Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Did you like that?” he asked.
“I loved it, Caleb.”
He wanted her to love him.
Taking possession of her mouth, he slowly began to withdraw from her. “I’ll be right back.” He entered the bathroom and drew them both a bath.
Caleb turned as Lilly walked toward him. She cupped his cheek and smiled at him. “There’s something I want to tell you, but I’m scared to,” she said.
“You don’t have to be afraid. Whatever you’ve got to tell me, tell me.” He stared into her eyes, and she glanced down at his chest.
She shook her head. “It’s fine. It’s not important.” She pressed a kiss to his lips.
Tell her.
He had the engagement ring on order at the jewelers. It wasn’t due to arrive for another couple of days. He’d gone to his father in hopes of being prepared. Now as he stared at Lilly, he wanted to tell her how he felt, but it wouldn’t be perfect unless he had the damn ring.
Chapter Ten
Caleb had been acting strangely.
Lilly glanced over at her man as they stood in the town square. It was a small picnic that was often advertised far and wide to attract tourists to their pretty town. Food and trinkets were on offer. Joanne’s diner had the main doors wide with tables spread out. Menus were everywhere. The bakery also did the same.
So much delight to be offered.
“Are you okay?” Eliza asked.
Darla was being looked after by Jane and Theodore, who’d gone out toward the high school’s field to have their picnic. They’d all started out arriving together. As a family, they’d hugged, and that was when Lilly had seen Jane steal her granddaughter.
“Yeah, I’m fine, why?”
“No reason.” Eliza looked away.
Lilly saw she was looking toward Caleb. “Do you know something?”
“What? What could I possibly know?”
Lilly turned toward her friend, tilting her head to the side. “You asked if I was okay. What gave you the idea that I wasn’t?”
Eliza pushed some hair off her face and shrugged her shoulders. “I was just, you know, making perfectly reasonable conversation. Can a woman not do that anymore? I’ve just seen someone I need to go talk to.”
She was gone before Lilly could say another word.
His family was acting so strange around her.
Was he wanting to break it off?
Turning her back to him, so she didn’t keep staring, she paid for a single doughnut, thanking the woman and taking a bite as she turned back to the square. She’d always loved this fair. It wasn’t as large as the main summer fair, the one that came to town during graduation. This one was always small, offering only the very best of everything.
Caleb joined her seconds later, his arm circling her waist. His lips brushed across the top of her head. “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, it’s great. You want some?” She offered up her doughnut and he took a bite.
“Yum.”
She gave him half as she finished off hers with a single bite. Lilly went to lick the sugar off her fingers, but Caleb captured her hands, doing it for her.
“There’s something I want to ask you,” he said.
“There is?”
“Well, well, well, if it’s not the town whore’s daughter and the manwhore himself.”
Lilly turned to see Tiffany, the waitress, standing in front of them. She had a bottle of beer in her hands. Even though it was only two in the afternoon, the woman looked wasted.
“It’s time you moved on,” Caleb said.
“Who do you think you’re both kidding? You’re both a big joke. Whatever this is, it’s not going to last. There’s no way you two can love each other.”
With each word she spoke, she got louder, and Lilly noticed people had started to take notice.
Aunt Betty made her way toward them.
“You’re just using each other. No one is ever going to love you. No one can ever love you.”
“I think it’s time you left,” Aunt Betty said.
“You’re just offering her charity. She’s scum.” Tiffany spat at the ground near Lilly’s feet.
Much to her surprise, Eliza and James came over, standing in front of her. “You insult her, you insult all of us.”
“Oh, please, you’re all one big joke we all know it. He will never love her because he’s in love with me.”
Lilly turned to look at Caleb, who shook his head.
Jane and Theodore came into view, carrying Darla. Everyone was here to see her humiliation.
“Lilly,” Caleb said. “This is how much of a joke we are.” He lowered himself to one knee, and the town went from mumbling their gossip to silence.
He’d gotten down on one knee in front of the entire town.
Her gaze went wide as she looked at him. “Caleb? What are you doing?”
He smiled at her. “What I should have done the past couple of days.” He took her hand within his, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Lilly Jewel, I wasn’t looking for love. I didn’t even think I was capable of it. You know my past. You know there have been countless women before you, but they mean nothing to me. You, everything about you, is perfect. When I look into my future, the only woman I see is you. You’re the only woman I think about. The only woman I love.”