Page 54 of Cowboy's Healing Heart

I turn, looking for her, but she's gone. Panic rises as I scan the yard.

"Krystal?" I call out, not recognizing the edge in my tone.

I catch a glimpse of Krystal storming towards her cabin, her strides long and purposeful, a clear sign that she's fuming. I don't blame her, but I can't let her leave without talking this out. I take off after her.

"Krystal, wait!" I catch up to her just as she reaches her door. "Please, let me explain."

She turns, her eyes blazing. "Explain what, Shane? How you've been lying to me this whole time? How you're engaged?"

"No, it's not like that," I say, reaching for her. She steps back out of my reach. "Courtney and I... it's complicated. But it's over. It's been over for a long time."

Krystal laughs, but there's no humor in it. "Complicated. Right. Just like how you being the heir to a billion-dollar company is complicated?"

I freeze. "How did you know?"

"The internet."

I block her escape, shoving my hands in my pockets to avoid touching her. "I wanted to tell you. I just... I didn't know how. I was afraid you'd see me differently."

"And how am I supposed to see you now?" she asks, her voice breaking. "As the liar who's been pretending to be someone he's not?"

Her words cut deep. I take a step closer, needing her to understand. "Everything between us has been real. My feelings for you, for Ashanti—that's all real."

She shakes her head, tears in her eyes. "I don't know what to believe anymore."

I can see her retreating, pulling away from me. Anxiety stirs, and I force myself to focus on her tear-streaked face, her warm brown eyes shimmering with pain and confusion.

Krystal doesn't move, so I don't move. I use this brief reprieve to examine what I'm feeling. All I can deduct is I can't lose her. The possibility of losing her grips my throat, making it hard to swallow, and I fight the urge to reach out and close the distance between us.

I boil the situation down to the core: I want her, my father wants me, and they expect me to take a wife.

"Marry me, Krystal."

"What?" Her eyes are wide.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. The request hangs between us. The more I let it hang, the more sense it makes.

"Marry me, Krystal. I know it's sudden, but I love you?—"

"You what?"

"I love you." The words bloom in my chest, taking root, and I use the moment to move closer to Krystal.

"And this way, I can protect you and Ashanti. From Jordan, from the media, from all of it."

Krystal stares at me, head poised to shake, shock written all over her face. "Are you serious right now?"

"Completely," I say, taking her hands in mine. "I know I've messed up. I know I should have told you everything sooner. But I swear to you, Krystal, my feelings are real."

Krystal pulls her hands away, wrapping her arms around herself. "This is crazy, Shane. You can't just propose to fix everything."

"That's not what I'm doing," I insist, stepping closer. "I want this to be real for both of you. Your contract is almost over. I have a home in New York. Ashanti will attend the best school in the country. You'll have the opportunity to stop running. Maybe even invite your mom to visit."

I'm grasping for anything to make her say yes, and with every passing second, I pray she'll agree.

I see the conflict in her eyes, the battle between her heart and her instinct to protect herself. It kills me to know I'm the cause of her pain.

"I need to think about Ashanti," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "This isn't just about us anymore."

---