Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Then Callie should have it,” Ennis says.
“I couldn’t,” Callie says, gazing at her own engagement ring, the replica. “This one is beautiful, and I really think the ring should be with you, Ennis.”
Ennis shakes his head. “What would I do with it? I never married. I have no offspring to leave it to. Please. It should be yours.”
“Are you sure?” Donny asked.
Ennis smiles. “I can’t believe how good I actually feel after finally telling that story after so many decades. I feel ten years younger. Truly. But still, I won’t be on this earth a whole lot longer. I always thought the ring was meant for Patty, and if she’d lived, I know she’d still be wearing it and we’d have grandchildren to leave it to.” He sighs. “But she didn’t live. And I know now that she didn’t leave me of her own accord. So the ring isn’t hers. It never was. It was waiting to find its true owner.” He takes Callie’s hand, kisses the back of it. “And it has, my dear. Be a good wife to Donny, and Donny, you be a good husband to her. And I’ll always know that Mum’s ring is in good hands.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jesse
My visit with Dragon at the hospital was short. He wasn’t up for much more than a quick conversation. He was still exhausted and clearly somewhat embarrassed and ashamed by his circumstances.
Leaving him was not easy, but I had no choice.
Brock upgraded us all to first-class seating for the four-and-a-half-hour train ride to Edinburgh, and after the fiasco with the plane ride over here and losing my luggage, I didn’t balk at it. I’m a slow learner, but I eventually learn.
Or I try to, anyway. It still sticks in my craw for sure, but at least I’m comfortable.
The seats are covered in red brocade and are comfortably plush. I sit with Brock and Rory, a table between our seats.
Dinner is served on the train, beginning with a smoked salmon roulade. I’ve never had it before. It’s thinly sliced smoked salmon with cream cheese that’s got some kind of herb in it, and it’s drizzled with a vinaigrette.
Surprisingly, it’s good. I eat most things, and I love fish. I’ve just never had it this way before.
Our soup—yes, we get a soup course on the train—is Cullen skink. Can’t say I’m impressed with the name, but according to the menu, it’s a traditional Scottish soup made with smoked haddock, potatoes, onions, and cream and seasoned with herbs and spices. Surprisingly good as well. Then again, I like fish.
Across the aisle from us, Maddie scrunches up her nose.
“Try it, Maddie,” I say. “It’s pretty good.”
“It smells weird.”
“That’s the haddock,” Brianna says. She’s sitting next to my sister.
“I know…” She takes a bite. “All right, so it’s not terrible, but I don’t think I’m going to waste the calories. That salmon thing was good, though.”
Brianna is sitting next to the window across the aisle from us, so I can’t really see her. I’m alone in my row. Dragon would’ve been sitting with me.
Cage and Jake are sitting across from Maddie and Brianna.
Our main course comes—roast beef.
“Not as good as Steel beef,” Brock says, of course.
“I don’t think they get Steel beef in the UK, do they?” Rory asks.
“Our distribution system is pretty much domestic only,” he says.
“I think it’s good,” I can’t help saying.
It’s not a lie at all. The beef is served—again, according to our printed menu—with a red wine reduction sauce and roasted potatoes, root vegetables, and a Yorkshire pudding, which of course I’ve never had before. It turns out to be something kind of like a popover. It’s delicious, very savory. It tastes very…beefy.
“You like your Yorkshire pudding, Jess?” Rory says.
“Yeah. It’s so good.”
Dessert turns out to be sticky toffee pudding.
I rise after I finish my dessert.
My dick is already hardening, just being this close to Brianna.
Damn it all to hell.
“Excuse me,” I say to Brock and Rory. “I’m going to hit the loo.”
“Loo?” Rory raises her eyebrows with a chuckle.
“When in Rome,” I say.
I walk through our coach to the end, where the bathrooms are located—one on each side. One is occupied, so I take the vacant one. I don’t actually have to go the bathroom, but I unbuckle my belt anyway and release my cock.
I give it a few good pulls, but it’s not working for me. Damn.
Just my luck. I can’t even jack off with Brianna Steel here.
She is all that will do it for me.
Which means…celibacy.
I rearrange my junk quickly, pull my pants back up, and wash my hands.
Then I open the door.
Brianna stands there.
I don’t think.
I only feel.
And then I act.
I yank her arm, pulling her into the small bathroom.
“Jesse—”
I crush my mouth down on hers.
She opens for me instantly, and our tongues tangle. She tastes of the sticky toffee pudding, sugar, caramel.