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Those five words had the effect he wanted, making me remember our first encounter when I was sixteen-years-old.
“I see the boy grew up.”
He smiled. “I could say the same about the girl. She looks nothing like the Southern belle I left behind.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, once again taking in his words. “Are you here for a walk down memory lane? Because I’ll save you the trouble—I have no interest in reminiscing with you. Better yet, I have no interest in speaking to you.”
“You’re definitely going to want to hear what I have to say.”
“Then why are you wasting my time with preludes of a past that needs to stay there?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Does it, though?”
I ignored his query. “What do you want, Tristian?”
“Now that’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one, kitten.”
“My name is Belle, or you could just address me as Miss Montgomery. Considering you have the nerve to show up here. If my grandfather knew a Hawkins was in his building, he’d personally throw you out.”
“And if he knew a Hawkins had been in your bed? What would he do then?”
“That’s enough.”
“Kitten.” He leaned over, setting his elbows on his knees. “I’m only getting started.”
“I don’t have time to play your games.”
“I’m not the one with the games this time.”
I flinched. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“So now you want to know?” he mocked in a condescending tone I didn’t appreciate.
“You’ve already ruined my day, so you might as well tell me what you want.”
With a predatory regard I was used to from him, he smirked. “Ruined your day, huh?”
“Tristian, you’re lucky I haven’t kicked you out of my office yet.”
“I’ll test my luck then.”
For the second time in a few short minutes, he shocked the shit out of me when he proposed…
“Marry me.”
—Tristian—
She didn’t just stumble back, she fucking flew. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, kitten.”
“Is this a joke?” she aggressively questioned. “Another one of your little games?”
“You used to love my little games.”
“I used to love a lot of things that were bad for me.”
Despite feeling her remark in the pit of my stomach, I acted unfazed. Hiding how I truly felt was an acquired trait I'd learned at far too young of an age.
