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Ryzen grabbed a towel and handed it to me, his movements jerky. You could tell he wanted to say more, but he held back. When he walked out, I wrapped the towel around myself and dried off.
I was the biggest idiot in the world for ever trusting Cian. I’d really thought that he cared about me. That there was a spark there. Turned out he’d just been manipulating me, and he had done a fantastic job at it. My throat tightened, and I swallowed the sob trying to escape.
I found Ryzen on the couch after I changed and composed myself. He was hunched over, his head in his hands. I sat down and reached out slowly, touching his back. “I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner.”
He looked up, his eyes glistening. “Yes, you should have.”
Oh, my God, he was about to cry. Had I hurt him that badly? I lowered my gaze and clasped my hands together.
“I’m assuming Cian told you I ruined his wedding, right? That Gretchen was his first? All lies, Nova.” Ryzen stood and placed his hands on my shoulders. “I can handle him, as I’ve done for many years. But I will not let him ruin me in your eyes. Do you understand?”
I nodded, and he pulled me against his chest, squeezing me against him. Tears welled in my eyes, and I swallowed the ball in my throat. I hadn’t known. I had trusted the wrong man, and Ryzen was paying the price for it. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. We stayed like that for a moment, not saying anything. There was only one thing left to say.
“I’ll do it,” I whispered. “I’ll marry you.”
Ryzen’s body tensed, and he pulled back. “Nova, you don’t have to. I’ll figure out another way. One that doesn’t hurt you in the process.” His thumb swept over my cheek, wiping away a tear.
I wasn’t crying for him or for Cian. I was crying for myself. For letting myself fall in love with the wrong man. The one thing I’d said I would never do again.
“I want to. I want to help you close this deal.” And I meant it. I wanted him to have his hotels. It was the least I could do after everything.
Ryzen’s entire face lit up. “Only if you’re sure.” He sighed when I nodded. “You will not regret this. I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams.”
I didn’t want the wedding of my dreams.
I only wanted to see the look on Cian’s face when he realized he’d lost.
********
I chewed on my nails, glancing at the clock above the door. It had been two days since I had agreed to marry Ryzen. Two long days of ignoring Cian’s calls. He was persistent, I’d give him that. Had Iva left already, or was he calling me behind her back? My jaw clenched, and I shoved my hands in my pocket to stop the obsessive nibbling on my fingernails.
Juliet was coming back today. Well, at least I hoped she was. She still had returned none of my calls, and the two bottles of empty Tums in the wastebasket summed up how I felt about that.
The front door opened, and my back stiffened. I reached for the first thing to my right, which happened to be a giant dildo. She walked in and took off her sunglasses, giving me an odd look. “Am I interrupting?” She stood in the doorway, not stepping in all the way.
“Oh. No.” I tossed the dildo behind my shoulder and clasped my hands together. We looked at each other, having a conversation with our eyes like we had typically done in the past. Her eyes watered, which of course made mine water, and I stood up.
“I’m sorry!” we both said at the same time while rushing to hug each other.
“No, I’m sorry, Nova. I was such a bitch for no reason. I’ve felt terrible.” She squeezed me tight and rocked from side to side. “I don’t know what came over me. I just—Riddick kept stressing how important it was that everything worked out—and I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“No, I was totally wrong, and you were right. You were right about everything, Jules.” A sob escaped my throat, and I clung to her like my life depended on it.
“Hey now, stop that. We’re OK. I know I should have called sooner.” She held me tight, and I never wanted to let go. What would I do without this beautiful soul in life?
Owen came through the door, his mouth hanging open at the sight of us. “Oh, thank God.” He sighed and wrapped his arms around both of us. “You guys are not allowed to fight ever again. The business could have gone under.”
Juliet rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the stomach softly. “Yeah, yeah, no more fighting. Get back to work, slacker, so I can talk with boss woman number one.”
He held his hand against his forehead in a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned to walk out and stopped at the door. “Aww, I love my little work family.”
Juliet picked up a butt plug and threw it at him. “Leave before I fire you.” She chuckled as he walked backwards, his hands in the air.
She grabbed my hands and squeezed. “I am really sorry, Nova. I should not have left like that. I had the worst time while I was away and Riddick thought it would be funny to hide my phone, so I didn’t see that you had called until this morning.”
I nodded, my shoulders caving forward. “No, it’s OK. I was wrong, and you were right. I should have taken your feelings about all this into consideration.” I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop another cry attack.
“Tell me everything that I missed while I was away.”
