Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
I put down the framed photo. “Don’t be. I was lucky. The first family I was placed with was my parents. I was never bounced around like a lot of kids. I had a good childhood. Pia was the best mom in the world. My dad worked a lot, but he was great, too. They’re my parents.”
Ireland smiled sadly. “Yeah. I sort of feel the same way. Even though I have nice memories of my mom, I feel like Opal was my parent. Come with me. I want to show you something.”
I followed her into her bedroom, and she pointed to a sign over her bed.
No rain. No flowers.
“A lot of my mom’s death and everything that happened around that time is a blur. But I remember the priest coming to talk to me after her funeral and saying these words when I was crying. Somehow they’ve stuck with me over the years. Seems appropriate for your history, too.”
I looked into her eyes. Fuck me. This woman was something else. I was standing ten feet away from her bed, and all I wanted to do was wrap her in my arms. The fact that I didn’t want to bend her over the bed and fuck her sort of freaked me out a little.
I blinked a few times and looked away. “It’s a beautiful saying.”
Ireland grabbed a sweater from her closet and a purse from her dresser. “You ready to meet my friends?”
“I’d prefer to have you all to myself, but I’m ready to head out, if that’s what you’re asking.”
She smiled and took my hands. “You want to know a secret?”
“What’s that?”
“I’m a little afraid to be all alone with you. That’s honestly one of the reasons I insisted on drinks rather than a full date.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess I sort of don’t trust myself with you. You make me…nervous. Not in a bad way, if that makes any sense.”
I took one of our joined hands and brought it to my lips to kiss her knuckles. “It makes a lot of sense. You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you scare the shit out of me, too.”
Chapter 18
* * *
Ireland
“There you are.”
Grant had disappeared at some point during the rehearsal. The pastor had stayed after the practice was over, and he’d talked for so long that I couldn’t get away to look for my date until now.
“Sorry. I got a work call and had to take it, so I stepped out.”
Grant looked away as he spoke. I hadn’t known him long enough to really read him, yet it wasn’t the first time I’d gotten the distinct feeling he was full of shit. Again, I let it pass.
“Oh. Okay. I lost track of you during the rehearsal. Dinner is about to be served.”
Grant nodded.
“Is everything okay?”
“Of course. Just got a little distracted for a moment.”
His eyes still didn’t meet mine. Maybe I was reading too much into things. Even if he hadn’t stepped out to take a call, and just needed some fresh air, it didn’t really matter.
I smiled. “I’m guessing a wedding rehearsal where you meet all of my friends at once isn’t exactly what you had in mind when you asked me for a second date.”
Grant wrapped an arm around my waist. “It wasn’t. But I’ll take what I can get.”
I lifted my arms up and around his neck. “I never would have thought it, but you’re a good sport. I’ll have to make it up to you later.”
Grant’s eyes darkened. “I like the sound of that.” He leaned in and brushed his lips with mine.
Our private moment was interrupted by the sound of my best friend’s voice. “Get a room.”
I smiled and introduced Grant to the soon-to-be bride.
“Grant, this is my best friend, Bridezilla. Formerly known as Mia.”
Grant and I separated, and he extended his hand. But Mia wasn’t having any of that. She went in for a hug. “It’s nice to finally meet you, bossman.”
He chuckled. “You, too.”
She hooked her arm with his and started to walk toward the door. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to everyone and tell you all their secrets so you don’t feel like an outsider.”
Grant laughed, assuming she was kidding, but I knew better.
Inside, Mia introduced Grant to two dozen people, and when dinner started, she sat down with us instead of Christian, her husband-to-be, who was seated at the other end of the long table.
She ate a piece of her salmon and pointed her fork in the direction of our friend Tatiana. “She had her boobs done.”
Grant looked over. His eyes dropped briefly to her enormous boobs, and then he turned back with a chuckle. “Not sure that’s a secret to too many people.”
He was absolutely right. Tatiana’s implants were each almost as big as my head, and her chin practically rested on them, they sat so high.