Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 64979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“What was your major in college?” she asked out of nowhere, laying her head in my lap while I leaned against a tree.
We were on a blanket, and she was wearing a tiny white bikini that left very little to the imagination.
“A double bachelor in business and finances with a minor in accounting.”
“Wow. Two bachelor degrees. That must have been a lot of studying.”
I nodded, kissing her hand. “What about you?”
“A master’s in business and a minor in marketing.”
“A master’s, huh?”
“I had to prove to my grandfather that I could handle his businesses.”
“When did you decide to go to work for him?”
“Pretty early on. Part of me always wanted to take over. How about you?”
“When Caleb decided he didn’t want any part of the Hawkins dynasty, it was passed down to me.”
“You didn’t want it?”
“I did, but not for the reasons you think.”
“Which are?”
“Money, power, control.”
She smirked. “Then what were your reasons?”
“I wanted to make my parents proud of me.”
A sudden sense of loss came over her gaze, but she recovered quickly.
“Say it.”
“I know you don’t like to talk about them, but they’d be super proud of everything you’ve accomplished.”
“Especially proud that I married you.”
She ignored my statement. “What happened after college?”
“I worked my life away until you came back in it.”
“I think all the models on your arm would beg to differ, Mr. Hawkins.”
“They were meaningless.”
“I’m sure they didn’t think that.”
“They knew what they were getting themselves into.”
“Because of the press?”
“Because I never lied about any expectations when it came to them.”
“You know you have a type. Always blonde hair, blue eyes.”
I lifted a piece of her hair. “Where do you think that stems from?”
She smiled. “You always know the right things to say.”
“It’s called honesty.”
“Okay, Mr. Honesty, how many kids do you want?”
I jerked back, surprised by her question.
“I mean, I should know what you anticipate from me.”
I didn’t hesitate in responding, “I want four.”
“Four?” Her eyes widened.
“I’m the only child. I’d love to have a big family with you.”
“I see that.”
“How many do you want?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never really thought about it. Let’s see how it goes with one baby, and we can go from there, okay?” She swallowed hard, licking her lips. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”
“I’d like a baby girl who looks exactly like you.”
She blushed.
“How many girls and boys do you want?”
“Two of each.”
“I like that dynamic.”
Unable to hold back, I questioned, “Do you want to be pregnant?”
“I don’t have a choice. It’s in the contract.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “At first I wasn’t happy with the idea.”
“And now?”
“I keep finding myself envisioning a life with you.”
“What kind of life?”
“A happy one.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“In the last few days, I’ve caught myself rubbing my belly.”
“Like you are right now?”
She looked down at her hand that was on her stomach.
“You’re going to be an amazing mother, Belle.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I don’t think I’m very maternal.”
“You’re the most loving person I know.”
She smirked. “You mean when I’m not being a brat to you?”
I grinned. “I just have to continue fucking it out of you.”
“You’re so romantic,” she sarcastically remarked. “What kinds of rules do you want for our kids?”
“Our girls can’t date until they’re twenty-five.”
“Tristian!”
“Fine. Eighteen.”
“You’re as bad as my parents.”
“They were trying to keep you away from guys like me.”
“Look how well that turned out.”
I chuckled.
“What about our boys?”
“What about them?”
“Tristian,” she stated in a stern tone.
“What? They’re boys.”
“Oh my God! You are as bad as my parents.”
“I take back my answer about wanting a baby girl first.”
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
“If she looks anything like you, I’m going to need all the help I can get with keeping guys like me away from her.”
“Nice. So you’re going to have an army of boys for our daughter?”
“It’s for her protection.”
“I’m sure she’s going to love that.”
I grabbed her hands and pulled her to straddle my waist. “You sitting on my lap is always so much better than anywhere else.”
“I don’t think it’s your lap I’m sitting on.”
I smiled. “I like talking about our kids with you.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Me too.”
Unable to hold back, I questioned, “Do you think you’re pregnant?”
“It’s too early to tell.”
“How about you take a test before we leave the island?”
“Ummm … yeah, I can do that.”
I moved my hand from my hip to her stomach. “Whatever it is, I’ll protect him or her regardless.”
Our eyes locked.
“What if I’m not pregnant?”
“Then I’ll just have to fuck you in my office until you are.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “You mean you weren’t going to do that anyway?”
In a determined voice, I countered, “I think you’re pregnant.”
“Is that right?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I always do everything right the first time.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Humble much?”
“Kitten, you know more than anyone I always get what I want.”