Page 215 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“That you were going to propose?”

“No. Brandon and my father know I’m going to but not when. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.” He said.

“So not even Charlotte?”

“She’ll find out with everyone else.” He stated.

Maddie nodded. “How soon can we get married?” She asked.

He smirked. “How soon do you want to Maddie?”

She shrugged. “I’m not the kind of girl who’s planned her wedding. I don’t want anything fancy or big for that matter.”

“I agree. It’ll just be us, immediate family, a few friends. Nothing over the top.”

“I’d like Richard there, and I guess Kelsey will have to come too.”

“I’m assuming not Alfred?”

“Not a chance.”

He nodded. “I think the soonest we can do is three months. It’s a private chapel so we’re not restricted there but we’ll have to get the banns sorted.”

“What is that?”

“The legal side.” He said.

“How come you know so much about this Cole?” She asked raising an eyebrow at him.

“You forget I have Charlotte as a sister and Brandon got ditched on his wedding day.” Cole replied.

“What?” Maddie said shocked.

“Jennifer didn’t show, at least not at the altar.” Cole stated.

“What does that mean?” Maddie asked.

“It means she snuck into my room the night before and begged me to marry her instead. When I told her where to stick it, she pretended to be drunk, to not be serious. The next day she left Brandon standing at the altar.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to Brandon?” She asked.

He shrugged. “I tried. He wouldn’t listen and I think he was too in love to see what she was.”

“Even after you’d all had a threesome?” She said.

“That was after. She came crawling back, stuck her claws right into him again.”

“She really did a number on him.” Maddie stated.

Cole narrowed his eyes. “Yeah. She’s a piece of work.”

“Is Brandon over it?” Maddie asked.

“Why do you ask?” He said frowning.

She shrugged. “He just never seems all that interested in women.”

Cole laughed. “Oh you have no idea Maddie.”

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