AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Some people start to clap for Sarah. Most people stand silently. What is even the proper reaction for such a thing?
With her work done, Sarah hops off the stage and comes toward Lily and me. “And Jack, this is where I finally get to tell you that the engagement is off.”
I raise an eyebrow. Given my recent passion for Lily, I feel relieved to hear that. “But what about your stake in the Perry ranch?”
“I don’t need to get it via marriage anymore. Ever since I heard about my father attacking Lily, I’ve been talking with a lawyer friend. He said that with all I know, my father is going to be spending some time in prison. And while he’s in prison, I can make a case that because of his lack of ability to manage the ranch, I should inherit it immediately, regardless of my marital status. Use that Perry family tradition to state that’s what the family would want anyway.”
My smile grows. “So you’re going to be free of him without my help. Good.”
“You helped me plenty, Jack. You’re a good man. Even when you found someone you truly loved, you were going to marry some girl just to help her out.”
I laugh. “I don’t know if I could have gone through it now that I have Lily in my life.”
“Eh, it’s not a question we need to answer, anyhow. However, there’s still that family feud you wanted to end.”
I nod. “That’s the other thing a Thomas-Perry union would have settled.”
“We can settle it by me selling you the ranch once I own it.”
“Hmm? You don’t want to own your family ranch?”
“After everything I’ve dealt with? I’m not feeling passionate about family traditions, no. What good I do feel about my family I can honor by leaving their legacy in the hands of a capable, caring rancher. One whose name they’d curse, but I’m sure if they’re up there, they’ll get over it once they see you treat the land right.”
I sigh. “All right. I guess we can’t make any business plans yet, but once all the smoke is settled, we’re going to talk business, Sarah.”
She takes off her engagement ring and returns it to me. “I won’t be needing this anymore. You’re free to do with it what you will. Although, with how you’re looking at her, I think you already know what you want to do with it.”
I take it, and look at Lily, who is a bit overwhelmed by the suggestion made by Sarah.
There’s definitely a part of me that wants to drop to a knee right now in front of her. “Sarah, I think it’d be a bit crass to pop the question with a ring meant for someone else.”
“Oh, probably.” She shrugs. “But I figure if you want to drop it, you can go get a ring specifically for her later. It’s all about catching the moment when it’s right, ya know?”
I laugh. “I didn’t think my ex would care so much about my romantic future.”
“It’s more of a professional interest. Once we get all this nonsense put away, I’m going to go chase my dream of being a wedding planner.”
Lily raises an eyebrow. “I did notice you were a tad enthusiastic about the wedding for a marriage of convenience.”
“A party is a party. I was going to make the most of it. And now it’s your turn.”
I look at Lily, at Sarah, at the people around us. There’s a few who caught the energy of the scene, and are watching with anticipation.
“Lily, I...” I take a deep breath. “I was already engaged. I’m your boss. And I’m twelve years your senior. There’s no way that romance should have ever blossomed between the two of us, and yet, from the moment I laid eyes on you, I was enraptured.”
There was no plan for me to do this. I could have never anticipated the lengths that Sarah would go for us, and the thoughts of marrying Lily seemed like something that just couldn’t happen.
The stars align sometimes, and when that happens, you gotta be ready to take your chance.
“Everything about you is what I want. From your smile, to your laugh, to your curves, to the countless wonderful ways you make me feel, you’re everything a man could want and then some.”
Lily is trembling before me. I can tell she’s feeling a million things at this moment, because she, too, likely couldn’t imagine this happening this soon.
I drop to my knee. “Lily Bennett, this all feels like a dream. And one I want to keep going. Will you marry me?”
She’s frozen in fear. Oh dear, did I make a mistake? I didn’t want to break the poor girl.
I grimace at her lack of response. I shouldn’t have asked; it’s just too much.
