Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
She glanced at him in time to catch a smirk on his face, and she narrowed her gaze.
“More like who kept her.” Harrison rose as she walked in, his curious gaze on hers.
She froze. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Give your sister a break,” their father, Michael, said.
“You and Knox?” Asher raised his eyebrows. “Isn’t he a little old for you?”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s none of your business. But how would any of you know?” As far as she was aware, her family had already gone to their rooms when she and Knox left the party last night.
“Aurora left her sweater on her seat. I passed you in the hall but you only had eyes for each other,” Nick said, nudging her in the ribs like only a sibling would.
“And you told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on?” she asked, glancing around the table at her large family.
The triplets, Jade’s brothers from Serenity and her father, were nineteen years old and home from college for the summer. They sat at one end of the table. And Layla, Jade’s youngest sister, was texting on her phone, ignoring everything around her. But Jade’s older, overprotective siblings were looking at her, waiting for answers.
They knew she’d left with Knox last night. And they knew she was late because they’d been together. Heat rushed to her cheeks but she refused to play their game.
“Nobody needed to tell anyone. There was media coverage about the charity auction, and there was an Instagram photo of the owner of the New York Warriors dancing with his stepbrother’s former fiancée on Page Six online.” Asher’s eyes blazed with anger. “I don’t know why they have to add gossip to the photo.”
“Because that’s their job,” Jade muttered. As a Dare and the head of events at the hotel, she was often photographed and no longer let it bother her when she showed up in any form of media. “I’ve learned to ignore those kinds of things. You should, too.”
“Come on, Jade. Sit here and let’s talk about how great a job you did last night,” Aurora said. She was sweet, trying to take the spotlight off of Jade’s affair, or whatever it was.
Grateful, Jade walked over and sat down beside her sister-in-law.
“Why didn’t you bring your boyfriend to breakfast?” Nick asked as he sat on Aurora’s other side, leaving a chair between them. Their daughter, Leah, must be around here somewhere. At this point, Jade wasn’t sure who was missing.
Aurora reached over and shoved Nick in the shoulder. “Would you leave your sister alone?”
“I’m serious, Jade. I want to talk to you about Knox. As much as I like the guy, the social media site has a point. You were engaged to his stepbrother,” Asher said, as if she needed the reminder again.
She folded her arms across her chest. “And? Look, Knox and I have an agreement. We know what this thing between us is… and what it isn’t. You don’t get a vote.”
Serenity chuckled. “She’s got a point.”
“Quit ganging up on Jade. She’s an adult,” her father said. “Besides, I don’t want visuals of any of my kids that way.”
Now Jade’s cheeks were burning.
Zach, who she hadn’t realized was missing, chose that moment to stroll into the room. With his leather jacket hanging from one finger, and wearing sunglasses, he glanced around the room. “Morning, family.”
“How about we grill Zach about why he’s late?” Jade suggested.
“How about not?” Asher shot her a serious look that told her they weren’t finished with this discussion.
“What’d I miss?” he asked, pulling out an empty chair beside Asher and taking a seat.
“Nothing,” everyone said at the same time, including Jade.
“Sorry we took so long.” Mellie, Aurora’s pseudo-mom, walked in, holding Leah’s hand. “Someone splashed water all over her shirt, then stood in front of the hand dryer for way too long.”
The adorable six-year-old grinned. “But I’m dry now!”
“Yes, you are,” Jade said, grinning. “Come sit with Aunt Jade for a few minutes and tell me what’s going on with you.” Jade enjoyed Leah’s chatter, but she couldn’t deny she also wanted to distract her siblings from talking about her love life.
Leah rushed over and pulled an extra chair closer to Jade. “I have a boyfriend!” she said loudly.
And that took the focus off Jade for the rest of the meal.
Chapter Five
Knox showered in Jade’s hotel room but had no choice but to put on last night’s clothes. He called the gift shop downstairs and had a T-shirt sent up to the room so he wouldn’t have to walk through the hotel in total formalwear.
After leaving the room, he stopped at the coffee shop in the hotel and ordered a coffee and an egg wrap to go, then he grabbed a taxi outside the hotel, gave the driver the address to his apartment, and sat back to enjoy his breakfast.