“Oh… um, this is for you. It’s silly really, I made it.” I nervously hand him a badly wrapped gift, compared to mom’s. He enthusiastically takes it from my shaking hands and rips into it. “It’s a paracord bracelet.”
“I love it, Kate. Thank you. Help me put it on?” Ian flashes me a smile that instantly melts my heart.
“Now? But you’re wearing a suit. This doesn’t go with it.” I protest, tilting my head at him.
“It goes with everything.” He smiles and hands me the bracelet, pulling the sleeve of his shirt up. With trembling hands, I put the simple two-row black paracord bracelet around his wrist and clasp it shut. I look up at his face and smile. He cups both of my hands in his and holds them, rubbing my knuckles with his thumbs. “Thank you for making the bracelet for me. It was so sweet of you. You really are an angel on earth.” He makes my heart race and my knees weak.
Chapter five
Marry Me Kate
**March 2004**
Kate
“EarthtoKate.”Darrenstands in front of me with a glass of wine in each hand. He sits on the lounger next to mine and hands me a glass. “Where did you go?”
“What?” I sip my wine.
“You looked like you were a thousand miles from here. What were you thinking about?” He sips his wine.
“Oh, nothing really.” I lie, “I was just enjoying the fresh ocean air, the sunshine, and the rocking of the boat. And I was thinking about my friend Jessi from back home. The time we went sailing like this with her family. She’s due with her first child any day now.” I smile, hoping that he doesn’t know that I’m not being one-hundred percent honest with him.
“Well, you’ll get to see her next week.” He studies my face.
“Maybe… she lives two-hours from where we grew up, and with a new baby, I don’t expect her to be at the wedding. Maybe, I’ll make a special trip to go see her. I haven’t met her… husband yet.” I sip my wine and watch the seagulls in the distance.
“You should.” He rubs my leg. “I have missed you this week. I’m sorry for that, but I was hungover for three days straight. How the hell does your brother drink so much?” Darren laughs.
“My entire family is like that. I think it has something to do with our metabolism… or something like that.” I smile and nod.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” He questions while sipping his wine.
“I’ll be there for a month… and you already know how conservative my parents are. They’d never approve of me bringing a boyfriend home.” I smile, trying to avoid this conversation yet again. I haven’t told Darren about me being a werewolf. Honestly, I’m not too sure how he’d take it. There are no rules about having a human as a mate, but there are laws forbidding us from telling humans about our existence. The few humans that know of our existence are sworn to secrecy. I’m not too sure if we are to a point in our relationship for me to tell him my biggest secret.
“I don’t have to stay for the month. I could come down on the weekends, or every other weekend.” He removes his hand from my leg.
I give him a sideways look and sigh out. “Conservative parents…” I say in a low tone that begs him to drop the subject.
“So, they’d be against a boyfriend…” he digs in his pocket. “What about a fiancé?” He holds up a single stone diamond engagement ring. “Marry me, Kate.” I sit up straight and gasp, staring at the ring. My heart pounds, my palms get sweaty, and my breathing is fast-paced. I can’t believe this is happening. “Careful, you’ll hyperventilate.” Darren leans into me, putting his hand on my thigh.
“This is happening so fast.” I look at his hand on my thigh, oddly his touch doesn’t ignite a fire inside me like Ian’s touch does. I’m confused and terrified. Shouldn’t I be excited right now? But I’m not. What is wrong with me? I’m terrified of making the wrong choice and getting my heart broken again. “Darren, we’ve only been together for three months. Don’t you think this is moving too fast?” I breathe in deeply, blowing it out slowly.
“Yes… I think we’re moving fast, but Kate, I love you. You’ll make the perfect-looking wife. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I… need more time.” I look down. Two weeks ago, I would have jumped at the chance to marry Darren, but now I’m not too sure. He is perfect. Comes from a well-off family, has a wonderful career, and he treats me well, but I still have doubts. Will I ever be able to tell him the truth about me? How do I handle the pup situation? Werewolves only carry for six-months, where humans carry for nine. Wouldn’t he have questions about that? Our pups will have to know who they are before their first shift. Marrying him means continuing to live away from my parents and the pack. Is that something I’m willing to give up? Then there’s Ian. Him being here has confused me so much. He broke my heart, but what we did last night… the way his touch ignites a fire with in me. I’m not sure Darren can ever make me feel that way. But have I given him a fair chance? My mind swirls with a million more questions and my chest is tight. I feel a panic attack coming on and all I want is to get off this freaking boat.
“Hey… relax. How about you give the ring a test drive? When you get back from visiting your family, we can talk more about it. Who knows, maybe being apart for a little bit will make your heart grow fonder.” He slides the ring onto my hand.
“I don’t feel good. Must have been something I ate. Can we head in now?” I’m nauseous and am feeling light-headed. This is definitely not the way a newly engaged woman should feel.
Soaking in the tub, I stare at the diamond ring on my left hand, playing back the events of yesterday, and earlier when Darren asked me to marry him. His words keep playing on a loop in my mind. You’ll make the perfect-looking wife. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Like his status in life depends on appearance, and I have the correct look… or I’m trainable to fit the role? I don’t want to just look the part; he can hire a hooker or actress to play the part of wife if that’s all he’s looking for. I want to feel a lifetime of passion and I want my husband to woo me until death. I don’t want to be some trophy wife that he keeps on the shelf, pulling her down when he needs to parade her at some gala event.
“Damn…” Ian whistles as he strolls into the bathroom.
“What are you doing here, and how do you keep getting into my apartment?” I snap and shake my head.
“I found your spare key last night.” He waves a bottle of wine at me.