Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I don’t know, twenty years from now . . .”
“What?”
“Baby, my ex was part crazy, part bitch. She’s not exactly someone I spend a lot of time thinking about.”
“But you were engaged to her?”
“Yeah, when I was young and my dick did the thinking for me, I was engaged to her.” He pulls me close with his fingers in the front pocket of my jeans. “I know what Eva said upset you.”
“She didn’t upset me,” I lie, and his eyes narrow. “She just annoyed me. She’s not a very nice person.”
“No, she’s not, but she’s the result of thinking with your dick and an unplanned pregnancy.” That was a little harsh—probably true, but still harsh.
“Lucas is asking her for a divorce,” I say, then close my eyes, wondering why the hell I just told him that when it’s not my news to share.
“Did he tell you that?”
“Forget I said anything. I don’t think he’s ready to tell everyone yet.”
“How long were you two on a walk before I caught up with you?”
“I don’t know, five minutes.” I shrug, and his eyes soften.
“Hmm.” He shakes his head and I wonder exactly what that hmm means, but I don’t want to ask him about it.
“I wish we were alone. This day has been a disaster.”
“It’s been good,” he says, and I widen my eyes in disbelief.
“Are we on different planets right now?”
“Baby, think about it. Our families met, our moms—who just happened to be old friends—reunited, I didn’t get called into work, and I spent the day with my woman. Yeah, there was a little bit of drama, but all in all, it’s been a good day.”
“You missed the part where I didn’t know about the giblets in the turkey and had to unstuff the damn thing, then restuff it,” I grumble.
“What?” He smiles, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
“Why are you with me?” I ask instead of answering his question, then cut him off when it looks like he’s going to open his mouth to speak. “I can’t cook, I dress like a nerd, I’m clumsy and always doing dumb stuff, plus my family is crazy. Why are you with me?” I repeat and he drops his forehead to rest against mine.
“Do you know how hard it is to find a woman who isn’t all about herself? To find a woman who isn’t superficial and self-centered?” he asks quietly.
I whisper, “No.”
“I do know how hard it is. And I also know that the kind of beauty you hold is so rare most men would be lucky to even catch a glimpse of it.”
“So because you think I’m pretty—”
“No,” he cuts me off, taking my face between his palms. “It’s not because you’re gorgeous, which you are, it’s because the parts of you that make you you are beautiful. That’s why I’m with you. I’m with you because you’re real, you care, and you don’t know how to put on a front or be mean. I’m with you because you’re the kind of woman who goes to a shelter to volunteer when most wouldn’t even think about wasting their time. Because you worry about a little girl that looks at you like you have the ability to change her life. Because you are the kind of person who won’t judge a guy you don’t know when he tells you he’s getting a divorce. I’m with you because the idea of not being with you isn’t something I want to consider.”
Oh.
My.
His words cause my breath to freeze in my lungs and tears to burn the back of my eyes.
“You really like me,” I say after a moment, and his lips twitch into a smile.
“I more than like you, gorgeous, but yeah, I really like you.”
I’m such an idiot. I close my eyes and drop my face to his chest. “I’m sorry about just leaving . . . You’re right, I was worried about what Eva was saying and worried that you would want to get back together with your ex. I . . . I worry that you’re going to realize I’m not worth the hassle.”
“You’re definitely worth it.”
How does he know just what I need to hear?
“Thank you,” I say, pulling my face back to look at him.
“Baby, caring for you isn’t a hardship.”
“Don’t make me cry.”
“I don’t want you to cry, I just want to know that we’re good and that when our families take off, we’ll still be good. Today has been crazy, and I know you’re stressed.”
“I’m good, but I will be better once everyone leaves. Meeting your family has been great, but our families together . . .” I shake my head. “That’s a little much for me.”
“Well, before we head back, I want you to prepare yourself. Our moms are already planning our wedding.”
“What?” I blink up at him, and he grins.