"Who knew you were coming home?"
"Only my dad's lawyer."
"Does anyone know you're getting out?"
"No. Tiara actually asked if we were rushing into the marriage because I was being deployed and didn't have time to wait."
I take a drink of my beer. "Okay, hear me out. What if you tell her that she's right. We are rushing to get married because you leave for your last deployment the week after your birthday. We wed, we have a week-long honeymoon, you return to duty, and I return to Cathy's Corner Boutique."
He nods.
"The reason you are marrying me is because after all the years you've served, you have nothing to show for it."
His eyes narrow.
"I know that doesn't sit well, but it's part of the … how did you describe it on the roof? The mission."
I continue the plot. "When you come back for good, you intend to use our marriage to gain a position within Cathy's Corner Boutique. But now, after Tiara's genuine concern for you, you have had an epiphany. If she will allow you back into your father's company in a senior management position, then our marriage would unite the two companies under one roof."
He takes a long drag on his beer, sets it down, and spins it on the counter, thinking.
I continue, "Her manipulative mind will immediately see the benefit of influencing me, and therefore, Cathy. Bringing us under her umbrella of control will be irresistible. Because trust me, d'Artagnan, your sister is going to be famous in the fashion industry, and she is going to make a ton of money."
He turns his beautiful face to mine and stares at me with his smoldering eyes. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I like the way your mind works."
I smile, and my eyes literally twinkle with pleasure that he approves.
Chapter 23
d’Artagnan
Ilook back down at my beer and think about what my princess just proposed. It is calculated and deadly. I lift the bottle and drain the liquid. It's perfect.
I look at her and realize she and I are going to make one hell of a team. We are going to be an unstoppable force.
I take my phone out of my pocket and swipe the screen, then I type.
Mother, I apologize
for springing the proposal
on you in such a dramatic
fashion, but trust me when I say,
my marriage to Rapunzel is
going to be an amazing union.
I would like to discuss
the possibility of a
management position.
I push it to Rapunzel so she can read it. She nods her approval.
“When I send it, it will change the way I intended to spend the time before the wedding getting to know you.” I turn to face her and open my arms to her. She slides off the stool and steps into them. Wrapping her up, I whisper, “Before we implement this diabolical scheme….”
