Page 11 of His Scarlette Obsession
“You’re r-really serious about this?”
“I am not the type to waste my time with jokes.”
“Then...what if...can we—” She stops, visibly collecting herself. “Can we start with an engagement? In case I change your mind—”
I raise an eyebrow, seeing right through her transparent attempt at manipulation. She wants time to convince me to “stop this madness,” as she’d probably call it.
She flushes deeper, hastily correcting herself. “I mean, in caseyouchange your mind. Because, you know, you’re a royal sheikhand I’m a...not-royal, not-sheikhkind of person, and you might wake up tomorrow and think,what was I thinking?”
She’s rambling, and while she obviously hates that she is, I find it rather...cute. A woman who crafts words for a living, and yet here she is, made incoherent by my touch.
“W-Would you be willing to consider it?”
I suppose I could. It changes nothing in any case, which she’ll soon learn for herself.
“How long do you intend us to be engaged?”
“Three years?”
“Three months.”
“But—”
“I changed my mind,” I drawl. “Three weeks would be better.”
She opens her mouth, I raise an eyebrow, and wise girl that my Scarlette is, she closes her mouth instead...and with this, she’s saved herself from a three-day engagement.
“Are we in agreement then?”
“I...yes, but—” She looks at me warily. “The bakery?”
“Will remain exactly as it is.” I stroke my thumb across her lower lip, still swollen from my kiss, and while she jumps at my touch, she doesn’t pull away.
Wise, wise girl.
It seems she’s figured out that any outright resistance would only have her devoured sooner than she’s ready...and more thoroughly, too.
“Your grandmother can stay as long as she wishes,” I murmur by way of reward. “I’ll even renovate, if that’s what you want.”
She shakes her head, but this...
Seeing this suddenly makes my chest tighten...because I am suddenly besieged by doubts.
Was this real...or was this how Shannen had once enslaved the king?
When they first met, had Shannen pretended to be sweet and innocent...just like Scarlette?
Will she just be my wife...or will she be my future downfall as well?
Blue-gray eyes meet mine, but this time, I deliberately steel myself against the uncertainty and fear clouding her gaze.
“Why are you doing this? Why me?”
Because you’re the first woman who’s made me feel anything in years.
Because you look at me without calculation or agenda.
Because when I kiss you, the world narrows to just this moment, just this feeling.
