“Let’s call this off. It’s not too late,” I said.
Josie blinked up at me. “What? Why?”
“Because this is obviously going to be much harder than I anticipated. For you, I mean.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. Just... I imagined the day I was getting my engagement ring to be different.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“Hunter. You’ve done so much for me. This is the least I can do.”
I stepped closer, tilting her head up.
“Josie. Look at me. I don’t want you to go through with this out of some skewed sense of obligation.”
“Right.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you owe me, because you don’t.”
“That’s a lot of don’ts.”
“There’s a lot more where that came from.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I’m discovering a new side to you. Not sure how much I like it.”
“Judging by your shit-eating grin, you love it.”
She tried to rein in her grin—and failed.
Chapter Six
Josie
On Saturday, I was a basket case as I paced my apartment, waiting for Hunter to pick me up. We’d decided this was the best tactic. It would be natural for us to arrive together. Hunter had suggested we wait until after dinner to break the news, so we wouldn’t spend the entire meal answering questions. I countered by saying that I couldn’t hide the ring until dessert. He’d agreed with me in the end.
I startled when the doorbell rang and hurried to open the door. I twirled once, showing off the light green dress.
“What do you think? Worthy of an engagement announcement? Does it say ‘I’ve secretly been in love with Hunter my entire life’?”
I’d spun with so much enthusiasm that I got a little dizzy, swaying when I stopped. Hunter’s arm was on my waist the next second. Strong. Warm. Steady.
I laughed at myself as I looked up. “So? What do you think?”
“You’re sexy.”
My eyes widened. “It’s inappropriate?”
“No. It’s just perfect.”
I became aware of just how possessive that arm was on my waist. That his other hand was on my shoulder. The skin-on-skin contact singed me. I wiggled out, smoothing my dress.
“Let’s go. Can’t wait to show off my ring. I did some research. Apparently, scorned wives can turn engagement rings into something else. A pendant, or earrings. I’ll turn this into something beautiful after you’re going to break my heart.”
“Maybe you’ll break mine.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re the heartbreaker. I’m just me.”
“You’re fucking beautiful.”
“I already said yes. You don’t have to butter me up.”
He touched my chin, his thumb resting almost at the corner of my mouth.
“You are beautiful, Josie. If I haven’t said it before, it was only because I was afraid you’d think I was coming onto you.”
“And now you’re not afraid anymore?”
He smiled. “No, I’m not, fiancée. So you’d better get used to it.”
I felt slightly off-balance. Was he flirting? Was he joking? My heart was beating insanely fast as I looked straight at him, trying to gauge his true intentions. I ended up averting my gaze, afraid he’d be able to tell what I was thinking. It was difficult not to get wrapped up in his charm when he was so focused on me.
We took a cab to Amelia’s but got out a few blocks away, deciding to walk for a few minutes and make our game plan.
“I told Mom,” he said. “She was... psyched. I’m guessing Amelia will be too.”
“Hunter, sorry to rain on your parade, but all the girls will be psyched.”
He sighed. “True.”
“I think our best bet is to divide and conquer.”
“Elaborate.”
“We try to talk to everyone separately, or at least in small groups. If everyone bombards us with questions at the same time, we’re more likely to slip up and make a mistake.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re right.”
“The guys are probably just going to roll their eyes and leave you alone.”
“If they don’t, I’ll hand them their asses.”
“Yeah, but that means you have to save me from the girls, okay?”
“I’ll do my best. Oh, and take two weeks off after the wedding.”
“Why?”
“We’ll have plenty of stuff to deal with,” he said.
“Okay...” I wasn’t really sure what he meant, but I trusted his gut feeling.
Hunter took my hand as we walked toward Amelia’s door. Sweat dotted my palms. He must have sensed my distress, because he squeezed it reassuringly. Neither of us said it out loud, but after tonight, there was no going back.
Amelia opened the door, kissing both our cheeks. Then she noticed our interlinked hands.
“Oh my God,” she said with a smile.
“Josie and I have news. Let’s join the others.” Hunter brought his hand around my shoulders as we headed to the living room.
Five minutes later, everyone present was pouncing on us.
Amelia pulled me into a heartfelt hug.
“I’ve always known you two would eventually see what was right in front of you. You’ll make my boy so happy.”
I felt so guilty that I nearly confessed everything on the spot. I looked around for Hunter, wondering if there was a way to talk to him alone. Surely, we could tell Amelia? She wouldn’t tell anyone. It wasn’t fair to lie to her. I couldn’t bear imagining the look of disappointment on her face when we’d “divorce” a few years down the road. She’d be crushed, especially since she went through a divorce herself. I couldn’t even imagine being a mom of four and my husband just announcing he was leaving me for another woman.
When I’d met the Winchester family, they were still dealing in their own way with their father leaving, but they’d had one thing in common: they were all very protective of Amelia. She always joked that she’d had a household full of rebels before the divorce, and afterward, they always took turns being up to no good, as if they’d known she was too overwhelmed by life to deal with all of them at the same time.
Amelia was one of the people I loved and respected most. I couldn’t lie to her. But I was almost certain the immigration services would question Amelia about Hunter if they even had the slightest suspicion. No, I had to soldier on with this. I wouldn’t put Amelia in danger just because I couldn’t deal with a guilty conscience.
“When is the wedding?” Ryker asked, sipping his whiskey.
“In three weeks,” I answered.
Ryker nearly choked on his drink.
“What?” Tess exclaimed. “Are you pregnant?”
“No,” Hunter and I answered at the same time. He kissed my hand, adding, “I’ve loved Josie for most of my life. She’s the one. She’s always been the one. Why wait?”
Had we agreed to this? It wasn’t exactly what we’d rehearsed, was it? It sounded so real, and my heart felt about to explode. For the second time, I was too wrapped up in Hunter to realize his next move. My knees weakened the moment our lips touched. This kiss was even hotter than the first one, and the entire family was watching. What was he thinking?