Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Gabby, on the other hand, seemed annoyed throughout the entire day. She wore a fake smile and doted on Roman as much as possible, but it seemed forced. The only time she seemed like herself was when she was sparring with Harrison’s best friend—and those times were often on Saturday. Everything they did appeared to be for the sole purpose of getting a rise out of the other.
As for Harrison and me, well, we finally broke our two-week dry spell. After the sunblock incident and the fact that his hands were constantly on me while we swam, we barely made it home before we went at it like bunnies. Four times. That’s how many times I screamed his name between sundown and sunup Sunday.
Now, here we are, Monday evening, and all that rejuvenation from the weekend is long gone. Harrison and Gina had gotten along fine, even though I could tell he was a little uncomfortable with her being there. Probably because she works for him. I can understand that. But she was super sweet and chatty with me the entire day. Well, until she decided to play street hockey in Chase’s pants.
“How did this happen?” he says into the phone, his words much quieter and resolved. He stops pacing and stares out the front window. “Fix this, Gina. I can’t miss that appointment,” he barks into the phone, drawing my attention his way.
Appointment? I know he has many this week, especially with opening the third All Fit location, but I can’t help the feeling of dread that slides down my spine and lands in the pit of my gut. Our ultrasound appointment is this week. Thursday at two o’clock, actually.
Harrison sighs deeply and turns to face me. “That’ll have to do, I guess. But this is a huge mistake, Gina. I could fire you over this and would have no problem doing so,” he says, stopping and watching as I enter the room and take a seat on the couch, “but someone once told me that people make mistakes. It’s how they right that wrong that shows their character. I’m going to go to Lakeview tomorrow for the staff training. Chase will be with me. You have twenty-four hours to move everything else from Friday to Thursday. I’ll take care of staffing. This can’t…” He stops, shaking his head and closing his eyes. “This can’t happen again, Gina. No more issues like this or you’re gone.”
He listens for a few more seconds before signing off, throwing the phone onto the chair cushion and giving me a look that tells me exactly how upset he is. I get up and walk toward him, instantly wrapping my arms around his chest. His entire body is riddled with tightness, but as soon as I lay my head on his chest, the anxiety seems to ebb from his body. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me in tight.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, even though I know I won’t like what he’s about to say.
“Gina fucked up the invites for the grand opening. The Lakeview Mayor, council members, chamber of commerce, everyone received an invitation to attend our grand opening. On Thursday.”
“Ouch,” I whisper, hugging him tighter. My stomach presses into him. It’s as if Peanut knows Daddy is upset and chooses that exact moment to give a hard kick, right into his daddy’s lower stomach.
He pulls back and glances down, the anger from moments ago replaced with a look of awe. Harrison drops to his knees and takes my abdomen in his large hands. “Hey, little Peanut. You know just what your daddy needs right know, don’t you?” he asks my stomach, earning another kick and a punch.
We both laugh, as if the baby inside me is responding directly to the question asked. “I think Peanut knows Daddy is upset and stressed and trying to tell him it’s going to be okay,” I say. “So tell me what happened so we can figure it out. Together.”
He gazes up at me with those dark eyes. “So everyone is coming to the grand opening at noon on Thursday.”
“And my appointment is at two on Thursday.”
He nods. “I won’t miss it, though. I’ll be there.”
“I can try to change it,” I offer, running my hand through his hair.
“No, I don’t want to do that. Our families are coming to dinner that night for the reveal. We’d have to push that back too, and that seems like a lot of unnecessary juggling. The grand opening and ribbon cutting should take about an hour. I’ll be able to welcome everyone, give my speech, cut the ribbon, and be out of there by one or one thirty.”
“What would you be missing after the ribbon cutting?” I ask, continuing to rub the top of his head.
His eyes close involuntarily as he lets out a little moan of pleasure. “You can keep doing that. Just the hobnobbing and tours. Chase can handle that stuff. Plus, the assistant manager will be there too so she can help.”