Page 174 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

I stop, hearing trepidation in her voice. That’s what I needed to hear from her—some kind of indication that she’s not okay with this goddamned forced marriage. I turn to face her.

“Because I’m scared,” she says now that she has my full attention.

I narrow an eye. “Are you screwing with me?”

“What do you mean?”

Pedestrians stroll between our conversation as if they’re not burdened with our kind of worries. If I don’t marry a woman I don’t love, I’ll lose everything—my penthouse, my position at VTI, and my monthly stipend.

I close the gap between us and decide it’s best to talk to her. I need to know if she’s willing to strategize with me and figure out a way to get out this sham of an engagement without losing the shirts off our backs in the process. But first, there are few things I have to set straight with her.

“You took my money. You were supposed to disappear, and yet, here you are,” I say.

Her shoulders slump, curving forward. “I know.”

“One million wasn’t enough for you? If not, then you should’ve come back to me. I would’ve given you two, three, four… whatever it took.”

She folds her arms like she’s cold. “It wasn’t my choice.”

I narrow an eye. “What do you mean?”

“Oh… Hey?” a sweet and familiar voice says.

I flick my attention to my right. Then I see the face I can’t stop fantasizing about.

“Hey,” I whisper past my tight throat, then refrain from muttering a string of curse words.

Paisley’s curious gaze shifts from me to Rain then back to me. She’s sweating profusely, wearing spandex and a black T-shirt with Get Your Life plastered across her luscious tits.

“Well, okay, good seeing you,” she says.

I’m still frozen by shock as Paisley starts to run off. I know she’s hurt. I see it in her eyes, and I hate it.

“Sorry,” Rain says, stepping in front of Paisley to block her. Rain’s hand is extended. “I’m Rain Mueller, Hercules’s fiancée—and you are?”

“She’s my cousin,” I affirm forcefully.

“Oh,” Paisley says in a trembling voice. She looks as if she’s two seconds away from bawling as she shakes Rain’s hand. “I’m Paisley Grove.”

Rain gasps as she slaps a hand over her mouth. “Like, Grove—Grove?”

Paisley’s only response is intensifying her frown. I can tell she wants to escape this scene and fast. However, I don’t want her to go anywhere?

“Did you get the list?” I ask her.

“List?”

“From Lake? She and Mason want a coed bridal shower and bachelor party. It’s our job to plan it.”Shit. Was that all I could come up with?

Her sexy lips pressed, she nods. All I want to do is kiss her softly and assure her that Rain is no competition for her.

“I gotta go,” she says abruptly.

I can’t stop her after she takes off. I watch her until she’s out of sight, then I turn my ire on Rain, roaring, “What the hell was that?”

She throws her hands up like she’s innocent. “What? I was being nice.”

Fuming, I narrow my eyes at her. Achilles always reminds me that I’m the smart one. He’s right. Look at her, standing there all smug and deceitful. Her eyes are smiling like a lying politician’s. It suddenly becomes clear that I’m not going to get rid of Rain so easily. If she wants to play, then fine, we’ll play.