Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
We were barely in the vehicle two seconds when he announced abruptly, “I was thinking I should come to your art gallery showing after all.”
I blinked at his randomness. “Oh?”
A bead of sweat rolled down his temple and he wiped at it with his forearm in the midst of a three-point turn. “Fuck, it’s hot today.”
Desire clenched deep in my belly, and I pressed my thighs together. While I was worried I was a mess, I thought sweaty Jared, all damp with perspiration and biceps flexing, was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. “Yeah. Hot.”
He shot me a quizzical look and I realized I’d practically purred the words at him.
Oh God. Get a grip, Allegra! I cleared my throat. “Uh, so, art show?”
“Aye.” He drove the Defender onto the farm road that would lead us toward the house. “You were right. I should be there. And you know …” He cut me a seriously sexy smirk. “I’d like to see your work.”
“Really?” A flush of pleasure suffused me.
“Aye, really.”
“Okay. I’d really like for you to be there.”
“Good. That’s settled.” His hands squeezed around the wheel for a few seconds … then, “Did you enjoy your morning on the farm?”
“I did,” I told him honestly. I’d enjoy anything as long as I was with you. The thought popped into my head and I blanched, turning away. Do not catch feelings, Allegra. “You seem to really love it. The farm, I mean.”
“I do. It saved my life.”
Studying his handsome profile, I nodded. “I know it did. I love it too just for that.”
Those words probably revealed more than they should, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Thanks,” Jared replied, voice rough.
We fell into silence, this time a comfortable one, until we pulled up outside the farmhouse. I glanced at the Range Rover I’d borrowed from Ardnoch. “I really need to return that and get my own.”
“We can go car shopping whenever you want,” he offered as he got out.
“You’ll come with me?” I followed him.
Jared frowned. “Of course. Salesmen will just try to rip the piss out of you if you go alone.”
I laughed. “Isn’t that a little old-fashioned?”
“It’s prehistoric. But a fact.”
“Okay. We could go this weekend.”
“Done. I’ll get Georgie to look after the farm.” He let us into the house, and I was just enjoying the way his T-shirt clung to his broad back when my cell blared from my rear pocket.
The screen told me it was Aria. “I gotta take this.”
Jared shrugged. “I’ll get lunch ready.”
“Hey!” I answered my phone, stepping out into the front yard. “How are you?”
“Well, you sound chipper,” my sister said with a smile in her voice.
“It’s been a good day. I helped Jared welcome in our new sheep and then I got to ride in his tractor while he cut hay in the fields.”
She chuckled. “Who would have thought my little sister would like the farm life?”
“I gotta admit, it’s charming me more than I could have imagined.” All of it. Mostly its owner. Damn it.
Aria muttered. “Shit.”
“Shit? What?” I scowled.
“I just hate that I’m calling to tell you this when you’re in a good mood. And even more so because I was worried about you last night after dinner, but you sound like things are good and—”
“Aria, why are you rambling? You never ramble.” Unease shifted through me.
“Ally, I’m sorry. I got a call from a journalist contact that keeps me informed of any news that might break about the estate members.”
“And?”
“The media have found out about you and Jared. There’s a story running online tomorrow from a major tabloid.”
Oh fuck.
“You … it’s time to tell Mom and Dad.”
“Yeah.” I squeezed my eyes closed. Things were finally good with me and Jared and now this. “I guess so.”
Nineteen
Allegra
Before my relationship with my father crumbled upon learning his secret, Aria and I used to attend a lot of his film premieres. We stood on the red carpet in fancy gowns beside our glamorous parents while paparazzi shouted at them to “Look this way” all the while blinding us with their camera flashes.
Footage of us had more than once been discussed by a group of famous women who hosted a panel show where they conversed about social and pop culture. They’d argued over if my clothing was suitable attire for a girl my age, and how proud Aria should be for touting society ideals about body type. Like it was Aria’s choice to be a curvy goddess and not Mother Nature’s. And like it was any of their fucking business what she looked like or what I wore.
I remember being followed by a pap when I was fourteen and on a date with Dax Reynolds, the actor Moira Reynolds’s son. Dax was two years older than me, but we attended the same high school, and everyone was so jealous he’d asked me out. At the time I’d just been excited to be dating him, but once the photos of us were published, people online started talking about how he was too old for me. Dax got weirded out by the attention and dumped me.