My Pride, His Prejudice (16 page)
Read My Pride, His Prejudice Online
Authors: Jenni James
Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #Romantic Comedy
Well, honestly, I was confused too. I’d bought a ring on impulse about a week ago, and then on another whim, I found myself at your door tonight. Seriously, the words were out before I had a minute to realize what I was saying. And then you were angry, and it was just fail. From the moment I showed up at your door, it was all fail. You’re right. I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you, really. I mean, I thought I did. I thought being so close to you all year had shown me so much, but it didn’t show me this side.
In my defense, I’ve never proposed before, and I doubt I will again for a long time. I feel like such a loser. Of course you’d deserve better than me. Of course you’d be wishing for a guy to come and sweep you off your feet, someone to say all those romantic things and give you flowers and all that. I’m shaking my head at my own narcissism in believing for ten seconds that you’d ever really fall for me, the awkward rich boy.
I know I’m rambling and not making much sense, but while I’m here, I have a confession to make. I guess I really don’t know what love is. Sure, I understand family love—like with my sister and friends—but I’m completely lost when it comes to expressing myself, or even finding someone to express those feelings to. My mom and dad’s relationship wasn’t the best. She tried, but even her gentleness couldn’t soften him. It didn’t help that my dad was a workaholic who spent his whole life attempting to gain a vast fortune. Once he’d done that, he only wanted more and more and more… it was disheartening to watch. To lose him to greed and power like that. It still hurts me.
After my mom passed away when I was a teen, I decided to try to reach my father—have or build whatever relationship I could with him. So I did the unthinkable. After college, I joined his company. Soon, I moved up the ranks and developed my own. I allowed him to oversee and add his input when we broke off, hoping for a mutual respect and bond to grow, a like father, like son type of thing. It was him who recommended the consulting firm you work for, and how I came to hire you, though I didn’t want to. I thought for sure my dad would become proud of me eventually, that this company would earn his respect, but it didn’t. Instead, he only saw enough flaws to deem it necessary that I receive outside help.
I honestly shouldn’t have treated you the way I did. And I certainly had no right falling for you, either. Forgive me, Eliza. I’m sorry to have you in the middle this crazy awkwardness.
Since writing the last part, I’ve taken a break and come back to the whole email. This is too long. I know it is. So I’ll end it now. However, I have a small favor to ask of you. If you manage to read all of this, could you please consider remaining my confidant? My friend? My sounding board when things go rough, and—I don’t know—I’m going to miss you. I’ve ruined everything, and I regret knowing that we’ll never be the same again.
I’m sorry.
Forgive me.
Will
Eliza took some time as she stared blankly at the letter. For a few minutes after it’d been read, she sat in Will’s arms and processed. Finally, she spoke. “You really are an introvert, aren’t you?”
It seemed as though it was the last thing Will had expected her to say. “What?”
“You’re shy. And not this debonair guy at all.”
He snorted. “No. I’ve never pretended to be, either.”
She bit her lip and nodded, her eyes blindly gazing at the white email before her. “You have no idea how to propose, do you? Have you ever had a real relationship before?”
“One where she wasn’t attempting to scam me or take my money or make her parents happy? You mean, something where someone actually loved me for me?”
“Yes. That.”
“No.” He took a deep breath. “Until now. I hope?”
“That’s another thing.” She turned slightly to look at him. “Why in the world would you believe that if I read the rest of that email, I’d never speak to you again? What was that all about?”
He adorably shrugged and looked sheepish. “I don’t know. I guess I thought if you knew more of the real me, you’d see the nerd that I am and wouldn’t like me.”
She rolled her eyes. “See? This is where we need to get our wires straightened out here. Vulnerability does not equal disgusting. Ever.”
“Well, you were mad at me, too. Remember? I figured if you read it, you’d have more ammo or something. I don’t know. I really don’t know what I’m doing. At all. So can you help?”
Eliza’s heart beat for the gorgeous man who gave so much to everyone else—and yet, didn’t understand love. “You were crazy to be drawn to me. I could’ve hurt you so much.”
“You did. But did it pay off?”
She leaned up and kissed his worries away. “Yes. So very much yes.”
