Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“Yes. He’s building a house for us, and we’ll get married eventually,” Amber shared.
“You’ll let me help plan the wedding?”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else’s guidance. It won’t be anything big,” Amber warned, not wanting her mom to get too crazy.
“It’s your wedding.”
Amber turned at the sound of her phone ringing again. Rio answered the second video call of the night and began chatting with Beau.
Something clicked in Amber’s mind. “Excuse me, Mom. I’ll say something to Beau quickly. Come sit with us,” she urged as she moved to look over Rio’s shoulder.
“Hi, Beau!”
“Hi, Amber. Just checking in on Rio. Sorry I’m missing the party. I should be back in town soon,” Beau reported. “Shoot. I have to go. See you soon.”
Amber met Rio’s gaze and asked, “Did you notice that was the same couch?”
“The same couch?” Rio echoed.
“He was sitting on the same couch as Maisie was. Did he sweet talk her into letting him stay at her house?” Amber grinned as she considered what that could mean.
“There are a lot of beige couches in the world, Amber,” Rio warned.
“Not with those pillows. It was like a mirror image of the pattern but in opposite colors.”
Rio just shook his head and carefully stood to greet her parents. “Jack and Mrs. Murphy. I’m glad to see you.”
“You’ve made a few changes in here. It looks good. Does that freezer still leak?” Jack asked, leaning in confidentially.
“No, sir. That was the first thing I replaced. The repair guy couldn’t believe it was still working,” Rio reported.
“I babied that freezer for years,” Jack said with a laugh before sobering. “So, you and my daughter?”
“Yes, we’re together.”
“There was always something between the two of you—an undeniable friendship.”
“I love Amber, Jack. I plan to take very good care of her.”
Jack looked at Amber. “You love him?”
“I do. Now that we’re together, nothing will pull us apart again,” Amber said, warning her father that she was a grown woman now who would make up her own mind.
“Good. I like happy endings,” her father shared, shocking her.
Amber watched her father hold out his hand to Rio and welcome him to the family. She looked at her mother in surprise.
“He always liked Rio. Your father was afraid you’d miss your chance to get out of this town and see the world. Teenage romances rarely last for long. Maybe he was wrong to try to keep you apart. I guess we’ll never know. We’re both glad you’re happy now,” her mom confessed.
Amber felt Rio’s arm wrap around her waist and hug her to his body. She tried not to lean on him but he held her flush against him.
“I couldn’t be happier, Mom.”
“Let me buy you a beer, Jack,” Rio said, signaling the server.
“I’d like that, Rio.”
Amber knew this would have never happened twenty years ago. She smiled at her mother who nodded and winked. Amber knew who’d gotten her dad there.
CHAPTER 20
Rio walked slowly over the uneven ground to check out the footings of their future house together. He leaned on Amber a bit from time to time and knew it wouldn’t be long before he scooped her up in his arms to carry her over the threshold. The amount of milk his Little girl had him drink every day had to make his bones heal even stronger than before.
“So, what’s the plan for the driveway?” she asked, staring at the small creek that ran in front of the house.
“Good question. We can put in a bridge or just let people four-wheel it over the rocks. That will keep people away,” he projected.
“Daddy. We want people to come visit. My car won’t want to roll over those boulders back there,” Amber said, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
“A bridge it is, then. I plan to put a sensor on it to let us know when someone crosses it,” Rio told her.
“Why?”
“That new idea from the builder to suspend a daybed outside made me realize we’ll need a warning system.”
“You have plans?” she asked with a smirk.
“The doctor said I’d need more rest while I’m healing. A nap will do your Daddy good, too.”
“He said that weeks ago, Rio. And I don’t think you’re talking about napping,” she pointed out.
“No arguing with your elders, Little girl,” he reminded her with a firm pat to her bottom.
“Ouch!” she exclaimed and shimmied away. “You have a hard hand.”
She’d gotten by with being bossy while he recovered. Last night, Rio had put an end to that. Amber needed to go back to being his Little girl and not the nurse when she was off duty. The tiny lines had evaporated from her face this morning. He’d known she wasn’t sleeping well. A hot bottom and multiple orgasms had tired her out last night. He’d made a note of that prescription for good sleep.