Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Since both Michael and Serenity already knew about Winter’s pregnancy, their call had been about today’s headlines. They already knew how crazy Harrison’s life could get, and Zach had filled them in about the reporters crowding the entrances to his and Winter’s buildings. His parents had invited Harrison and Winter to stay at their house, something he knew Winter would never go for.
Harrison was just learning how deep her trust issues ran and why. The daughter of a single mom who’d hammered home the notion of being independent and not needing a man to get by? Yeah, Harrison was lucky she was being more open with the notion of letting him into her pre-baby pregnancy life. Especially since she’d just discovered how difficult being involved with his celebrity status could be. It was too soon to surround her with his overly large family.
He thought back to their conversation earlier. He’d never expected to discuss his mother’s suicide and how he’d grown up feeling like he needed to control things around him. But Winter was easy to talk to, and he didn’t mean the reporter who put on a smile and had a pushy persona. He’d opened up to the woman herself.
She’d listened, had a good sense of humor, was compassionate… and she was having his baby.
He liked her.
He was attracted to both her gorgeous face and the curves he’d memorized with his hands and mouth. He was drawn to her intelligence. When they’d hooked up this summer, they’d been in agreement. Neither had been looking for a relationship. He wasn’t sure he felt the same way now.
He needed to know more about Winter, to understand her, and maybe even get back into her bed. Because Harrison had a feeling the more time they spent together, the more he would want from her. From the day they’d met, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head. He didn’t see that changing any time soon.
Going back to LA and seeing his ex had reminded him how much he hated the shallow life he’d tried to leave behind. He already realized how much he’d screwed up when he heard the news that he was going to be a father. Then he’d had hours on a plane to think and come to the conclusion that he might just be ready for what his brothers and sister had.
Which surprised him. He’d been living in New York for a couple of years and watching his siblings find the one person who completed them. He’d told himself he didn’t need or want the same thing because he hadn’t thought he could trust a woman to desire him for the man he was, not the famous face, the huge career, and the money he had.
Then Winter showed up, and she’d gotten to him. For the first time in his life, he hadn’t minded a woman digging in deep. She, however, wanted to do it all on her own. It was ironic. The one woman he might see a future with was the one who wasn’t pushing him for more.
“Harrison?”
He spun around at the sound of her voice. Winter stood in the doorway, hand raised, ready to knock if he didn’t acknowledge her.
“Hey. You spoke to your… to the senator?” He used the title because once a senator, always a senator, and she seemed more comfortable speaking that way about the man, at least for now.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded, moving closer to him. “He saw the headlines. I’ve been avoiding meeting up with him, but he wants to talk. I said I’d come to his hotel today. There’s no way we can meet in public given all the scandals I’ve somehow caused.” Her cheeks flushed an adorable pink.
“You didn’t cause a thing. But I understand what you mean. Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why haven’t you met with him before now?”
She gave him a forced smile. “Nikki asked me the same question, and the answer is easy. I don’t like how hurt Nikki is from how her parents treated her. I know they turned away from her in a hotel lobby in front of donors. How do I form a relationship with the man if I love my sister?”
Harrison understood. “I’m certain he followed his wife’s lead, which is no excuse. And Derek has told me all about how awful his mother was to Jessica, his fiancée. But Corbin Bettencourt left his wife and gave up his seat on the United States Senate when he found out what she’d done. When he found out about you.”
Winter opened her mouth to interrupt, and he held up a hand.
“Bear with me, okay? I’m just saying that it’s fine to give him a chance to explain, at the very least. One day, maybe Nikki will do the same. Maybe not. Is she pressuring you to not meet with him?”