Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
"I have three teensy weensy non-negotiable conditions."
"Teensy weensy," he echoed mockingly, "but non-negotiable? That's quite the paradox."
She could only smile sheepishly, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture that he was beginning to recognize as uniquely hers. "It is."
"But since I have no choice..."
"You do have a choice," she protested quickly.
"You just said it was non-negotiable." His eyes bored through hers with an intensity that made her knees go weak. "And I've already told you that I can't bear to share you."
"I'm not the unfaithful type," she said chidingly, as if the very suggestion was offensive to her character.
But if your God tells you to leave me, Guy couldn't help thinking with dark possessiveness that bordered on obsession, then what? What if your God tells you to choose Jack over me? What if divine intervention decides that I'm not worthy of you after all? Where would that leave him?
Jilly couldn't understand why Guy was looking at her like she was both the answer to every prayer he'd never prayed and the greatest threat to his peace of mind that had ever existed. "Guy...is something wrong? Truly?"
"I'm just thinking what my contingencies should be...in case I don't meet your conditions."
"Oh, but you would," she hurriedly assured him, stepping closer without seeming to realize she was doing it. "They're not really that hard or anything—"
"Such as?"
"We have a prenup—"
"Pass." He had actually considered this earlier. Had even spoke to his lawyer about it while she was in the other room, calculating the value of his proposal. But at the end of the day, it seemed pointless.
"Shouldn't you take the time—"
"We both know you're no gold-digger, so we'll just forget that one was ever mentioned."
Jilly tried but failed to bite back her smile. "That has to be the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."
"So many other things about you are just as sweet," Guy purred, "Like the taste of your—"
"Ahem!" Jilly was seriously bothered by the intense heat that was causing her cheeks to burn. Were there no good technicians in the whole of San Antonio, and it was why everyone's A/C wasn't working?
"Your face looks red, sweetheart."
Jilly pretended not to hear this. "So, um, my second condition has to do with my babies. They should—"
"I agree."
He did?
"If we get married you owe it to me to share your babies as well. I'll have my lawyer arrange their adoption papers so that they're legally ours. Both of ours."
"That's not actually—" Jilly broke off when she saw how he was actually glaring at her.
Oh my goodness.
Was he genuinely upset about the possibility that he wouldn't have equal access and claim to her their babies?
"You're absolutely right," Jilly said instead. "We need to make it legal, so that they're both ours."
Satisfaction blazed in his ice-blue gaze and she was this close to laughing, crying, and swooning all at the same time.
Oh, Heavenly Father, is this for real, truly?
"What's the last one?"
"We marry in secret."
It was the last thing Guy had expected her to ask, especially her, of all people, and he immediately grew suspicious, possessive, and on edge. "That's not exactly something a typical fan would ask, don't you think?"
"It's just..."
Was Jillian ashamed of him for some reason? Because of Jack? Or was this to avoid hurting Jack with the truth of their marriage? Was this some misguided attempt to protect another man's feelings at the expense of their relationship?
"I mean, you already know why..."
"I don't."
"You just want me to put it in words to torture me."
So admitting to wanting him more than she wanted Jack was torture?
Damn right he wanted to torture her then if so.
"Tell me," he commanded, his voice dropping to that silky tone that brooked no argument. "Why do you want to keep our marriage a secret?"
Jillian squirmed under his intense stare, shifting her weight from foot to foot like a child being interrogated about stolen cookies. "You already know..."
"Say it," he gritted out.
"It's because your fans could..."
"What?"
"The distractions..."
"Jillian..."
"I just really want you to take my virginity as soon as possible, too!"
Chapter Ten
Jilly: Seriously, Jack. What's up with you? You've been AWOL for days.
JILLY WANTED TO PINCH herself.
Did the last eight hours really happen?
The private jet ride from San Antonio to Jackson Hole, where Guy knew a judge who was capable of officiating their marriage in a snap, and then the most surreal and magical experience of her entire life as his sleek black car had pulled up to this archway that read Welcome to Foxtown in elegant Old English script.
Beyond it laid what could only be described as the Regency lover’s ultimate fantasy come to life, with real flowers blooming everywhere in magnificent riots of color because it was summer in Wyoming and roses and peonies and delphiniums created a backdrop so breathtakingly beautiful it looked like something from a movie set.