Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
She shivered at the dirty connotation of his words, grateful that no one else could hear their private conversation. “Later, I promise you can eat whatever you want.”
He lifted his head and smirked at her. “I might lick a little, too.”
She gave him a flirty grin. “I’m not opposed to that, either.”
Tripp chuckled before taking a drink of his whisky, then grabbed her hand, his thumb caressing across her knuckles. “So, there’s something I want to ask you.”
He suddenly sounded so serious, and she gave him her full attention. “Okay.”
“Remember when I told you that I plant a rose bush every year in my parents’ back yard to honor my sister Whitney’s passing?”
She nodded, unable to forget such a touching idea and tribute to his deceased twin. “Yes. I believe you mentioned that this year will be the twentieth anniversary of her passing.”
“It is,” he said, and smiled. “The date is a few weeks away, on a Sunday. We always do a family get together on that day to celebrate Whitney’s life, along with dinner. I’d like you to be there, too.”
His invitation took her by surprise and was the last thing she expected when she wasn’t a part of his family. “That’s very personal for you, your parents, and your siblings.”
“I know.” He still held her hand, his green eyes locked on hers. “Let me rephrase what I just said. It’s a special day and I want you there because you’re important to me.”
Oh, wow. Her throat tightened and his heartfelt words softened something inside of her. As much as she wasn’t sure she wanted to be involved in intimate family traditions considering she and Tripp weren’t a real couple, she was truly honored that he wanted to include her.
To her surprise, she couldn’t deny wanting to be there for him on such a momentous occasion as a friend. Because if nothing else, that’s what they were, weren’t they? That last thought made her stomach clench with regret, despite her being the one to set the parameters of this relationship.
Doing her best to ignore those unexpected feelings, she gave him a sincere smile. “Yes, of course, I’d love to be there.”
He looked relieved . . . and happy. “It’ll also give my family a chance to meet you and get to know you, which is important since we’ll be having a baby together. You’ll be part of the family, too, no matter how we choose to raise our child together.”
She swallowed hard, knowing she ought to be grateful that he wasn’t putting any pressure or expectations on her to be anything more than his baby mama, just as she’d insisted, but she couldn’t deny wishing they were more. That her past, her fears, and her need to be independent didn’t clash with old feelings for Tripp and the desire she’d always had to be part of a traditional family like the one she’d grown up in.
Their appetizers arrived, and once the server was gone she found herself asking the curious question buzzing around in her mind. “When was the last time you took someone home to meet your family?”
“About two years ago,” he replied, before taking a bite of the Wagyu beef tartar they were sharing.
Skye ate a piece of seared eggplant, dying to know who this mystery woman was. Clearly, she’d been someone he’d deemed important enough to introduce to his family, but they were no longer together. “Care to elaborate?” she asked, more casually than she felt.
He shrugged, as if the woman was inconsequential. Skye selfishly wanted to believe that, but the reality was that she and Tripp had been apart for over five years. Of course he’d dated other people and probably even had a long term relationship during that time. Considering she’d been married, she had no right to feel jealous.
“Her name was Julia,” he said, settling back in the booth beside her as he lifted his whisky to his lips for a drink. “She was a pharmaceutical rep I met at a conference. We dated for almost a year and a half.”
That bit of information felt like a stab to the heart, no matter what she’d just tried to tell herself and she quickly glanced away before he could catch the envy she was certain was written all over her expression.
He stretched an arm across the back of the booth, his fingers sliding beneath her hair and his warm hand cupping the back of her neck. His touch was gentle and intimate and soothed the chaotic sensation in her stomach.
“You have nothing to feel jealous about, Skye,” he murmured, clearly having glimpsed the painful emotions on her face. “She wasn’t you.”
She eased out a breath and met his sincere gaze, needing to know more. “A year and a half is a long time to be with someone. Why did you break up?”