Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I laughed so hard when I read the back of Harley’s vest, engraved with Property of my Daddy.
“I love your heart sunglasses,” I said to her.
She cheekily smiled, only looking at Jackson who was standing beside me with a pissed-off expression quickly appearing on his face.
She revealed with a wicked glare in her eyes, “They’re my Jackson blockers.”
“Harley!” her mom Mia reprimanded. She swiftly took off running and Jackson eagerly followed closely on her tail.
“I bought her a similar pair of heart sunglasses when she was seven, telling her they made her invisible. I don’t know why she decided to call them her ‘Jackson blockers’,” she informed, shaking her head. “I can’t even with those two.”
“So, I guess it’s true, they’ve always hated each other?” I asked, noticing how much she resembled Skyler.
There had to be a story there…
It was obvious the Jameson brothers had the same taste in women.
Maybe they were sisters?
“Hate is a strong word. I’m going to say they love each other and just don’t know it yet.”
“I said the same thing!”
She chuckled. “I like you. Camila, right?”
“That’s right.”
“How’s it been over at the Pierces’?”
“Now that’s a loaded question.”
“That bad?”
“It has its ups and downs.”
“Aiden is such a nice man. I can’t tell you how many times he has come to our house in the middle of the night to stitch-up our son Luke. I can’t for the life of me control that boy. He’s exactly like his father Creed, and sometimes I feel like he’s going to be worse.”
“Your husband is that one, right?” I pointed to another muscular, tall, tattooed man standing next to the barbeque pit. Staring daggers at Jackson, who was still chasing Harley.
“Yeah. That one belongs to me.”
“Uh… is Jackson okay?”
She smirked. “He’s been staring at Jackson that way since he was born.”
“So, he’s okay?”
“He’s fine. At least for now.” She winked and we both busted out laughing.
I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with everyone, shooting the shit, immediately feeling as if I was one of them. It was nice to feel like I was a part of their group, their family, they were all so welcoming.
“Camila!” Aubrey, Dylan’s wife shouted from her raft floating around the pool with a cocktail in hand. Shaking her free arm, trying to get my attention.
“Suga! Keep bouncin’ those tits and watch how fast I burn that bikini!”
Everyone laughed, but Aubrey didn’t pay her husband Dylan any mind. Seemingly used to the detective’s foul mouth.
“Come play volleyball with us!” she invited.
“Okay!” I hollered back. “Give me a second!” Walking over to my tote I left beside the lounger, I pulled off my jean shorts and my tank top. Putting all my items securely in my bag.
Thinking I might as well enjoy myself, Jackson was off doing God knows what to Harley. Jagger was hanging out with some of the other boys playing video games, and Skyler had taken Journey to nap with her.
I scanned the pool area, immediately feeling like my bathing suit might be a tad skimpy, but it was the only one I owned. I bought it years ago, which I apparently might have been going through a slutty stage.
“Damn, girl!” Briggs, one of the other wives, whistled. “Your booty is poppin’, babe!”
“Oh God, look at you! You look amazing!” And she did, she was covered in tattoos and had the brightest purple hair I’d ever seen.
“You do, baby,” her husband Austin voiced, slapping her ass.
“How often do you work out?” Alex, Harley’s grandmother who looked more like her mother, asked.
“I dance a lot. It keeps me in shape.”
“Can you teach me how to clap my butt?” Harley questioned out of nowhere. “Like you did on your YouTube video.”
“Alrighty.” I nervously laughed. “I’m going to go play some volleyball.” Before anyone could continue interrogating me, I jumped in the pool. Letting the refreshing water take me under before resurfacing, only to have water shot in my face.
“Jackson!”
“Oh, come on, Mary Poppins! You’re already wet!” he yelled, running by, torturing Harley with his water gun.
“Leave that poor girl alone!”
“Never!” And he was gone.
By the time we stopped playing and I stepped out of the water, it was lunchtime. Everyone started eating, sitting around on the picnic tables anywhere they could find a spot.
I threw on my shorts with the looming sensation of being watched heavy on my mind. I felt it the entire time I was in the pool and it didn’t subside as I made my way inside through the glass door in the backyard. Looking for Journey, so I could feed her.
It was only then I locked eyes with the man across the room.
Dr. Pierce.
Was he the one I sensed staring at me?
With the way his eyes were solely fixated on my body, it had to be him. There was this predatory regard in his demeanor as he unceasingly stared at me. Oblivious to everyone, it felt like we were the only two people in the room with a look like his.