Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 144696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 723(@200wpm)___ 579(@250wpm)___ 482(@300wpm)
“You don’t have to woo me. You’ve already got me.” I laid my hand gently over the diamond at my throat. “Look, I’m done telling you what to do with your money. Just don’t tell me what to do with your money, and we’re on good terms.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, because there are other gifts under the tree for you.”
“Oh man.” I hung my head in shame. “I’m so sorry, Neil, I could have gotten you something, I was just so busy getting stuff nailed down for the move—”
“I meant it when I said my gift was having you here. I was so worried I would lose you...” He cleared his throat and brightened considerably. “But you’re here now. Why don’t you get dressed, and we’ll go down for breakfast with Emma and horrible Michael.”
“You know, you have to stop calling him that,” I scolded gently. “Even the least perceptive person on the planet could see that she’s head-over-heels for him. And he’s a nice guy.”
“Is he? I hadn’t noticed. I suppose I can’t see past the part where he’s having sex with my sweet little girl,” Neil grumbled.
“You’re having sex with someone’s sweet little girl,” I reminded him. “Emma is a grown woman. Ease up a little.”
“Stop being so fucking reasonable and kiss me,” he ordered.
We were a little late to breakfast.
I stood before the huge Christmas tree in the drawing room, struck by the beauty of the array of ornaments— all different, but all cheery red to match the enormous area rug underfoot— and the tiny white lights nestled in the boughs. I’d never had a real tree growing up. There just wasn’t room in a single-wide, and my mom had terrible allergies. I leaned close and took a deep breath of pine.
Beyond the tall, leaded glass windows, I looked down the long drive and saw headlights in the distance. I wondered who would be the first to arrive. I hoped Emma would be down when her mother got here. I was bizarrely anxious about meeting her. Sure, whatever she and Neil had was over, but Valerie would always be the mother of his child. On top of that, she was his business partner.
I plucked at the neck of my sequined black, cowl-backed sheath dress and fiddled with the three quarters length sleeves. It seemed too ridiculously New York-ish all of a sudden.
“Ooh, you look nice,” Emma said, floating into the room in a gorgeous silver taffeta dress that could have stepped right out of the 1950’s. Her short hair was scrunched into loose, messy waves, and she wore a sparkly silver headband. “Where’s Dad?”
“He was on the phone in the library when I came down.” I was a little nervous. After all, I was going to be meeting his family for the first time, and he hadn’t seen what I was wearing yet. Maybe he wouldn’t like it. “You look amazing. I’m having fits of jealousy over that dress.”
Emma smoothed down her skirt. “Thank you. It’s vintage. Buying second-hand decreases the demand for new silk.”
“Ah.” I never knew exactly what I should say in the face of Emma’s earnest concern for things like silk worms. She headed for the punch bowl set up at the other end of the room, and I patted my hair, making sure my textured French twist hadn’t become a sloppy mess.
“Look at you.”
I turned to see Neil standing in the doorway, hands in the pockets of his steel gray trousers. His black button-down dress shirt was perfectly tailored, the collar and top button undone. He took me in from head to toe and back again as he came to me. With my hands in his, he held my arms slightly out to my sides and admired the view. “You look incredible.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” I stepped into his embrace and laid my hands flat against the sleek fabric of his shirtfront as I gazed up at him. “Merry Christmas, baby.”
When he leaned his head down to kiss me, Emma cleared her throat loudly and said, “Your child is in the room.”
His lips twisted in a wry, long-suffering smirk as he lifted his head. “Yes, Emma. You look very pretty, as well.”
Emma craned her long neck and rose on the balls of her feet, peering past us at the window. “There’s a car pulling up the drive. I bet that’s mum.”
While Emma dashed out of the drawing room, into the gallery beyond, I looked up at Neil with a grimace. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m really nervous about meeting Valerie.”
“Don’t be. You’re not auditioning, Sophie. You’re here as a part of the family. You’re already in.”
I took a deep breath and nodded with a tight smile. “Okay. I’ll just keep reminding myself of that.”
“Please do. I want you to have a happy Christmas. I know you’re missing your family terribly.”