Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
On the other hand, Adam was certain Rashad meant something else when saying that the girl his cousin met was 'different', but with the kingdom's safety possibly at stake...
"Have you told the others about it?" Adam asked finally.
Rashad's lips twisted in a humorless smile. "All of my brothers are engaged to the women they love. How do you think they'd react to this?"
Adam grimaced. "Point taken."
"You think I'm about to make the wrong choice, didn't you?"
Adam looked at his cousin evenly. "I'd choose the girl whose dowry will give Huzna's defense system a strategic advantage, and I'd do so because it's my duty."
"Even if the other girl is...different?"
"She can't be that different, since I don't believe in love."
The other man's lips tightened. "I never said I did."
"You don't have to," Adam said flatly. "That the other girl is even part of the equation says enough."
Chapter Five
Over a week has passed, and I find myself reluctantly caving in to to another one of Grandpa Paco's matchmaking attempts. Since he hasn't been as nagging as before, he really had me fooled into thinking he's finally seen the light, and he's letting me marry a man of my choosing.
Obviously, I should've known better.
The old man is a master at manipulation, and this time it's his threat to stop taking his meds that has me waving the white flag.
"His name is Brian," Grandpa Paco tells me. "He'll be waiting for you at Paradijs' lobby."
Paradijs is a membership-exclusive club, and this isn't the first time Grandpa has tried to pair me with a young man whose parents (or grandparents) belong to the same club. Sadly, all five dates have ranged from meh to bleh, and while I didn't think #6 would be any different—-
Brian surprisingly proves me wrong, and I find myself actually having a good time as we chat between sips of juice (mine) and beer (his). He's good-looking and smart, funny and outdoorsy, too. I think I could've liked him a lot more...if only I didn't meet Mr. Mine before him.
And speak of the devil, self!
This is going to sound gross, but it did feel like for a moment that shock could've made my eyes bulge out of its sockets. I just have a hard time believing I'm not imagining things. Is that really Mr. Mine walking towards me...in the company of Dr. Adam Al-Masri?
"Not good, babe."
Brian startles me when he cups my chin to gently make me face him again, and I feel genuinely embarrassed and ashamed when I realize he's caught me staring at another man while we're on a date.
I apologize profusely, but Brian assures me we're "cool", and I'm not sure how to take that. Is he saying it's just his ego that's hurt, but he actually doesn't mind if I'm interested in other guys?
"Is he your ex?"
"No, nothing like that," I hastily deny. "I just know him...from around."
"He looks familiar, though."
"Really?" It takes everything to keep my tone casual. "Where do you think you've seen him?"
"I can't seem to recall. But I'm sure I've seen him before." Brian glances over his shoulder as he speaks, and I'm unable to resist stealing a look myself.
Oh.
My breath catches at the way his handsome face immediately hardens upon seeing us, and I have to fight against the urge to run up to him and tell Mr. Mine he has nothing to worry about.
Have some pride, self.
Thoughts of him have haunted me every night, and he had me tossing and turning in bed while I tortured myself with questions I had no way of answering.
Could I have done something different to make him stay?
Does he remember me still?
If he could do things all over again, would he still have chosen to walk away?
You hurt me, Mr. Mine.
You truly did.
There hasn't been a single instance that the rain doesn't remind me of him, hasn't been a single instance that I don't think of him every time I pass by a cafe or just about any place that has flowers gracing its entrance.
I know this makes me sound like I'm the biggest loser on earth, but I've spent every morning hanging out at the B&B where we met, just hoping and hoping that he'd one day show up.
But he never did.
It's as if he found it so easy to cut me out of his life, and so for me to see him now—-
"Rashad?"
It's Dr. Al-Masri who's speaking, and my senses reel a little when I realize it's Mr. Mine he's addressing.
Rashad.
I finally know his name, but it's too late, and I can no longer let myself care about this.
Over and done with, remember?
I pin a smile on my face and reach forward to touch my date's arm. "Brian?"
Brian's cheeks are flushed when he looks at me, and the last thing I see is Mr. Mine's expression turning thunderous—-