Page 138 of Tempting Miles
Then his phone starts vibrating.
The alarm.
“Time’s up,” I say as I wipe my wet cheeks.
“Ready?”
“No,” I admit. But we have to know.”
Hand in hand, we slowly walk toward the bathroom while my heartbeat pounds so hard I swear I can feel it in my throat.
I squeeze my eyes shut, not ready to see the results just yet.
“Boss,” Miles says softly, excitement bleeding into his voice. “Open your eyes.”
I force myself to look.
Two bright pink lines stare back at me.
Too many emotions hit me at once—panic, elation, anxiety, anticipation.
A strangled gasp leaves my lips as my knees give out.
Miles catches me before I fully hit the floor, going down with me.
“I got you,” he murmurs over and over as he holds me tight against his chest. “I love you, no matter what. I love you.”
If only love were enough.
“Hi, Ma. Hey, Dad. Come in,” I say as I open the door to Miles's house.
“What a lovely place, Penny Bean,” Mami says as she steps inside and starts looking around.
Her face softens when she notices the bay window where I’ve basically made myself a nest with pillows, blankets, and a book resting on the cushion.
“So this is where you’ve been staying?”
“Yeah, this is Miles’s place.” I close the door behind them. “Would you like something to eat or drink?”
They both politely decline.
I lead them into the living room, and we settle in—Mami and Dad on the big couch while I take the recliner across from them.
“Thank you both for coming and bringing my things. I know I need to catch up with real life eventually, but I really needed a reset.”
Mami smiles with knowing eyes while Dad stays unusually quiet.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, Dad. I just… wanted to do right by you.”
My voice breaks as I remember how helpless I felt counting down the minutes to a wedding that would’ve ruined my life.
Dad drags a hand over his face before looking at me.
“I’m the one who’s sorry for putting you in that position, sweetie.” His expression tightens with regret. “If there’s one thing I hope you learned from this mess, it’s to never try to fix my mistakes.”
Fresh tears sting my eyes.
“I’m an old man who stupidly used his life’s work as collateral in a poker game,” he says heavily. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if you had married that snake because of me.”
