Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Natasha walks around and puts her hand on both of his shoulders from behind him. “This is Adrian.”
I smile and nod. “Hello.”
He smiles and stands to kiss me on the cheek, and then takes both of my hands in his as he inspects me. “You’re beautiful, Ashley.” He smiles warmly.
“She is, isn’t she?” Cameron says from behind us.
Oh no. They’re nice. This gets worse. They’re fucking nice. I turn to face Cameron and he smiles sexily. He gives me that look and I feel myself melt. Natasha and Adrian smile at each other and Adrian winks. I feel like a bit of a freak as they all do their assessment of me. This is so awkward.
“When you two are through being creepy, how about you offer the poor girl a drink?” Joshua asks as he walks into the kitchen and wraps his arms around Natasha from behind.
Natasha smiles. “Would you like a drink, Ashley?”
I nod as I wring my hands nervously in front of me. “Thank you, that would be nice.”
“What would you like? Red, white?”
Adrian stands. “I think this is a champagne kind of occasion.”
My face falls. This just keeps getting worse. I nod. “Or there’s that,” I whisper.
Suddenly, three children come running into the room, two girls followed by a boy who is chasing them with a tennis ball. He throws it hard and it hits the eldest girl. She squeals, picks it up, and throws it back at him.
“Dad!” she screams. “Blake is hitting us with the ball.”
“Blake,” Joshua snaps. “Cut it out.”
I smile broadly. I love it when other people’s children misbehave.
“Come and meet our new friend,” Natasha calls to the kids.
They seem to remember where they are and all file over. “This is Jordana.”
I smile and she shakes my hand. She’s a pretty girl aged about nine or ten with long, dark hair like her mom, and matching blue eyes. “Hello. Are you Uncle Cameron’s friend?”
I’m taken aback with her forwardness. “I am. It’s nice to meet you, Jordana.”
“This is Ellie.” Joshua announces proudly and Ellie shyly shakes my hand. Oh, this one is a little sweetie.
“And this is the crazy Blake man.” Cameron picks up Blake and throws him onto the sofa. They begin to wrestle. Blake is around seven years old, I think.
“You have three children? You must be very busy,” I say to Natasha as the three kids run back to their chasing game.
“Ha.” She smirks. “I have five children.” She raises her wine glass to Adrian and he lifts his in return with a broad smile. “This is why we drink the good stuff,” she adds.
My eyes widen. “Five?” I gasp.
“The two youngest in two years.” She replies dryly. “Three-year-old and a two-year-old, boys. They’re in bed, thankfully.”
Joshua shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “If you ever want to lose your mind, have two children that close,” he grumbles.
I laugh as Adrian hands me a glass of champagne and holds his up until we all clink his glass. “To Ashley the doctor.” He smiles softly
“You know that I’m a doctor?” I frown. Has Cameron been talking about me?
“I know all about you, Ashley.” Adrian smiles.
“You’re fucking creepy, Murph,” Joshua says, and we all laugh. “Ignore him, Ashley. He knows nothing.”
My eyes linger on Joshua, and I can’t believe just how good looking he and Cameron are. How do two brothers seem so different, yet so similar?
Cameron is tall, broad and dark like Joshua, but where Joshua is rugged, Cameron is cultured. Cameron has the whole rich playboy look mastered to perfection.
Cameron walks over and picks up his glass. He grabs my hand, our eyes meet, and I feel myself melt. As long as he is with me, everything is okay.
Adrian
I watch Cameron watching Ashley and I smile. He’s absolutely smitten and hangs off every word that comes out of her mouth.
I like this girl. She’s different to anyone he’s ever dated before. Naturally beautiful, intelligent, and witty, and she gives it back to him. I haven’t seen Cameron like this with anyone, ever.
The conversation has been light and natural. She’s very easy to get along with and I’m getting flashbacks of when I first met Natasha and the hold she had over Joshua. Dinner is nearly ready and Natasha is fussing in the kitchen. Joshua is doing as he’s told and helping her. Cameron is next to me and Ashley is on the other side of him. We’re sitting at the kitchen counter still drinking champagne.
“Can I help with anything, Natasha?” Ashley asks.
“No thanks. We got it.” She smiles as she bends to get something out of the oven and Joshua’s hand drops to her behind, only for her to swat him away with the tea towel.
“Behave.” She smirks and he grabs her again just to show her who’s the boss.