The Bachelor's Perfect Proposal (Bliss Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

did, she hugged me so tight I struggled to catch my breath.
    Veronica’s eyes widened. She swung herself toward her mother and tried to peel her away from me. “Mom, you’re choking him!”
    I straightened as soon as she let me breathe. God, for someone a head and a half shorter than me, the woman was strong.
    She placed a hand over her chest. “Oops, sorry. I get a little bit excited sometimes.”
    “Not to worry. I’m still in one piece.” Before I could retract that last statement, worried that I had offended her, she cackled.
    She turned to her daughter. “Oh, I like this one, Nica, he’s funny. And so handsome too!” She pinched my left cheek.
    “Oh my god,” I heard Veronica say again. Panic replaced her embarrassment. “Maggie! Help me out here!”
    A tall girl with curly blonde hair came bounding down the steps and swung an arm over their mother. “Can’t you wait ‘til they get in the house at least? Hi, I’m Maggie, and you’re Levi.” She extended a hand.
    “Pleasure.”
    “Come bring your stuff inside.” Maggie nodded toward the house, a small yellow Cape Cod with an expansive and well-cared-for garden in the front.
    “We don’t have stuff. We only brought Rice Krispie treats and wine. They’re in the car,” Veronica told them.
    “Well…not exactly.” I was going to pay for this. I gave Veronica a crooked smile while I took a bag out of my trunk. “We’re staying for the weekend.”
    Veronica gaped.
    “Your Mum made me promise to keep it a secret.” The look Veronica gave me said enough. If I was the type to shake in my boots, I would have.
    Maggie whistled. “Oh boy, you’re in deep shit now.” She clapped my shoulder and shook her head. “Bad move, Levi, bad move. And here I thought you looked smart. I guess pretty doesn’t always come with brains, even for guys.”
    Veronica huffed and turned on her heels. She stomped all the way to the open light blue door.
    “Oh, don’t you worry about her. She’s just upset it wasn’t her idea,” her mother assured me. “Come inside before the neighbors start snooping. Mrs. Claremont across the street is a nosy little bi--”
    “Mother!” Maggie interjected. She rolled her eyes and walked back into the house. Her mother followed, defending herself and swinging her full skirt as she went.
    I was left standing by the car with an overnight bag, wondering if Veronica had been right. A guy who looked about Maggie’s age came and introduced himself. “June, Maggie’s boyfriend. I hope you realize you’re in for one hell of a weekend.” He snickered. “Anything I can help you with?”
    “There are Rice Krispie treats in the car, and a case of wine in the trunk.”
    “Nice! I’ll grab the wine. Sweet ride,” June said, whistling at my black Mercedes-Benz CL65.
    “Yeah, thanks. Veronica wouldn’t let me bring the convertible. She thought it was too flashy.” It wasn’t a complaint. The fact that Veronica was uncomfortable about my wealth just proved that she was indeed different from all the other women I’d dated.
    She hadn’t asked about my money at all, but sooner or later, it was a conversation we’d be having.
    When I stepped inside the house, I felt surprisingly at peace. The living room had a floral couch, matching armchair, and a distressed coffee table. There were family photos and vintage pieces on a sideboard and lace curtains on the windows. Clearly Veronica had had a hand in decorating. There were stark differences between the home I’d grown up in and theirs.
    However, the smell emanating from somewhere inside was slightly off, fighting against the sweet aroma of lit vanilla candles. I coughed as I got a good dose of the scent. Veronica shrieked. June and I looked at each other and followed the sound to the source.
    Inside the bright kitchen, gray smoke wafted out of the open oven door, and the smell was more putrid than it was from the living room. I dropped the bag on the floor, the tray of treats Veronica