Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“Okay, we’ll shelve this for now.” With a resigned nod, he leaves.
But I lied. I don’t have work, and I don’t have a clue what to do with this festering divide in my chest.
Chapter Seven
“Gwen said we should have a full course dinner in the ballroom.” Elise squints against the sun as we walk. “But since I was a young girl, I envisioned open spaces, people mingling, a variation of food stations with guests free to roam and sit where they choose.”
“That sounds nice.” I kick at a pebble as we follow the path that winds along the cliffs.
“The idea’s not too casual?” She waves a hand at our surroundings—the spacious green lawns and open skies, all set to the backdrop of the sea. “Because this is the perfect setting for what I have in mind.”
“Well, it’s not traditional, but it’s your wedding,” I point out.
“Gwen believes a man of Landon’s standing calls for the traditional. Tried and true, she calls it.”
“Who’s Gwen again?”
Elise raises her brows. “Gwendolyn Price. The famous wedding planner?” She slows her steps and shoots me a speculative look. “Are you okay? You seem troubled.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been in such a daze.” I shake my head, forcing my mind back to the here and now. “I haven’t slept well for the past couple of weeks.”
“Is it the doctor? Is he treating you badly?”
“No, surprisingly, he’s excellent company.”
Vance is more kind and attentive than I thought he would be, and I enjoy our dinners since human interaction keeps the loneliness from eating me alive.
“Okay, so it’s not the doctor, but something is definitely bothering you,” she says, her tone urging me to unburden my troubles on her.
But I fear there’s no solution to my problem, because I can’t get a certain lion out of my head…or the leader of this mad tower of men. Despite the many days of busy work in the studio, not to mention the much-needed time spent with Elise, the divide in my heart isn’t getting any narrower.
At my continued silence, she takes my hand and leads me to a bench facing the ocean. “Talk to me, Novalee.”
“It’s not important. You’re in the middle of planning a wedding, and—”
“Not important?” she interrupts, voice incredulous. “Novalee, you’re my queen.”
“I’m a disaster.”
“No.” Empathy pulls at her lips as she squeezes my hand. “You’re the perfect example of strength. You lost your parents at such a young age, were raised by a monster through your teenage years, and you’ve been used and abused ever since you got here. I’m amazed you’re still the queen I’m honored to have served these past few years.”
“It hasn’t all been bad. I had you and Faye.”
The mention of my lifelong friend casts a cloud of melancholy over our conversation, and we fall into a long moment of disquiet.
“Have you heard from her?” I ask past the lump of sorrow in my throat that won’t subside.
“She wrote me once to say she’s doing well.” Elise hesitates, teeth tugging on her bottom lip. “She’s engaged now. I should’ve told you sooner, but I didn’t want to upset you.”
“It’s okay. I understand why you didn’t mention it.” A breeze carries a lock of hair into my eyes, and I brush it away, causing the sunlight to glint on the diamond on my finger.
Elise’s attention stalls on my ring. “Are you upset because of Landon’s plan for you to marry Sebastian?”
I’m overwhelmed, terrified, and excited—all rolled into a ball of heaviness in my gut. But I’m not sure how to put it into words.
“I don’t know how I feel.”
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t.” I glance at her from the corner of my eye, wishing I could spill everything, but until my brother lets her in on the whole story, I can’t. “I’m not convinced Sebastian wants to marry me.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” She scoots to face me. “I thought they all wanted to win your hand, Landon excluded, of course.”
I return her smile at the mention of her future husband’s name. “Sebastian’s family wants it, but he’s in love with someone else.”
“Who?”
“Landon’s sister.”
Her blue eyes widen. “Landon didn’t tell me that.” A beat passes, and her brows furrow. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You’ve been busy, and…” I shake my head. “I’m not sure why I didn’t tell you. Sebastian has a history with Lilith, and ever since the night of the ball, I’ve been so confused.”
“What’s got you so mixed up?” she asks softly.
“The problem is I care about Liam, too.”
“That does sound like a dilemma.”
I almost scoff out loud. “I don’t know what to do. Nothing in my life prepared me for the men in that place.” I nod behind us, where the tower rises thirteen stories in the air. “They’re not what I expected, and I didn’t think I’d fall for any of them, let alone two.”