Lib Novel Page 41
Warmth courses through me at her use of we instead of you.
“It couldn’t have been without you.”
“Now isn’t the time to be freaking modest, boss. You need to think about how we can fix this.” She rises from her seat and paces back and forth.
“I do have a plan. But I need your help.”
“What is it?”
“Marry me.”
10
DAISY PRICE, PRETTY WOMAN
DAISY
“What?” My pacing steps come to a halt. I definitely heard him wrong.
“Marry me,” Charles repeats.
I’m almost tempted to put my fingers inside my ears to clear out whatever junk has gone in there. Why else would Charles Hawthorne, the prince of this town, be proposing to me?
Me, for God’s sake.
“It won’t be hard to convince people that we’re in love. I’ve never been seen with anyone, because I was always here with you,” he says, tilting his head the same way he does when brainstorming business solutions.
“Working! You were here working with me.” My voice is breathless and my brain is frazzled.
How are the words we are in love rolling so effortlessly out of my stuck-up boss’ mouth?
“I’m aware. I was there too.” His tone is clipped, as if I’m the stupid one here.
Just thinking about how absurd this all is, a giggle escapes me.
“What are you laughing at?” His annoyed expression only makes me laugh harder. “Just stop it.”
But when I still can’t control my emotions, Charles pulls me closer. And the moment he tugs me by my forearm, not just my laugh, but everything, stops. My breathing, my heart rate, and my erratic pulse. The entire world comes to a standstill the moment Charles Hawthorne, the most coveted bachelor in town, places his hand over my lips.
“I’ve been telling you for years that you need to learn when to stop your laughing and to think before speaking, Miss Price.”
My eyes widen at his slow words and the sight of him so close.
He’s never been so freaking close that I can spot the flecks of silver, like distant stars embedded in a midnight sky, in his sapphire-blue eyes as they catch the ambient light in a dance of shadows and reflections.
And I have no choice but to nod.
When he finally removes his hand from my mouth, I take a few moments to calm myself. I can’t let him know how much he’s affecting me right now, and only when I’m sure my voice is going to sound sensible enough, I state, “It’ll never work.”
“Says who?” His jaw twitches as if my statement is almost offensive to him.
“Me.” I finally find my bearings. “I am saying that. No one will believe we’re together.” Has he not looked in the mirror?
“Jimmy did.”
“Jimmy what?” I gasp. “You…you told Jimmy? How many people have you shared this crazy plan with?” My gaze lands on the tissue papers with Giovanni’s red, white, and green logo, and I gasp. “You told your cousins too? Didn’t they tell you it was nonsense?”
“Not really. They said it was perfect.”