Page 58 of An Inevitable Marriage

“I…uh…thank you,” she stammered, confirming my suspicions. She tucked a few inky strands behind her ear. “I appreciate the apology and the compliment…even though it wasn’t necessary…the compliment, I mean.”

The blush on her cheeks deepened. Something sparked in those green eyes, but she turned her head away before I could put a finger on it.

I wanted her to look at me again.

And as desperate as I was to put my hands on her and make it happen, I didn’t want to do anything that might upset her. This was completely new territory for me because all I’d done since we’d met was invade her space.

“Hey, Snow.” I waited with bated breath until her gaze met mine. “The compliment was just as necessary as the apology. You smell fucking nice; you need to know that.”

A hint of a smile touched her lips, and I wondered what it would take for me to deserve a full one.

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“What? Snow?” When she nodded, I couldn’t resist leaning a little closer. “You’re a smart woman; figure it out.” Stepping back, I scratched the spot above my galloping heart. “See you later.”

It was a promise. One I intended to keep.

Chapter fifteen

Everlee

Itwasthebeginningof the end.

This was how I finally lost my damn mind. I was sure of it. Either that or I was stuck in dreamland again.

I pinched the skin on my forearm hard.

“Ouch. Shit.”

Rubbing the tender spot, I frowned at my empty doorway.

Okay, so Liam had been there, and he’d apologized. And apparently, he also thought I smelled nice.

Just thinking about the compliment sent my poor heart into overdrive, not to mention the butterflies in my belly. Their tiny wings fluttered and flapped, turning my insides upside down.

Or maybe the intensity with which he’d said it had turned me into such a mess?

Because, holy moly, when his voice was all low and gravelly like that, my body stood up and took note.

Even my knees went slightly weak.

A little ridiculous, I knew as much. But then again, it’d been the first time anyone had ever said that to me. Heaven knew, Anthony hadn’t been a compliment giver. His best attempt had been: “You look good.”

At the time, I’d thought it was enough. But after the way Liam had closed his eyes and breathed me in, almost like he couldn’t help himself, and the way those raspy words rolled off his tongue…

Yeah,you look goodwould never be enough again.

I was still staring at the doorway, possibly even hoping Liam would return and say more things like that when Estaban’s voice suddenly filled the room.

My entire body jerked.

“Holy freaking shit.” Clutching my chest, I hurried to snatch my phone from the bedside table. My heart dipped when I sawMomin big bold letters on the screen.

I’d always just been happy to hear from her, but since our tiff on the day I’d got married to Liam, things had been strained. Every time we talked, my mom either gave me a speech on why I shouldn’t marry someone for money—which was why I hadn’t confessed that I’d already done exactly that—or she’d demand I comehome.

Our talks never ended well.

And yet, I couldn’t not answer. What if something had happened to my dad?