Page 102 of Surprisingly Us

I need to accept Rhys’s proposal.For now.

I force a smile and focus on keeping my feet still so I don’t reflexively kick him in the shin.

“Yes.” I do my best to not make it sound like a question and throw in a nod, hoping that makes it more convincing.

Rhys places the giant rock on my finger, then stands to scoop me into his arms. He presses a demanding kiss against my lips, then he’s hugging me again.

I’ll play the part right now, but if he thinks this is all well and good, he’s so wrong.

He holds me against him, and through a clenched smile, I pretend to nuzzle his neck so I can lean in and whisper, “I’m going to kill you.

CHAPTER 30

Rhys

After a million congratulations from family and friends, and fundraiser guests, Lettie grabs my hand to pull me toward a dark hallway, which I find leads to the dressing rooms. Once we’re behind the dressing room door, she drops my hand and begins pacing.

“Wha—”

“How—”

“I can’t even—"

She starts and stops so many times, her anger clogging her ability to speak. Her arms cross over her chest and there’s fury in her eyes. If she were a cartoon character, she’d have steam coming out of her ears.

“What the hell, Rhys? This was not part of the plan.”

It only takes a brief lock of our eyes and she inhales on a gasp. She knows. My guilt must be evident.

The realization only fuels her fire more.

“Oh, I see. It was part ofyourplan.” She waves her left hand in the air, the huge diamond I placed on it minutes ago sparkling beneath the dressing room’s vanity lights. “I can’t believe you did that.”

The part of me that’s competing with Jerrod, that loved seeing the shocked look on his face when Lettie accepted my proposal, is pleased. Now, he doesn’t have an advantage over me. We’re even. And several members of the board were here tonight to witness it.

But as the rush of adrenaline from besting Jerrod wears off, all I’m left with is regret.

She’s right. This is completely fucked up.

Suddenly, the sight of the diamond on Lettie’s finger makes me nauseous. Not because I don’t want my ring on her finger, but because of what it represents.

She didn’t say yes because she wanted this, she felt forced into it. I blindsided her, and I did it knowing that the pressure of the situation would get me what I wanted. That Lettie would have a hard time saying no to my proposal in front of an entire room of people.

A room that included her parents. Fuck. If they didn’t hate me before, I’m sure they do now.

Regret is a dull ache in my chest.

I let Jerrod do what he does best, push me to rash decisions then walk away when everything blows up in my face. But even Jerrod isn’t to blame, because I’m the one that let him get under my skin. I let my fear of losing control of the situation, the possibility that I might lose control of my parents’ legacy foundation, blind me to the fact that I’d taken Lettie’s trust in me and broken it.

“I needed—” I start but realize there’s nothing I can say right now that makes this right, but I can start with an apology. “I’m—” Before I can get the words out, she cuts me off.

“Of course, it’s all about what you want. Ugh. I can’t even look at you right now.”

Tears fill her eyes. Her hands move up and down her bare arms like she’s trying to hug herself. My arms ache to hold her and make this better.

She presses a finger into my chest. “Stay away from me.”

“What about the party?” I motion out the door, back toward where the fundraiser is still in full swing. “We just got engaged.”

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