Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I knew I should have traded with you,” Dawn says, staring at my ring, and Charles frowns at her while Star glares in her direction.
“Congratulations, you two,” Mark says, picking up his glass of scotch and Walker picks up his water.
“Does this mean you’re going to leave me?” Star’s face falls again, and I wish I could tell her no, but the truth is, before I even know it, I will be living back in the US. I’ll only see my friends here on occasion when I have the chance to travel overseas—something that will only get more difficult to do with time.
“Not right now.”
“Okay, I can deal with that.” She gives me another tight hug, then focuses on her sister who I’d hoped she’d forgot about. “I hope you know what you’re doing. I’m the one who’ll have to deal with their mother if you mess him around.”
“I’m not going to mess him around.”
“Good.” Star turns her attention back to me. “Now, tell me everything. How did he propose?”
“It was very romantic.” I glance back at Walker, who is watching me as always. “Right, honey?” I ask, and he smirks.
“So how did he do it?” Dawn asks.
“He took me out to dinner Clos Maggiore and got down on one knee in front of everyone at the restaurant.” I smile back at him, and he raises a brow. “He must have waxed on for fifteen minutes about how I’m the love of his life and how he will never find anyone else like me. By the time he was done, everyone around us was in tears, including him.” I pat his hand.
“That’s so sweet,” Star whispers.
“It was.” I nod. “Of course, I knew what he was doing at that point, but then he asked me to marry him and slid the ring on my finger. I cried like a baby.” I look back at him and let out a dreamy sigh. “It was like something out of a movie.”
“It sounds like it, doesn’t it?” Walker adds, and I press my lips together to keep from smiling, then turn back to the table.
“I, of course, said yes after that, and here we are.”
“Are you marrying him because you’re pregnant then?” Dawn asks.
“Shut up.” Star glares at her sister, who just shrugs.
“It was just a question.”
“It’s a rude question.”
“It’s okay.” I pat Star’s hand and look at Dawn. “I got pregnant on purpose to trap him, so I guess the answer to your question is yes.”
Dawn rolls her eyes.
“You’re so crazy.” Star laughs, kissing my cheek, and I smile at her, then lean into my man.
Moving his arm, on the back of my chair to my shoulder he pulls me closer, then I feel his lips brush against my earlobe, “I was crying?” the whispered question causes me to shiver.
“Yes,” I whisper back. “So many tears, it was really kind of embarrassing.”
“So much fucking sass tonight.”
Looking at him over my shoulder, I smile, then my eyes slide closed when he leans in and places a long, lingering kiss on my lips. When he pulls back, I bite my bottom lip from the heated look I see in his eyes. A look that screams he’s going to make me pay later. Something to look forward to.
“I love you.” I mouth and his expression gentles and fills with so much love that it’s almost overwhelming to have it directed at me. I don’t know how I got so lucky especially when I had given up on finding what we have. But maybe that’s the way it goes.
CHAPTER 25
walker
When my cell rings, I take it out of the pocket of my shorts and check the screen, putting it to my ear with a smile on my face. “Hey, baby, you on your way home?”
“That was the plan, but when we landed, I got a message from Kate letting me know I can come pick up the stuff Mrs. Lewis left me, so I’m going to head over there.”
“No, come home, and we’ll go over there together.”
“She’s only going to be at the house for a little while longer. I’m thirty minutes from Paddington. If I come home, I won’t have a chance to make it there tonight, because it will be too late.”
“Then we’ll go another time.” I get up off the couch and walk to the kitchen to put my cup in the sink.
“Why would I do that, when I can just go over there now? Just stay with Ham and Otto. I’ll just go to Paddington, and once I have the box, I’ll get a cab home,” she says, and I grit my teeth.
“Baby,” I begin gently, trying a different tactic and hoping it will work, “I don’t want you carrying anything up or down any stairs. And you’ll have your bag from work plus whatever Kate gives you.”