Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Are you alright?”
No. I was not fucking all right. My world had just been upended, and I wasn’t sure what to do. So, I went with nothing…
“Fine,” I rasped. “Bags?”
Winter looked confused and a bit of hurt swam in her blue eyes, making my chest ache. I hadn’t meant to make her sad. But before I could fix it, she smiled and pointed at the baggage cart a few feet away.
Taking hold of her hand, I held it tight as I headed toward her things. I didn’t want to give her a chance to get away.
She pointed at two small suitcases, and I frowned down at her. “That’s all you brought?”
“I put everything else in storage. I figured it would be easiest if I only brought enough for the time I’ll be staying here.”
I grunted and grabbed both bags in one hand. “We’ll send for the rest of your shit tomorrow.”
She sputtered, but I ignored her as I stalked toward my vehicle, pulling the keys out and hitting the button to unlock it. When I reached the passenger side door, I wrenched it open, and only then did I release her hand. I dropped her bags onto the ground and grasped her waist and lifted her into the seat. Damn, she was tiny and barely weighed anything. I’d need to get some meat on her bones. My brothers and I were all large babies, and I wanted to make sure Winter was strong enough to carry Mistletoe boys.
I grabbed the seat belt and brought it around her before clicking it into place. As I pulled back, I thought about taking her lips in a deep kiss but decided I wanted our first kiss to be when we were pronounced man and wife. The thought had me mentally shaking my head. Maybe I was the pussy and not Lincoln.
I slammed the door and picked up Winter’s suitcases. Walking around the SUV, I paused to throw them into the back before completing the trek to the driver’s side. I started up the car and turned the heat on full blast since Winter looked as though she was shivering underneath all her layers. I didn’t make a move to drive, though. I sat there for a moment, trying to breathe normally and calm my racing heart while I contemplated my next steps.
It wasn’t really a question, but I’d never been the impulsive type, so it made sense to stop and consider the crazy plan that had formed in my mind. Somewhere between Winter introducing herself and taking her hat off, I’d decided she was mine. There was only one thing to do from here. I was keeping her. I shot off a text and set my phone in a cup holder where I knew I would hear it when a response came through.
I put the SUV in reverse and backed out of the parking spot, navigating the lot to get us out onto the road.
“Um, are we going to your house?” Winter asked softly. Her voice was pure and sweet, and it sent a shot of lust straight to my cock. Soon, very soon, I was going to find out what that voice sounded like when it was raspy with passion and crying out my name.
“Errand first,” I grunted. Shit. Sparkling conversationalist there, aren’t you, Christopher?
I cleared my throat and tried again. “We’re going to see a...friend, first. Then I’m taking you home.”
“Oh, okay.” I glanced over to see her giving me a pretty smile, and my mouth curved up a bit in reply.
My phone chimed, and I nearly swerved off the road in my haste to grab it and see if it was what I was waiting for.
Judge: Be here in fifteen or I’m locking the door and you’ll have to wait until tomorrow like the rest of the town.
A grin split my face, and I heard a gasp, which made my head whip in Winter’s direction, worried at what was causing her distress. But she didn’t look upset. Instead, she was staring at me with a look of awe.
“What?” I asked.
Winter’s cheeks turned pink, and she glanced down at her hands, which were folded in her lap. “Nothing.”
“Let’s not start this marriage out this way,” I suggested kindly.
From the corner of my eye, I saw her raise her head, and when I peeked at her, she was staring at me again.
“What way?”
“Don’t hide shit from me, and I won’t hide it from you. We should talk about stuff.”
Winter giggled, and I shot her a frown. But we’d arrived at the judge’s house, so I waited until I’d pulled into his driveway and put the car in park before turning to give her my full attention.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that you don’t seem like the talking type.”
“I’m not,” I replied truthfully. “Except with you. I want to talk to you.”