Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
“Take care of my dumb brother,” Courtney teases with a laugh.
“I’m the smartest brother you have,” I tell her defensively, and she just giggles.
“I’d say you’re the biggest pain in my ass. Always annoyin’ the hell out of me when we were kids.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re right. I can’t even argue about that one.”
After we end the call, I pull River close, just needing to be by her. John and Evan walk up to say their goodbyes, and I can tell the party is coming to an end because the room isn’t as loud.
“Are you ready to go?” I ask River quietly.
“I thought I’d help Benita clean up,” she says, looking around at the mess that’s left over.
Confetti is sprinkled everywhere, and it looks like a party train wreck happened with all the streamers and decorations. It’d take Benita a good hour to clean this up alone.
“That’s a good idea, and she’d probably appreciate it.”
After we help Benita clean the dining hall and all the tables are put back in the storage room, River and I make our way home. It’s barely after five in the evening, but we’re both exhausted. As soon as we walk through the front door, we both plop on the couch and let out a sigh of relief. The day was busy and full of fun, but it’s good to sit in quiet for a minute and decompress after being around so many people.
“I think I need a shower,” River finally says. “I just feel…sticky.”
“Welcome to Texas, darlin’.” I smirk.
River stands, and I can’t help but look at her cute little tummy. She notices and gives me a smirk with a quick little eyebrow raise. “Do you want to see?” she asks.
Her question takes me off guard for a moment, but I look back and forth from her belly to her eyes and nod. “Yeah.”
Slowly, she lifts her shirt and reveals the cutest little bump. “It almost doesn’t look real.”
“Trust me, it’s real.” She chuckles. “The skin is stretching and itching like hell though. Not to mention all the stretch marks that are starting to form.” She sighs, curling her lip in disapproval.
I reach for her hand and pull her between my legs. I place a palm on her tummy and press a soft kiss on top. “Stretch marks or not, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” I wink, meaning every word.
Biting her lip, she pulls her shirt down before she walks to the bathroom.
Damn, she’s so sexy. I close my eyes and imagine her straddling me on the couch. Just the fantasy of her has me adjusting myself. It’s to the point where being with her is no longer a want. It’s a burning need that’s poisoning my mind with dirty thoughts.
As the door to the bathroom opens, I turn my head, and soon she’s stepping out with a towel wrapped around her petite body. My mouth slightly falls open, and I have to force myself to close it. My eyes don’t leave her until she walks into her bedroom.
After she’s dressed, we warm up leftovers and eat in front of the TV like an old married couple. Once we’re finished eating, River lets out a big yawn.
“I think I’m going to lie down and read my book,” she says with excitement in her tone. “I left off on this one chapter, and now I have to know what happens next.”
“Oh, what kind of book?”
Her eyebrow ticks up. “Romance.”
“Dirty romance?” I tease.
“Let your imagination wander then go ten steps past that.”
“Oh, that’s real dirty,” I tell her as she walks to her room.
Taking off my boots, I place my feet on the couch and flip through the channels, not able to focus on anything until I hear River calling my name.
“Yeah?” I instantly stand and go to her, not even waiting for a reply.
When I walk into her room, she’s lying there with a sweet smile on her face. Her blonde hair surrounds her head, and she looks so damn sweet.
“Everything all right?” I ask.
“Yes, come here. Hurry. I think I felt our little peanut flutter,” she says, waving me over.
“Really? Will I be able to feel it too?” I sit on the edge of the bed, and the heat of her skin touches mine.
“Oh, I felt it again.” River places my hand on her belly, and I almost feel the air still around us as my hand feels her soft skin. We both sit in silence, waiting.
“I don’t feel anything,” I tell her in a hushed voice.
“Keep talking. It happens every time you say something like he or she’s excited to hear your voice!”
I smile at how happy she is. “Okay. So once upon a time, there was a Bishop kid.”
“There it is again! Keep going,” she encourages, but I don’t know what to say.