Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
The same sensation tickles my fingers again, and I force my eyes open.
Gabby is playing with my fingers, threading an old string around them and frowning to herself.
I raise a hand, putting my thumb between her eyebrows and smoothing the skin. “What’s got my girl anxious today?”
Fuck, I love the sound of that. I love getting to call Gabby my girl. I love the idea that she belongs to me now. I can’t wait until the whole world knows she’s mine.
“I did some research. I shouldn’t have,” she says.
“Did research on what?”
“On you,” she whispers.
My heart sinks, wondering what she’s found that has her so disappointed in me. Before I can ask, she blurts out, “I saw your net worth. You’re rich.”
I think most women would be delighted to realize they’re marrying a millionaire but not my Gabby. She looks miserable. “Don’t you think we should get a prenup or something?”
Now it’s my turn to scowl and I pull her body close to mine. I can’t stand the idea of anything separating us. “A prenup is for people that plan on getting a divorce, and I don’t plan on ever letting you go, kitten.”
“But what if something happens? People break up all the time.”
“What we have is forever. Everything I have is yours from this moment forward, including and especially, my heart.”
She makes a soft humming noise, and it lets me know that’s all she needed. My precious girl wanted reassurance that it’s my heart she has. “My brother is greedy and money hungry.”
I rub her back, consoling her. “I can handle him.”
As soon as our wedding is over, I do plan to handle him. By the time it’s all said and done, I’m going to run him out of town and make sure that Gabby is the sole owner of the auto garage. He barely does anything around there and yet the place thrives because of my sweet girl. Yeah, as far as I’m concerned, that place belongs to her fair and square. She’s the one that’s kept it running all these years.
“You know, the storm has been winding down.”
She looks up at me, hope in her eyes. “You think we could get down the muddy mountain?”
Before I can answer her, my phone rings and I reach for it frowning. When I see Hale’s name, I swear under my breath and hope this isn’t about his health.
“I need help,” Hale says as soon as I answer the call. He must have seen his truck when I drove back through town to get to Gabby.
I disentangle myself from her and reach for my clothes. “Anything. Just tell me what you need.”
“I need a ride to the Asheville airport.”
My heart sinks. I wanted to get to the wedding lodge early today. Still, I don’t think that Hale would ask if this weren’t important. “What’s going on?”
He grunts. “My sister called. She says she needs me.”
“The one with the baby?” I shrug into my dress shirt. I fumble with the buttons, letting out a small curse under my breath. But Gabby has scrambled out of bed and she works the buttons deftly, getting them right.
I mouth at her that I have to go.
“I’ll be there to pick you up in twenty minutes,” I tell Hale.
Gabby gives me a bright smile when I hang up, “It’s OK. Your friend needs you.”
I brush the hair from her face. “I wouldn’t go if it weren’t an emergency.”
“Send me directions, and I’ll meet you at the wedding lodge.”
I kiss her forehead. “I’ll make this up to you.”
Hale is a restless ball of energy. I don’t know much about his situation, but I do know that he had a drug-addicted sister. She stayed with him for a few months. He helped keep her clean during the pregnancy. But she left again with the baby, and he’s probably terrified that she’s fallen off the wagon. “You’ll get there in time.”
“I don’t know. She sounded pretty messed up on the phone.” He lets out a breath as his fingers drum on his knee.
I can’t ease his worries, but I can keep him focused on practical details until he knows exactly what he’s dealing with. “Do you have a ride from the airport?”
“I have somebody meeting me,” he assures me. He’s flying to Colorado, and he’ll be gone for a few days. Grizz will help manage the gym. He’s the mountain man who runs the camping store at the edge of town.
“Call me if you need me, but try not to need me. I’ll probably be on my honeymoon.” I’m telling him this to distract him from worrying about his sister. The truth is, he could call me anytime and I’d find a way to make it work.
He chuckles. “So you put a ring on Gabby’s finger. It’s about damn time. You’ve been mooning after her for six months.”