audible.
“What are your plans for the day?” he asked.
“It’s Sunday,” I said, resting my chin on my hand. “I assumed we’d just hang out and have dinner together. Candice said she has to get home because her grandparents are coming over later.”
“I actually have to work today.”
“Oh,” I said, unable to conceal my disappointment. “On Sunday? You never work on Sunday.”
“Actually, I usually do when you’re at school. I have some things that need wrapped up.”
I arced my brow as he poured my coffee and swirled it with my favorite peppermint creamer. Merrick hated it, he said it tasted like toothpaste, but he knew it was my favorite so he always made sure the fridge was stocked with it.
“Thanks,” I said, accepting the warm cup.
“We should probably sit down and talk about what happens next.”
I blinked up at him. He poured the rest of the black coffee and turned to face me. Arms crossed and mouth pressed in a firm line.
“Uh oh,” I said.
“Change isn’t always bad, Clara.”
“Says the man who hasn’t changed a thing in ten years.”
“Fair.”
“Okay, what were you going to say?”
He cleared his throat and a flicker of something I didn’t recognize crossed his face.
“You said you wanted me to go ahead and arrange your marriage when you graduated,” he said, his voice oddly controlled. “So I took the liberty of having a few meetings and setting it up.”
My whole body seized as I stared up at him. Yes, I had told him that, and yes, I still wanted to get married.
I wanted to be comfortable, to have beautiful things, to be one of the trophy wives that decorated the arms of the organization’s important men.
