The Reluctant Bride (Arranged Marriage #1)(58)

“I’m not sure, but we’re almost finished—we have to be. The dinner is supposed to start soon.” She bites her lower lip, watching me with those big blue eyes. “I’m so glad you showed up.”

The relief in her voice is obvious. “You actually believed I wouldn’t?”

“I didn’t know what to believe. You were so late, and when you didn’t answer my texts or your brother’s calls, I became worried. I know you haven’t been…happy with this situation since it started.”

God, I feel like absolute shit for not actually talking to her during the drive. I did try and text, but she was probably busy. I hate that I tortured her when that was never my intention. She has enough to worry about.

“You haven’t been happy either,” I remind her as I stare into her eyes, wanting to see her reaction.

Those pretty blue eyes go a little wider. “I thought we’d come to a mutual understanding.”

“What do you mean?”

“That we were going through with it—and we were okay.” She does one of those nonchalant shrugs again, and damn, I hate those. “But it’s fine. Maybe I was wrong.”

“You weren’t.” I give her arm a squeeze, wanting to reassure her. I feel protective over this woman. She needs someone on her side. I feel like she has no one who’s team Charlotte, and I’m willing to do that for her. “I’m in this.”

The emotion shining in her eyes as she looks at me is a struggle for me to witness. She just looks so damn grateful, and I’ve barely given her anything. “Okay. I’m in this too.”

“It’s all going to work out.” I have no idea if I’m speaking the truth, but it feels like the right thing to say.

She nods, glancing over at Miranda. “We need to do another run-through. I should go to my father.”

I tug her in closer, lowering my voice so no one can hear me. “I didn’t like how he spoke to you earlier.”

Charlotte shakes her head. “It was nothing. He’s just…like that sometimes.”

I’m tired of her making excuses for his shitty behavior just because he is her father. That’s no excuse.

“He will never speak to you like that again once you become my wife,” I say, my voice firm. She stares at me, her lips parted. “What? I won’t let him, Charlotte. If he so much as lays one finger on you, I’ll break it. I’ll break all of them if I have to.”

“But I’m his daughter,” she reminds me.

“And you’ll be my wife. You’ll belong to me.” I pull her to me, slipping my other arm around her waist, my mouth at her temple as I whisper, “I don’t care if he’s your father. No one hurts what’s mine. Do you understand?”

She keeps her head bent for a moment, her shoulders rising as she inhales deeply. Finally she looks up at me, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you,” she breathes before she stretches up and gently presses her mouth to my cheek.

Fire lights where her lips touch my skin, scorching me everywhere, and I turn my head, my lips finding hers, making her gasp. I swallow the sound, kissing her like I mean it, and when her lips part, allowing my tongue entry, it’s on.

My hand shifts, dropping to the curve of her ass, those little pink flowers rubbing against my palm and my dick does that thing it always does when I get too close to Charlotte—it twitches with awareness.

She moans into my mouth, her tongue meeting mine and I quickly break the kiss, desperate to get myself back under control.

The feel of her, her scent, her warmth, it’s just…

It’s good.

So. Fucking. Good.





Chapter Twenty




Charlotte


“I have a surprise planned for you.”

I glance over at my future husband who’s already watching me, his gaze steady and dare I say lust-filled. Who knew a wedding rehearsal could turn him on?

Though I suppose it’s not just the rehearsal. The attraction between us has been growing since we first met. And the fact that we’re actually getting married tomorrow, and while I still stand by my reasoning that this isn’t normal—not even close—it almost feels like a free pass.

We can do whatever we want with each other. We’re going to be married. No one can stop us.

I can stop myself. I can push him away, and he can do the same to me. But why would I? I’m attracted to him. I can’t deny it. And from the way he seems so protective of me, I think he’s drawn to me as well.

I like his protectiveness. Even his possessive ways. They’re so different than my father’s, who acts like he owns me yet doesn’t want to deal with me.

Perry acts like I belong to him, and he wants nothing else but me.

Big, giant difference.

“What is it?” I finally ask.

His smile is secretive. Sexy. “If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

We’re seated next to each other at a table in a private room of the hotel restaurant, the rehearsal dinner winding down. I’m exhausted and nervous over everything happening tomorrow, and only a few seconds ago, I firmly believed my evening plans consisted of me going to the hotel room my mother reserved for me, taking a long, hot shower and falling into bed.