Chapter 3
1102 Words
Emma walked past him, a smile on her face. “I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing here in your house.”
He shut the door behind her and followed her in. “And I’m also wondering why you are just walking in without an invitation. I don’t like uninvited guests, Emma.”
“But I’m not uninvited.” She looked around his place and then sat down on a single cushion. “Your mother told your mother all about you and said I’m welcome to visit anytime. That counts as being invited to your house, yes?”
“No. That doesn’t count.” He stood in front of her and crossed his arms, which then bulged his toned muscles. “My mother doesn’t live here, so she can’t dictate when and where people should visit me.”
Emma chuckled and then spread her arms on the arms of the other cushion beside her. “That’s sad, considering that your place isn’t even all that fine. You’re living in a single bedroom, Nathan.” She shrugged, another laughter escaping her lips. “What happened to all that military money, huh? I hear that they pay you guys a whole lot.”
Nathan bit his lip. He now realized she would never stop mentioning that he had once been in the military. That was what she hoped for—a distant husband who would bring in all the money while being absent from home, allowing her to frolic as much as she wanted.
“I don’t work in the military anymore, Emma. If that’s your reason to not want to go on a second date with me, then so be it. Can we be done here? I want to be alone now.”
She liked her lips, her eyes shining at him. “Don’t be a sore loser, Nathan. Most of the men I’ve been with shower me with gifts that I don’t even ask for. If I’m with you, I’m afraid I’m going to have to demand and then beg for the littlest thing such as a handbag.”
“Let me guess—a Chanel handbag?”
She grinned at him. “Even that is beneath my status.”
He scoffed, and then dry laughter escaped his throat. “That is beneath your status? You weren’t even born in a wealthy home, Emma. You have no right to judge, and I really don’t want to stand here and talk to you.”
He unfolded his arms and grabbed a shirt draped over the chair’s arm, swinging it casually over his shoulder. With his soaked shirt discarded earlier, he now stood before her, bare-chested, his smooth, glistening skin catching the light. He had been about to shower before she arrived, and now all he wanted was for her to leave so he could return to his routine.
For a fleeting moment, her gaze lingered on his chest. It seemed as if she no longer saw the poverty etched into his life but instead the muscled chest and toned arms beneath. Slowly, almost hesitantly, her eyes wandered down his frame, tracing the contours of his body. His firm chest, the taut ridges of his abdomen that curved into a sharp V where his trousers sat snugly at his hips. His arms, strong and muscular, had gone unnoticed before, their definition concealed beneath his shirt.
Her gaze lingered just a second too long before flicking back to his face, her lips curving into a sly smile.
“Well,” she said, tilting her head slightly, “At least you’ve got one thing going for you.”
Nathan didn’t flinch, though his jaw tightened imperceptibly. “Glad to know I meet your high standards in one area.”
He started to hurriedly put the damp shirt back on. He didn’t feel comfortable in her presence and at this time, he just wanted her out.
“Don’t get any ideas, though,” Emma continued. “You and I can never be together. I’m sure you’ve seen too many women’s bodies since that’s basically your job, but my body is different.”
Nathan deliberately let his gaze travel from her face, down to her two-piece blue outfit, to her feet, and then back up again, lingering just long enough to make his point. When his eyes met hers, she blinked at him, a sly smile tugging at her lips—fully aware he was checking her out. Slowly, he shook his head.
“I’ve seen plenty of bodies—both figuratively and literally—and yours? It’s pretty common. Aren’t people getting surgeries for this look nowadays? You’re all starting to look the same.”
The smile died off her face, replaced by a scowl. “It’s the socialite standards, darling. One that you can never hope to match.”
“Can you leave now?”
“Gladly.” She made her way to the door just as a knock sounded on it. Emma’s frown deepened. “Who else could be visiting you in this dipshit of yours?”
“That’s none of your business. Just go.”
His hand stopped on the doorknob just as the knock came again. Irritated, Nathan pushed open the door. Who else could be visiting him by this time—
The thought died in his head the minute he saw who was behind the door.
Rosianna.
Time seemed to freeze as his eyes locked on her face. Her hand was mid-air, poised for another knock, when the door swung open. She was still in her crisp white dress, the light from inside his house casting a soft glow over her face.
“Hi, Nathan.” Her tone was cool and poised, as if this were a daily routine. She lowered her hand with a practiced smile, her gaze flickering between Nathan and Emma, who had frozen mid-step, her lips tightening with annoyance. “I’m sorry for showing up unannounced… Am I interrupting?”
“No,” Nathan said hastily, his tone sharper than he intended. “She was just leaving.”
“I see you have several women coming to visit late at night,” Emma spat, her eyes circling Rosianna like a hawk.
Rosianna simply smiled. She turned her gaze on Nathan. “I have a proposal for you.”
Before he could respond, she stepped aside, revealing a woman and a lawyer standing behind her. The woman held out a small open box, inside of which was an exquisite diamond ring. Nathan’s gaze shifted to Rosianna, but she was already staring at him, her eyes steady.
"Nathan, marry me."
- Writer
