Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
To my surprise, Stuart doesn’t immediately turn and flee. Of course, he doesn’t. There’s too much money at stake.
“I’m not giving up on us,” he sputters. That’s when my cowboy steps around me.
He puts a hand on Stuart’s shoulder. His voice is just as quiet as mine was. “She’s given you a graceful out. You can leave with those pretty teeth still in your head or not. The choice is yours.”
Behind us, I can hear the crowd growing louder, but I don’t turn toward them. I briefly register my dad’s voice above the din. He’s clearly working the crowd and calming them. He’s always been the type that can step up and lead in any situation. It’s why I had no hesitation over making him my business partner.
Stuart is silent, calculating. But I see the moment that it dawns on him that he can’t win in a fight against Cord. No doubt he’d go for a swing if he thought he could get the upper hand.
“She’s not worth it,” he finally snarls.
The heat in Cord’s glare could scorch the earth. “You lost a fucking treasure, and you’re too stupid to realize it.”
“Is this about her money? She’s loaded, but she’s fat, and she’s awful in bed. Barely makes any effort at all to please—”
I open my mouth, fully prepared to point out that neither of those justify him cheating on me. I deserve better than this lying weasel.
But before I can say anything, Cord’s hand is on Stuart’s neck. He squeezes hard enough to make my groom wince. “She’s gorgeous, and it’s not her job to please you, you pathetic asshole.”
He doesn’t give Stuart a chance to respond because he’s walking him through the side exit and ushering him out of the ballroom.
I breathe a soft sigh, grateful that the pretending is over.
I did everything I set out to do today. I walked down the aisle on my father’s arm. I prevented a marriage that would have been a horrible mistake, and I acknowledged to my cheating groom that I knew what he was doing.
Now all I have to do is dismiss the rest of my guests. The people on Stuart’s side are already leaving, including my almost mother-in-law who’s going to be someone else’s problem soon. The thought is the one silver lining in all of this.
My dad turns and catches my eye. He mouths, “What’s going on?”
Before I can respond, Cord storms back in. This wasn’t part of our plan. In fact, I never mentioned it to Lauren. I only asked her to have him interrupt the wedding and get the groom out of here. I didn’t mention him coming back in.
To my shock, Cord drops to one knee. He pulls a ring box from his too-small tuxedo jacket.
I gasp, my heart skipping a beat. “What are you doing?”
“Mira, what is going on?” My father hurries to us. He sounds hurt and confused.
Cord ignores my dad and opens the box. He gazes deep into my eyes. “I will always protect you. I will be faithful to you all of my days, and I’ll take care of you for the rest of time. I don’t want to spend one more second apart because I’m in love with you, Mira Moore. Would you do me the honor of giving me your forever?”
I look at the diamond and at the sincerity in his eyes. My heart pounds. He’s on one knee, offering me everything I want. A good marriage to a sweet man who believes in protecting my heart.
“Yes.” The word shocks me with the way it feels so right to say. This is all acting. All for the sake of my dad and our remaining audience.
“Wait.” Dad tugs me away from Cord, stepping a few feet away. Pretty sure Aunt Brenda just snapped another picture of us. Is she putting this on social media? I really hope not. “Mira, are you sure about this? This man...I don’t even know him, and I thought I knew all your friends.”
“We met at a charity event,” I say because the lie is a partial truth. If it weren’t for the fundraiser named Cuddle a Cowboy, I never would have met Cord. Cord who just proposed to me. This is crazy...and yet it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. I can’t second-guess my instincts. I’ve used them to navigate too many business deals.
“And you love him?” He presses.
“No one has ever made me feel this way before,” I explain, and it’s true. I’ve never had this rush of emotions. I’ve always been to sensible for that. But there’s this feeling in my gut telling me that if I let Cord walk away right now, I’ll spend the rest of my life regretting it. “Walk me down the aisle again?”
He turns and nearly bumps into Cord. “Don’t hurt my girl.”