Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“They’re due to be delivered sometime tomorrow,” said Shaya.
“Vines?” echoed Harley. “What’s the theme?”
“Safari,” replied Shaya. “Cassidy is determined that she will one day go on a safari in Africa. Maybe it’s something to do with the Disney Madagascar movie; I don’t know. We’re planning to decorate the play area so it looks like a jungle. We made little pretend passports; the kids will have to hand them over before they can enter the jungle.”
Harley raised her brows. “That sounds seriously cool. When is the party?”
“Saturday,” replied Jesse, tracing the shell of her ear. “We need—” He cut off at the sound of a cell chiming. “I think that’s yours, baby.”
Digging it out of her pocket, Harley sighed at the name flashing on the screen. Lily only ever contacted Harley when she wanted money—money she could use to buy booze or drugs. Of course, Harley had no intention of funding her habits or any desire to listen to the “I’m sober and planning to turn my life around, I just need money for groceries” speech.
She could ignore the call, but that would be the mature thing to do. Harley found “mature” a little boring. Harley answered in a robotic voice, “The person you are calling is currently unavailable. To speak to someone who has time for your drama, press one. To be beamed up to the mother ship, press two. To talk more about your codependent issues, have someone press three for you. Alternatively—”
“Oh, Harley!” whined Lily. Then the line went dead, and Harley smiled. Returning her cell to her pocket, she became aware that everyone was staring at her.
“Who was that?” asked Kent.
“Someone who makes it difficult for others to like her.” Harley frowned when Kathy snatched her empty plate with a loud huff. “I see you’re another one of those people.”
Kathy narrowed her eyes. “I’m difficult to like? That’s rich, coming from a Vincent.”
Nat placed her palms flat on the table. “It was wrong of you to accept Jesse’s claim. You and I know that you won’t be happy here. Your maternal family is wealthy. You’re used to china plates, crystal glasses, and expensive champagnes. You won’t find any of that here.”
“Mom,” drawled Bracken. “It’s not your business.”
Ignoring that, Nat appealed to Jesse with a look. “You have to know deep down that she’s not a good choice for a mate. Maybe that’s why you want her—some males are drawn to forbidden fruit, and she’s definitely an apple to stay clear of.”
Roni cocked her head at Nat. “Did you know that it doesn’t say in the Bible that the forbidden fruit was an apple? Some people think it might have been a fig or even a pomegranate.”
“Roni.” Marcus chuckled around a mouthful of food.
She blinked innocently. “What? What did I say?”
It wasn’t what Roni had said; it was the reason she’d said it. Roni used random facts to annoy or unsettle people—mostly so that she could escape the conversation. Jesse had seen it work thousands of times. The extremely intelligent tomboy had nonexistent social skills. Marcus, however, had a natural ease with people and, in that sense, balanced her out.
“Your mom will lose her shit, Jesse,” sniped Kim.
Before he could say a single word, Bracken leaned forward, pinning the female’s gaze. “If you’re thinking of calling Jesse’s family with news of what you’ve learned here, think again. What happens between Jesse and Harley is not your business to share or interfere with. Unless you want to be thrown off this territory, keep it to yourself. They’ll share their news in their own time. You got me?”
Kim swallowed. “Fine. But I’ll keep quiet about it because I know it’s what Jesse wants, not because you’re snapping at me.”
Bracken snorted. “I don’t give a shit why you keep quiet just as long as you do.”
“Same goes for you,” Shaya said to Nat, firmly. “I don’t think I need to point out that Harley’s location can’t be leaked. If the extremists find out where she is, their attention could turn our way and then your son will be in danger.” That right there was enough to make Nat keep quiet—she loved her only son and hadn’t given up hope of luring him back to his old pack.
“Can you keep your mouths shut about this?” Bracken asked his family. Both nodded, though they were also scowling. “Don’t fuck with my trust,” he warned them.
That made Nat’s spine snap straight. “Bracken, honey, you know better than to think I would.” Jesse believed her.
Kathy started collecting mugs. “Bracken, you can’t blame them for being concerned.” She sneered at Harley.
Anticipating another insult coming her way, Harley raised a hand and said, “Honestly, this is getting tedious. Jesse’s already claimed me, so—”
“That’s something I don’t understand.” Kathy shook her head. “Five minutes he’s had you here and he’s already claimed you. He never even mentioned you before that.”