Total pages in book: 181
Estimated words: 171979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 573(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 573(@300wpm)
During the exchange of the rings, embarrassment filled her that she hadn’t thought to get Creed one. He slid a delicate square diamond on her finger, which she didn’t want to know how expensive it was. It fit perfectly next to a matching diamond band.
His hand caught hers before she could pull it back. When she felt cold metal touch the palm of her hand, she closed her fingers around the ring he had pressed there.
She slid the thick matching ring to her set onto his finger; hers were trembling so badly Creed had to help her. Unable to look at him because she didn’t want him to see the tears in her eyes, she barely heard the official pronounce them man and wife.
She tilted her head back for his kiss, forcing herself not to turn her head away. His firm lips closed over her quivering ones as he lifted her into his arms, leaving her feet dangling mid-air.
After his ritualistic kiss, Creed placed her back on her feet, then turned them to face their guests. Twister stepped forward with broad smile of happiness that made her fake hers; she didn’t want to dim his enjoyment, or the others who had come.
She let Creed do all the talking when their guests took turns wishing them congratulations.
The best part of the ceremony was when Creed made excuses for them to leave, promising them he had arranged a reception in their new home this weekend so her sister and nieces would be able to be there.
“Was the ceremony okay?” he asked once they were in the car.
“It would have been perfect if I had wanted to be there.” Hating herself for her bitchy comment, she curled her nails into the palms of her hands.
“You’re not going to give me a break anytime soon, are you?”
From his expression, he didn’t seem to care if she did or didn’t.
“If you are asking if I’m going to forgive you for having sex with Livvy, have me fired from my job, and making me marry you when you could have helped me without asking anything in return, then no, I’m never going to forgive you.”
“At least one of us has no problem being honest,” he joked, not disconcerted at her comeback.
“You think lying to me about Livvy is funny?” If he weren’t driving, she would have smacked him.
Creed’s expression grew serious. “No, me lying isn’t funny, but sometimes, it’s a necessity.”
“You didn’t have to lie to me about Livvy. Men date around; I get that.”
“I didn’t lie about dating Livvy. That was the truth. You didn’t ask me the right question.”
She was astounded by his reasoning.
“I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel sorry for her. You used her and wouldn’t take her on a date? Wow,” she said snidely. “How’d you get away with that?”
“Sage, I don’t want to hurt you more than I already have, so how about we drop the subject?”
Recklessly, she wanted the opposite—to poke at him until he was bleeding internally like the wounds he had inflicted on her with his deceptions. He was wrong; she did want him to hurt her more, so each time she wavered about how much she hated him, there would be something new to remind her not to be taken in again.
Before she could goad him further, however, Creed made a turn on the road. She had never driven through this area of Kansas City before.
Huge homes dotted the perfectly landscaped yards. They had to sit on at least two acres, giving each a sense of privacy with trees expertly spaced apart to keep the homes from being in the same line of sight.
“You bought a home here?”
“I did. In the general area. Ours is farther down.”
“Ours?”
“Of course, did you forget we’re married?”
She swallowed hard. “How could I forget?” Morosely, the beautiful neighborhood no longer held her interest.
The day she had taken Creed the sandwich, she had imagined where they would live if he’d asked her to marry him. By the time she had reached his office, she had built a fantasy world where they were married, had four children, and two dogs. Then, within seconds of standing at his door, her fantasy world had burst. The humiliation she felt at being such an easy mark was just as hard to forgive herself for as it was to forgive Creed.
He took another left, and the road led to a two-gated entry with a guard between. Creed pulled up next to the booth. Reaching into his suit jacket, he removed his wallet and slid his ID out to give to the guard.
“Nice to see you today, Mr. Bryant. All moved in?” The guard placed a scanner over Creed’s license then handed it back.
“Almost. We’ll be moving my wife and her family in tomorrow. Pete, this my wife, Sage.”