Lib Novel Page 51
“What the hell, Charles? Open this door.”
“Not until you say yes.”
“Are you freaking hearing yourself?”
12
BETTER THAN ESSENTIAL OILS
DAISY
I stand next to the door, stunned and unable to move as Charles leans back on the leather couch.
“This isn’t funny, Charles. Open the goddamn door.”
“Say yes and we can stop this useless discussion.”
“Useless? I’d say this has been the most useful discussion of my life. Now I see how imperfect you think I am. Why are you even pushing this?” My eyes narrow at him as an uncomfortable feeling finds its place in my chest.
“Because I also know that you can rise up to a challenge like no one else.” His penetrating gaze drills into me.
There must be something seriously wrong with me, because his praise warms my chest.
In my defense, Charles’ habit of giving compliments rivals that of a grizzly bear allowing anyone near her cubs.
This is probably the first, and possibly the last, time he’s openly acknowledged my work ethic.
“How are you not seeing the benefit here, Daisy? I become the CEO, while you can have whatever you need,” he states matter-of-factly, his tone crisp and without a hint of hesitation, making me wonder if I’m stupid to even question his proposal.
“What is it that you need?” He approaches me with confidence, the kind that often signals he’s not playing around and is here to seal the deal. “Whatever I promised yesterday is still on the table. Just tell me what I can add to it for you to say yes.”
“I don’t need your money. At least not for myself,” I mumble. “Forget it, this isn’t right.”
Embarrassment floods me like a whirlwind, and I spin around, forgetting that the door is still locked. Before I can ask him to unlock it, Charles places his hand over mine on the golden knocker. A shiver races down my spine at the touch of his soft, warm palm against my ice-cold hand.
“Why are you so cold?”
“Because I’m nervous! It’s not every day that my crazy boss proposes to marry me!”
His lips twitch. “See, you can call me all the names you think of out loud as my wife.”
Every time he says the word wife, a tiny explosion goes off inside me.
“Don’t worry, I get enough satisfaction when I’m saying them in my head.”
He grins, and despite my best efforts to ignore it, I can’t miss the lazy circles he’s tracing with his thumb on the back of my hand, still held in his grip, slowly warming up.
“Will you please tell me what I can do for you?”
All the butterflies drown in a storm of panic rising in my belly. The worry about Dad’s care returns with unbeaten intensity. I’ve called more hospitals and care facilities, even outside of town, but none are within my budget. When I called Aunt Mel this morning, she told me Dad once again left the gas burner on after making his breakfast. We were lucky she was there in time to turn it off. I’m scared to even imagine what would have happened otherwise.
Charles’ grip on my quivering hand tightens.
“Forget my proposition. What is happening that’s troubling you this much? Is that asshole ex of yours texting you again?” His teeth grit, and I quickly shake my head.
“I blocked his number.”
“Then what is it?”