Page 26 of Stick to the Deal
“She doesn’t approve of me, does she?”
His hand drops as he jerks upright and winces. Bingo. “It’s not really you, Nic. She had her own vision of my future and is having trouble letting go.”
I nod absently. “I get it.”
“I’m sorry.” He rests his hand on my thigh. The warmth seeping through my thick leggings and spreading through me.
Sitting up, I rest my hand on his. “Actually, in some ways, I’m relieved.”
“However so?” His brows pinch in genuine confusion.
“My grandmother isn’t exactly a fan of yours, either.” I wrinkle my nose in sympathy at his shocked look.
“Does she know about my title? I thought that’s what every grandmother wanted?”
I chuckle and pat his hand. “Not this one. In fact, she disapproves so much that we can count on one less seat at the wedding.”
“I’m sorry, Nic. This isn’t what you signed up for. If you want to end this now, I’ll completely understand,” he says, his expression guarded.
Is that what I want? It would make things easier with my grandmother, but then what? How would I find someone else who meets her impossible and apparently changing standards? No. My word is good for something. I made a deal and I’m going to stick to it.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’m still in this.”
His lips lift in the barest hint of a grin. I wonder, again, what a full smile would look like on this handsome, broody man. “In that case, I have something for you.” Still holding my hand, he reaches with the other to grab a box out of his messenger bag. With the push of a button and a slight snick, the velvet parts to reveal a stunning ring. “It reminded me of you. Classic but unique. I hope you like it.”
“It’s beautiful.” Lifting my hand, he gently slips the ring on my finger. It fits perfectly. “Wow.” This feels real now. How does a hunk of metal and carbon change so much?
“I guess we should start planning the wedding, only a couple of months to go. Have you thought of a location yet?”
“Not really. I might like to throw a good party, but a society event of the year isn’t exactly my thing. Honestly, I was going to let my grandmother plan it, but that was before…” I slump down, nibbling at some dry skin on my lip.
Reginald squeezes my thigh. “I’d ask my mother to arrange it, but…”
“Yea… Don’t you wish we could just elope? Skip right over all the pomp and ceremony?”
A gleam appears in his eye. “Well, why can’t we?”
“Are you serious?”
He grabs his phone from his pocket and starts typing away. “There’s a national park nearby that has an elopement package. We only need to get a license in town tomorrow. It’s completely legal.”
I slump back against the cushions. “Well, it would certainly make things easier. I’d have full access to my trust fund.”
His face falls. “Dammit. We haven’t signed the prenup yet.”
The oh-so-dramatic prenuptial agreement, if anything, is a reminder that marriages started as business deals, a literal contract detailing out the aftermath of a divorce. I’m an heiress, of course I’ve always known I’d need one. Thank god this isn’t an actual love match, and that Reginald is from a similar background or this could have been awkward.
Wait, that’s it, he’s from a similar background.
“We don’t need it.” I wave him off.
“What?” Reginald’s eyes widen.
“You’re going to be a fucking earl. Half of our combined can’t be that much off.”
“Nic…” he looks pained. “About that…”
“Look, I’m not planning on a divorce anyway, are you?”
