Duncan - The Deal (The Cocky Smiling O Series #1) by Jade Sinner Page A

mouth is in a hard scowl.
    "Where's Kimbra?" I ask, ignoring the woman who's taken another step toward me.
    "Duncan, aren't you happy to see me?"
    "Where's Kimbra?" I ask louder.
    "She went for a walk. I wouldn't..." Judy offers.
    I don't hear anything else as I take off toward the woods. She has to be there, by that tree where I took her ass. I say a prayer that I'll find the same spot and her.
    The sun streams through the leaves as I make my way toward Kimbra. My heart is racing. Fuck whatever is happening on the two-and-a-half-mile oval forty minutes away. This race is for my future, for our future. I watch her as I get closer. When I'm about a football field away her shoulders tense, but she doesn't turn.
    "Go away," she says, her voice strong and strained.
    I don't listen.
    "Go away!" she yells this time turning.
    Her eyes are puffy and cheeks are wet. When I'm near enough to touch her, I stop. "Kimbra, what happened?"
    "Carla. Carla happened."
    "Who the fuck is Carla?"
    Kimbra's lips form a tight line. "Really, Duncan? She was the woman with you in that bathroom and you want to pretend you don't know her name?"
    "I don't. I didn't."
    Kimbra slaps the sides of her hips with her hands. "Is that supposed to make it better?"
    "No," I admit. "It makes me a douche bag. I was going to let her suck me and I didn't know her name. I still don't understand why she's here."
    "Remember when I told you that I was dating Timothy and then we weren't?"
    I try to keep up with her thoughts. "Yes, what does that—"
    "Shut up. Just shut up!" Tears slide down her cheeks. "After the holiday party, Timothy and I went to a New Year's Eve thing at someone's apartment. Carla was there. I couldn't find Tim. I found him with her. With her!"
    I reach for her shoulders. Though she tries to pull away, I refuse to let her go. "Why is she here?"
    "She's a friend, an acquaintance of Susan's. Susan posted pictures from the wedding on Facebook and Carla saw you with me. She came here to tell me that the two of you..."
    "That we what? I didn't even know her fucking name."
    "That you're involved . I asked you if you were. You lied to me."
    "No, I didn't lie. I wasn't involved. I've never been involved." I swallow. "Kimbra, please listen to me."
    She shakes her head. "No. Leave. I can't do this. Not here. In New York, maybe. There I'm tough, I'm kick-ass, but here..."
    I fall to my knees and reach for her hands. "Sweetheart, you're kick-ass here, too."
    Her eyes open as teardrops dangle from her lashes. "What?"
    "Kimberly Ann Jones, you are kick-ass. Whether you're firing a boardroom full of people or you're standing up to your brother's and cousins' smart remarks. You're kick-ass and beautiful and fun and smart and I could go on and on."
    "Why? Why are you on your knees?"
    Letting go of one of her hands, I reach down into the pocket of my jeans and pull out a small box. "This wasn't the way I planned it. I wanted some grand proposal in front of your family, in front of your cousins and grandma, but I can't let you think that the woman back there means anything to me." I open the box, showing her a two-carat diamond solitaire on a platinum band embedded with another carat of smaller diamonds.
    Kimbra gasps as she covers her plump lips with her free hand.
    Before I say another word, I scan the ground and then the trees. "Just a minute," I say as I rush to a tree with white flowers. Breaking a small branch I return, fall to my knees, hand her the dogwood flowers, and reach for her other hand. "You offered me a deal. Now, I have a deal for you. Here's another flower, one I hope you'll let me pick. Miss Jones, I've never proposed before. I've never even considered it, but this weekend..." I squeeze her hand. "I don't want it to end. I don't want it to be pretend or a fantasy. I want it to be my life, our life."
    "Carla?" she asks.
    I ignore her and go on. "I've been selfish and made poor decisions, but the other night at that club, I didn't want any other woman.