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“What I do or don’t feel is not your concern.”
Blake pulled her in closer, his hand warm on the small of her back, his chest solid and firm against hers as they danced.
“Come on, Rose. Tell me why you won’t look at me. Tell me why you flinch when I say your name. It’s been almost a month! You won’t take my calls, you won’t let me see you. The only way I even know you’re still alive is because your mom told me.”
Her face turned sharply to look at him as he steered them around the floor, lone dancers amongst a staring crowd. “Because you nearlydied.You nearly died for me.”
Blake’s mouth dropped open slightly, his blue eyes lighting up, and she couldn’t help but wish he didn’t have the stupid gel in his hair so she could feel how soft it was against her fingers where her hands were locked around the back of his neck. “You’re mad.”
“Damn right I’m mad,” she growled and he laughed, a full belly laugh as he stopped them in the middle of the dance floor and left her staring.
“You care about me,” he taunted, and she frowned. Not denying it but definitely not admitting anything either, not while he continued to laugh at her. “Well, princess, that’s all I needed to know.” Then he dropped her hand and left her standing there as Maia made her way over.
“What was that about?”
“Just Blake being an ass, as usual.”
“Darling,” her mother chided as she walked up arm in arm with her dad. “That’s no way to talk after what Blake did for you.”
Maia pinched her as she opened her mouth, and Rose grimaced.
A tinkling sound rang through the air, and they all turned to look at Blake who stood off to the side on the slightly raised stage ready for the bachelor auction.
“Thank you all for coming,” he said over the quiet chatter, and Rose glared at a woman across from her who was staring dreamily in his direction. “It’s a pleasure to have you here in my home. As you all know, it’s been a difficult past few weeks… well, a difficult month or so, really.” A few people tittered, and she forced her hands to unclench. “I’m grateful for your support here today, but I do have some news that some of the ladies may find disappointing. Please know my heart does break a little to tell you this.”
It felt as if the crowd leaned forward, but maybe it was just her.What is he doing?
“I won’t be participating in this year’s bachelor auction.” A few gasps and cries of distress actually sounded out, and Rose shot the offenders a glare. Seriously? They were that desperate? She sniffed dismissively, and Maia chuckled. “However, I do have happier news to share… or rather, confirm.”
Rose’s heart beat quicker in her chest, and the small sweat she’d worked up spinning around the floor with Blake cooled quickly against her skin.
“I’m engaged!” Blake beamed out at the crowd, and Rose felt sick, like the bottom had been dropped out under her. The room span for a second and Maia gripped her arm tightly, the sensation all that kept her from throwing up.Her Blake? Engaged?She could barely hear Blake over the cheers and whooping and even a few catcalls, but then something did stand-out. Her name.
Suddenly the room was turning like a tide and a sea of faces beamed up at her. He hadn’t just said what she thought he had, had he?
In case there was any doubt, Blake smirked at her from the stage. “Don’t be shy, Rose.”
Maia was gaping at her, and Rose’s mother looked like she was about to explode from both glee and rage. No. No way had he just told everyone in this room, and therefore by extension the entirety of Cincinnati, that they were engaged. As in, to bemarried.
God, her mom was going to think Rose had kept this from her deliberately. Maia shoved her in the back, and Rose threw Maia a look over her shoulder as she was jostled to the front and stood with her hands on her hips looking up at Blake.
“What are you playing at?” she whispered angrily, and he winked.
“I just didn’t want to hide it anymore, princess,” Blake said loudly and she groaned. Crap. If her mom wasn’t already pissed, then that was about to change.
“You’re in for a world of pain,” she said in his ear as he walked off the stage and pulled her into an embrace that she tried not to return.
“Thank you, sweetheart, you look fabulous this evening too.” Blake winked at the crowd still watching them as the music started up again and Rose stared out at them passively.
“Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Do – Are youhigh?”
“No, but I did get the good stuff while I was in the hospital. Not that you’d know because you never visited.” Blake straightened his navy tie, and she looked away awkwardly as he paused. “Oh.” A grin tugged at his mouth, and he bit his lip. “You did, didn’t you?”
“I–”
