Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 26

Tom tensed up. "We didn't invite anyone, Gabe. That was just how we wanted it."

"Don't worry, we're going to plan a massive surprise party for them to celebrate, and you're definitely not going to miss that," Dani bubbled excitedly as she linked arms with him. The two siblings, who looked very much alike with their dark hair and blue eyes, looked at each other and Sophie could see silent plans forming.

"Won't be much of a surprise, Dan," Tom chuckled.

"Oh, don't you worry, big brother, it will be. We'll make sure of it," she grinned mischievously at them.

Tom groaned loudly and shook his head. "Please don't subject my wife and daughter to one of your parties."

"Daughter?" Gabe spluttered and looked across at his mother.

"This is Jasmine," Jeni murmured softly as Jasmine lay on her lap, her eyes drooping with sleepiness. "Sophie's daughter."

Gabe shook his head and recovered quickly. "You really know how to keep secrets, don't you?"

"Only when I have to," Tom muttered under his breath. Sophie heard it, but what that meant, she didn't know.

"Tom?" his father beckoned from the hallway. "Do you want to look over those plans?"

"Sure," he nodded, kissing Sophie briefly before following his father out of the room, leaving Sophie alone with the rest of his family.

Tom closed the heavy study door behind him and leant back on it as he faced his father and grandfather. He knew he was going to be told one way or another if they liked Sophie. They certainly appeared to - his mother and grandmother certainly did. As did Dani, but Dani liked everyone. His father and grandfather were harder to read though. An instant family hadn't been part of their request, and even though he didn't love Sophie and the only reason he'd married her was to please them, it was still incredibly important that they accept Sophie and Jasmine into family.

"So what are your plans now?" his father asked.

"I'm moving back to Australia permanently - we fly back to Melbourne tomorrow, where we'll live for now at least, while I supervise the development," he shrugged. "Gabe's in charge of the resort here, but I can fly over whenever he needs me. We've already discussed all of this."

"Is that why you picked her? Because she's from Melbourne?"

His grandfather had been watching Tom closely, and no doubt had taken in every tiny nuance of his reaction, he always did. It was why he couldn't fool the old man. "We like her," his grandfather admitted.

Tom blew out a breath, relieved he had their approval. "So, does this mean I can go ahead with the resort the way I want?"

"Alright, go ahead with your resort. For now," his grandfather nodded.

Tom wanted to pump his fist in the air and jump up and down a little bit. It meant he had the project. It also meant that he hadn't made the worst mistake of his life in marrying someone he'd known less than two weeks.

"We still want to see the finalised plans and we reserve the right to say no if we don't like them," Edward added. "But from what we've seen of the plans, they look better than we'd hoped."

Tom nodded, his chest swelling with pride at the approval in his father's voice. He'd finalise his plans and designs, and they would love it. He was excited about it. His life had gone from just plodding along in the same old way day after day, to all his dreams coming true. And it had everything to do with the woman that was now his wife.

But he couldn't let Sophie find out about the real reason he'd rushed into this marriage. "This conversation doesn't leave this room," he murmured seriously, although he doubted that either of them would mention it to anyone else. "I don't want Sophie to hear about this and think this is why I married her."