Chapter Forty-Six
“Tonight, the future bride gets her modern-day carriage, a brand-new car, courtesy of Mercedes of Mercer.” Darius handed Belle the car keys with great fanfare.
Belle tucked her purse under her arm, and placed her hand on the black sedan in the parking lot behind the auditorium. The first genuine smile Erik had seen from her that day lit up her features.
“Thank you, Darius, and once again, thank you to all the viewers making this happen,” she said into the camera. Her delivery was flawless and there was an air of excitement about her that had been missing since their last and most memorable date.
Erik opened the driver’s side door for her as was scripted. His feelings for her weren’t. She climbed inside and their eyes met and locked for a breathless second. He shut the door, anxious to be with her, even if it was for the show. She started the car and rolled down the window as he ran around to the passenger side. He slipped into the passenger seat, his pulse racing. The fragrance of her perfume overrode the distinctive scent of leather. He leaned close to her on the pretext of looking into the camera that the cameraman angled into the car. Her hair was in the way and he pulled it back, the strands silky in his palm.
“Ready?” He whispered in her ear, purposely brushing the shell with his lips. Pathetic but he never claimed not to be. He’d been in misery for the two weeks he’d been gone, a physical pain he hadn’t expected to ever feel. Love should make him happy, not miserable.
Belle nodded and kept her profile to him. Her earlier excitement had faded and the false smile was back in place. What he wouldn’t give to see the joy return to her face.
“We’ll see you at the wedding,” Erik said with forced cheerfulness. Another lie. After a few weeks, they’d officially announce the end of their engagement. Something deep inside his head screamed no at the thought. It wasn’t his sole decision. She had a say in it. Could he convince her to take a chance on him? On them.
“Bye,” Belle said and drove the car a few feet until the director called “cut,” over the loudspeaker.
“We’re good,” Erik said, relieved that was finally over but he didn’t move from his position. Any chance he had to be close to her, he’d take.
Belle put the car into park and elbowed him in the ribs as Darius approached.
Whether it was deliberate was up for debate. “So we’re done?” Erik asked, anxious to be alone with her.
“You’re done.” Darius tapped the top of the car and flashed his too-white smile. “Enjoy the car. We’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you, Darius,” Belle said. “Good luck to you.”
“You two have fun and let me know how it turns out. I’m always hoping for a match.” He shrugged and backed up. “I’m a hopeless romantic.”
“Wow, didn’t see that one coming.” Erik sat back in his seat, inhaling the new car smell. Belle was in a good mood and he wanted to keep her that way. Had too.
“Nope.” She tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. “Well, this is it.”
He hooked his finger under her jaw and turned her face until she was looking at him. “No, it’s not over.” It couldn’t be over. He just prayed she’d feel the same way.
“Erik, I—”
He put a finger to her lips, desperate to fix what was broken between them. “Please Belle. Can we park the car and talk? I need you to hear me.”
For a long second, she simply stared at him, confusion marking her smooth brow. She’d never been more beautiful or appealing. He could stare into her face for the rest of his life and be happy as shit.
“Please?” She was too important for him to give up on.
With a small nod, she put the car into drive and parked it in an empty spot. Turning off the ignition, she bit her lip before she nodded. “Okay, I’m listening.”
Now that he had her attention, he was at a loss for how to begin. Try the truth. “I was supposed to propose to Irina.”
She swallowed visibly and dropped one hand from the steering wheel. “It wasn’t Darius’s idea? You did this to me?”
“Actually, it was his idea at first and then I told him no. You said you wanted out and I wanted to let you out. But more than that, I wanted you to stay.” He raked a hand through his hair and bent his leg, foot planted on the rubber mat. “If you recall, I asked you to marry me.”
“You said the line wrong,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“No, I didn’t. I thought I did at the time and then I realized, it wasn’t a slip. I... I love you Belle. I think I’ve been in love with you since the first moment I saw you at the reception desk.”
She released a shaky breath, eyes brimming with unshed tears. “What did you just say?”
He took her hand in his, her palms giving under his fingertips. “I said I love you. I know it’s crazy, and goes against everything I ever said to you about the whole love and marriage thing. But it’s true. I don’t think there’s someone perfect but I do think you’re perfect for me.”
