Page 79 of Curveball
Her eyes flick side to side as she reads the message . . . and drops to the edge of the mattress.
“Oh, fuck.”
Wordlessly, she raises the phone toward me and I take it to read. Alejandro is coming to Nashville in a few weeks for some sort of business conference. He wants to see Dylan. Wants to meet the man she claims is her fiancé. Disappointed she cuckolded—yep, his word—her lawful husband that way.
I sit on the bed beside her and pass her phone back. When she peers up at me, her expression is distraught and her eyes are glassy. I move my arm around her to pull her close.
“The guy has brass balls to keep coming at you.”
Her body is still, but I imagine her thoughts are whirling.
“Why won’t he leave me alone?”
“Arrogance, greed, boredom. Take your pick.”
“Well, it’s bullshit.”
Yeah, it is. And she doesn’t deserve this after all she’s been through.
“No argument from me.”
“Can’t I just say no?”
“Yeah, I think you can. But . . .”
What if this is a catalyst rather than a threat?
“But what?”
“What if . . .”
An idea is materializing in my head. It’s a little impulsive, but not any more farfetched than our engagement.Would she go for it?Only one way to find out.
“Damn it, Max! You want to share with the class?”
I reach for her hand and link our fingers. I don’t want to stop beingbabe.
“What if you say yes?”
Her wide eyes shoot up to meet mine.
“What?”
“Hear me out. What if he comes? He hasn’t seen Dylan in years, right? Let him see what a great kid he is. And have him meet . . .yourhusband?”
She flies to her feet and plants her fists on her hips.
“Max,what the hellare you saying?”
I get up, stand beside her, take her left hand in mine and rub my thumb over the base of her third finger.
“I’m saying the same thing I said before. Marry me.”
Chapter 26
Palmer
“Marry you? You mean, like, for real?”
