Page 48 of Forgotten Desires

“I’d say the ring on your finger is proof of that.”

I look down at the incredible diamond, nestled snugly around the others. “We both have our reasons to agree to it.”

He nods once. “Tomorrow is going to be . . . interesting.”

“Your family?”

“Kimberly will be overjoyed, truly. She may be a giant pain in the ass, but she’s a hopeless romantic. My brothers are assholes.”

“More than my brothers were?” I ask with a raised brow.

The wind whips up again and I shiver. He notices and extends his hand. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

I take his hand and he doesn’t bring me back in the door we entered, he walks us down to the end where there’s another door.

“This is the gym here and there’s another room back there, but I don’t use it.”

“Do you use half the rooms here?” I ask with a laugh.

“Nope, but once we’re married, we’ll need to throw a party to celebrate our marriage. I can finally use the ballroom and Celeste will be excited she can order a catering company around.”

Great. A party. “I’m going to be preparing for my surgery. I don’t know that I can plan a party.”

“You won’t have to worry about anything, Brynn. We have plenty of people who will handle it all. I know your priority is your father. I wouldn’t do anything that would hinder that.”

I nod, relief flooding me. “Thank you.”

“Did you hear back from the charity yet?”

The relief is gone. “No, but I’m hoping by the end of the week.”

His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hope so too. At least that would be one less thing for you to worry about.”

Yeah, it would, but I can’t do anything about it. “Well, for now, the thing I’m most worried about is meeting your family tomorrow when we tell them we’re engaged.”

Because that’s going to go over like a lead balloon.

He shakes his head. “They’ll love you and if they don’t, they’ll pretend because that’s what we do. Don’t spend another minute thinking of them, I promise, none of them will upset you.”

thirteen

CARSON

Iwake up to Brynn curled against my chest, leg thrown over mine, hair in my mouth, and I can’t think of any other way I want to wake up.

Which is fucking stupid to think.

I mentally slap myself and remember to keep my head in the game. We’re playing house, nothing more.

Brynn rubs her cheek on my chest, mumbling in her sleep, just like she did when we were young.

“You are the best pillow in all the world.”

I pushed her long red hair back, not sure where her face was under that mess. “I swear you’re in here. At least you were when we went to sleep.”

Brynlee grumbled something about sleep and hating being awake. “Five more minutes.”

“I wish we could, baby, but we have plans.”

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