Will released a relieved sigh and collected her up. “Good. Because I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
After some time of butterflies and kisses, she asked, “So, are you going to finish what you were saying earlier?”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” When she refused to answer, he grinned and cleared his throat. “I love you. And I can’t imagine a life without you. I know that a week ago, I tried this and failed miserably. Well, that’s because I was nervous and just assumed you’d want to marry me. Yes, I went about it all wrong. No, I’m not as conceited as I was then. However, my heart still beats for you.” He got down off the bed and came around to her side. Then he bent on one knee and produced a ring out of somewhere. “Will you please set that heart to rest and marry me?”
He continued before she could respond, “I know you’re worried if we’ll be good to each other, and not become obsessed with money, and I really wanted a few more days or weeks or months to prove to you that we will be just fine. That in all this time since we’ve met, you didn’t change—you only became better in my eyes. And hopefully, I’ve only become better in yours. And… I just can’t wait any longer. If you’d like me to stop, I will but… until then, will you marry me?”
She looked down at that shy smile and those dark brown eyes and that perfectly flawed man below her, and she said the only thing a girl who was in love with him would say. “Yes. Of course I will.” It was in that moment that she knew he was right. His heart was much bigger than any greed around him. With such an example of open arms, how could she ever fall?
“Thank you for seeing me, for choosing me. And especially for loving me. I really think I’m the lucky one here.”
He sighed, as if he had been genuinely worried. But in the next second, he swooped her up and kissed her with the relief and security of a man who was most definitely and eagerly hers.
After some time, he pulled back, and her ragged breathing matched his. He murmured, “I’m afraid I have to warn you. Eventually, you’ll meet my father.”
“And?”
He shook his head. “At first, he’s not going to be happy that I’m engaged to you. Chances are, he’ll become like a tyrant maiden aunt—all honor and duty and rudeness. However, I’m pretty positive you’ll win him over.”
“And why’s that?”
“Deep down, he loves feistiness.”
She laughed. “Oh, I’m not worried about him. He can grump and moan all he wants, but I’m marrying you. Not him. So it really doesn’t matter. Besides, your fate is worse than mine. Eventually, you’ll have to meet Jane again—and I think that will be much more frightening.”
He groaned and grinned and went to kissing her more. Which, of course, she didn’t complain about, since that’s exactly where she’d wish his lips to be anyway.
When Will finally pulled back he asked, “Now, the real question is, should we wake Melissa and Georgia and share our happy news? Or should we wait until morning?”
“Do you think they’d ever forgive us if we didn’t?”
“Why do I have the feeling that our lives are always going to revolve around death threats from people who want us to act differently than we do?”
She chuckled, thinking of all her mom’s threats. “Hasn’t it always been that way? I know my life has.”
“Yes, but you encourage it. I’m sure.” He grinned.
“I definitely don’t let it dictate what I’ll do next.”
“So you’re saying not to tell them?”
Eliza glanced at one closed door and then turned toward the other. “Nah, let’s surprise them tomorrow.”
“Surprise us with what?” Melissa asked as she opened her door and yawned. “Out with it, you two. I’m not getting any younger.”
Will winked at Eliza and then called over his shoulder, “We’ll tell you in the morning, Mom. Now go back to sleep.”
“Mom?” Melissa gasped. “Well, praise the Lord! I knew Vegas would do the trick! But do me a favor. Don’t tell your father you’ve eloped just yet. We’ll just plan a whole big wedding as if this never happened.” She giggled. “It’ll be our little secret.”
THE END
Look for the next in the Austen in Love series,
My Persuasion
, coming soon!
About the Author:
Jenni James is the bestselling author of numerous published books, including The Jane Austen Diaries (
Pride & Popularity, Northanger Alibi, Emmalee,
Persuaded,
and
Mansfield Ranch
) as well as The Jenni James Faerie Tale Collection (
Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Frog Prince,
and many more...)
Jenni has wowed fans around the world with her unique voice in children and teen literature today, always keeping her books clean and wildly addicting. Now she joins Trifecta Book’s Sweet and Clean Romance Collection for adults. When she isn't writing, she can be found chasing her rambunctious kids around the house. She lives with her family in Utah and secretly dreams of becoming a ninja or pirate one day.
You can learn more about Jenni at her
website
.
Would you like to read other books in the Sweet and Clean Romance Collection? Just follow these links for more great stories that will sweep you off your feet!
Love Notes by Raine Gillespie:
Visit
www.rainegillespie.com
for updates and new novels as they become available!
Main Street Merchants by Paige Timothy:
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www.paigetimothy.com
for updates and new novels as they become available!