Page 35 of Not His Bride
Her expression changes. “Gallagher—”
“You don’t have to be mine for me to give a shit about you, Lil.”
Her mouth parts.
I immediately wish I had phrased that better. “You know what I mean.”
Her gaze falls to the floor. When she looks back at me, whatever amusement was there is gone. Whatever she’s thinking now, she’s having a harder time hiding it.
“I wondered about this.”
“About me merging with your family?”
“No.” She moves around the corner of my desk, putting us on the same side of it. “About what would happen the next time something you really wanted was put in front of you.”
Lilith continues quietly, “Phantom was amazing. It was probably the best date anyone has ever taken me on. You can spend an insane amount of money and still wake up the next morning with an insane amount of money. But this one cost you something.”
I start to answer, but she keeps going. “And you didn’t even know I was here.”
Lilith watches me long enough that I start feeling uncomfortable.
“I think I have my answer.”
I barely breathe. “What answer?”
“The one I’ve been waiting for.”
“I forgive you.”
For a second, I genuinely think I heard her wrong. “You what?”
“I forgive you.”
Completely surprised at today’s turn of events, I’m fumbling for words in my head. So much so that nothing comes out.
Lilith’s brows rise. “Please don’t make me say it again. This is already uncomfortable.”
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “Sorry.”
She glances toward the closed office door, then back at me.
“I’m still glad we’re getting the annulment.”
That kills approximately half of my excitement. “Oh. Right.”
She clicks her tongue. “I cut myself out of my wedding dress with kitchen scissors.”
That one makes me wince. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah, it was dramatic.”
“I bet.”
Lilith takes another step toward me, stopping close enough that I can reach her. “If we ever do this again, I want to do it like normal people.”
I stop breathing. “I need you to be extremely specific right now.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Date me.”
