Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
It takes a second to decipher before it sinks in.
It’s more of a shared understanding.
Declan, Finn, Ace… all the guys have similar expressions.
“Oh my God!” I twist fast, unlatch from his hold, and bolt out of arm's reach. “You sabotaged my viewings.”
“Sabotage is such a strong word,” Talon tsks.
“Didn’t sabotage shit. I canceled them outright,” Ford replies indifferently.
“You, you, you…” Then Talon’s words catch up to me. I swing around, pointing at him. “You knew, too?”
He nods coyly. “Who didn’t know?”
I cast a glance among Jewls, Alex, Cruz, and Harley. They are the only ones aware of my plans. “Who squealed?”
“Maybe me?” Harley raises her hand.
“I have baby brain, so probably me,” Jewls admits willingly.
“It was an honest mistake. It slipped past my lips,” Cruz owns up.
I make a mental note to share no secrets with these three again.
“The more important question is, why didn’t you tell me?” Ford crosses his arms and my eyes drop to his chest, momentarily distracting me from my snit.
“Eyes up here, babe.”
A collection of chuckles sound and my irritation is back full-force. “There was nothing to tell. It was exploratory. I don’t even know if I want a townhome. I liked my house.”
“Then let me build you one.”
I’m pretty sure the air is sucked from my body as little stars fill my vision. My knees give out, but before I hit the floor, powerful muscles engulf me. Ford’s lips are moving, but the ringing in my ears drowns out any other sound.
Dad’s face dips into my line of view, his mouth curled.
I close my eyes and count to five, willing the ringing to stop.
“A little dramatic, but she’ll come around.” I catch the tail of Dad’s conversation.
Ford hefts me up and carries me to the sofa. “Take a breath, baby,” he instructs gently.
Build you one… build you one… build you one… plays over and over in my mind. “Did you—Did I hear—”
“That I want to build you a house?”
“Shit, if she cries, I’m doing a shot.”
“Charlie! Have some tact,” Raven chides without an ounce of genuineness.
“Can we maybe discuss this when we don’t have an audience?” I say low enough for only Ford.
“Sure.”
His nonchalant response spikes my shock. “I can’t believe you dropped that bomb on me in front of all these people.”
“You were hellbent on working yourself up.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Splotches cover your chest, neck, and cheeks.”
“That’s because you knocked the wind out of me with your little stunt.”
“Not a stunt.”
A new rush of comprehension pieces together in my muddled brain. Things are too calm. I peer over at my parents. “Are you aware of this?”
“Ford took me to walk the lot this morning.”
“I thought you were looking at Major and Jewls’ house.”
“It’s the same street.” Dad shoves another bite of cake in his mouth.
“Your dad took me by on the way home,” Mom adds cheerfully.
“Is no one stunned? This is insane.”
“I figure this place is nice enough.”
Nice enough? That’s an understatement of massive proportions. “This house isn’t nice, Dad. It’s a grand mega-mansion on a hill. A theatre, pool, pool house, seven bedrooms, and a kitchen bigger than my whole studio.”
“Exactly. Figure he can build you something fancy.”
Build me something fancy? Has my dad lost his mind? “Is this an alternate universe? Weeks ago, at the wedding, you gave Ford flak about me possibly living with him.”
“Things change.” Dad shrugs.
“Robbie went behind my back and canceled my lease on an apartment,” Ember adds, changing the subject.
“Declan tricked me. I thought he was re-proposing. We were…” Raven pauses, pressing her lips together. “Maybe my story isn’t appropriate.”
Declan drops his mouth to her ear, whispering something that has her blushing.
“Major moved me in while I was at work,” Jewls says.
“You were engaged and pregnant.”
She waves me off. “Details aren’t important.”
“Oh, dear Lord, please don’t tell me you’re pregnant.” Mom’s cry sends my head back to pounding.
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Thank goodness. No offense, Jewls honey, we’re all very excited for you.”
“None taken, Cassie. I think the point is, nothing is shocking with this crew.”
What is happening? In the span of a few minutes, my world took a complete dive and no one is fazed in the slightest.
“Now’s a great time for cake,” Harley claps.
“I can go for cake,” Ember agrees.
“Where’s the beer?”
“Got anything stronger?”
“It’s Monday night.”
“Who cares?”
Conversations swirl around us, but I’m frozen. Ford’s blue-green gaze has me entranced.
His self-satisfied smirk should piss me off, but the fluttering in my stomach and chest are in overdrive.
“Gloating isn’t very nice.”
“Don’t give a shit.”
“What exactly are you proud of?”
The golden ring of his pupils darkens and intensifies, the reality hitting with a force so huge my body trembles.
I’m not buying a townhome, a bungalow, or any type of house.
I’m not coasting through life waiting anymore.
I’m still Rowan, a successful businesswoman, entrepreneur, and dream chaser.
But I’m no longer alone.
No more cheating assholes.