Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Dustin rushes up, stained with cake all over his pants and shirt. “Were you in a war I wasn’t aware of?” I ask.
“Oh.” He waves me off. “Addison and Rob got in another fight about cheating, I walked right in the middle after searching for more cake, Gertrude got drunk again, one of the guests fell on the buffet table… It’s been a gas!” He looks ready to pass out. “Anyway, I do have a guy, I have a guy for everything. Why am I contacting a guy? Hey, why are you on your knee?” You can literally see the moment his math finally works out. “Are you proposing?”
“Yes!” Scarlett yells. “And you’re interrupting!”
Dustin starts patting his pants weirdly, then starts to pull out a folded piece of paper.
“Ruin this and I will set you on fire and watch you roll down the hill burning down the entire winery,” I snap.
Slowly, he gulps, and continues to pull out the piece of paper. “Actually, um, I was going to say, I carried an extra copy of the wedding certificate for Addison to sign and send in so she would stop yelling at people, I kept it in my pocket during the ceremony, so technically, we do have paperwork, since this one can marry you, we just need to register it when we get home. When will that be? Never? Do we even have a home anymore? Time, it moves so slow here.” He looks up at the sun like he’s telling time, then stares back at us. “Oh sorry, continue.”
Scarlett smiles down at me. “Definitely not football.”
“Never.”
We both burst out laughing. She pulls me to my feet and wraps her arms around my neck. “I want a rockstar ring.”
“Oh, greedy already?”
She nods. “Yeah, and I know what shape I want it in.”
“I like a woman who knows what she wants.”
“You think they can find a ring that looks like a star?”
I search her eyes waiting for an explanation.
“Because the other night I wished on one, didn’t work though, so I just wished on you. Maybe that could be my ring, a reminder that wishing on the man did the job, and the star sealed the fate?”
“God, I love you.” I lift her into my arms and kiss her as hard as I can. She stumbles backward as our mouths collide.
Adrian whispers, “I now pronounce you man and wife.”
We break apart and gape at him.
“Oh, please.” He rolls his eyes. “I wouldn’t sell you short like that, but I mean it really is that easy.” Screaming ensues from the reception. “Better idea, let’s go steal some wine and go somewhere quiet.”
I grab Scarlett’s hand and kiss it, then I hold it the entire way through the chaos of the drunken reception, with all of the groomsmen fighting, bridesmaids crying, Addison accusing, parents watching on like they don’t know where it went wrong, and the rest of us misfits stealing more champagne and wine, getting ready for our big day.
One that will be real.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Scarlett
“Paradise,” he whispers, thrusting into me. “Maybe I’ll just live like this for a while, inside you, pleasing you, teasing you.” His mouth moves down my ass, his fingers part my thighs. I squirm as a warm tongue slides up and down. Firm hands keep me steady, then move me from the table, bent over, to the wall. He pins me there and holds me hostage with his body, and I crave every minute of it, each stroke, each wet kiss. He’d sent me to bed, only to wake me up hours later, already inside me. He took me from behind twice before breakfast, and when I woke up.
I jolt awake and shake my head. What time is it? I’m still in bed but Killian’s gone, maybe he got hungry because after last night everything became a blur. It was a ton of wine and laughter, followed by a ton of late-night sex, which I’m sure traumatized the guys, but they were probably too drunk to notice.
I rub my eyes and fully sit up, and on the pillow is a note. I open it quickly.
“Eat breakfast and get ready, you have a groom waiting for you in the front vineyard at noon.”
I check the clock. I have exactly two hours to get ready. I stumble out of bed, catch my feet on the comforter and go flying toward the carpeted floor, scramble up, and dash into the bathroom without knocking.
Adrian’s naked in the shower and Dustin’s on the toilet.
I cover my eyes with my hands. “Do I even want to know?”
Dustin flushes and stands, yanking his boxers up. “Wine does not agree with me, and Adrian had no choice unless he wanted to come out, he’s been in there for a while just humming to himself.” Dustin starts laughing and stumbles toward the sink. “I think I’m still drunk.”