Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
And if they are?
Who the hell cares?
Summer and I are practically engaged. The contract has been signed, sealed, and delivered with a copy securely tucked away in my father’s safe.
After Eloise’s untimely interruption Sunday morning, they’ve been made aware of their daughter’s activities. Had it been up to me, I would have told them weeks ago. I don’t particularly like sneaking around behind their backs. Especially when there’s no need for it. Summer belongs to me. If we want to have sex, then we’ll goddamn do it. There’s no reason for it to be some big secret.
For fuck’s sake, the girl is eighteen years old. I’m amazed she managed to hold on to her virginity for as long as she did. I’m the only guy to be inside her body and as far as I’m concerned, that’s the way it’ll stay for the rest of our lives. I shake my head as that strange thought takes root.
For the rest of our lives...
Something so permanent should scare the crap out of me.
What does it say that it doesn’t?
Exactly.
I hesitate for a moment and consider throwing on my shorts and T-shirt. But what’s the point? All I’m doing is sneaking down to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Then I’ll be heading back upstairs to sleep. Quietly, I slip from the door and pad through the second-floor hallway before creeping down the staircase. Once my bare feet hit the cold marble of the tile floor in the foyer, I turn toward the back of the house before skidding to a halt. A dim light emanates from the kitchen.
Hmmm.
Either someone forgot to turn it off before going to bed, or one of the Hawthornes is still awake.
“I need this over with,” a soft female voice says, shattering the stillness that has settled over the house.
Eloise.
My guess is that she’s conversing with her husband, which means both of Summer’s parents are still awake. My belly rumbles as I consider my options. I’m starving. It feels like my stomach is seconds away from making a meal of its own lining. That being said, I sure as hell can’t waltz into the kitchen after midnight in my boxers like I own the joint. That would go over like a ton of bricks. Maybe I haven’t said anything to Summer, but I want her parents to like me. At some point in the not so distant future, we’ll be family.
Guess I’m shit out of luck as far as foraging around in the fridge goes. I either return home for sustenance or wait until breakfast to fuel my body. Given a choice between Summer and a late-night snack, I’ll choose the ebony-haired girl every time. I fucking hate sleeping without her. It’s only been a month, but I’ve gotten used to having her slender body wrapped in my arms. There’s something strangely soothing about the sound of her steady inhalations.
As I swing around to retrace my steps, Griffin confirms his presence. “Roland thinks he might have found a way to toss out Mom’s affidavit. Without that, Keaton doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on in court.”
My footsteps falter. There is no damn way they’re talking about Rose Hawthorne’s accounting of how Herbert Hawthorne killed my great-great-grandfather, Gerald Rothchild. Are they seriously attempting to circumvent the contract after they agreed to the terms?
I drag a hand through my hair as their conversation circles viciously through my head. As much as I don’t want to believe it’s true, there’s no denying what I heard.
Everything inside me deflates as anger sets in.
Why am I even surprised?
In all honesty, I should have expected it. They’re Hawthornes. And in my experience, Hawthornes are nothing but liars, cheats, and murderers.
I inch closer to the kitchen, needing to confirm their treachery. Whatever they’re up to, Dad will want to know about it.
“I’ll never understand how your mother could have done this,” Eloise sighs.
“It’s my fault. I should have realized she wouldn’t give me a dime without attaching strings.” His voice drops before softening. “With any luck, we’ll be able to get Summer out of this situation.”
My heartbeat speeds up at the mention of their daughter’s name.
Wait a minute...does she know about this?
“I never should have agreed to the contract in the first place,” Griffin continues. “If I’d been smart, I would have held Keaton off for as long as possible. Instead, Summer will be tied to a man she never wanted, forced to spend the rest of her life in this miserable excuse for a town.”
“You’re doing everything you can to get her out of it,” Eloise soothes, “and that’s what matters.”
“You explained the situation to her?” he asks.
“I did.” Her confirmation blows a fucking hole right through my heart. “She wants this over with as much as we do.”
“I should have told her about it myself,” her father mumbles. “I didn’t want to get her hopes up, only to be let down if it doesn’t turn out the way we want it to.”