Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
We step inside and are greeted warmly by a couple, both who appear in their early fifties.
“Hi, I’m Kate.” The pretty, tall blonde holds out her hand for mine. “And this is my husband, Aric. We own this shop and are happy to help with anything you need.”
“We need an engagement ring,” Sebastian says with a smile.
“Oh, that’s lovely. Congratulations.” Kate smiles at her husband. “Aric is the goldsmith. I do design work. So, if you don’t see something here in the cabinet, we can make something custom.”
“What’s your budget?” Aric asks as he and Kate begin pulling black velvet trays from the back.
“There is no budget,” Sebastian replies.
My gaze whips up to his. “No, that’s cra—”
“No budget,” he repeats with a wink. “My darling can have whatever she wants.”
He kisses my hand, and a piece of me melts. Goodness, this man is potent.
We spend the next hour looking over rings, discussing stone shape and size, metal type, and everything else imaginable. My brain is mushy as I stare down at a five-karat cushion-cut diamond set in platinum.
It costs more than my house.
“I can’t believe you have this in this little shop in Montana.”
“The shop is deceiving,” Aric says with a grin. “We can satisfy any budget or taste.”
“Are you sure?” I ask Sebastian.
He simply passes a black American Express card to Kate and smiles down at me. “It suits you.”
“This would suit anyone,” I murmur.
Once we’re back in the car, we sit and stare at each other for a moment, then smiles break out on both of our faces.
“It’s official,” I say and hold up the ring. “You put a ring on it.”
“I’m going to take a photo and post it…somewhere. I don’t have social media, as it’s frowned upon, but—”
“No.” I shake my head adamantly. “That is not how you do this. We’ll go to my brother’s house and let him post the picture.”
“This is why you’re perfect,” Sebastian says as he starts the car. “Just tell me where to go.”
I call ahead so I don’t catch Christian and Jenna by surprise, and when we pull into the driveway, Jenna’s standing in the doorway, waiting.
“What is going on?” she asks as we step inside. “Hello, Sebastian.”
“Hello, Jenna.” He kisses both of her cheeks, and when Christian walks into the room, Sebastian shakes my brother’s hand. “Christian.”
Christian looks at me, then Sebastian, and back to me again.
“Holy shit,” Jenna says, reaching for my hand. “Look at this rock!”
“What in the hell is going on?” Christian demands.
“We need to sit down,” I say, blowing out a breath. “I’m going to explain everything.”
Sebastian frowns down at me, and when the others turn their backs to walk to the dining room, I whisper up to him, “They’re all I have. They’re safe.”
He nods, and we follow the couple, sitting across from them at the table.
“We’re getting married,” I say softly.
“You literally said three days ago that you’d never get married,” Jenna reminds me, and I feel Sebastian stare down at me.
“Is that true?”
“Oh, yeah.” I shrug a shoulder. “But we’re not getting married because we’re in love.”
Christian’s squinted eyes narrow even further. I’m shocked that he can even see through them.
Sebastian briefly outlines what he said to me last night. When he comes to a close, Christian is shaking his head back and forth.
He’s going to give himself whiplash.
“No,” my brother says. “Absolutely not.”
“Why?” I demand. “Because I’m not tripping over myself with love and hearts? That’s ridiculous.”
“No,” Christian counters. “Because you met him ten minutes ago, Nina. You don’t know him.”
I take a deep breath.
“Not to mention,” he continues, “you don’t love him. And he hasn’t said a word about keeping you safe and taking care of you.”
“She’s perfectly safe with me, always,” Sebastian says. His voice is hard.
“I’m an adult, Christian. I know you’re protective, and you’re looking out for me. I know what that feels like.” I glance at Jenna and smile. “But at the end of the day, I’m a grown woman who can make her own choices. I’m here, telling you out of courtesy, not obligation.”
“She’s right,” Jenna says, holding onto her husband’s hand. “Your sister doesn’t make rash decisions.”
“Exactly.” I smile at my sister-in-law.
“I don’t like it,” Christian says. “I’m saying that right now. I’m not saying you’re a bad man. I like you. But this is sudden, and she’s my sister.”
“I understand,” Sebastian says. “I honestly do.”
Christian sighs. “What do you need from me?”
“I need you to take a photo of us and post it on your Instagram.”
“You’re smart,” Jenna says with a slow grin. “It’ll go viral within ten minutes.”
“Are you sure?” Christian leans onto the table, watching me intently. “Once I post this, there’s no turning back. It’ll be a social media shitstorm within minutes. You know this.”
“I know.”
With his eyes still pinned to mine, he pulls his phone out of his pocket.