I’d been that girl. I’d written Kate King across my notebooks when I was supposed to be studying for a civics test. I’d hugged my pillow at night and wondered what it would be like to feel his strong arms around me. And when I’d lost my virginity in college, I’d inappropriately thought of Aiden. If my first time had been with him, would it have been as lackluster, or purely spectacular?

I was dimly aware that some people had stopped to wait for my answer. A handsome prince in his impeccable black suit down on one knee in front of me in my clearance dress and unforgiving heels.

It was like a scene out of a romance novel. I tried to summon the name of a specific book, but I couldn’t. Any with a handsome man kneeling at the damsel’s feet would do. Those damsel’s heels probably weren’t sporting three new blisters. And I wasn’t Snow White, nor was I in a forest. An NYC pigeon would crap on me before it cleaned my house.

My answer was the same no matter what. “Oh, Aiden. Yes.” My hand shook as I held it out.

He slid the ring on. The fit was perfect. How had he done that?

The weight of the cool stone on my finger was unusual. God, this thing was huge. I didn’t know much about diamonds other than I couldn’t afford them, but this ring was what an oil exec’s wife would wear.

I was going to be that wife. I was going to wear this gigantic ring and live in a big house, but none of that mattered. The man of my dreams had asked me to marry him. And he was everything I’d hoped he’d be and more.

If the last two months were anything to go by, then I couldn’t wait for our life together.

CHAPTER 2

Aiden

Present day…

I hooked a finger around my tie, wishing for the ten thousandth time I could loosen it. Tension rippled across my shoulders, tightening muscles that screamed to break out of this constraining white button-up shirt.

But in a small community where everybody felt free to drop in, I couldn’t risk a haphazard appearance. As the chief financial officer of King Oil, I wasn’t the face of the company, but I was the backbone. I had to look like I could run a billion-dollar organization.

Even if it came with a suit and shoes that I’d rather trade in for blue jeans and cowboy boots.

Another notification pinged. An email. I had a quick bell sound for my IM. A chime for the group chat program employees used. And a visual alert that streamed across my computer screen when an app on my phone had a notification.

Another ping. And another.