She Texted Me Which One She Wants

Chapter 3

Grant pushed himself upright, looked around, and then glanced down at his naked body. The confusion in his eyes vanished, replaced by an icy stare.

"You must be very pleased with yourself, Celia."

He'd only just woken up, and his voice was still hoarse, but every word was icy.

I shook my head, looking bewildered.

"Are you still going to play innocent?"

"What do you mean, I'm playing innocent?" I stared at him in disbelief. "Grant, what are you accusing me of? Say it!"

"Oh, spare me the outrage. Are you saying you weren't the one who drugged me?"

He gave a scornful laugh and knelt close, bracing a hand on either side of me. He studied every inch of my face like a predator watching its prey. His warm breath brushed my face, making me shiver.

Beneath the covers, I pinched my thigh hard. When I looked up again, my eyes were brimming with tears.

"Yes, Grant, I have feelings for you! Does that give you the right to insult me however you like? I swear, if I drugged you, may I die a horrible death!"

I mentally rolled my eyes. 'If swearing on your life actually meant anything, every cheating man on earth would be dead.'

It did give Grant pause, but only for a moment. Then he was back to looking unimpressed.

'Rich men really are harder to fool.'

"What does that prove? Poor families marry off their daughters for money. The Sutton family uses theirs to climb the social ladder. What's the difference? You're just trying to get a better price. Does having more money somehow make you better than them? Congratulations, Celia. You've got what you wanted. What happens next? Are you going to cling to me for dear life? If I've treated you so unfairly, why don't you call off the engagement?"

"I will."

I was so eager to agree that I cut him off before he'd quite finished.

"What did you say?"

He looked as though he couldn't believe his ears. Apparently, he hadn't thought I'd actually dare to call it off.

I took a deep breath and began my performance.

"I had no idea this was what you thought of me. I've loved you in secret all these years. I admired you so much I could barely look you in the eye. And you think I'd have to strip naked and drug a man to keep him? Fine, Grant. I was a fool to think I knew you. I'll prove I'm innocent, and when I do, I won't want an apology. The first thing I'll do is call off the engagement for good. After that, I never want to see you again!"

I delivered the whole speech in one breath, then jumped out of bed without another glance at him. But I'd only just put my shoes on when I remembered there was still someone in the closet.

'I've gone a little too far with that performance.'

I forced myself to keep walking. Two steps later, I tripped over my own feet and fell in front of the clothes strewn across the floor. My jacket slipped off, leaving my pale, slender shoulders bare except for the thin straps of my dress.

I turned to pick it up, then immediately clutched my ankle and winced. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Grant.

'If he can sit through this without reacting, I'll have to wonder whether he's a man at all, or even human.'

Sure enough, his breathing quickened, and he rushed over.

When he was only a step away, I shrank back half a step. I glanced at him, squeezed my eyes shut as if steeling myself, and pointed at the door.

"Leave. I don't want to see you."

"But..."

"I can take care of myself. I'd hate for anyone to accuse me of trying to seduce him again. How would I ever defend myself?"

Grant hesitated for a few seconds, then left. I didn't relax until I was certain he'd gone.

I'd just closed the door when a hot body pressed against my back.

"Ms. Sutton, after the way that awful man treated you, why don't we make the best of our little mistake? I'll marry you. My last name happens to be Renshaw too."