Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 15867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 79(@200wpm)___ 63(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 79(@200wpm)___ 63(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
And the futility of trying to get out of it.
I've lived here all my life, so I've grown immune to how it must look to people seeing the place for the first time. Maria, as mad as she is, still lets out a small, "woah" when we pull up. There's a security gate, the entryway with huge stone columns on either side, and a drive that circles the rose garden in the center of the front yard. The house itself is three stories, made of white stone, with tall windows and an expansive balcony that looks out over the lake. There's a gazebo down by the water, and the yard stretches on for acres in either direction. My mother would have loved to fill the house with children, but things just never panned out. Now it's all on my shoulders to continue the family … or at least pretend to while Pops is still alive.
"It's even more impressive during the day," I tell her.
"I bet," she grumbles.
I get her settled in one of the guest rooms, throwing her a pair of my sweats when she complains about having nothing to wear but her wet clothing. My estate is in Evanston, just outside of Chicago, and it wouldn't take long to get her things, but I'm not in the mood to risk her trying to flee if we're in public.
Plus, I have something else I have to do before I can rest tonight.
Maria lingers in the doorway of the bedroom, one damp curl falling over her cheek, tempting me to reach out and touch it. I don't, but I also don't leave right away, looking down at the woman who will be my wife in a matter of days.
"I'll make this good for you," I tell her, and Maria flushes bright red. It takes me a second to realize how sexual that must have sounded, but instead of apologizing, I bend down enough to brush my lips over her blushing cheek before stepping back. That should give her a little something to think about tonight. "Goodnight, Maria."
I don't look back, but I can hear that it takes her several seconds to close the door behind her. It's good to know she's just as affected by our strange connection as I am. Maybe I can use that to my advantage in the coming days … if she doesn't figure out how to first.
My smile fades as I make my way to the other wing of the house, my parents' wing. It's late, but I know my father doesn't sleep much these days, and my suspicions are proven correct when I see the light shining under his study door.
He looks up from where he's sitting on the couch, a blanket over his legs and a book in his hand. He sets the book down and gives me a tired smile.
"Xavier. What are you doing here so late?"
I shrug. "I came to see you."
Pops's smile turns wry. "Don't worry, your mother made sure I ate."
My mom has been trying to keep Pops fed and healthy for so long now. She's tried every possible combination of diet and health regimen, but nothing seems to work. "That's not why I'm here. I, ah, have some news, Dad."
He leans back, giving me a look. "Oh yeah?"
"I'm getting married."
My father's eyebrows lift, and there's so much hope in his expression that it makes my chest ache. "Really?"
I nod, swallowing hard around the sudden lump in my throat. "Yeah, Dad. Her name is Maria. You and Mom will meet her tomorrow. We want to get things done fast."
His eyes tear up, and I look away before I lose my shit too. It's been so fucking hard watching him slowly get worse, and as much as I want him to get better, I know he won't. The doctors have already given us the prognosis, and it isn't good.
"Thank you, son," he says softly, "for doing this for your old man. It means the world to me."
"It means a lot to me, too, Pops," I manage to reply.
"This girl must be something special." He looks at me with an expression I've seen on his face a thousand times before. It's pride, pure and simple, and I've never felt more like a man than when I see that look from him.
"She is," I tell him truthfully. I might not know Maria well, but I recognize a spark in her. "I think you're going to love her."
3
MARIA
It's weird. There are a million ways I can potentially get out of this sham marriage, and I think there's a pretty high chance of success with some of them—throwing a fit and refusing to go down the aisle, finding some way to call the police and report myself kidnapped, or make an enormous scene in front of the wedding crowd. I can easily make myself the worst sort of bride, more trouble than I'm worth for someone as seemingly put together as Xavier Romano.