Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Thank me by paying me,” Fulco grumbles, which earns him another punch in the arm. But this time, he’s grinning.
“We’re proud of you,” Ash says, hopping to her feet. “Seriously, we’re proud of both of you.”
“Didn’t think it would happen, but here we are,” I admit, looking around the kitchen with a real sense of pride. “Ash, I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for your friendship. Really, that goes for all of you. Including Fulco.”
“Damn right.” He laughs.
Everyone laughs with him. I hug Jamila, then hug Bernie and Ash and even Fulco gets one, despite his protests. We’re a family, even if I don’t work at Smoke anymore. We’ll always be a family.
“Now, let’s feed these fuckers,” Bernie says, rubbing her hands together. “Shall the plating begin?”
“They’re all here, right?” Jamila peeks out the door and into the main room. Then she scurries back. “Yep, they’re all here.” She looks nervous. “The entire freaking Crowley family.”
“What do you care?” I ask, nudging her. “We’re doing your family tomorrow, don’t forget.”
Her cheeks turn red. “They’re going to slaughter us.”
“The Crowleys?”
“No, my aunts. My god. We won’t have enough donuts and they’ll riot.”
I bark a laugh, kiss her cheek, and the crew gets plating. Once the donuts are moved from the cooling racks to proper serving trays, we begin carrying them out, arranging them on the front counter, and inviting our guests to take samples.
There’s Molly with Finn and Dara and their baby boy, laughing about something, trying a chocolate-filled. Next to them is Carson, glaring at a simple vanilla cake, before shoving it into his mouth. That man probably hasn’t had an actual donut in forever. Roger’s there with the crew, laughing, drinking coffee, talking shit. “Worth all the work!” he calls out, holding up one of my personal donuts, the best of the batch. Beside him are other Crowley men I don’t know but recognize by sight: lieutenants, captains, important men with important wives.
But sitting alone toward the back is my husband, chewing on a simple glazed.
“Well?” I ask him as Jamila makes the rounds, shaking hands, making nice. “What do you think?”
He doesn’t even look at the donut. He can only stare at me. “You’re incredible.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” I say, blushing. “Seriously. How is it?”
“Seriously, it’s good.” He eats the whole thing in two massive bites. “I should pace myself though. I want to try them all.”
“Easy there. I don’t want you dying of a heart attack at thirty.”
“Good thing I’m thirty-four.” He stands, wraps his arms around me, and pulls me into a tight hug.
I stay like that for a minute, the murmur of conversation around us disappearing as I’m lost in my husband’s embrace. I look up and kiss him, grinning my face off.
“There she is.” Molly appears at my elbow. “Darling, these donuts are absolutely incredible. I knew they would be, but my word. How did you do it?”
“Hard work,” I say. Nolan’s arm drapes over my shoulder, hugging me against him.
“We’re impressed,” she says, her eyes sparkling. “I’m very happy to call you my daughter-in-law.”
“What if the donuts weren’t good?”
“I would’ve been less happy. But we don’t need to worry about that.”
“Mother,” Nolan says with a laugh.
Then Finn’s there, congratulating me, along with his sweet wife, Dara. I don’t know them well yet, but Ash promises they’re good people, and I can’t wait to spend more time with them.
Even Carson admits he’s enjoying himself. “Carbs and sugar aren’t my thing, but I could gorge myself on these little fuckers.”
“That’s high praise from him,” Nolan says, grinning.
“Thank you, Carson.”
“Now where’s my wife? I haven’t seen her in minutes.”
“In the back. Wait, in minutes? How long do you usually go without seeing her?”
“Seconds, if I can help it.” He storms off.
Nolan sighs. “Psychopath. Truly a psychopath.”
“Here’s me, thinking you were the crazy one.”
Finn cuts in. “Hate to break it to you, but I’m the normal one. Carson’s the insane one. And Nolan’s somewhere in between.” He hesitates, frowning. “Then there’s Liam.”
“He doesn’t exist on any mortal scale,” Nolan says.
Finn chuckles and runs a hand through his hair. “Speaking of which, where is Liam? I haven’t seen or heard from him in months.”
“Out west, last time he checked in.” Nolan glances toward the front window. “He said he’s working on a job. Something important. Something involving another family.”
Finn groans. “This could be bad, right?”
“Carson claims he’s got it under control.”
“We’ll find out, I guess.” Finn congratulates me again and heads off to get more donuts.
I spend the morning chatting with everyone, sampling my own food, laughing at Roger’s jokes, and spending as much time on Nolan’s arm as I can. When the party eventually breaks up and people filter out, I’m left alone with Jamila as Nolan escorts his mother out to the car.
“What do you think?” I ask her, leaning up against the front counter.