Page 21 of Theirs to Treasure

Then with a big smile, she offers a beautiful gold-colored bag that Zev accepts on my behalf. “It’s been a pleasure to serve you.”

“Can you do something with my old dress? Donate it, maybe?”

“Certainly, ma’am.” She nods.

When we are outside the boutique, I stop, and both men follow suit, frowning as me quizzically. “This is far too extravagant,” I protest. “We can return it all. Or at least part of it.”

“You could try saying thank you,” Forrest observes dryly.

“For what?” I demand. In addition to the fact he wants to tell me what to do, I refuse to be bought ever again. “My mother tried to sell me to the highest bidder.” Maybe only bidder, but that’s beside the point. “I don’t want to be indebted to anyone.”

The men respond simultaneously.

“Jesus.” Forrest scowls deeply.

“You don’t owe us anything,” Zev immediately reassures me. “We didn’t mean to insult you.”

I shiver. I know that’s not Zev’s intention. As for Forrest, I have no idea what he’s thinking.

As I’m standing here, arguing about finances, another thought plows into me. Until this moment, I haven’t even considered how I will get back home, especially now that my funds have been cut off.

I might have to call my best friend, Amelia, and hope that she will be willing to help me out.

Everything is suddenly too much.

“Look,” Zev says with great patience. “One thing at a time. You’re not in this alone.”

I swallow deeply.

If only that were true.

The men might be good for an interlude, but tomorrow I’ll be on my own for the first time ever.

“Just for tonight, live for the moment.”

Which was what I planned to do when I met this devastating duo.

Forrest, with a gesture so kind and sweet I can hardly believe it, tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. Then he captures my chin between his thumb and forefinger and tips back my head.

Determination glints in the depths of his eyes as he leans in a little closer.

He’s not going to kiss me, is he?

I can’t breathe.

I don’t want to taste his possession.

Yet I’m afraid I’ll die without it.

CHAPTERSIX

Forrest

This woman.

With her sweet innocence, guts, and determination,Annais getting to me.

An hour ago, all I was interested in was solving her virginity problem and offering her the honeymoon some fucking idiot denied her.