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“We never publicly advertised our engagement. It was nothing more than a paper deal our manipulative fathers had worked out. Abby was embarrassed that I wouldn’t embrace our relationship and make it legit, so she pretended like she was engaged to an investment banker from New York. I didn’t tell you because she meant nothing to me. I had already broken things off with her before I kissed you.”
“But didn’t your dads want people to know? Otherwise, what was the reason for setting you two up?”
“I had only been home from boarding school for a few weeks before my dad came into my bedroom and threw my great grandmother’s ring at me. He said you’re going to ask Abby Gale to marry you, whether you like it or not.”
“So, you did,” she points out.
I nod. “Back then, he had so much power over me. I was too afraid to challenge my dad. He always threatened to take my trust fund away from me. After growing up the way I did, I wasn’t sure I could make it without him. I gave in because of it.”
“Are you still afraid of not having money?”
I consider her question for a long minute. “Yeah, I guess I am. It’s like a security blanket for me. If I don’t get picked up by a hockey team, then at least I have my father’s money and connections to fall back on.”
“Julian, you’re selling yourself short.” She brushes her fingers along my arm, causing the hairs on my arm to stand at attention. “You’re smart. The last time I checked, you made the Dean’s List. You didn’t get those grades because of your dad or his money.”
“What happened to I’m just some rich asshole who can roll out of bed and have his daddy fix his grades for him?”
She snorts. “I didn’t say that.”
“I’m paraphrasing.”
“I wouldn’t have fallen for you if you were just a pretty face with money.”
I smirk. “A pretty face?”
“And a hot body,” she says as her eyes travel down the length of my body. I wiggle my eyebrows at her, and she grips my shirt between her fingers, pulling me toward her. “Speaking of which,” she breathes against my lips, “I want that sexy body all over mine.”
My head spins from all the emotions swirling around me. “You’re killing me, woman.”
“No, you’re killing me,” she counters. “Please don’t hurt me this time, Julian. I can’t go through this again.”
“I won’t,” I promise, rubbing her bottom lip with my thumb.
And then, I kiss her, hard and fast and with so much passion she loses her balance, forcing me to brace her against my chest to keep from falling to the floor. I kiss her as if I’ve waited two years to be with her again. Because I have. And this time, I’m not letting her go.
Chapter Seventeen
Briana
“You look hot,” Sadie says from behind me. “Julian is going to lose his shit when he sees you in this dress.” She tilts her head to the side to appraise my body in the mirror attached to my closet door. “He chose well. He always did have good taste in clothes.”
She flicks my hair off my shoulder and fixes the diamond necklace she let me borrow. “I’ll be surprised if you make it to the restaurant without him ripping this dress off. And who could blame him?”
A knock on the front door sends a wave of electricity down my arms. “He’s here. Can you let him in?”
Sadie smiles. “Sure, make him wait for a few minutes.”
After she closes the door behind her, I stare into the mirror. I only wear makeup on special occasions and feel like someone else. Sadie applied what she calls a smoky effect around my eyes with shades of pink touching my cheeks. She had insisted I dress appropriately for the occasion, and I didn’t fight her this time. Julian picked a fancy restaurant for our date. I can’t go in there looking like some trashy college student in my ragged jeans and faded shirts.
When I step out of my bedroom, my heels clack on the tile floor. Julian snaps his head in my direction, his eyes wide as he drinks me in, rolling his tongue along his bottom lip. I stand there, with my hands folded in front of me to steady the nerves shooting throughout my body. He moves toward me, looking as handsome as ever, nothing less than perfection in a dark suit that makes him look like a million bucks.
Julian clutches my hip. Our chests are so close we’re almost touching, and when I feel his breath on my lips, I shiver.
“Wow, you look beautiful, Briana.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, intoxicated by his masculine scent. “You look good, too.”
Julian kisses me. His lips are so soft against mine that I close my eyes and kiss him back. My body is on fire, his gentle touch leaving a blazing trail of heat down my arms in the process. Sadie squeals behind us, and when I turn around she’s making a goofy face.
