Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
He caught the disappointed look on Hadley’s face. Leaning down to Dani, he handed her the bag, and whispered in her ear. “Your sister was with me when we picked the phone and a new laptop.”
From the little he’d seen of Dani and Hadley’s relationship, there was real love there. He trusted Dani to do the right thing.
Dani ran over to her sister. “Thank you for the new laptop!” she squealed and hugged Hadley, not letting go of the shopping bag. “I love you.”
“Ouch but thank you.” Hadley rubbed her shoulder but she was smiling. “And I love you, too.”
He embraced Layla.
“Dani,” he said. “Don’t tag your location or take pictures and post them on social media. Nothing that might show your whereabouts.”
She nodded. “I promise,” she said and the two teens ran off to get Dani’s electronics set up and working for her.
Placing his hand on Hadley’s back, he led her into the house where he discovered his sister, Jade and her husband, Knox, who held their daughter in the entry.
“I didn’t realize this was a big family gathering,” Hadley whispered.
“Any invitation has the possibility of being a large Dare get-together.” He knew she still wasn’t comfortable around everyone and was worried they’d blame her for leaving him. He should have warned her ahead of time but hadn’t given it any thought.
Zach held out his hands. “Give me that sweet baby girl,” he said, grinning as Knox plunked the ten-month old into his arms.
“Always the baby stealer,” Jade said.
Zach opened his mouth to speak but his sister beat him to it. “I know, you’re everyone’s favorite uncle.” She repeated his standard refrain.
Zach kissed her head and inhaled the smell of baby shampoo, aware of Hadley’s curious eyes on him the whole time. “Hadley, you remember Jade and in case you didn’t meet him the other day in the city, this is her husband, Knox. Knox, this is Hadley Stevens.”
Knox extended his hand and Hadley shook it. “Nice to meet you. Jade’s told me a lot about you.”
“All good I hope?” Hadley’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he understood why. She was still waiting to be judged but at least she made a joke and went with the flow.
“All good,” Jade assured her. “Aurora and Nick are inside with the kids, and Mom and Dad. Might as well go to the kitchen. I want to give Sage a bottle before dinner.”
Zach took the hint and handed the baby back to his sister. Knox put an arm around her shoulder, and they walked towards the kitchen.
“Are you okay?” he asked Hadley. “I should have given you a heads up. You never know who’s going to be at one of these dinners.”
She treated him to a smile he could tell was forced. “Everyone’s been lovely so far. I’m sure everything will be okay.” He did his best not to wince because that sounded like famous last words.
* * *
Hadley sat around a large table surrounded by Zach’s family. The pit in her stomach was deep but she knew the issues were her own. Nobody in this room had made her feel unwelcome. She just wasn’t used to being with people she still felt as if she’d wronged. Nor was she used to a large, warm family or a formal dining area. Not that she could call this gathering formal.
Everyone talked over each other, asking questions loudly and laughing at their answers. Even her sister seemed to fit right in, and Hadley envied the lack of self-consciousness possessed by teenagers. She smiled, watching Dani so at ease.
“Hey, you’re awfully quiet,” Zach said, whispering in her ear from his seat beside her.
She lifted her shoulder closest to him. “Just observing.”
Beneath the table, he slid his hand over her thigh and clasped her hand in his, squeezing for reassurance. Her skin beneath the soft cotton fabric of her skirt tingled from his body heat and so did her sex.
“So Hadley, how do you like Zach’s Hamptons house?” Aurora asked.
“It’s beautiful. Just like this one. You all have such wonderful decorative taste,” she said, aware Serenity was listening.
A little squeak sounded from the baby monitor on the table and all four parents turned towards the noise.
Though Aurora’s daughter, Leah, sat between both parents, both babies, Aurora and Jade’s, were sleeping in separate pack and plays in a nearby room. When the peep didn’t turn into a wail, the parents seemed to relax.
“Well,” Serenity said, a smile on her face, “We have a decorator in the family and another friend who’s in the business as well.”
Hadley raised her eyebrows. “Who?”
“Chloe Kingston is a friend of the family and she helped us with this house. I wanted it to have country charm with modern amenities. And we have a cousin in the city, Lucy Dare, who also works with a design firm. I give her the more modern designs.” Serenity lifted her glass and took a sip of water. “Spread the wealth so no one is offended.”