Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
"I won't."
Her heart pounded at how swiftly and firmly Lucius answered, but Tassy reminded herself just as firmly (and frantically) not to get carried away.
"I don't know what game you're playing—-"
Tassy stopped speaking when Lucius suddenly grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest, where she could feel how hard his heart was pounding.
"Does that feel real enough for you?"
Tassy was finding it harder and harder to breathe. "We barely know each other—-"
"And yet people who have known each other for decades still end up divorced."
He had her there, darn it, but—-
"I'm not really the kind of woman you'd want to marry," Tassy heard herself say shakily. "I already warned you, didn't I? I'm extremely demanding—-"
"So am I."
"And unreasonably possessive—-"
"Peas from the same pod then."
She looked at him in frustration. Why was he still here? Shouldn't he have run away by now?
"If that's all you're concerned about—-"
"I'm clingy, too," Tassy declared in a rush. "In the most annoying way possible!" That should make the billionaire think twice—-
"Perfect," Lucius said smoothly.
—-or double down on his decision to marry her simply because he hated being said 'no' to?
"I'm not lying," Tassy warned desperately. "I'm clingy to the point that you'll find yourself cringing—-"
"Prove it then."
Er...what?
Lucius took a step back and raised a challenging brow. "You can start clinging anytime now."
Tassy suddenly felt as if she had backed herself into a corner, and—-
Buuuuzzzzzzzz.
The sound of her phone's alarm going off was a welcomed interruption, and Tassy was more than a little relieved to have a legitimate excuse not to drive herself crazy over Lucius' invitation to, well, cling.
"I'm sorry about this, but that's my alarm for work—-"
Tassy was already walking backward to the door as she gave the billionaire her apology.
"Can we, um, continue this conversation next time?"
Lucius waited for relief to hit him as he watched her walk away, but instead, he found himself fighting off the urge to haul her back and demand that she accept his proposal.
He could see that a part of her wanted him to stop her from leaving...while the other half of her dreaded the same thing. He knew he could bully and seduce her into marrying him if he wanted to, and perhaps that was exactly what he would have done in the past...with any other woman.
But because this was his Tassina, and every fiber of his being now recognized that she was the only one for him—-
"I'll, um, see you around?"
Tassy could still sense Lucius' gaze on her back as she dashed out of the room. She should be glad he was letting her go and respecting her wishes...so why did she have this burning fear that she was the one who had let something go instead?
What if by leaving...she had given him time to change his mind?
What if he realized he didn't want to marry her after all?
Great! Not great! Great! Not great!
Oh God, help.
Chapter Nine
FOXTOWN HAS LISTENED to customer feedback.
Tassy nodded to herself as she continued mentally drafting the rest of her report.
Newly opened boutique now offers outfits for rent. Extensive selection for both men and women.
Tassy took a couple of photos and made sure to zoom in on the little details. One gown had stunningly gorgeous lacework while another had the loveliest pattern of birds and flowers embroidered on its sleeves.
Accessories also available.
Tassy couldn't help but smile at the collection of hats on display. It reminded her of the fascinators she was only used to seeing in horse races and posh weddings in England. It would be nice if Foxtown could help bring this trend back.
A full-length mirror was right next to the display, and Tassy let out a strangled gasp when she caught sight of her reflection.
H-Hickey!
How could she have forgotten about it?
And to think, she had been walking around without a care to the world, and oh God—-
Tassy's gaze collided accidentally with the other women through their shared reflection in the mirror, and they burst into laughter as soon as they saw the mortified expression on Tassy's face.
"We were all thinking it wasn't like you at all to not hide something like that!"
"And I was right, wasn't I?" Shannon, who had known Tassy for years, crowed in triumph. "She forgot about it, and you totally did, didn't you?"
Tassy was still lost for words, which had everyone laughing even more.
It looks very fresh, Tas!
Oh my gosh, did you hook up with someone this morning?! You did, didn't you?
Yaaaas, queen!
Who is it?
Who is it?
WHO—-
Flustered and just a little panicky at suddenly being the center of everyone's attention, Tassy blurted out the first thing that came to mind—-
"He's just a friend!"
It was the dumbest excuse ever, but...oh?
Why hadn't anyone called her out for lying?
Why were they only staring at her?
Was it possible that they really did believe—-
"I apologize for the intrusion, but may I have a moment to speak with my...friend?"