Page 9 of The Impossible

A throat cleared and I looked in the direction of the door. Also standing in the doorway was Hondo’s father. I hadn’t seen him in ages, but I still recognized him. A tall, lanky, chocolate version of Hondo and his brother Otto.

Just as confident as I remember, Hondo walked over and shook my father’s hand as his father approached me. The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree.

“It’s nice to see you again, Patience.” He greeted me in a polite tone then I was pulled into his arms and he kissed my cheek.

I forced it, pushing myself to be polite, because it wasn’t like he was the one who’d promised me like a freaking library book to be loaned out.

“You as well, Mr. Carter,” I responded.

He laughed. “Formalities aren’t necessary, especially since we’re to be family soon.”

That statement made my stomach churn as I forced another smile, watching him move toward my father while Hondo moved to my side.

I was definitely not about to hug this nigga, but he didn’t give a shit. My entire frame was swallowed up by his before he kissed my forehead. “You look beautiful, Nic.”

I didn’t utter a word. Truth be told, I was trying to remain mad, to hold my irritation at this entire situation—and most of all him—but he smelled so good my senses and everything in me betrayed my attitude.

For the most part I was silent, listening to the men speak as if I wasn’t present. I was in my head, lost in the expectations of me and every decision made for me. Every so often I caught Hondo looking in my direction, almost like he was looking for me to speak.

“Speaking of heirs and children… How many children is she expected to give birth to?” my grandfather asked. That exact sentence caught my attention. Fire burned in my throat and I glared in my father’s direction. For someone who didn’t intend to sell his daughter off like property, he was definitely flowing through the conversation.

“That we don’t care to discuss, as it is private. As a matter of fact, Nic, let me speak to you out in the garden for a minute.” Hondo had me looking away from my father at him.

We locked eyes and I nodded. Once I was on my feet, I led the way out to the patio from my grandfather’s office doors. Once we were in the garden, a safe distance from the office, I stopped and turned to face him.

“You’re mad at me.” He didn’t ask because it wasn’t a question. It was an observation.

I crossed my arms, looking around my grandmother’s rose garden. Even though she was no longer here, it was very much preserved like she was. Not a thing was out of place, everything maintained as though she had been out here every other day pruning and managing what took her several years to cultivate.

“You knew when you showed up to my job… when you gave me a tour of your home.”

He nodded. “Your father insisted he be the one to tell you. I figured I could at least allow him that given I did⁠—”

I shook my head. “This is unbelievable. I finally pave my own path and get away from this family long enough to have my own life, then you request me like I’m some mail order bride and I’m supposed to marry you?”

He laughed and I couldn’t understand what part of my statement was funny in the least.

“Mail order bride. That was a good one. But for the record, I didn’t request you nor did I order you and supposed to is a light description considering the fact that you’ve been mine since I laid eyes on you, Nicolette.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t turned on by his statement, because honestly, I was. Maybe hearing the man I’d been crushing on since adolescence telling me I belonged to him should have been a good feeling, but it wasn’t. Shit, I didn’t know how I felt. “I’m not property, Hondo. I’m a person, not someone you choose because it’s convenient.”

“Convenient?” he repeated, then a chuckle escaped his lips. “What is convenient about me marrying you, Nicolette? Convenience would have been me choosing someone with a lot less lip and less of a challenge. Someone who will be less of a distraction to the life I live, but baby, you are none of those things. Damn sure not a mail order bride. Now do you prefer I get down on one knee or do you want me to slide this motherfucker on your finger?”

I looked at him long and hard. His facial expression never changed, which let me know exactly what I was in for.

“On your knee, and I haven’t said yes yet because I haven’t been asked. But then again, I have no say so, so whatever you want.” I tilted my head to the side, eyes on him. Of course, I was acting like I had some say so in this when I didn’t. Even though I had fought my way away from the O’Leary shadow, here I was being swallowed up by it.

He chuckled. “Convenience, yeah fucking right.” He reached into his pocket seconds later, then pulled out a small, blue ring box and got down on one knee in front of me. The entire time down he mumbled obscenities.

I couldn’t help but laugh, even in a moment as tense as this one.

He reached for my hand, serious eyes boring into mine. “Patience Nicolette O'Leary, will you marry me?”

I looked around, the scenery of the rose garden and its symbolism making this moment much more emotional than either of us intended. It was then that it hit me, taking on Carter and removing O’Leary from behind my name might be the best way to actually remove myself… The only problem is when one door closes, another one sure as hell opens. Taking on the last name of Carter runs its own risks, as it isn’t so squeaky clean either.

I nodded, tucking my bottom lip beneath my teeth. “Yes.”

Within seconds he had the ring out of the box and slid it on my finger. I was nearly blinded by the way the sun hit the stones. It was massive, like a damn hazard to walk around with.