Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Before long, I realize that it’s not just vendors roaming around, but family members, as well.
“This is Summer, my extraordinary florist and friend,” Erin says, gesturing to me. I’m embarrassed as hell because I’m sweaty, with my hair pulled up, no makeup, and in just a T-shirt with my logo and denim shorts, but I smile. “Summer, this is my mom, Megan, and some of my aunts, Alecia, Natalie, Nic, and Stacy.”
“Hello.” I nod to them all. Jesus, every single one of them is absolutely gorgeous. “I take it everyone arrived safely, then?”
“We did, the entire brood,” Natalie confirms. “It took four planes, but we did it. We’ve also taken over the entire town, I’m afraid.”
“I don’t think anyone is complaining,” I reply with a laugh. “Your family might single-handedly boost Bitterroot Valley’s economy this weekend.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Alecia asks, her eyes roaming over everything with interest. “I used to be an event planner, and I can do just about anything.”
“You’re a guest,” I remind her kindly. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, but I promise you, we have it all handled. It’s going to be an amazing couple of days.”
“I had no idea how absolutely gorgeous it is here,” Nic says, turning in a circle. “I mean, we’ve seen photos, and I know you’ve told us, Erin, but nothing does it justice.”
“I know,” Erin says with a little happy dance. “And I get to live here.”
“Mom!” We all turn as a little girl, Holly, comes running our way. “You forgot me, Mom!”
“No way,” Erin says as she scoops Holly into her arms and kisses her cheek. “You were still asleep when we left. How did you get out here?”
“I brought her.” A devastatingly handsome man joins us. He has a quick, charming smile, bright blue eyes, and shaggy dark-blond hair that just begs for a woman’s fingers. He turns that smile onto me. “Hey, I’m Hudson, Erin’s favorite cousin.”
“Don’t let the others hear you say that,” Natalie says with a laugh. “Come on, I want to see everything.”
“It’s going to look completely different tomorrow,” Erin informs them as they walk toward the tents.
“You know,” Hudson says, smiling after his family, “Erin insisted that she wanted a simple, small wedding. I think it’s blown up a bit beyond that.”
“It’s the biggest project I’ve ever taken on,” I agree, nodding as I resume sorting some vines. “But it’s going to be gorgeous. What do you think of Bitterroot Valley, Hudson?”
“I think it’s amazing. Views everywhere you look, nice people, good food.”
“Where did you eat?”
“We hit up a BBQ place last night.”
“Oh, sure, Rocky Mountain Smokehouse, right?”
“That’s it. Freaking amazing ribs.” He reaches down to help me straighten out a vine that’s decided to fight me.
“Is this your first visit here?”
“Nah, we came skiing last winter. That’s when Erin decided to stay, and I can’t say that I blame her. How long have you lived here?”
“About five years.” I stand and find Hudson smiling down at me. “What?”
“You sure are pretty, Summer Quinn.”
Just then, strong arms circle my shoulders from behind, and a face nuzzles my neck.
“Good morning, sugar,” Chase says. There’s a little…edge to his voice, and I look up at him and find him glaring at Hudson.
He’s jealous.
“Chase, this is—”
“Hudson,” Chase says with a nod. “We’ve met.”
Hudson rocks back on his heels, that charming smile still in place, and nods slowly. “I get it. It was nice to meet you, Pretty Summer.”
And with that, he winks and then sets off to catch up with the women.
“Was that necessary?” I ask as I turn in Chase’s arms and give him a hug.
“Fuck yes, it was. I didn’t like the way he was smiling at you.”
“And how was that?”
“Like he wanted to eat you for fucking breakfast.” He lowers his lips to mine, and I’m immediately swept up in him, the way I always seem to be whenever he’s near me. “And only I get to do that.”
“Hmm.” I pat his chest and grin up at him. “If he had suggested any such thing, I would have turned him down. Probably.”
Chase growls in his throat, making me laugh.
“Okay, caveman, I have to get back to work. I’m on a schedule here.”
I wasn’t wrong this morning when I told my staff that it would be a long, grueling day. It was just that, and I was like a mother hen, hovering over everyone to make sure they were hydrated, had food, and weren’t overworking themselves.
To my absolute shock, Chase has asked me to be his date tonight. At first, I decline because I’m working, but it seems the man can talk me into just about anything. However, I don’t have time to run all the way home to get ready and then come back, so thankfully, Erin lets me use her guest suite in the farmhouse so I can get ready for the party.