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He rubbed her back in a soothing motion as he said, “Don’t answer me yet Just think about it If you want, you canto find out with everyone else whether or not you’re going to be walking down the aisle Just take your time and really think about it” It was the best he could do, because he certainly wasn’t going to withdraw the offer, but he also didn’t want to rush her when he was afraid the ansould be negative at the moment, in spite of their intimate embrace She needed time to think and decide for herself what she wanted from him and the relationship In the meanti down the aisle toward him in five days

Angelina sat beside Kevin on the grass as her brother hummed wordlessly to hi tablet on his lap He gave the appearance of studying solanced at his picture, it was a syste she recognized It was still a pretty picture, and she co to silence

It was her second visit with Kevin in his new hoht decision just by seeing how happy and relaxed he was, and hoell he seeo out of his way to make friendships or interact It was nice just to see hi out at the noise or strangers Kevin was thriving, and she kneould be happy here for a long time to come

Happiness That was an elusive idea and a tantalizing thought Could she be happy married to Connor? She hadn’t returned to his bed in the four days they had been back, and she hadn’t given hi her best to avoid hih it sha head-on and make a firm decision, but she couldn’t seem to break the mental paralysis

She understood her own block, but she couldn’t seeh to resolve it It all came down to three little words, the three words Connor hadn’t spoken when he’d suggested they getshe loved hih to make a relationship last He was clearly infatuated with her, and he respected and liked her

They were friends, and they had a strong physical attraction, but without love, what kind of e could they really have? After the honeyrate, and if or when he decided to return to his usual lifestyle of fast cars and even faster woround and maintain the charade of a happy life She definitely wouldn’t turn a blind eye to infidelity

She needed all or nothing from him, but the only way to kno he felt was to ask hie quickly, she would lose the opportunity before the big day arrived She would just have to ask hiht at the rehearsal dinner She would ask him why he had proposed and find out what his vision of the future entailed

If it meshed with hers, she was certain she already knew her answer If he didn’tabout love, she would have to say no They couldn’t geta e

She left Kevin an hour later,her way back to the city with ample ti She had scraped up a few nairlfriends who had been much closer before Granny died, and her world had enco with her job as Connor’s assistant She hoped to regain closer friendships with therow It still felt aard having them there, and the conversation was stilted when she sat down at the main table to join her hastily selected bridesmaids

She knew they had been thunderstruck by the surprise requests to be in her wedding party, but she was thankful they had all coenerosity, but at least she didn’t look coh she had no one in the world besides Kevin, though that was true

And Connor She’d had him at least once, and she could have him forever if they shared a similar mindset about the future Her sto hi was over

He arrived a short ti party in tow She barely hid a griust when she saw Brenda had worh the wo Perhaps she was an usher or so? She had sort of lost track of Brenda’s machinations

For all Angelina knew,her as the bride She wanted to laugh at the idea, but a strange sense of dread filled her instead Was it because she was dreading to, or because she was afraid there was an element of truth to her speculation?

They were soon bustling with activity, h the various steps of the cere The celebrant wasn’t present, and he wouldn’t be until tomorrow, so Carly stood in for him

Standing in front of the wedding coordinator with her hand held tightly in Connor’s, she experienced a jolt of alh she had been there before Of course she never had, but it felt unexpectedly right, like co yes to his proposal

She laughed along with the rest of the party when Carly conducted an i particularly hard when she turned to Connor and asked, “Do you take Angelina in sickness and health, including the days she’s gruhter than a reindeer’s from a cold?”

“Absolutely,” said Connor without an ounce of hesitation

Carly turned to her next “Will you still want him around when he’s lost all his hair and has a paunch, and the only thing he’s racing around is his mobility scooter?”

She giggled again at theto that level It wasold, frail, or out of shape, though she knew there was the possibility existed That prospect didn’t frighten her, and she answered with confidence when she said, “Of course”

“Then by the power vested in me by no one ever, I unofficially pronounce you husband and wife, and you al until tomorrow”

Connor, being Connor, swept her into his arone deep and carnal if she hadn’t forced herself to take a step back after the first few seconds

“And after that step, the celebrant will announce you to the guests, and you’ll walk back down the aisle…” Carly herded the the last steps of where they would proceed to it was time for dinner

As the wedding party moved out of the room where they would hold the ceremony and back to the place where the reception would be torasped Connor’s hand and pulled him toward the back of the crowd Once it was just the two of the his hand “Why did you propose?”

He frowned “Because I want to marry you”

She shook her head, frustrated “But why? What kind of future do you see for us?”

“I don’t really know or care what kind of future we have as long as we’re together” He lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before caressing her neck with the saht you knew, but I was afraid you would shy away if I said it so bluntly”

Her lips felt numb when she licked them “Said what? What do you feel?”

There wasn’t a hint of insincerity in his expression when he spoke a aze reelina That’s the only reason I want to marry you And I can’t wait until tomorrow to find out your answer”

He patted her cheek v

ery gently before he disengaged his hand fro her to follow a s re her for an answer It was an unexpected turn of events, and she was surprised by his sensitivity and ability to wait for the answer heto hear

When she took the seat beside him at the table, she already what her ansould be, and though she could have given it to hiht then, there was a hint of excitement in the air, and a twinkle in his eyes that indicated he was al to h she already knehat she was going to do tomorrow, she flashed him an unreadable smile as she smoothed the napkin over her lap and i around the table

It was a lovely night, and other than Brenda’s brooding presence, everything was perfect Even the annoying woman couldn’t seem to puncture the bubble of happiness that had surrounded her, and she endured her presence with a gracious se her

Chapter Ten