Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Would I have considered a real marriage if it had been with Bianca Brewer?
My chest tightens as I turn my attention to her again. I don’t want to answer her inquiry.
“I think we need to start watching our language,” I say, satisfied with the detour. “We are getting married, and for all anyone knows, it’s a forever kind of thing. We need to practice speaking to each other like we’re, you know … in love.”
Suddenly, I’m less satisfied with the detour.
My lungs constrict so hard they burn. Like we’re in love? Carmichael, come on.
A chime rings through the room, alerting me to a message in the group family text. I generally silence my notifications as soon as I hear that noise. But today, I appreciate the distraction.
Maddox: Ashley and I ran over to Breakwater. Do you want me to pop into the jewelry store and send you pictures of rings, Foxx? I’m just sitting in the car while Ashley is in the store next door.
I read the message three times.
I’m not quite sure how to interact in this dynamic.
Me: Yes.
Me: Thanks.
Maddox: I’ll go in now. Do you have anything in mind?
I glance quickly at Bianca.
The first word that comes to mind is sexy, but I don’t think there’s a category for that in rings. The next thought I have is class. And although she does have a ton of money and a personal assistant at her beck and call, she’s not pretentious.
Me: Something simple yet classy. Nothing flashy.
Maddox: Got it. Gimme a few.
Jess: Okay, honeymoon is booked. Silver Springs tomorrow night with a Wednesday check-out because you asked for just a couple of nights. You can extend it if you want. Just let me know.
What?
“What’s wrong?” Bianca asks, studying me.
“Nothing. Hang on.”
Me: What do you mean it’s booked?
Jess: We all went in and paid for it. It’s our wedding gift to you.
Me: I don’t even know when the wedding is.
Jess: It’s tomorrow. Mom was finalizing details.
Oh.
Excitement creeps up my spine.
“What’s happening?” Bianca asks.
I chuckle. “Apparently, my brothers just booked our honeymoon.”
She flinches. “What? Where? How?”
I scroll up through the messages until I find the location. “Silver Springs. Just a couple of nights.” To bide me some time to think of something that’s worthy of you.
“I don’t want anyone out of pocket for this,” she says. “I’m happy to pay for everything. I feel bad, considering this is … not real.”
Her words fall on the last two words.
“Don’t,” I say. “Language, remember? This is real, for all intents and purposes. And there’s no way I’m letting my wife pay for anything.” I tap her on the nose. “I don’t care if she has a lot more money than I do.”
She giggles.
“Speaking of that, the prenup is in my email,” I say. “We need to get that signed tonight and back to Gannon.”
I pull my gaze away from hers and go back to my texts.
Me: I didn’t expect you to do that. Thank you. That was very thoughtful.
Three pictures load one after the other. I turn so Bianca can’t see my screen and flip through them. The third one—emerald cut diamonds along a gold band—is the one.
Me: Number three.
Maddox: Size?
Me: No clue.
Maddox: The lady here says the average is between a five and a seven. So let’s say a six, and you can have it resized later if needed?
Me: Sounds perfect. I’ll pay you back tonight.
Maddox: I’m paying for it now.
“A delivery person is on their way with things that Astrid found at a shop in Breakwater,” Bianca says, looking up from her phone. “She thinks she found me something to wear for our nuptials.”
She stands, her clothes clinging to her curves.
“What about for the honeymoon?” I ask.
Her eyes widen in surprise. A sexy little grin slides over her lips. “Oh, thinking about the honeymoon, are you?”
“I’ve been thinking about the honeymoon since I asked you to marry me.”
She stands in front of me, dragging a finger along my jawline. The contact sends goose bumps across my skin and a bolt of heat straight to my cock.
“You didn’t ask me,” she says. “You demanded it.”
My throat is dry. “That won’t be the only thing I demand.”
Her chest rises and falls. “Want to get in a practice session?”
I lean forward as if I’m going to kiss her. But instead of going through with it, I grab her by the waist and move her backward as I stand.
“No,” I say, walking around her.
“Ugh. Why are you like this?”
“Because I can be.” I peek through the curtains and find a car parked on the road. “Did you say someone was delivering your things now?”
“Yes. And tomorrow. But Astrid found a place to get me clothes today and some options for the wedding, and they said they’d deliver now.”
A man gets out and then opens the back door. He grabs several bags with Halcyon stamped on the front in pink font.