Page 54 of A Bossy Proposal

To her.

“I understand,” she says softly, and the weight of her words strikes me hard. “It was just a suggestion.”

A suggestion that implies I should retreat back into my old life while she hides in my home like some secret shame.

“I’m not letting you go.” My teeth clench as anger rushes through me again. Anger at her situation and anger at myself for wanting to protect her when she keeps trying to push me away.

She opens her mouth, likely to argue further, but then closes it again.

Silence stretches between us like a taut wire ready to snap.

Finally, I stand and whisper in her ear, “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying with me.”

I drop Amelia off at the penthouse, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

I have this need to protect her, but the logical part of my brain screams about the danger she could bring into my life.

I head straight to East’s home, desperate for a beer and some brotherly advice. He greets me with a raised eyebrow and a cold bottle.

“You look like shit,” he says, ushering me inside. “Woman trouble?”

I collapse onto his couch, taking a long pull from the beer. “I’m in deep, East.”

Then I spill Amelia’s true identity, the threat hanging over her head, but leave out a few key details.

East listens in silence, but his face grows more concerned with each revelation.

When I finish, he lets out a low whistle. “Fuck, West. You’ve really stepped in it this time.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter.

“If dad finds out—”

“He won’t.”

“He’s asking questions, West. If I knew anything about your ‘convenient’relationship.” He puts the word convenient in air quotes.

I run a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

“Dad’s a fucking nightmare,” I snap. “He doesn’t get it. He thinks everything fits into his tidy little box.”

East leans back, arms crossed. “You know what he said? He can’t wrap his head around the fact that Amelia has no family to invite to this engagement party.”

I glare at him, my annoyance morphing into anger. “What’s that supposed to mean? It happens.”

“I know that, but...” East shrugs, his expression remains serious. “He thinks it’s a lie.‘How can someone have nobody at all to invite?’he asked me, like I’m supposed to have the answer.”

My fists clench at my sides. “I told him to mind his own business.”

“Good,” East says, nodding. “Not all families are made the same. You know that better than anyone.”

“Right?” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and groan.

“He’s got a twisted view of the world,” East agrees. “But now he’ll dig deeper—he’ll want to know what she’s hiding.”

“She’s hiding nothing,” I shoot back, irritation sharp in my voice.

“She certainly is.” East challenges me with a raised eyebrow.

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