Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 98112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
How the fuck do I untangle my head?
Maybe I’m just tired. It’s possible a good night’s sleep will erase these maudlin thoughts and restore the ruthless manwhore most people—family excepting—love to hate.
For some reason, that notion makes me cranky.
What the hell has this woman done to me?
Sighing, I head for the door. Might as well face her and figure out this weird mood.
The dinging of my phone stops me before I can leave my office. It’s not just any text—I’ve been ignoring a bunch of those—but a text with a specific ringtone. Hayes. I should have known I couldn’t put this off.
I grab my cell, not even bothering to read the message, and dial his number.
“Congratulations, man!” Hayes’s voice booms. “I had no idea you were dating anyone, much less thinking about getting engaged. You didn’t say a word.”
There’s a soft accusation in his tone. I deserve that.
“Thanks. It’s…been a whirlwind, but I appreciate it.” I look at the clock. “Why are you awake? It’s barely five in the morning in LA and it’s Saturday.”
He laughs. “Our schedules are messed up. Echo and I flew to Boston to see Gramma Liddy for a few days.”
In the middle of the week? “She all right?”
“Fine. It had just been a while. Echo got a few days off from work, and we thought why not?”
“For sure. Glad to hear Liddy is still kicking.”
“Almost eighty and sharp as a tack. She kicked my ass at cards. Again.”
God, it’s good to hear Hayes’s voice and know that someone I care about so much is happy. “That’s nothing new.”
“You’re supposed to take my side.”
“Um, you’re a great investment counselor. You’re a horrible card player.”
“And you’re a shitty friend,” he grumbles. “You didn’t tell me you were even seeing Parker Emerson’s sister. You never mentioned it because you knew I would question your sanity, right? Did you two keep it on the down low until you decided to get married?”
“Something like that.”
“When did you meet? How the hell did you even get together?”
Shit. Concocting a “meet cute” Corinne and I can tell everyone has been on my list of things to do, but we haven’t gotten around to that yet. “Actually, buddy, it’s a long story, and I’m fucking wiped out. It seemed like an endless Friday after a few days of insomnia, and things are still insane at the office with Bethany out.”
“Having the market in disarray can’t be helping. I feel you, but—”
“You want to know. And I want to tell you.” I blow out a breath and think of another plausible way to stall. “Listen, I know you just got home from Boston, but how would you feel about coming here for my engagement party tomorrow night? I’ll fill you in then.”
That would buy Corinne and me time to get our story straight, but I totally expect him to say no.
“I was just going to ask if you wouldn’t mind if we crashed with you for the weekend?”
Seriously? It will be great to see him…but it’s horrible timing. I need to be alone with Corinne so we can perfect our act. Or I have to tell Hayes the truth. But I can’t. Echo is horrible at keeping secrets and my buddy would never not tell his wife something. And if I make arrangements with Maxon and Keeley for my friends to stay at their bed-and-breakfast—presuming they even have a vacancy—Hayes would know something is up.
“Hey, if it’s a hardship—”
“No,” I cut in. “Sorry, I’m just tired as fuck. Of course I want you to come. I asked, didn’t I?”
“Great! We were hoping that would be cool. Echo has a few more days off, and I miss Maui like hell.”
One impulsive trip back East to see his elderly grandmother I could believe. But an impromptu trip here, too—even with my engagement party—isn’t like Hayes. “Is something up with you?”
“Can’t I just want to see my best friend? It’s been too long. And I have the dirt on what’s up with the old gang…”
“You don’t have to persuade me. You’re always welcome.” I’ll make it work.
“Good. While we’ve been talking, I found last-minute seats on a flight that lands about four o’clock. That okay?”
It gets them here for the party, and since Parker knows Hayes well, having him at our celebration will lend credence to the “engagement.” “Fantastic. I’ll pick you up from the airport.”
“It will be great to see you. And I can’t wait to meet Corinne. She must not be anything like Parker if you’re in love with her.”
“She’s not.” And we’ll have to be more convincing than ever.
“I’m really happy for you. After the way Hadley destroyed you, I didn’t think you’d ever recover.”
I still don’t think I have, but I try to sound chipper as fuck. “Well, when you know, you know… Some of us aren’t stupid enough to know the love of our life since second grade and fail to figure it out.”