Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“What did you think about it?” Ginger nudges me in the side. In tonight’s meeting, there are only four of us. Me, Gabby, Ginger, and Ivy. We’re sharing dessert at Gabby’s cabin.
She’s an excellent cook when she’s not busy running the auto garage in town. I’m not sure what she said or did to get Roman out of the house for a few hours. He’s normally glued to her side. All the men of Courage County tend to be over-the-top and want to watch over us constantly.
My husband has texted me three times since I left our cabin an hour ago. He wants me to check in and let him know whenever I get to my destination. At first, I found it weird. But now, I know that it’s just because he cares so much.
It doesn’t help that my vehicle is old and having trouble. Hale has tried to convince me to buy a brand-new car, but I haven’t let him. He insists that what’s his is now mine, but I’m not used to being a millionaire. Or rather, the wife of one.
Yesterday, we met with Henry, Hale’s attorney. My husband insisted on making sure that my name is on all of his accounts. He wants me to have access to everything. I tried to point out that he built his businesses long before I came into his life, but he said he doesn’t believe in splitting assets.
While we were there, I did ask for one thing. I asked Henry to add my name to Ollie’s guardianship papers. I love Ollie so much. He’s mine. Just like Hale is.
“What did I think about what?” I ask, blinking at Ginger.
“You know, the thing he did,” Gabby says as she puts another pan of brownies in the oven. Her brownies are so sweet that they give me a sugar high that seems to last for days.
I think she’s referring to the bondage scene in the book where the hero ties the heroine up. I nibble on a bite of my still-warm brownie. “It was steamy.”
The truth is, I read that scene three times in one sitting. I’m not sure that I’m brave enough to try something like that just yet. But that doesn’t mean a girl doesn’t fantasize. If I brought it up with Hale, I have no doubt he’d be willing to give it a try. In or out of the bedroom, all I have to do is ask him for what I need. He’s always happy to deliver.
“The brother’s best friend trope just isn’t for me.” Mackenzie wrinkles her nose then glances at Ginger. “Sorry.”
Ginger wiggles her eyebrows. “That's because you don't have a brother with a hot best friend.”
I'm pretty sure that Ginger is not so secretly in love with her older brother's best friend, Grizz. He's a hulking mountain man who runs the camping store here in town.
Before I can comment and tell her to go for it, the direction of our conversation changes and we’re discussing Gwen’s new book. She’s another woman who lives in these mountains with her husband. But unlike us, she doesn’t just read steamy books. She writes them too.
By the time I leave our meeting, my stomach hurts from laughing with the girls, and I have a pan full of brownies to take home with me. I always leave the book club feeling lighter and happier than when I arrived, which is saying something because my life is already pretty awesome.
When I get home, I come into the cabin quietly in case Ollie is sleeping. He’s not, but he’s well on his way. Hale is holding him in the rocking chair in the nursery. They’re reading a book together about a little otter looking for home. Ollie’s eyes are already starting to droop, and I can’t say I blame him. There’s just something soothing about the deep rumble of my husband’s voice.
Hale looks up when he hears me in the doorway. His beard has bits of baby cereal in it, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know which bodily fluid has stained his T-shirt. “Why don’t you let me take over for a few minutes?”
It’s what he asks me every time he gets off work. He loves running the gym, but he’s training Susie to take over more of the day-to-day operations. He says he wants to spend more time with Ollie and me.
He passes me our son and kisses me on the lips. It’s a deep kiss, promising a night filled with delight once our boy is asleep.
I finish the story with Ollie who drifts off easily once I put him in the crib. I watch over him for a few minutes. My life is perfect, and now I’m going for a shower with my husband.
Hale
I let the shower water beat down on my back and melt into the warmth. I love nights when I get to hang out with Ollie by myself. But I can’t deny that it’s exhausting keeping up with my son. He’s getting big, and he’s crawling now.