Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
He’d been drop-dead sexy and just the right amount of cocky, not to mention buttoned-up, slicked-down, and urbane in a way that made me want to put my hands on him, if only so I could mess up his perfect exterior. It had been memorable, alright. So memorable I hadn’t bothered hooking up since then because it would most likely be a disappointment in comparison.
Foster must have seen the wistful look on my face. “Uh-huh. Why don’t we table this discussion for another time?” Foster had said with a low laugh. “Maybe a time when we both aren’t feeling the effects of the weather and whiskey.”
We’d never made another attempt. Instead, we’d become good friends, creating the kind of relationship I didn’t dare fuck up with sex.
But his mother liked to think it was just a matter of time. Even now, she nodded toward where Way and Silas were still joking around with Sheridan and Bo and said coyly, “Looks like Foster found the fun crowd. You should join them. Let loose a little. Tell my son to do the same while you’re at it.” She shot me a wink, and I returned an eye roll.
“Stop meddling,” I mumbled around my last bite of chicken. She reached for the empty skewer to toss in the trash.
“Stop avoiding happiness,” she said. This time, her expression cut right through me. “It’s time to move on, Dev. Embrace your life and enjoy yourself. Live a little. Hell, live a lot. You already know summer in Majestic is magical. Maybe this can be your hot girl summer.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You think?”
Her smile was easy and genuine. “I know.”
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I love you, too.”
As I made my way back through the crowd to where my friends had congregated, I returned a few friendly greetings from people I knew. Mr. Shandy from the hardware store tipped his hat, and Millie Turner waggled her fingers at me.
Foster shot me a grin as I approached. “Did my mother send you over to spy on me?”
“More like she sent me over here to seduce you. I told her I don’t swing that way.”
His deep laugh helped me relax, and I was grateful they were no longer talking about babies and family stuff. “You told her you weren’t gay?”
“Nah. I told her I didn’t go for bossy assholes.”
As Way and Silas laughed, Foster wrapped his arm around my shoulders and yanked me into his side before pressing a kiss to my hair. “Just for that, I’m going to start some rumors—”
“Devon McKay?” a cold voice clipped from somewhere behind me. I turned to see who was asking when I froze in place.
There, in an opening in the crowd around us, was a man I’d never expected to see again. The drop-dead sexy, just-the-right-amount-of-cocky guy I’d hooked up with in Texas over two years ago.
Tully Bowman looked every bit as urbane and citified as he had that night…
Only this time, he was scowling and appeared not to even recognize me.
Silas stepped closer. “Who’s asking?”
Before the semi-stranger could say another word, I noticed he held a baby on his hip. Did he have a child?
I glanced around for a partner, woman or man, someone who might also lay claim to this little family pair in front of me. But then the little girl lifted her head from his shoulder and gazed at me.
“Holy fuck,” Silas breathed, taking the words from my spinning head and giving them a voice.
It was easy enough to dismiss her curly dark hair as a coincidence, but there was no denying those hazel eyes. I knew them well.
I’d spent over thirty years looking at them in the mirror.
For a split second, I had the crazy thought that I’d somehow gotten this man pregnant during our one-night stand. Then I remembered it wasn’t biologically possible for him to get pregnant, and certainly not from a one-sided blowjob.
But then I remembered the reason I’d been in Texas the night we’d met. The favor I’d done for my friend Katie.
And nearly fainted dead away.
“W-why are you here?” I asked, hoping against hope that I was wrong. That there was another explanation—any other explanation. But that hope died when he opened his perfect lips and spoke again.
“To bring you your daughter.”
THREE
TULLY
I was exhausted and heartsore. Nervous to the point of numbness. And now I was angry enough to spit fire.
Lellie had been an angel on the plane. Thankfully, Orris had approved our travel on an executive jet, which meant we’d had plenty of space for her to move around and play, but the minute we’d landed, her patience had gone from limitless to hard-limited in about ten seconds flat.
My assistant at the firm had offered to come with me to help take care of Lellie, but I’d explained she was going through a “stranger danger” phase and would probably be more comfortable with just me.