Page 91 of Poison Vows

His own cousin taught me the art of war when we used to hang out. I just haven’t used any of it but I don’t mind practicing on Vaughn if it comes down to it.

I give him a sweet smile then turn around and walk away, leaving him standing there, looking bamboozled.

CHAPTER 15

Ivy

“I hopeto get to know you more!”

I stop when I hear Vaughn’s words.

“What?”

“I said I hope to get to know you more and be one of the people in this world you consider as part of your untouchable bottom line,” he says seriously.

I stand there with my head throbbing and body weak, but his words confuse me.

Vaughn quickly catches up to me in a few strides.

“I promise, I’m not going to hurt your family,” he says softly, looking at me with an almost pleading look. “I’m not like him. I’m not going to hurt or manipulate you.”

“Him?”

“My cousin,” Vaughn says, looking at me with an earnest expression that does tug at my heartstrings, somewhat. “I’m not like him.”

“Then what is this, Vaughn?” I ask boldly, resuming the slow walk toward wherever it is we are going. “Isn’t this entire thing a form of manipulation?”

“No, not at all…” he starts, looking agitated and uncomfortable.

He then grabs my hand to stop me. When I look down at his hand on my hand, he reluctantly lets go.

Confused by this change in disposition, I watch as he shifts on the balls of his feet, looking like a nervous school kid, running a hand through his hair.

“Can you just hear me out for a minute?” he asks silently.

“I’m all ears.”

“I…” He trails off, his eyes on the ground one moment before they come up and land on my face with a heaviness that makes me stand at attention. “I like you, Ivy.”

“Oh, how nice,” I say dismissively, then resume walking.

Vaughn stops me again. This time he doesn’t let go of my hand.

“Ivy, I like you. I like you so damn much, at this point I think it’s something deeper.”

Almost instantly, a chill goes down my spine.

“What?” I whisper, feeling stunned.

I think of the fact that I’m literally being blackmailed and threatened to marry this man and yet here he is, looking at me with sincere eyes, confessing that he likes me.

The absurdity…

“I know this sounds and feels crazy,” Vaughn says, his voice low and deep. “But you have to understand, I’m not the type of guy who gets to do this sort of thing or work this hard for a girl. I don’t have to do any of that, but from the moment I met you, I don’t know what it is that happened to me. I suddenly feel like I’m in a sprinting marathon to get your attention, to get you to notice me, and when I asked myself why I need your attention so bad, I realized it’s because I like you and I’m hoping that after tonight, you’ll be able to see my earnest feelings for you.”

I tilt my head slightly to really look at this tall, handsome man.

I can tell he’s being somewhat sincere, but sincerity doesn’t always mean absolute honesty.

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