"How much?" he asked, taunting her, desperate and uncaring of the fact as he tested her one last time.
"What?" Her eyes widened even more and she shook her head. "You think I want moremoney?" she asked in a low voice, disappointment crossing her face before turning to disgust. "You jerk, you don't know me at all, do you?"
He grinned at her response. "I do know you. That’s why I want you, Isabel."
"If you think you canbuyme… Oh, I don't believe you! I told you I love you, you screwed up, stupid man, andthat'swhat you think I want in return? You're unbelievable!"
She tried to shove past him, but Everett caught her arm in a firm grip and wouldn't let go.
"Izzy? Is everything all right?" her mother asked.
Considering they had a plane full of people watching their every move, Everett fought a surge of embarrassment but pressed on. It couldn't be helped. If it meant baring his soul, he would.
"It's fine, Mom."
"It doesn't look fine," her father added. "Son, you'd be wise to let go of my daughter."
Everett heeded the warning out of respect. But he didn't move out of the way. "Isabel…stay with me."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I need the words."
"I love you."
"Yes,thosewords."
"How about 'be my wife'?"
She blinked at him. "Yes… Wait, what?"
"You heard me."
"Everett, I signed the papers."
He bent his knees until he could look into her gaze. "I don't care. I'll rip them up. We can do this."
"Because of your dad? Fear of failing doesn't make a marriage, Everett."
"Is this about a prenup?" one of the Babes asked in a stage whisper.
"Shhh," said another. “Hush!”
"BecauseI love you, Isabel. I love you, and I don't want to lose you."
"You do—er, don't?"
He shook his head and fought off the urge to curse. "It occurs to me that we might have a communication issue we need to work on."
"I don't understand."
"I know," he whispered, raking his hand through his hair. "But hear me out, okay? The words… Isabel, my father said he loved every woman he's ever met. And then a few days or a week or a month later, there would be another woman, like the words had never been said and meant less."
"They mean everything to me."
"I know. I see that now. But before… I thought you'd understand that me helping you was… I've always been a person who believed actions speak louder than words."