Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, you silly girl. I put the same secret ingredient in everything I make.”
“Vodka?” I guessed.
“Love, of course,” she said, touching her heart. Then she paused. “But there is whiskey in the glaze. Everything’s better with booze in it.”
Emme, Ryan, and I cleared the table while Grams piled cookies onto a plate and put on a pot of coffee. When the dishwasher was full, Emme grabbed my hand. “Goodness. I’m feeling a little dizzy. Stella, can you help me upstairs?”
“Of course,” I said, regarding her with concern. I glanced at Ryan. “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Actually I need to make a quick phone call. I’ll be just outside for a sec.”
I nodded and put my arm around Emme, shepherding her through the house to the staircase and carefully up the steps. Once we were in the room she was staying in, however, she slipped away from me, slammed the door, and leaned back against it.
“Oh. My. God,” she said, clearly feeling fine.
“Emme, what the hell? You’re not dizzy?”
She flapped a hand in the air. “No. I made that up to get you alone.”
“You’re as bad as Grams!” I reached for the door handle. “Let me out so he’s not down there alone with her too long. She’ll eat him alive.”
“No!” She shoved my hand away. “Not until we talk.”
I crossed my arms. “About what?”
“About Mr. Biceps down there. Holy shit, his arms are the size of my neck.”
“Yes, he has a nice body.”
“A nice body?” Emme rolled her eyes. “Michelangelo’s David has a nice body. Ryan is ripped as fuck.”
I shrugged, although secretly I was pleased she thought he was hot. “Okay, he’s ripped.”
“And he likes you.” She looked at me shrewdly, her hands tucked behind her lower back. “I don’t know what kind of games he’s playing, but he likes you.”
“He’s not playing games! He’s the most honest man I’ve ever known.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Sorry. I know what he said to you, but I also know what I saw with my own eyes, and he is totally into you.”
I huffed, even though I wanted that to be the truth. “You’re crazy.”
“That’s debatable. But I’ve seen grooms look at their brides with less awe and affection than he looked at you with tonight.”
“I think he was looking at the meatloaf.”
“Then what are you still doing here, Stella?” She parked her hands on her hips.
“I’m being polite. Grams invited him to dinner without telling me.” It was kind of true, but Emme called bullshit.
“I don’t believe you.” She narrowed her eyes. “I know you. If you really believed there was no chance for you and this guy, I don’t think you’d still be here. You’re too practical.”
I gave in, dropping onto the bed. “I don’t know what to do. What he says is one thing. What I feel is another. And what he feels …” I toss up my hands. “Who knows? He claims to feel nothing.”
Emme sighs. “We should get back down there. But I get it, Stella. Now that I see him and you, I get it. Just … be careful. Okay?”
“I’ll try,” I said, unable to make any promises. Somehow I was no longer the girl who insisted on a seatbelt, wore the life vest, waited for the green signal.
I had no idea what I was doing, other than finally following my heart.
Twenty-Six
Ryan
During dinner, I’d missed a call from Mack. He hadn’t left a message.
I stepped out onto the porch and called him back, but it went to voicemail. “Hey, Mack, just saw that you called. Sorry I didn’t answer, I’m at dinner with Stella and her family, believe it or not. But I’ll leave my phone on.”
I hated to do that, knowing it would be rude to jump up and take a call during coffee and dessert, but something wasn’t right. I could feel it. I tried Bones again too, but he didn’t answer, and his voicemail box was full.
Back inside, I was distracted. The dessert was delicious and the coffee—with a shot of whiskey for everyone except Emme—tasted great. But I kept looking at my phone, and Stella sensed something was wrong.
“Everything okay?” she asked, catching me check the screen for the tenth time in ten minutes.
“Yeah.” I couldn’t get into it, but I felt bad when she dropped her gaze to her cup. She didn’t eat much dessert.
As for me, I cleaned my plate and had seconds. I’d learned to eat good food in any situation. You never knew when you’d be hungry again.
When the dessert plates had been cleared and the coffee pot emptied, Stella’s sister excused herself. “I’m sleeping for two,” she said, touching her stomach, which looked pretty flat to me.
I stood up from my chair and held out my hand. “It was nice meeting you.”