Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
And then another group of demons came over. It was at least an hour later that she and Knox finally reached Jolene. And Harper felt like she’d just come up for air out of the sea. “Hey, Grams.”
Jolene, looking as smart as ever, gave her a one-armed hug. “You’re happy. I’m glad. I was worried that I’d find you sulking.”
“I was worried we wouldn’t find you at all,” said Raini, mouth twitching.
Devon chuckled and took a sip of her champagne. “Honestly, I had that same worry.”
Snorting, Harper turned to Beck and gave him a quick hug. She hadn’t yet told anyone about what happened with Crow and Roan, not trusting that her grandmother wouldn’t blow up Carla’s home out of anger. Besides, Harper knew her family and friends had been looking forward to the shindig and she wanted them to be able to enjoy it. She also knew she’d need to soon warn them that Knox would be making an unpleasant announcement so they weren’t taken off-guard.
“I like the rings,” said Jolene. “Maybe Knox’s demon will stop leaving brands all over you now.”
Harper kind of doubted it. “Maybe.”
Knox lightly tapped the black diamond. I didn’t think that the sight of them on your finger would make me hard.
Smiling, she said, I don’t think it takes much to make you hard.
Devon looked at the rings the way someone would gaze down at a cute little baby. “I think they’re beautiful. So shiny and – stop sniffing me!” She glared at Tanner over her shoulder. “I mean it, pooch, stop.”
Grinning, Tanner said, “But you smell like candy. How can I resist candy?”
Devon inhaled deeply, ready to give the hellhound… well, hell. But then she smiled at someone over his shoulder. The smile had a devious curve to it. “Hey there, Belinda.”
Oh, how wonderful.
The image of “well-groomed,” Belinda appeared at Harper’s side in an emerald silk gown, her hair styled in an elegant updo that must have taken hours. Her courteous smile was all for Knox. “Is everything to your satisfaction?”
Knox nodded. “It is. I’m impressed.”
Belinda beamed and clasped her hands together. “I’m so very glad. My team will also be pleased to hear that our hard work paid off.”
At that moment, Khloë sidled up to Raini, a skewer in hand. “This steak is cooked to perfection.”
Belinda’s smile faltered slightly. “I’m glad to hear it. Will you be making your speech soon, Mr Thorne?”
Snaking a hand around Harper’s waist, Knox opened his mouth to reply when he heard a familiar voice to his right.
“I sure do like this sculpture.”
Jolene smiled at the newcomer. “Well, hello, Lou.”
The Devil sent her a narrow-eyed look. “Hello, vile woman.”
“You buttoned up your shirt wrong,” Jolene told him.
“What?” he squeaked, peeking down at the shirt. Realizing she was kidding, he flattened his lips. “See, vile.”
Jolene rolled her eyes. “Let it go, Lou.”
Sensing there was more to this than the shirt comment, Harper asked, “Let what go? What did you do, Grams?”
Jolene tipped her chin at Lou. “He was in a bad mood, so thought I’d take him to a nice, calming atmosphere to cheer him up. Only there is no cheering him up.”
Harper wasn’t buying that innocent act for a single second. “Where did you take him?”
“To a poetry recital.”
Lou’s face hardened. “The words hardly ever rhymed! How is that poetry?” And it clearly drove his OCD streak crazy.
Harper clamped her lips tightly closed to contain her laugh, but her shoulders shook. She didn’t dare look at the girls, knowing she would burst out laughing if she saw them doing the same. “Will you never learn to ignore my grandmother’s seemingly well-meaning gestures?”
Lou folded his arms, the image of petulance. “I’m done talking about it.”
Skimming through a wallet, Martina hummed to herself as she came to Jolene’s side. A gasp flew out of Belinda, making Martina’s head snap up. The imp took in Belinda’s emerald dress – the exact one that Martina herself was wearing – and grinned. “Ooh, snap! You have great taste.”
Belinda gaped in horror, wringing her hands. “You – I – Where did you get that dress? Mine was specially made! It was supposed to be the only one!” She whirled on Harper with a scowl. “You set that up!”
Well, of course she had. And Harper had no intention of denying it. “Come on, Belinda, you didn’t really think I’d just overlook all that stuff you said to me, did you? As you often pointed out, I’m a Wallis. We don’t let crap like that go.” She cocked her head. “Out of a simple yet admittedly weird curiosity, just how much do you hate me right now?”
Red faced, Belinda stomped off.
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what I thought.”
Knox couldn’t help but chuckle. “She will despise you for life.”
Harper shrugged. “I can live with that.” Most happily. She looked at a laughing Lou and said, “So you hate it when anyone plays tricks on you, but you’re totally okay with it happening to others?”