Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“Bastard,” Blaire growled.
“But he did fuck up my entire life, and I’m not interested in a man doing that again.”
“But Whitt isn’t like that,” Blaire said earnestly.
Piper nodded. “He seems like a real stand-up guy.”
I almost opened my mouth to say the part that I was actually afraid of. When it inevitably went south, where would I be? Wouldn’t these wonderful girls, who I was just starting to call friends, choose a Wright over me? Didn’t everyone in this town?
Instead, I just laughed. “You’re telling me. He’s definitely too good to be true.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Blaire said.
I shrugged. Things that seemed too good to be true…usually were.
When I didn’t say anything, Piper forced a change in topic. The girls chatted about Blaire’s wellness speaking tour happening this fall while I sat back and got lost in their conversation.
Why did everyone have to complicate things? Whitt and I were whatever we were, and that was good enough. Safe enough.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of Wright Vineyard. The lights were on inside, and I could hear music filtering through the speakers. Wright Construction had rented the place for Whitt’s promotion party. I was honestly surprised that he had let anyone throw him a party. It didn’t seem like him, but I’d agreed to come when he texted to ask. I was, after all, currently under contract with Wright Construction. I belonged, even without my friends.
Piper parked up front, and we piled out of the Jeep.
Wright Vineyard was a sprawling expanse of land on the south side of Lubbock. A large barn sat in the middle of the grape fields with an office and cellars nearby. The barn was now used for parties, weddings, and occasionally Campbell and Weston’s band, Cosmere. When Cosmere showed up though, there were thousands of girls trying their hardest to get inside the place. They’d needed security a few times just to keep people off the property. I didn’t know how Blaire and Nora dealt with having boyfriends that famous. If I were in a committed relationship, I wasn’t sure I’d be that okay with sharing.
We traipsed down the stone walkway and to the double doors. The bouncer, Max, stood guard with his beefy, tatted arms crossed in front of him. We’d hooked up briefly a few years ago. He’d been a fun fling at the time, but we were friends now. His buddy did all my tattoo work.
“Hey, Max,” I said with a grin.
He eyed me up and down. “Eve. Stunning, as always.”
I winked at him. “Thanks.”
“Can I see it?”
Blaire and Piper exchanged a look.
“See what?” Piper asked.
“My latest ink,” I reassured them. I flipped my hair to the side and drew my strap off of my shoulder so he could see the full peony work.
Max whistled. “Damn, Joseph does some good-ass work.”
“He really does.”
“May I?” he asked, gesturing to the tattoo.
“Yep.”
He gently lifted my arm and examined Joseph’s work. Max was working on full sleeves. I’d considered it, but right now, I was so enamored with my peonies that I wasn’t sure I wanted anything to take away from the beauty of it.
“Damn,” he said.
A throat cleared behind him. I glanced up and into the piercing eyes of Whitton Wright. His jaw was set, and he had a hard, possessive look across his features. Blaire’s and Piper’s eyebrows shot up. Max dropped my arm. I slowly dragged my sleeve back up to my shoulder.
“Hey,” I said with a smile. “Congratulations.”
Blaire and Piper jumped in immediately.
“Oh, yes, congrats!”
“The man of the evening!”
“Thank you,” Whitt said, his voice as smooth as glass.
“We’ll talk later,” I told Max. I patted his arm twice and then stepped across the threshold to the very tall, aggressive alpha male who looked like he was ready to eat me for dinner. “Hey,” I repeated.
“Hey,” he said.
“You look nice.” I ran my hand down the front of his green tie.
Somehow, we matched, and it was a complete accident.
“I like your dress,” he said, his voice tight.
“Well, that’s good. Blaire and Piper think I wore it so you could take it off.”
“Did you?”
“Maybe,” I teased.
He arched an eyebrow. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because I’m a modern woman and I wear my clothes for myself. I don’t need to do anything for a man.”
A grin cracked through his veneer. “Ah, there’s the Eve that I know.”
I looped my arm through his and moved us toward the bar. “And you? Did you wear that suit so I could take it off?”
“Obviously.”
“Is that why you were all alphahole when you saw me with Max?” I raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“Alphahole? Is that a real thing?”
“Oh, definitely a real thing.”
Whitt cleared his throat when we reached the bar and ordered us drinks. I took my wine, glad it was an open bar, thanks to the Wrights’ generosity.