If I could melt to the floor, I would.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight. I had Duke plan this dinner so I could make an announcement, because you’re all as close as family, and I want you to be the first to know.”
I bow my head and wait for impact.
“A few months ago, I made a decision that would change the course of my entire life, and that was to open my eyes and see what was standing right in front of me: Ms. Penny Green.
“For years, she’s worked tirelessly to keep our ranch running, never complaining?—”
“Bullshit!” Wade cracks with a chuckle.
“Never complaining too much and always offering to help others. She’s also been the only one to tell me no, and to stick it where the sun don’t shine.”
Everyone laughs. Even Axel, whom I know is hurting.
“Now, circling back to my decision, I just want to say that this isn’t sudden. It was a long time coming, and I hope I have y’all’s support and blessing when I tell you my intention of bringing Ms. Penny Green into the Prosper family.”
Into the family?
It suddenly occurs to me that this dinner wasn’t to announce my pregnancy.
Greyson digs into his pocket and pulls out a tiny box, flipping open the lid. Duke takes away his chair, and he gets down on one knee.
“No!” I blurt, mortified that he would do this without warning me first.
Greyson chuckles. “I haven’t even gotten to the question yet.”
The room laughs along with him.
I want to crawl under a rock.
“Ms. Penny Green, would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Penny Prosper?”
I look around nervously, my face flushing with heat.
Ever since I’d started working here, I’d dreamed of what it would be like to be a Prosper.
But not like this.
One careless night shouldn’t doom Greyson to marry someone he doesn’t love.
And make no mistake—he doesn’t love me. Not in the way a man should love the woman he’s asking to marry.
I’m fairly certain he likes me. Maybe even a little more than like. But love? Nope. He’s just doing what he thinks is right.
And I can’t have that.
Unable to look at him, I get up from my seat. Tears sting my eyes. I wipe them away, trying to put on the bravest face I can.
“I can’t,” I choke out to a chorus of gasps.
“Penny…” Greyson says quietly.
Knowing it’ll come out soon anyway, I look around the room at the shocked guests.
“While it would be an honor to join the Prosper family, this proposal isn’t what you think. I’m pregnant and Greyson is trying to do the right thing.”
Greyson rises to his feet. “That’s not true!”
