Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 20

After placing their order, he went back out and sat down next to his soon-to-be wife, taking her hand to reassure her and wipe that hurt look from her eyes. "I'm sorry. My brother has a big mouth. I don't want him to be the first one to find out about us. He'll only start spinning stories to tell my parents." Gabe could be a real troublemaker sometimes.

"So you're not ashamed of me, then?" she asked, timidly and he sat back and stared at her.

"No," he shook his head. "Why on earth would you think that?" he frowned.

She swallowed hard and shrugged, "No reason. It's fine," she said, pasting a bright smile on her face - an artificial smile that attempted to hide how she really felt. "Have you got the paperwork we need to fill in?" she asked, changing the subject

He would ask her about her reaction later. "Yes," he nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully and waiting for the waitress to place their coffees and cakes on the table in front of them, waiting until she'd disappeared again did he speak. "I know I kind of surprised you this morning," he looked up at her to gauge her reaction as he took the forms and his pen out of the envelope.

"You can say that again," she nodded, glancing nervously down at the legally binding documents.

"Are you sure about this?" His palms were sweating and his heart was racing. He didn't want her to change her mind, but he had to give her the option to pull out before it was too late.

"Why? Are you having second thoughts?" she looked up at him, her eyes wide with what looked like panic.

"Definitely not." He took her hand and stroked it softly in what he hoped was a reassuring way. He did not want her to say no now that she'd had time to think about it. It was why he wanted to marry her so fast, to ensure neither of them changed their minds.

She relaxed considerably. "Then I'm sure," she nodded again, hope making her eyes shine as she picked up the pen and started filling in her details.

"Are you happy?" he asked, wanting it to be her dream wedding. As far as weddings went, it could be a lot worse. "If you want to wait and have a big wedding with all the paraphernalia and whatever, we can," he offered. He'd go through with it if it was something she really wanted. His family would want that, and he'd absolutely hate it. It had been bad enough being a groomsman and dealing with the enormity and expense of his sister's wedding, but he'd do it if that's what Sophie wanted.

"I know, right?" Her soft laughter eased the tension and appealed to something inside of him. "They mean well, but I'm afraid it all gets too much sometimes."

"Even more reason to go through with it now, without them?" he asked, looking deep in her eyes and wondering if her family was one of the reasons she was rushing into this. But then maybe that would make this even more perfect. He didn't do love. Maybe she didn't either.

"Yes." With that she planted a hard kiss on his lips, making him instantly forget all his concerns.

"Good," he kissed her once more, when she smiled brightly at him. "Then let's do this." He was even more determined to marry this woman than before. It sounded like she needed this almost as much as he did. She'd get him and his unconditional support. And he would get what he'd always wanted. It was win-win for both of them.

Tom was definitely a man used to getting his own way. Sophie was stunned at the speed everything was organised, not to mention the speed of their relationship. They'd met, they'd spent some time together and a week later he'd asked her to marry him. She was so swept away in his enthusiasm, and the excitement caused by his interest in her, that she didn't have time to think, let alone process everything that was happening. The twenty four hours before the wedding were a blur of paperwork, and packing to move into Tom's house. Then there was the wedding. It was simple, it was beautiful, and it really was her dream wedding. And he'd made it all happen, just the way she'd wanted it.