7.Chapter 7
Laura waited, heart pounding, but Bowen stayed quiet. Too quiet. Her stomach twisted.
“Was that marriage talk this morning just him shooting his mouth off?” she wondered.‘ Gotta be. In this rich–ass world, it’s all about the suitable marriage.
I’m already out of my league with Cameron. Bowen? Get real.‘
She looked down, her loose brown hair brushing her cheeks. Her nails dug into her palm, sharp and stinging. Just a dumb remark, and I fucking bought it. Stupid.
Bowen wasn’t just some guy–he was the Bowen, the one every heiress in town was dying to bag.
Marrying him would shut her family up for good. No more of their “we love you” crap to keep her in line. Even her mom, always kissing up to Brielle, wouldn’t dare cross.
Bowen.
But Cameron had laid it out–their engagement was set in stone. No matter how smooth Bowen’s words sounded earlier, they didn’t change the fact that she was about to be Cameron’s fiancée.
Even if she and Bowen got together, and even if they could hush up last night’s mess like he’d said, ‘how the hell do we face our families?‘ The thought clawed at her.
Worse, Bowen’s plan was just a quick patch. If he actually married her, people would talk shit. They’d say he “stole his nephew’s girl” or “took Cameron’s scraps.” Bowen’s pride would take a beating, and that wasn’t fair.
Laura knew how cruel gossip could be. She’d scrapped in the gutters, fighting dogs for food scraps–she didn’t care about a few more hits to her name. But dragging Bowen. into her mess? No way.
Deep down, she knew last night was on her. She’d been the one all over him, desperate and pushy. Bowen had only stepped in to save her, and she’d latched on like a leech. She wasn’t about to be shameless enough to pull him down with her.
“Bowen, I’m sorry,” she mumbled.
Laura lifted her eyes to Bowen’s sharp, gorgeous face. Her stare was blank, like a doll with no life left. “I went too fár. Just… forget I said anything.
“Last night? I’ll deal with it. Promise.”
“Laura.” Bowen’s voice cut her off, calm but firm. “Come here.”
Laura froze, her words drying–up. She saw Bowen’s brows knit, his patience thinning as, she stood there,
Luck.
Shaking it off, she shuffled toward him, all timid and careful.
Bowen watched her stop a good three feet away, stiff as a soldier. He gave a dry laugh,
7 Chapter 7
half–irritated, half–amused. “What, you think I’m gonna bite your head off?”
“No way…” Laura stared at the floor.
Then came the scrape of a chair. Bowen stepped close, his cedar cologne wrapping around her. His fingers gently lifted her chin, making her meet his eyes. “Face still hurt? And what’s with your neck?”
His voice was low, cool, with a deep pull that sent shivers through her. “Who did this?”
Sure, Bowen had talked to her last night, but her head had been a mess then–too foggy to feel how his voice could unravel her. Now, so close, it hit like a spark, leaving her flushed.
Cheeks red, Laura stared into his sharp, stormy eyes. For a second, she caught at flicker of rage–gone fast.
Her eyes stung. “I used some cream. It’s fine. Cameron did it.”
“Cameron?” Bowen’s tone turned sharp.
“Bowen.” Laura stepped back, slipping from his touch. “Sorry, I got carried away. Pretend I wasn’t here, didn’t say shit. I’m gone.”
She couldn’t drag him down. Not him–the one guy who gave a damn.
Laura turned to bolt, but his hand caught her wrist.
“Laura, I can’t just pretend,” he said.
She looked back, and Bowen’s lips twitched into a small, warm grin, softening his icy edge. “I’m not deaf or blind, sweetheart. You want me to act clueless? Sorry, I’m not that good.
“You thought it over. Said you’d marry me. Now you want me to ignore it? That’s a stretch. And I don’t play games.
Bowen let her wrist go and slid his hand into his suit pocket. “Marrying you’s the best fix for both of us. What’s stopping you?”
ako “Sure, it
“Marrying me’s gonna screw you over.” Laura’s face was pale as she might sort out last night’s mess, but Cameron said our engagement’s still on.
“If you’re with me, what’ll the Weavers think? What’ll people say?”
“Don’t sweat it. I’ll deal with the mess after we say ‘I do.” Bowen’s voice was steady, no- nonsense. “Look, being a sleaze who bails after getting laid? Not my style.
“Two lovers tying the knot? That’s an easier sell.
“If I’m gonna get burned by this…” Bowen paused, a shadow flickering in his eyes. Then he smirked, voice dripping with self–mockery. “It’d only be if you’re still mooning. over my nephew, leaving me with nothing but a broken heart.”
“I’m not that ungrateful. Cameron? He’s not worth my tears anymore.” Laura sucked in a breath, spilling her deepest fear. “But we’re from different worlds. I don’t measure up.
7 Chapter 7
“And my engagement to Cameron–it’s been a family deal forever. I’m afraid you-”
Bowen cut her off, eyes dead serious. “I don’t care about ‘measuring up‘ bullshit.
“The engagement? Your grandpa Hector set it up with our family, not Cameron specifically. It only went that way because you chose him.
“We’ve already… you know, gone there. I’m stepping up–for you and for me. So stop overthinking. I’ve got you.”
Laura locked eyes with Bowen, his raw sincerity hitting her hard. Her heart thumped
like a drum.
For years, Cameron’s bad blood with Bowen had kept her distant. She’d barely given Bowen the time of day because of it.
Yet now, at her lowest–betrayed, hurt, and drowning in demands for answers–it was Bowen, the guy she’d always dodged, who was pulling her out of the dark.
His “I’ve got you” was the sweetest thing she’d heard in her five years back with the Wilson family, slowly erasing Cameron’s hollow “You okay?”
“Bowen.” Laura’s eyes brimmed with tears. She flung herself into his arms, sobbing like she could unload years of pain. “I’m freaking starving.“,
“That soup you sent? Haven’t touched it!”
When Laura crashed into him, Bowen stiffened for a split second, caught off guard.
Her words sank in, and he knew she was done fighting the idea of them. A soft smile warmed his eyes, tinged with ache.
“Hey, it’s alright.” Bowen ruffled her hair, sneaking a gentle kiss on her head she didn’t catch. “Let’s grab some food. I’ll make you even better soup later.“”
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- Chapter 8
8.Chapter 8
