Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Everything is exactly as it should be.
When my wife wasn’t sitting on my face, she was riding my cock. That’s a hell of a lot better than catching up with my New York clientele.
“Couldn’t be better,” I say, bypassing the intimate details of how I spent my morning.
“You’re enjoying your time back here,” he assumes, based, I think, on the broad smile that rarely leaves my face.
“I love New York.”
And your sister. I don’t share that because I have no fucking idea how he’d react if he knew I was married to Gina and that we are sharing a bed.
On the day I realized McCabe was the guy Gina was involved with, I drowned my sorrows in a few glasses of whiskey at Tin Anchor. Gage poured me drink after drink as I told him, a virtual stranger at the time, that I was falling for Gina.
The following morning, I pushed all the feelings aside as a byproduct of too much alcohol and lingering grief over my dad’s death.
Gina has been part of the foundation of my life in this city for years. Her family has always been a soft place for me to fall.
I convinced myself that whatever I felt for her at the time was based on that connection, but I was wrong. I was dead wrong. I’ve been slowly falling in love with her for years.
“Stay, Daniel.”
I know he’s not referring to my office. He wants me back in Manhattan for good.
“I’m considering it,” I lie, since I’ve already mapped out in mind how I’ll make the transition back to living in New York full-time.
“Good.” He glances at the window behind me. “We’ve all missed you. Your clients have, too.”
I drop my gaze to the top of my desk. “When I make a final decision, I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll be the first to know,” he says, believing his words.
He’ll be the second. My wife will be the first person I tell that I’m staying in this city and fighting to make my marriage work.
It may not have started out as an until-death-do-us-part gig, but I’m all in for that, and I hope to hell she is, too.
The leaves are starting to turn color. The late afternoon sun is hitting the sidewalk in just the right way to turn shadows into temporary works of art, and I’m headed into Calvetti’s to pick up dinner for Gina and me.
I don’t make it more than a foot inside before I spot Arietta and a woman with long dark hair.
It’s not the woman I’ve been thinking about all day, though.
This one has bright blue eyes, and the smallest baby bump is noticeable under the snug red sweater she’s wearing.
I catch Arietta’s eye before I take another step. She waves me over to where they’re standing near the kitchen, so I head straight there.
“Daniel!” Arietta calls out as I get closer. “How are you?”
She’s family, so I take her in for a hug. She’s all in, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
“I’m good,” I say, stepping back from the embrace, before I turn my focus to the woman standing next to us. “I’m Daniel Lawton.”
“Sinclair Morgan.” She smiles. “Arietta’s best friend and maid-of-honor.”
“Any relation to Keats Morgan?” I ask because Keats represents a few of my clients who have made a fortune in professional sports.
“Keats is my brother.” She smiles. “You’ve heard of him?”
He’s a sports agent with a reputation for hammering out incredible deals. I can attest to the fact that in my clients’ cases, he’s worked magic on their behalf.
“I have.” I glance around the restaurant. “This place is packed tonight.”
“I think Marti may be short-staffed.” Arietta sighs. “I offered to help, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She insists I take Sinclair home and feed her since she’s having a baby in a few months.”
“Congratulations.” I smile at both of them.
“Thank you.” Sinclair rubs her stomach through her sweater. “I’m been so hungry lately. I can’t stop craving spaghetti and meatballs, so I’m here almost every day.”
I drop my hand to the front of my vest. “I’m here all the time, too, but I don’t have an excuse. I just love Marti’s food.”
“Me too,” Arietta chimes in.
“How’s Vern?” I ask.
“Great.” Arietta grins. “His heart is perfectly perfect, so he’ll go back to Buffalo tomorrow. He’s having dinner with Dominick tonight.”
“It’s a you-better-treat-my-granddaughter-right dinner.” Sinclair laughs.
Arietta and I join in the laughter before she points out the obvious. “Dominick is the best fiancé in the world. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than him.”
The joy in her voice radiates onto her face.
Her gaze shifts to my left, and the smile on her lips broadens. “Here comes Marti.”
I turn to see Gina’s grandma on the approach with a large bag in her arms. I dart toward her to take it from her.