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The two shake hands, then he looks at me and nods with approval.
The simple gesture and the proud look in his eyes slide the weight off my shoulders, and I give myself credit. I’m more than halfway there.
Knight and Aurora pull us into an engaging conversation, which eases River into telling them all how we met.
For this, I had to mix the truth with amplified lies, so I kept the truth that we met in high school. That was just in case if anyone checks River out and realizes we went to the same school. I also thought the length of time we knew each other would sound more acceptable and not like we’re arranged. Or fake.
The story switches up to where we ran into each other months ago. I didn’t want to bring our high school relationship into it. That was Knight’s benefit. He’s aware I went through dark shit around that time, but I’ve never given him any details.
Everyone looks impressed with our story, and I feel more relax that I won them over.
As the night wears on, we catch the attention of many others, including my father and the bitch wife, Sloane, who looks down her nose at me.
They never speak to Knight and me unless they have to, so I don’t worry about them.
The time comes when Grandfather announces our engagement, and the press swarm us again for more pictures and more questions. We’re stuck with them for at least half an hour. It’s more time than I’ve ever given them, but this is part and parcel of the show, which makes Grandfather look even more pleased with me.
The press gobble up our romance story, oohing and awing at all the sentimental parts River and I serve them on a platter.
I know without a doubt we’ll be all over the news tomorrow on every newspaper and channel. Our story will be selling for weeks because I was the least likely of my three brothers to get married.
“Can we get a kiss?” asks a petite brunette, readying her camera.
“Of course,” I reply and pull River closer to me.
Our eyes lock for a flash of a second, and I take in the beautiful emerald color of her eyes with specks of hazel. This would be the first time we’ve kissed since that date night. I prepared for this and tried to school my mind, but when my lips touch hers, I’m ruined.
The alluring taste of her mouth is the gateway to my destruction. It’s the pathway to every sinful desire I’ve ever felt for her. Raw, carnal desire rips through my body, tearing at my soul and all the walls I erected to keep me from wanting her.
I don’t want to stop, and as soon as we pull apart, I want more, so much damn more.
River thinks the boundaries I put up between us are for her. To set her straight about what we are and what we can’t be.
They’re not.
They’re for me.
* * *
“Well done, brother,” Knight says, resting his arm on the glossy counter. “You two make a good couple.”
“Thank you.”
We’re at the bar. This is the first chance we’ve had to get a moment to ourselves to talk.
Grandma dragged River and Aurora off to gossip with her friends, and Grandfather is with his, probably playing poker. Any opportunity for a game.
We’ve been here for close to four hours. It’s been a successful night and a good one, too, if I do say so myself.
Knight and I each have a glass of whiskey. He raises his to toast, and I do the same for tonight’s success.
“To your upcoming wedding and your new life.” Knight sounds proud. It’s not often that I get that from him in regard to me. Nowadays, he looks like that with anything to do with Aurora or their baby.
“To your new life, too, father-to-be.”
He chuckles, and we clink our glasses. “I still can’t believe it. We find out next week what we’re having.”
“What do you want?”
