Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Go to bed and get some rest,” he murmured. “Don’t be sitting up all night talking to Beth about how amazing I am,” he teased.
I slapped his chest. “I was going to tell her you were bossy. High-handed.”
He chuckled. “When it comes to you, I am.” He pressed a kiss to my mouth that was far too short for my liking. I tried to lengthen it, but he shook his head. “None of that, Sweet Pea, or I won’t be leaving.”
“Sweet Pea?”
He smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “You smell like a garden of flowers. There’s one note stronger than the others. It reminds me of one of my favorite flowers.”
“Sweet peas?” I guessed.
He nodded. “You got it. And it suits you.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a nickname before.”
He kissed me again, this time a little longer and a little harder. “You’ll find lots of firsts with me. I promise you that.”
Then he left, and, surprisingly, Beth and I did go to bed. We were both exhausted.
I shook my head to clear my musings and dressed with care. Meeting his family today, even as Beth’s friend, was nerve-racking. I picked a pretty sundress I got on sale last year, sliding it over my head. It was summery and light, scattered with flowers on a soft blue background, and I rarely had an opportunity to wear it. I added a short-sleeved sweater in case I got chilly and headed to the kitchen to get coffee. I was going to need it today.
Liam arrived before Ronan, bringing with him his smile and calmness. He poured himself a cup of coffee, bounced Lucy on his knee, and listened to Evan talk about an idea he had for a Lego building.
“I think my mom was going to pull out all the kits she had of ours. Maybe we can build something while we’re there,” he told Evan, who grinned widely.
“Awesome.” He stood and headed to his room to get ready.
Beth stood, looking pretty in a soft green dress. Her hair was a mass of corkscrew curls around her face, and she smiled, although I knew she was nervous. She held out her hand to Lucy.
“Come on, Lucy-loo. I’ll help you get dressed.”
“I want to wear my pink dress.”
Beth met my gaze with a wink. “Which one?”
“With the flowers.”
“Okay. One pink dress with the flowers, as soon as you brush your teeth.”
Lucy looked up at Liam. “You stay, right?”
He nodded. “I’ll be right here.”
She slid from his lap and took Beth’s hand. “Otay!”
“You want me to find her swimsuit?” Beth asked.
“I packed it and Evan’s in a bag.”
“You girls should bring yours too. The pool is great at the Hub. Warm.”
“Maybe next time,” Beth murmured. “We’ll watch the kids today.”
She left, and Liam shifted closer, closing his hand over mine on the table. “Hey.”
I smiled at him. “Hi.”
He leaned in, brushing his mouth over my lips. “Hi.” He ran his nose over mine affectionately. “There’s no need to be nervous. My family is great.”
“I know. It’s a big deal for Beth today. I want it to go well for her. She adores Ronan, so she wants to make a good impression. Me too, I guess, so they think we’re okay.”
“Hey.” He slid his hand under my chin, making me look at him. “You’re more than okay. You’re perfect. They’re going to love you, and Lucy, too.”
My nerves got the better of me. “It’s not as important, though, but I don’t want to embarrass you or Beth.”
He stood, frowning, and tugged my hand, leading me to my bedroom. He shut the door behind us and turned to look at me.
“Today is just as important for me.” He drew in a deep breath. “I know you’re going as Beth’s friend, Paige, but you’re also going as my date. I’m introducing you and Lucy to my family as mine. Both of you.”
I felt my eyes widen. “Wh-what?”
He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me. “Unless you tell me no, as of today, my family will know you’re part of my life.”
“But it’s so…”
“Fast?” He finished. “Yes. Right? Yes.” He looked down, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “Don’t you feel how right it is, Sweet Pea?”
“What if you change your mind?”
He laughed, bending down and pressing a kiss to my mouth. “Not happening. When I make up my mind, I’m all in. And I am all in about you, baby. You and my little munchkin.”
“Oh,” I breathed out, unsure how to react. I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him until we were both breathless. To tell him I felt the exact same way. But I knew I had to remain calm.
“We’ll take this as slow as you need. I know we have a lot to talk about, to learn about each other, but none of it is going to change what I’m feeling. How I know that we’ll grow.”