Page 37 of A Bossy Proposal

“Have you been with anyone else?” I ask, already knowing the answer. I overheard her in Club Elysium telling her friend she wanted to let loose and be wild for once in her life. That the only sex she had was with Felix. She went on to tell her she was going to pick up a guy and use him for the night.

“No,” she admits. “But I wanted to.” Amelia’s cheeks flush, and she looks down at the envelope. “Open my envelope, West. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it together.”

“I don’t need—”

She opens her mouth, but before she can speak, my office door swings open, and my father strides in. His thunderous expression turns into something else when he sees Amelia.

“Ah Amelia, how are you, my dear? My wife, Catherine, needs details of your family to invite to the engagement.”

I notice the subtle swallow in Amelia’s throat. She goes to answer, but I say, “Amelia’s parents died, and as she’s an only child, she has no family to invite.”

“Oh,” Dad says, lost for words. He stutters for a moment before adding, “I’m sorry to hear that. Do you have an extended family to invite? Aunts. Uncles...”

Fear flashes in Amelia’s eyes as she shakes her head. “No, I’m afraid I don’t have any other family in America. My parents and I were the only ones who came from Italy.”

“That’s not a problem,” Dad presses, his brow furrowing. “I can organize a plane and hotels to bring your Italian family over if you’d like.”

Amelia’s hands tremble as she says, “No, that won’t be necessary. I...I don’t have any family left.”

She gives him a pained stare, and I want nothing more than to reach out and comfort her. But I know I need to tread carefully with my father present.

“I’m sure Amelia would prefer that we keep the guest list small and intimate,” I interject. “Given the circumstances, it’s best if we focus on our immediate family and closest friends.”

My father regards me for a moment. Then pacified, he turns to Amelia, offering her a tight-lipped smile. “My apologies for prying. We’ll make sure the guest list is to your liking.”

Amelia nods, her posture visibly relaxing. “Thank you, Sir. I appreciate that.”

As my father exits the office, I steal a concerned glance at Amelia. Her hands are still trembling, and I reach out and hold them. “Let’s go home.”

In the elevator, we stand side by side. The small space amplifies the tension between us.

“Thank you for—” She swallows. “It’s hard talking about them and I know we’re fake, but I still feel they should be involved somehow—my parents.”

I wrap an arm around her shoulder, feeling the heat radiating from her body. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could change things for you.”

“You do enough.”

Her gaze meets mine. A jolt of electricity courses through me as the elevator stops.

“After you.” I gesture for her to exit first.

“Such a gentleman,” she teases, a playful smile dancing on her lips. I smile because my Amelia is back.

“Not always,” I tease back.

Driving home, the tension is palpable. Amelia’s leg presses against mine as she shifts on top of her seat. The warmth of her skin seeps through the fabric of my pants, but neither of us moves away. It’s like we’re drawn together like magnets.

“Should we read the results?” she asks, reaching for the envelopes I put back in my pocket.

“Are you sure?”

“Are you scared?”

At a red light, I turn to find her studying me. The intensity in her eyes takes my breath away.

“I am scared, but not about what’s in the envelope,” I murmur.

Her fingers brush my jaw. I inhale sharply as the unusual but brief contact ignites a fire within me. As her eyes lock on mine, the air becomes thick with unspoken desire. “Me too.”

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