Chapter 46
Juniper
It still fits perfectly, of course.
The blue complements my skin nicely in the daylight. Again, I’m reminded just how perfect this ring is–and how brilliant Dexter Rory is at picking out jewelry that makes my heart skip.
“He chose it himself. I never asked or gave him ideas,” I say honestly. “I had no idea he had that talent.”
She glances at me. “You really didn’t know he was going to propose?” “Honestly… no. It was a big shock,” I say dryly.
“Well, my son always did have excellent taste. But wow, a proposal,” she says with an airy laugh. “I just didn’t know he had it in him, bless his little heart.”
I’m freezing up with my face on fire.
God, I must be blushing so hard she’ll probably worry about heat stroke.
I’m no good at acting.
Even with Nana, I would’ve been sunk without Dexter filling in the blanks, and at least I had an idea what she was going to say. Here, I’m flying blind.
“Call it an instinct, I guess. The man knows what I like.” I smile ear to ear, hoping it covers up my awkwardness.
“Certainly. I suppose I’ve never seen him in love before. Frankly, I never imagined it. After everything he went through, I—I just didn’t think it was in the cards,” she says thoughtfully before laughing again. Then she grins at me and takes another bite of her torte. “He really must be smitten to know you so well and pick something so beautiful.”
Smitten–him?-the idea is ludicrous.
Except for the way he laid down that soul–stealing kiss.
The ring’s a showstopper and expensive as hell, no argument, and those are the only two things he’d have thought of before buying it.
But the idea that he’s never been in love before cuts deep, and that cryptic comment about ‘everything he’s been through‘ makes me curious. Has his mother never really met another girlfriend?
I’m his first, and we have an expiration date. I can’t be the first.
My mind stumbles over the whole idea.
Ultrarich Dexter Rory has never brought a girl home and now it’s me and we’re going to break all their hearts when everything falls apart.
No wonder he didn’t want his family to know.
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Love Betrayed: A Journey of Separat
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Chapter 46
I want to run and hide. To lock myself in the bathroom. To panic some more.
I want Delly to disappear, to wipe her memory, to stop piling pressure on my shoulders until I feel like I’m about to snap like a tree in an ice storm.
Distantly, I hear the door open, but I don’t look up until heavy footsteps stride toward me quickly and someone pulls out the empty chair next to me. “Junie,” Dexter says, catching my hand in his when I jump. “Didn’t mean to startle you, sweetheart. I came as soon as Arch told me Mom was
plotting an ambush.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek.
Just a peck–God, how can a peck be so intense–and it sets my face on fire.
I don’t know how I keep smiling as he slides an arm over my shoulders. This is normal.
We’re normal.
A nice, normal, happily engaged couple.
Hahaha, yes.
Although, if you’d look at Dexter, you’d actually believe it. His performance is still on point, freakishly casual and organic.
“I did not come to ambush her,” Delly says indignantly. “But just look at her. And you didn’t think to introduce her to the family sooner? Where are your manners, boy?”
The sheepish look he gives his mother makes me smile.
I smooth my hair down, wishing I could just disappear. But Dexter pushes in closer, enveloping me in his arm and
that rich manly scent like leather and teakwood that makes me tingle.
“I couldn’t risk your enthusiasm, Mother,” he says. “Don’t scare her off.
I warned her you’d be starting a fan club damn near instantly.”
“It’s cool, Dex. She’s awesome.” I look up at him shyly and put my hand on his leg.
It’s a deliberate movement, and he smiles down at me, even though the muscles under my fingers tense.
“It’ll take more than a conversation with your mother to scare me off. And I’m a little mad you dragged your feet with the introductions, seeing how lovely she is.”
“Yes, you’ve been keeping her hidden away far too long,” Delly says, sending me a wink. “This simply must be the best torte in the state, by the way.”
“Call me Junie, please.”
Chapter 46
Dexter trails his hand along my shoulder and down my arm, and I exhale, forcibly relaxing.
“Coffee,” Oliver says, putting two cups down in front of us. His brows shoot up when he sees us, but he knows not to say anything. “Would you like anything else? Anything for you, sir?”
“Nothing right now, thanks.” Dexter smiles up at Oliver like I’m not already mortified enough.
Holy hell, I need to know where he went to acting school. I could use a tenth of his superpowers.
Also, the gossip from the staff is going to be brutal tomorrow. As our newest hire, Oliver never misses a chance to blab to the others and build his cred around here.
Delly takes a long sip of coffee and sighs as she sets down her cup.
“I’m beginning to understand how you lured him in.” She gives her son a quick, sharp smile. “He loves his coffee. Especially good honest coffee like this.”
“We only source the best. Right now, we’re serving up a crowd pleaser from this little shop in Heart’s Edge, Montana.”
“Heart’s Edge?” Delly echoes warmly. “Sounds like a romantic place.
You two should add it to your honeymoon list.” Honeymoon?
My heartbeat doubles.
Good thing we’ll never get that far.
I store that little snippet away for the future, though. Understanding Dexter Rory is like peeling back an onion. It can’t hurt to know the very few things he enjoys, especially if I’m going to convince his family we’re madly in love.
“Actually, I didn’t even know about this place until-” He stops and glances at me like he can’t remember. “Was it the third date? After we finished fighting over AI art?”
Chapter 47
