Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
He didn’t give it to me despite my stern tone and I could tell he wasn’t going to drop the subject, so I did what I had to do. I seduced him. Thankfully I brought that little serving bowl of condoms with me when I moved in with him. It’s come in handy a few times.
Now, we slow to a stop outside my parents’ house. Cars line the street. I should have thought to have everyone park one block over.
“Is that my mom’s car?” Hudson asks, leaning over to try to make out the vehicle parked in front of Barrett’s.
“No,” I say hurriedly. “That’s my dad’s loaner. He got a flat on the way to work.”
I’m smart enough to think on my feet, but my acting skills are subpar at best. Practicing law is my only talent.
Hudson looks over at me, more suspicious than ever. “That’s definitely my mom’s car.”
I frown and shake my head then throw in a long hum for good measure. “I really don’t think so…”
“Scarlett…why is my mom here?”
I can’t withstand his third-degree. I’m about to just turn and bail and make him chase after me up the path, but sensing my plan, he reaches for my arm and stills me. My smile is impossible to suppress.
“What is this?” he asks with a smile of his own.
I turn to him with pleading, puppy dog eyes. “Let’s just go inside.”
I don’t want to ruin the surprise now, not when we’re so close to the finish line.
He shakes his head, resolute as ever. Stubborn man! “Not until you tell me what I’m about to walk in on.”
“Let’s just go, okay? We’re a few minutes late, and I’m sure everyone is hungry.”
He relents and turns off the car. I grab the wine carrier filled with the bottles we picked up on the way over, but I shouldn’t have bothered. Hudson loops around to my side and takes the wine from me before reaching down for my hand. “Promise me we aren’t walking into something horrible.”
I squeeze his hand. “I promise.”
When we’re halfway up the path, I catch movement in the living room window. Lucy.
Dammit.
Hudson sees her too. She and my mom are peeking out from behind the drapes, and lo and behold, Renee is right there beside them. When they see us see them, they all duck in unison. The Three Stooges have nothing on them.
“Scarlett…” Hudson says with a playfully reproachful tone.
“I just thought we could have a fun family dinner!” I say, chock-full of innocence.
“But why the secrecy?”
We reach the stoop and the doorknob creaks and I realize we’re seconds away from being ambushed, but it’s too late to do anything. The door whips open to a cacophony of noise as Jack and Annabelle come barreling down the front hall, racing to get to us.
“Slow down!” Corinne chides half-heartedly.
“You’re here!” my mother exclaims.
“Took you two long enough,” Lucy teases.
Just before we’re pulled into the chaos, I turn and lock eyes with Hudson and try to answer his questions with just a look. It’s the best superpower couples have, this ability to silently say, You can trust me. Tonight is going to be amazing. I promise.
He winks in confirmation. Message received. Then Annabelle launches herself at me and Jack throws himself at Hudson.
“Luff hewr! Luff hewr! Luff hewr!” Jack shouts his favorite catchphrase. He says it every time he sees Hudson and me.
“Jack! He doesn’t luff hewr, he loves her!” Annabelle corrects. She looks to Hudson for confirmation. “Right?”
Hudson smiles at me. “Right.”
“How much?” Annabelle wants to know as she starts to tug me into the foyer. To her, it’s quantifiable. “More than I love makeup?”
Hudson laughs. “Way more.”
Annabelle’s eyes go wide as saucers. “More than you love ice cream?”
“A lot more,” he tells her.
Understanding the challenge, she goes big on the next round. “More than all the stars and planets and the universe COMBINED?!”
“More,” he insists confidently.
This final answer blows her mind. She can’t comprehend how it’s even possible. “Wow. That’s amazing! Uncle Hudson, you have to marry her then!”
Hudson catches my gaze as he leans down and lowers his voice. He’s talking to her, but I still hear his reply.
“Don’t worry…” He smiles. “I plan to.”