The Unexpected Bride-Book One in Taming of the Shrew

Chapter Fifty-Four

"He is more of an acquaintance than a friend."

She heard Nick mutter, then Chris's loud gasp of outrageousness. It appeared he had moved in listening range to espy on their conversation.

"Oh, come on, man. We knew each other from diapers."

She heard him whine out.

Soon, loud shuffling came about, and then Chris's voice entered into the speaker.

"Hello, Miss. My name is Christopher Billion. But you can call me Chris. A childhood friend and not an acquaintance of Nicholas Ross."

With a nervous chuckle, she was unsure of what to say.

"Uh...It is nice to meet you. My name is Sharlene Cunning-ham."

"Cunning-ham? Sounds familiar."

Hearing his low murmur, she grimly smiled.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Uh... I do not know?"

Unsure, Sharlene was feeling awkward.

Ignoring her undecided question, Chris flamboyantly asked.

"What are you to, my not-so-communicative best friend?"

"Uh...his fiance?"

A dead silence passed through the phone before she heard low muttering, then the phone moving again.

"I am so sorry about my acquaintance's uncouth behavior, Sharlene."

Nick's slightly haggard breath that sounded sexy and mellow entered into her ears. It appeared he had fought to pull the phone from Chris's hands. Blushing, she was not offended, though unprepared for the encounter.

"It is okay."

Hearing loud barking in the background, she frowned.

"What is happening?"

"I am sending my acquaintance to his private airport that will take him back home."

"Oh."

She hummed.

Soon, she heard a door shut, and the barking faded.

"That was unexpected."

She murmured with a large blush, for he was back into silence and most likely to revisit their previous conversation.

"Yeah, it was."

She heard him murmur before he lowly continued.

"I will accept your reward."

"What?"

Acting clueless, Sharlene turned redder.

"The kiss. Or have you already forgotten?"

"No, no. I have not."

Smirking, Nick sat in his chair.

"Good."

Murmuring, he was elated after the awkwardness had left.

"Do you like pink gold?"

He effortlessly changed the topic while glancing at his watch.

He had five minutes left to speak to her.

"What?"

Puzzled, Sharlene's eyes widened when he included.

"For your engagement ring."

"My what?"

Chuckling, for he loved how she acted when he caught her off guard, he leaned onto the desk.