Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Amen to that.”
Morgan looked at Rose. “When are you and Bryson going to try for a baby?”
Rose’s wine glass paused at her lips. “Who says we’re not?”
We all gasped.
Holding up her hands, she laughed. “Hold on there, ladies. We’re not officially trying. We’re still in practice mode. We kind of wanted to wait a bit, like Kipton and Hunter did.” She winked at me. “No offense, Lily.”
My hands went up as I said, “None taken. Maverick and I weren’t planning at all. It was my mistake with my birth control pills.”
“I didn’t know that,” Morgan replied. “But you’re both happy, right?”
My hands went to my stomach as I nodded. “So very happy. I mean, I would have liked to spend more time with just Maverick, but I feel like everything happens for a reason. Plus, I really think this will be good for him. To have his own little family. I can’t wait to give him that.”
Each of them made ooh and aah sounds while clutching their hearts or making some other dramatic gesture.
Georgiana said, “That’s sweet. He is such a nice guy.”
“And hot as hell. I mean, Bryson is hot, Rose, but Maverick has that rugged-cowboy, piercing-eyes thing. And a body to die for.”
We all stared at Avery as she stared into space as if lost in a fantasy.
“Are you finished daydreaming about my fiancé?” I asked, as I reached over and gently pushed her, while she fell into a fit of giggles and the rest of us laughed.
“Not gonna lie, Lil, he is hot.”
“Rose! You’re married,” I chastised.
“A girl can still look, you know.”
Another round of laughter erupted.
“I’m siding with Rose and Lily on this one,” Morgan said. “He has that ruggedly handsome cowboy thing that’s so sexy. And the two of you are adorable together.”
“Yes! You are,” Georgiana added as she reached for my hand. “Unbelievably adorable together.”
I blushed and waved at them all. “Okay, stop it. Let’s move on from how hot Maverick is to something more important right now. Do we know what games they have planned?”
The smiles all faded and everyone looked around, grimacing at one another.
“I heard Grams say something about dominoes.”
We all groaned.
“Not the dominoes,” Avery whined.
Rose scoffed. “I heard my mother talking to Lincoln and she suggested we all play…” She shook herself, as if trying to ward off a bad feeling. “Bingo. Apparently, Granddad wants to play that—and with money!”
I started to laugh.
“Neither of them sounds good,” Avery stated.
When I saw the men start to trickle in from cleaning up, I knew game night was about to start. Then I spied Aunt Merit and Grams carrying boxes of dominoes.
I stood, put my hand to my mouth, and rushed out of the room.
The sound of my mother and Maverick both calling my name had me faltering for a hot second, but I kept going until I made it to the guest bathroom.
A light knock on the door minutes later had me flushing the toilet. “Yes?”
“Lily?”
“Oh, Mom…hold on. I’m not feeling well. Is Maverick out there?”
“I’m right here, baby.”
Smiling, I asked in my best sick voice. “Can you please come in?”
“You don’t want me to come in?” Mom asked in a hurt voice.
Cursing under my breath, I replied, “No…no, you go back to the family, Mom. I’ll be fine.”
Maverick opened the door and slipped inside, softly shutting it behind him.
I leaned in and whispered, “They’re going to play dominoes!”
He scrunched up his face. “The old person game?”
Nodding, I replied, “We have to make our escape now before Kipton tries to use the same excuse!”
“Right. Okay. Let’s get you out of here so you can go lie down.”
A wicked smile spread over my face. “And what are you going to do to make me feel better?”
An equally wicked, yet seductive smile appeared on his handsome face. “I think I can come up with something.”
I giggled, and Maverick covered my mouth, then put his finger to his lips. “Hush!”
He pulled me to him and pressed his mouth over mine in a hot and searing kiss. When we broke apart, I was breathing heavy.
“Yeah, we need to leave. Now.”
Maverick turned and opened the door, only to let out a girlish cry.
“Mom!” I said as I placed my hand over my chest. “You scared us!”
She lifted a single brow. “Sick, huh?”
Attempting to look sick, I nodded. “Morning sickness hits at all hours.” It wasn’t a lie, and my mother had seen me get sick at the oddest times of day.
She pushed off the wall and pointed to us. “You’re just trying to get out of playing dominoes!”
I stomped my feet like a five-year-old. “Mom! It’s dominoes. No one wants to play that.”
“Some of us do.”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “Yeah, the old people.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, she tilted her head and slowly asked, “I beg your pardon?”