Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I smile up at him and accept his soft kiss without hesitation.
“Get a room,” Chase says, but I just wave him off, making the girls laugh.
When we’re served dinner, I notice that Holden’s phone is on the table, so I snatch it and then hold it up for him.
“Unlock, please.”
“It’s not locked. I don’t have anything to hide.”
I swipe up, and sure enough, it’s not locked. I’m not snooping. I just want to change my contact in his phone, since he was sure to do the same in mine right away.
I never did change it from Your Husband. I couldn’t bring myself to be a smartass and wipe that from my phone.
Opening his contacts, I page down, expecting to find my name. I can feel his gaze on me, watching me blatantly, and he doesn’t say a word.
My name’s not here.
No Rosie. No wife.
I frown up at him.
“Open the texts, baby girl.”
I swipe up out of the contacts and open his messages, and right on top is one from me.
Obsession.
I press my lips together so I don’t laugh out loud, and then I look up at him. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Felt appropriate.” He shrugs. “What were you going to change it to?”
“Your Wife.”
“Same thing.” He kisses my temple, and I lay his phone back on the table.
“Also, you only text four people?”
“I fucking hate texting. If someone needs me, they can call me.”
I laugh and find Remington watching us. “What are you thinking about over there?”
“You’re happy,” he says simply.
“Yes. Don’t ruin it.”
He shakes his head at me as if to say, Stop it.
“Mom was saying that she misses having Sunday dinner with the whole family,” he continues. “You two need to come to the farmhouse on Sunday. We’ll grill something.”
I blink at him, positive that I’ve misheard him.
“But, Dad—”
“It’s my fucking house,” he says, cutting me off. “My house. And I’ll have whoever I fucking want in it. I want my family there.”
The table is quiet, but Brady chimes in. “Dad’ll be out of town, Mill. He’s going to pick up a horse in Idaho.”
“I don’t care where Dad is,” Rem insists. “If he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t have to come.”
Holden takes my hand, lacing our fingers together.
“We’ll be there,” Holden says. “What can we bring?”
“Oh, we’ll have plenty,” Erin says. “This is so great. The kids will be so excited. They’ve been asking for you, Millie.”
“Shit.” I swallow hard, looking down at my plate as regret washes through me. “I should have been coming to get them more. Take them home with me.”
“They’re fine,” Rem says. “But they will be excited to see you.”
“It’s time,” Ryan adds, and the others nod. “It’s time to get back to normal.”
“It’s obvious to anyone with a brain that you two love each other,” Chase chimes in. “Dad will come around sooner or later.”
“He won’t have a choice,” Brady agrees.
“Looks like we’re coming to dinner on Sunday,” I reply, already excited about it. “I’m totally bringing dessert.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Summer says. “She makes the best cheesecake.”
“Does she?” Holden smiles down at me. “I can’t wait.”
“Tonight was a success.” I kick my shoes off at the door, happy to be out of them. Even though they’re just flats, they still pinch my toes a bit, and the cool hardwood feels good as I pad across it to the kitchen. “You were amazing, by the way.”
“Me?” Holden lifts an eyebrow as he takes his jacket off. “I didn’t do a damn thing.”
“You looked like that.” I gesture to him, my arm moving up and down. “Hot as hell. I really did marry some damn good arm candy.”
He narrows his eyes on me. “I feel so used.”
I snort a laugh and pull out a couple of glasses. “Tequila or whiskey?”
“Whiskey for me. I’m going to change out of this real quick.”
“Go ahead. I’m going to sit on the patio for a bit.”
Before he turns to walk away, he presses his hand on my hip and leans into me. “You are gorgeous in this dress, little rose. And if anyone was amazing tonight, it was you.”
He presses his lips to mine, then walks away, and I have to take a second to catch my breath.
I don’t think there will ever be a day that he doesn’t steal my breath.
I pour our drinks and then pad outside and turn on the overhead fans. In a few more weeks, it’ll be time to lower the screens to keep the bugs out.
So far, it’s a little early in the season to be bothered by much.
I don’t flip on any of the lights out here. I want to sit in the dark and listen to the neighborhood while I unwind from being around so many people. So much noise. We danced and laughed and had a great time.