Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“What does she want?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. She just asked if you were here.”
“Where is she?”
“In the living room.”
I stared at her wide eyed.
“She looks great,” Haven admitted. “I mean, really good. Better than she does on the magazine covers, if that’s even possible.”
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
“Can you please calm down before you see her? You’re going to scare her away with your temper.”
“Haven—”
“For real! I haven’t seen her since Mom’s funeral, Ledger. I’ve missed her. She used to be here all the time. It felt like I had an older sister, and when you’re constantly surrounded by testosterone, it was a nice break to have her around. I’d love to have her in our lives again. Don’t you? Wasn’t she one of your best friends?”
“Haven—”
“I never asked you what happened with her, and I’m asking now.”
“She moved to New York,” I simply stated.
“Well, maybe she’s moving back, and that’s why she wants to see you.”
“Or maybe she just wants more of our clients.”
Haven gasped, shaking her head. “I don’t think so. She’s a mogul. Why would she be involved with what her parents are doing? Chance isn’t.”
“I’m not giving her the benefit of the doubt.”
“What’s up with you?” she shouted. “Why are you being so stubborn? Don’t you miss her?”
“Don’t ask questions you won’t understand.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to see her or what?”
“Give me a minute.”
She happily nodded, turned, and left.
For fuck’s sake, like I needed another problem today.
“Your sister is right.” Dad agreed with Haven. “What happened between you two?”
“Nothing.”
“Son, you wouldn’t be acting this way if it were nothing.”
He was right.
Shifting my stare over to him, I repeated, “Can you give me a minute?”
“Yeah, but please check your attitude before you see her. She’s obviously here for a reason, and I remember how much you cared for her. Your mother always thought you’d end up together.”
I jerked back again. “What?”
“Come on.” He cocked his head to the side. “That can’t come as a surprise to you. You guys did everything together, and she’s the only woman you let into your life like that. Regardless of the ones you’ve brought around us.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Because of Chance?”
I was caught off guard. “Since when did you become so perceptive?”
“I’m your old man, but just because I don’t say anything to you and stay out of your personal life doesn’t mean I’m blind. Your mother adored her. She was planning your guys’ wedding since you were eight.”
“What the hell? She never told me that.”
“You’re a private person, Ledger. You always have been. The last thing you want is your mom involving herself—”
“I wish she had. It may have helped.”
He rounded his desk to stand in front of me. Placing his hand on my shoulder, he squeezed it in a reassuring action.
“Maybe she is now.” With that, he spun and left.
I didn’t know how long I stayed there until my pissed-off composure moved in autopilot. One minute, I stood in the office arguing with my father over his choices with the ranch, and the next, I was in front of Hazel.
I couldn’t help but take her in. Haven was right. She was fucking gorgeous, wearing a black pantsuit with a small-ass top. Once again, leaving very little to the imagination with her fuck-me heels.
Did she own any clothes that covered her?
Shaking off the thought, I spewed, “Why are you here, Hazel? What else do you need from our ranch that you haven’t already tried to take?”
She stumbled back like I slapped her.
In one breath, she coaxed, “We need to talk.”
I didn’t back down.
Already over her bullshit.
“Whatever you need to say, you can do it in front of my family.”
Her hands fisted at her sides, and I snidely smiled in satisfaction.
“Fine!” she shouted, quickly furious. “Have it your way.”
For the second time in just a couple of minutes, I was almost knocked on my ass when she informed…
“I’m pregnant with your baby!”
Eleven
Ledger
A loud, collective gasp echoed off the walls around us. I didn’t have time to consider her announcement before her brother suddenly stood beside us.
“What the fu—”
I bit, “Not. Now. Chance.”
His gaze flew from me to her. “You want to explain this to me, Hazel?”
“Chance,” I warned. “Not. Now.”
“When the hell were you guys toget—”
Running on pure adrenaline, I ignored him and grabbed her hand, dragging her to my old bedroom that my father kept intact.
On our way up the stairs, Chance yelled, “This isn’t over!”
At that moment, I didn’t give a shit about Chance.
All that mattered was her and the truth.
Once I shut the door behind us, she yanked her arm out of my grasp. Her heaving chest caused her tits to pop out of the seams of her top.
We were back in the bedroom where it all began, and the irony was not lost on me.