“Enough.” I slam my hand down on my desk. “She’s about to be your sister-in-law, and my wife, so I suggest you bite your tongue.”
He glares at me and then looks away as he takes a drink. “I’m just letting you know this is a mistake.”
“It’s mine to make.”
“You’re obsessed,” he cuts in, but there’s no way I’m denying it.
One look at her and I couldn’t let her go. Her golden eyes haunted me like nothing else. I’ve been good with money, investments, property—literally everything I’ve touched has become a success. But I’ve never been knocked to my knees by a woman before.
I’d gone to her dad’s office for a meeting he’d begged for. I wasn’t going to go, but I did him a favor because a few years ago he’d given a generous donation to my charity. I thought if anything I owed it to him to hear him out. After Phoebe nearly knocked me over, I went up to his office with my head spinning. making a plan on how I could find this little slip of a woman.
Then I saw a photo of her on his bookshelf and a plan began to form. I looked into his business and found out that everything he owned was leveraged against his gambling debts. It was enough that there’s no way he could get out without declaring bankruptcy. Unless someone like me came along and offered to make all his problems go away. All I had to do was bide my time until Phoebe could be mine.
“And what will you do once you’ve gotten it out of your system, huh?” Curt asks. “You’ll get your nut and still be stuck with her.”
“Say it again and I’ll cut your tongue out.” My voice is low and cold, and for once Curt sees that I’m serious.
“What is wrong with you?” He genuinely looks concerned. “I’ve never seen you this way before.”
How can I explain to him what I’m feeling when I’m not even sure? All I know is that I’m on the edge of insanity, and if I don’t have her under my roof soon, I’ll burn her father’s business to the ground and make him scoop up the ashes.
The chime on my monitor goes off, and I see the Rolls Royce Phantom pull up to the gate. I stand and straighten my suit as I look down at my brother.
“It’s my wedding day, and you’re going to stand beside me and witness this,” I say, clenching my jaw. “Then when it’s over you can get the fuck out and leave me with my bride.”
“Boone, don’t do this,” he pleads, but I glare at him.
“Do I need to get a member of the staff to witness this instead of my own flesh and blood?”
Curt stands, and we’re eye to eye. Both of us are built almost the exact same at six foot five. His shoulders sag a little when he sees I’m not budging on this.
“Okay, let’s do this.” He relents and gulps the rest of his whiskey.
I turn and walk out of the office, not waiting to see if he follows behind me. After only a beat of hesitation, I hear his footsteps on the hardwoods.
The house is sparse because I don’t need much, and when I’m here I like to work outside on the land. I’ve even camped a few times by the lake when the weather is nice. This is the place where Phoebe and I will stay so that it’s private and away from prying eyes. I have a small staff that comes once a day, but at night we’ll be totally alone. I’m hoping I can keep media attention away from this, at least for a short time while we settle in.
“Everything is ready for you, sir,” Mrs. Birch says once I enter the foyer.
“Thank you.” I asked her to prepare a small meal for Phoebe and me for after the guests leave. I’m not making an effort to invite them to stay any longer than necessary. There is a minister on the terrace waiting to perform the ceremony as soon as we’re all in place.
The double doors to the front of the house are opened just as the Rolls Royce pulls up to the steps. I walk down them and feel Curt at my back as the driver comes around and opens the door. First I see Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne, who silently nod hello and then step out of the way. Then Phoebe holds out her hand for the driver to help her out of the backseat, and I don’t like it.
“Move,” I bark at the driver, and he quickly does as I command.
I take Phoebe’s hand in mine and look down at her in the long white dress. She’s so beautiful that I have to look away or I’ll take her right here on the ground.