Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89083 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
My throat is thick. “He really said that?”
Ellie’s eyes are bright as she nods. “Yes, and Levi told me that he told him that it was hard but worth it. Levi said that he had to wait for a signal from me that I was ready.”
Shay arches a brow. “So you’re saying we need to flash the Carter Bat-Signal in the sky?”
Ellie and Molly look at each other and burst into laughter.
“Something like that,” Ellie says.
Nic beams and nods. “I love it. And Isaiah is staying at his grandma’s tonight.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Molly asks Nic, who nods enthusiastically.
“What am I missing?” I ask.
Shay sighs. “I think they’re going to dress you sexy and send you over to seduce my brother.”
“The Carter Bat-Signal,” Ellie says, as if that explains everything.
“It would be the sign he’s waiting for,” Molly says, grinning.
“Oh.” I bite my lip. “Yeah, I could be up for that.”
“Sustenance first,” Molly says, winking at me and pointing to my salad. “You’ll need it.”
Carter
When I answer the door and see Teagan for the first time in two weeks, I’m shirtless, sweaty, and covered in drywall dust. She looks me over, her gaze snagging on my bare chest and then my toolbelt. I’m a mess, but she’s . . . perfect. She’s wearing a red dress that hugs her from its high neckline all the way down to the hem beneath her knees, and with it, those sexy heels with the ribbons that wrap around her ankles.
“Nice shoes,” I say.
“Thanks. Nice tat.”
My breath stalls in my lungs as she reaches out and wipes the white dust off the new lotus tattoo on my left pec. “Thanks.”
She keeps her hand there as she lifts her gaze to mine. “Is it okay that I’m here?”
Every second I’ve been away from her has killed me. I’ve kept myself from calling her at least thirty times. Deleted dozens of half-composed texts. And now she’s here, and nothing else matters. “Yes.” I sound breathless.
“I wanted to know your take on the KonMari method for girlfriends.”
Confused, I frown. “What’s that?”
She swallows. “Remember, I decided I didn’t care if Liam was good enough for my sister as long as he makes her happy?”
I nod carefully. “Right. I remember now.”
“I am not good enough for you, Carter.”
“Tea—”
She presses her fingers to my lips. “I will never be that perfect girl you were looking for. But I’m hoping that, just maybe, your life is better with me in it.”
I wrap my hand around her wrist and pull her fingers from my mouth. “I don’t want perfect. I want you.”
“I want you, too,” she whispers. “So badly.”
Hell yes. “Is it okay that I’m going to get drywall dust all over that sexy dress?”
“Yes,” she says, stepping closer. “I’m here to be ravished, if you couldn’t tell. That is, if you can manage to ravish me.”
“Is that a challenge, Teagan?”
She shrugs, biting back a smile. “Maybe.”
“I can’t back down from a good challenge.” I pull her into my arms and lower my mouth to hers, but she stops me with another finger to my lips.
“You should know something.”
I growl against her finger. “Can it wait until after I kiss you?”
“No.” She trembles in my arms. “I love you. I think maybe I even loved you before you pretended to be my boyfriend. I think maybe I’ve loved you all along, and maybe that’s why I wouldn’t give you a chance. I was too scared.”
My heart races. Best. Night. Ever. “I love you too.” Smiling, I catch her finger between my teeth before releasing it. “I was scared of that too—after losing Max, I was scared of loving anyone. But at some point, loving you became a good kind of scary.”
She nods. “Exactly.”
“I’ve missed you, pinkie toe.”
She laughs against my lips, then melts into me. “Shut up and kiss me, kidney stone.”
Teagan
Six months later . . .
“They couldn’t have asked for better weather. Today is going to be perfect,” I tell Carter as I straighten his tie.
The last six months have been incredible. Date nights with Carter, evenings helping Isaiah with his homework, Sundays at Brayden’s having brunch with the family. Today will be the cherry on top.
It’s a beautiful spring day, and we’re all gathered at the Jackson family cabin for Molly and Brayden’s wedding. The bride and groom insisted on a small event—or as small as anything can be when it involves the whole Jackson clan. We’ll all gather in front of the lake at sunset to listen to them say their vows and then have a barbecue on the back patio and dance until the moon is high in the sky.
“I’m pretty sure it could’ve been raining buckets, and Brayden and Molly would still think it was the perfect day,” Carter says.
“Is the groom nervous?”
“I think he’s convinced she’s going to realize she can do better than him and disappear.”