rine

. Damian Sharpe

ood tall, impossibly tall, his presence eve

nhattan, a man who had just seemed bewildered by my mad proposa

ing interruption. Molly's name flashed on

thumb slipped and I accidentally hit

lway. "What's wrong, sis? Cat got your tongue? Are you hiding

in the air, s

r Earl. You're too demanding, too boring.

ssersby felt like physical blows. My cheeks burned

stranger, Damian, reached out. His long, elega

s meeting mine. His voice was low and st

's w

t him, my

tely stepped forward, offering a polite bow to the clerk and the other onlookers who had stopped

ower back without actually touching, leading me to a less crowded c

caught my breath. "Thank you," I whi

see through the mess inside me. "Because I thought

speechless. I was the

eed a groom to salvage your dignity and

"And I need a marriage to stop my family f

one of the craziest things I had ever heard, ri

ded, "we really cou

e, but the words stuck in my throat. H

at could be worse than this? Marrying

d Earl's cowardly betrayal. A bitt

I be the on

or the first time with a hint of my

t, almost imperceptible smile crossed Damian's lips, a fleeting sign

t? I wanted my dignity back. I didn't want t

ttle more time to th

e crisp. "You have five mi

n his wrist, starting to count down for me. His composure, his