Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Her son had proven he was far more tired than scared. Once he’d had a blanket wrapped around him, he’d fallen asleep, and was now tucked into the little bedroom along with his uncle.
The whole time spent crossing to Sicily she’d managed to concentrate on helping Owen and watching over Roman. Now things were quiet, and she couldn’t quell the questions in her head.
Why was Beck here? How the fuck had Levi found her? Who’d found her first? Because it was too much to believe that they’d both coincidentally shown up at the same time.
She’d lost it all again. No more bookshop. No more quaint school for Roman. No more afternoon teas in the sun.
She might lose her son, too.
“Hey, you okay?” Jax stood in the doorway. “We didn’t get much of a chance to talk since we had to get out of Malta so fast.”
Jax. She wanted to ask about River, wanted to know how the last seven years had gone for the woman she considered to be a good friend. But they hadn’t parted on great terms. By the last time she’d seen River, they were friendly, but it was obvious River hadn’t forgotten her lies.
“I’m okay. How’s Owen doing?”
“Better, thanks to you and Ezra. He’s sleeping now. Remind me not to take him white water rafting.” Jax moved in, grabbing a coffee mug. “Is there enough for me?”
She was happy he wasn’t worried about her drugging it. At one point he might have. “Of course. There’s sugar and some creamer. It’s a powder though.”
Jax grinned. “Oh, I’m not picky. I’ll take what I can get. I spend a lot of time making coffee over a campfire. I’m used to instant and powdered everything.” He poured himself a mug. “I suspect you won’t say anything more than you personally are fine. So as one parent to another, how is your son?”
She felt tears fill her eyes. There was something else she hadn’t thought about. Not that she hadn’t wondered over the years, but she’d grown to believe she would never see River and Jax again. Never see Ariel. “You and River have kids?”
“Yeah,” he said with a glowing smile. “Two boys. My oldest turns six next month. His name is Caden, and then Rio is four. I’ve got some pictures on my laptop I can show you later.”
She felt her heart constrict. “I love the names. Rio for River.”
“Yeah, she picked Caden. I got to pick our second son’s name. She was very much against it. She thinks he’s either going to be a cowboy or a male stripper.” Jax chuckled. “I wanted to name him after his mom.”
She was not going to cry. If she let go, she might never stop. “I think it’s a beautiful name. Are you still in Bliss?”
“Yes. We’re still in our cabin by the Rio Grande, though we did add on. We’ve now got a third bedroom and a garage.” Jax set his mug down. “I know. It’s impressive. Nell protested my use of materials, but we have a fully functional garage.”
She wanted to ask about everyone in Bliss. “It must have changed a lot over the years. I bet I wouldn’t recognize it.”
Jax snorted as though that was an inconceivable thought. “Nah. Everything’s pretty much the same except there’s a school in town now and way more kiddos. Big Tag bought a cabin and they come up a couple of times a year. There’s a few new residents, but Bliss is still Bliss.” He sobered. “River told me to send you her love.”
She sniffled, trying to clear her eyes. “She doesn’t still hate me?”
Jax reached out and covered her hand with his big one. “She never hated you. She was tossed into a world she didn’t understand, and it threw her for a loop for a while. She’s home and back to being River again. She wants you to know that we would both love for you to come out and spend time with us. She misses you. She’ll be more excited when she finds out about Roman. I think he would like our boys.”
She nodded and couldn’t help but shed one of the tears in her eyes. “He would love them. He would love Bliss. Did I see Tucker and Rob? Is he still with Ariel?”
“We’re all still together, though we’ve spread out a bit. Owen and Rebecca are in Sweden for her work. He’s staying home with their two kids. I have no idea how those kids are going to survive,” he said with a sparkle in his eyes. “Tucker and Roni opened a clinic in Wyoming. They’re up to three kiddos. I think he’s trying to beat Big Tag’s army. Theo was there. He and Erin stopped at two. They’re still in Dallas.”
“And Rob?” She asked about Rob, but she was really desperate to hear that Ariel was happy.