I open the book, slide the bookmark into my hand and pass both to her. She starts reading aloud. I half listen, half think. What happens tomorrow?
My life changes.
This is my last real chance to stop it. Once I’m married to him, the decision is made. I’ll have to stay the course until this thing is played out.
What I should do is think about how good it’s going to be. He’s willing to listen about Alicia. That’s something. He clearly loves his daughter, so he is capable of love even if he doesn’t seem that way most of the time.
He’s keeping his promises so far. Everyone’s still got their jobs, according to Ursula. He’s cleared my debts though I made him count that toward the ten thousand he was going to pay me if I only stayed a day. If I do this, I’ll be able to have my dream before I even turn twenty. That’s a good feeling.
A better feeling is thinking of his ring on my finger. That fills me with a bubbly sensation that I don’t really understand. A kind of thrumming vibration in my nerves like I’m standing on a fast-moving train.
The truth of all of this is that he’s tempting. I’m in the garden of Eden, and the apple’s being held out toward me. I know I should turn it down, but it looks so good. Like him. He’s so fucking hot. It’s hard to think of leaving here and leaving him behind. That’s not to mention how good he is at making me come, how good he makes me feel when it happens. Never looks at me in disgust like Oswald used to, never tells me toys are sinful, that men should come first, women second or not at all.
I glance over to the doorway because I feel eyes on me. Hunter is standing there, watching the two of us. “Thought I’d come to say goodnight,” he says when he sees I’ve spotted him. He comes in and kisses Alicia on the forehead.
“And we’re at the end of the chapter,” I say as her eyes sag and she yawns loudly.
“Day off school tomorrow,” Hunter says. “Special day for us all.”
“Yay,” she says, but her eyes are already shut. I tuck her in, and then we tiptoe out of the room.
“Did you tell her about the wedding?” I ask once the door is closed.
“I thought it would make a nice surprise for her.”
“What if she doesn’t want you to marry me and kicks up a stink about the whole thing?”
“Relax. I asked her while you were trying on the wedding dress. We had a big talk, and she’s ecstatic about you marrying me. She thinks you’ll have to be here all her life.”
“Did you correct her?”
For the first time, he looks uncomfortable. “Not yet. I’ll tell her tomorrow.”
“You better. I don’t want her crushed when I leave.”
“She’s tough. She can cope.”
“She’s eight. You need to be careful. Oh, and FYI, don’t let her read all the Harry Potter books yet. They get dark.”
“They’re kids’ books.”
“You read them?”
“Of course not.” He looks like I asked if he’s ever worn a pink tutu.
“Then you don’t get to have an opinion. I have, and the first two, maybe three, are okay for her age. The rest, not until she’s in double figures, at least. A lot of scary shit in them. Trust me.”
“I’ll perhaps reconsider my position. Did the wedding dress fit?”
“Perfectly. How is that possible?”
“My tailor has a good eye, and I pay well.”
“Simple as that?”
“I wanted to talk to you about your boutique. Come down to the study with me.”
I follow him downstairs. I get a good look at him, the way he walks so tall, that confidence radiating off him.