Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“Yeah.” I finished my glass of wine and reached for the bottle. “It was the oddest thing I’ve ever seen. Well, probably not, but it was close.”
Aiden frowned. “The plan holds merit. I mean, you’re more concentrated on the fact that they’re dressed as Cupids than really trying to memorize what they looked like. Plus, it is Valentine’s season, so I guess there’s some genius to it. Who’s on the case?”
“Grant Pierce,” I said. “He didn’t look too happy and tried to blame me, but honestly, I had nothing to do with this one.”
Aiden chuckled and finished his stew. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt, Angel.”
“Nick stepped right in front of me. He would’ve taken any arrow headed our way,” I said. “He was much faster than I was.”
“Nick’s a good guy. Tell me about the ring.”
I did so in great detail.
“You like rose gold?”
I tapped my finger on my lip. “I do. I think it’s perfect for Tessa. Though I might be more of a white-gold type of gal.” Not that I was fishing. Not at all.
“Are you fishing?” he asked.
I finished my meal. “No, but it’s nice to be prepared.” I didn’t think either of us was ready to make that kind of commitment, but I did see it in our future. Probably. Maybe? I mean, we’d only dated for a while and not for a very long while.
“Stop worrying about it.” He poured himself another glass of wine.
“Stop reading my mind.”
“I wasn’t. I was reading your face.” His grin was too charming to get him punched. At least, today.
I finished my second glass of wine, happily full. “Thanks for cooking.”
“Anytime. You had the frozen stew in the freezer. All I did was dump it into the Crock-Pot.”
“Still, I like the homeyness.” I glanced toward the now finished great room with its polished wood floors and wonderful fireplace. We’d placed my piano on the other side of the breakfast nook and finished the laundry room just the week before. Now, it was time to tackle the three bedrooms. “Are we working tonight on the cabin? I wouldn’t mind pulling apart a few beams or walls.”
He stood, took our bowls to the sink, and then returned, deftly plucking me from my chair.
I yelped and grabbed his shoulders, instantly warming.
“After,” he murmured, his mouth already on mine.
Chapter 3
Saturday morning dawned with a bright, beautiful sun sparkling across the calm and lovely snow. Even though the sun failed to warm the area, it was still a beautiful drive through the mountain pass to my hometown of Silverville.
Or maybe my mood was just excellent after a full night of Aiden Devlin in our bed. Yep. That could be it.
The drive took about fifty minutes with the ice on the roads, but it was nice to leave the somewhat bigger Timber City behind and arrive in the mountainous town.
After winding down the river road for a while, I soon pulled onto a long driveway leading to a two-story log home. Pink and white lights hung from every eave. That was the one thing about my Aunt Yara. She loved decorating for every holiday. It was a good thing my Uncle Buddy had always been an easygoing type of guy.
I exited the vehicle and walked up the steps, noting the myriad ceramic hearts and Cupids lining the side of the porch. How adorable. I knocked.
Aunt Yara opened the door. “Come in. It’s freezing out there.”
“Yes, but at least it stopped snowing.” I stepped inside and removed all my outerwear before hugging my aunt.
Yara had the deepest brown eyes I’d ever seen, light brown hair, and a cute, pert nose. She was even more petite than I was, and it sometimes shocked me that she’d birthed my six large and boisterous male cousins. It was a good thing she had an incredible sense of humor.
As I leaned back, a ball of fur barreled into me, and I bent down to pet Bowser, one of the cutest dogs ever created. He was a mutt of indeterminable lineage. “Hey, boy.” I gave him a hug. He licked my face, seeming to have settled right in to the Albertini family along with Violet.
“Come in,” Yara said, taking my hand and pulling me to the kitchen. “Would you like some tea?”
“I’d love some,” I said. “Where’s Violet?”
“She’s finishing her homework.” Yara frowned—a rare look for her.
My muscles stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. She seems off to me.” Violet had lived with my Aunt Yara and Uncle Buddy since around Christmastime, and I was here to discuss the planned adoption. They’d reached out to me just a couple of weeks ago, and I had already filed the paperwork. In fact, the hearing was Monday, and I wanted to make sure Violet understood all the proceedings.
“She’s probably nervous,” I said. “This is a big deal for her.”