Delicate Promises (Southern Bride 2)

“You really are a fucking asshole of a dick wad, motherfucking, cock sucker, son of a living bitch whore!”

Kynslee grabbed my hand, flipped it over and pushed the ring into it before she walked away. I attempted to speak, to tell her to wait and that I could explain, but the only thing that came out was a high-pitched moan.

Okay. So maybe I went about that all wrong.

Kynslee

“HE DID WHAT?” my cousin Patty asked, a stunned look on her pretty face. Her dark brown hair was pulled up into a braided ponytail with loose pieces of curls hanging down around her face courtesy of her daily run.

“He told me he was here to ‘cash in’ on the promise we made before he left for the Marines.”

Patty laughed. “He’s not serious, is he?”

“He gave me a ring. And I’m almost positive it was real, Patty. And it was absolutely beautiful, at least what I saw of it before shoving it into his hand and walking away.”

I hated that I had a dreamy sound in my voice. It was a beautiful ring, though.

She leaned forward on the porch swing. “What did it look like?”

“It was a princess cut diamond, pretty big, set in a white gold channel band. At least, I think it was white gold. Hell, it could’ve been platinum for all I know.”

“How romantic!”

“What? How in the world do you find that romantic?”

“Kynslee, please. How do you not find it romantic? The boy calls you every year on your birthday. Then shows up on the birthday y’all agreed to marry each other if you weren’t already hitched by then.”

“First off, he is not a boy anymore. Honestly, I find it hard to believe he hasn’t settled down already. He’s beyond good looking and has a body to die for.”

“Well, you can thank the US Military for that benefit.”

I didn’t tell her that Miles had also worked with the CIA. He’d mentioned I was the only one who knew, so I guessed it wasn’t an open topic for discussion with the gossip mill in Hunt.

“I’m sure that has something to do with it,” I stated.

“Okay, so let’s really look at this. Miles leaves for damn near twelve years but comes back a few times. One of those times y’all hook up, then it seems like he avoids you and plans his visits when you’re not in town. Although, I’m not sure how he would know your plans.”

The CIA probably helped with that, too, I thought. “I’m sure his momma or Lana had a hand in alerting him to my comings and goings.”

“When he left for the Marines you made him a promise you would marry him if y’all weren’t married by thirty. That’s a pretty big promise.”

“We were eighteen, Patty! I sort of thought he’d ask me before we got to this point. Then he went off and hooked up with women and posted it on Facebook for me to see. Clear sign he wasn’t on the same path as me.”

“Right, that’s right. That’s when you dated the guy in Austin.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me.”

“Well, neither of you are with anyone now. Did you ever think maybe you both stayed single so that you could marry each other once the time was right?”

“Please,” I mumbled, trying to ignore the way my heart picked up at the thought. Once upon a time I wanted that deep down, but no longer. At least that was what I told myself…daily.

“Think about it. You gave your virginity to Miles, he did the same. Y’all hooked up a few more times after that, so clearly you’re attracted to each other physically. He keeps in touch with you and calls you every year on your birthday. That shows he cares deeply for you. Maybe deep down y’all are really in love with each other.”

My stomach dropped and I looked away from her because if she looked at my face, she’d see the truth. “I’m not in love with Miles.”

“Then why did you tell Jack no?”

Tossing up my hands, I said, “Why does everyone keep bringing up the fact that I said no to Jack?”

“Because you dated him for years, he asked you and you said no. There has to be a reason.”

“I wasn’t ready to get married, settle down, and have kids!”

“Okay. So why did you say no to Miles?”

I stared at her, no idea how to even answer that question.

“Did you really ask me that just now?” I said, stalling for time.

She nodded.

My doorbell rang, and I got up and headed to the door. “Saved by the bell,” I whispered.

When I opened it, Miles was standing there, and I groaned.

He smiled and my stomach flipped just like when he smiled at me time when we were kids. Or the night we made love for the first time, awkward and painful, yet still amazing. Then he said in that southern drawl of his, “Hey there, Kyns.”