Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
This place is so gaudy, I realize as I take in the enormous living room and sweeping entryway beyond. The whole house is like this – rich, cavernous, and almost hotel-like in its aloof vibe.
When Darcy said the McLaughlins are billionaires, she wasn’t far off. Rich as pigs and not a lick of style among us.
It’s not that the mansion isn’t technically comfortable. In fact, by most standards, our family home wants for nothing in terms of the finest furniture, newest technology, and best booze. It’s that it feels empty, as if no one actually lives here. The solid wood floors and soft white walls are covered with fur rugs, deep leather furniture, and gold and silver trimmings. The sweeping staircase has a white fur rug that runs the length of it, while a magnificent crystal chandelier drops from the entryway ceiling.
Now, thinking about the simplicity of Darcy’s little home, I realize why our mansion seems more like a set piece than a home. The McLaughlin ranch house has always been missing the one thing money never can seem to buy: the love that makes a house a home.
It lacks warmth, love, and hell, joy.
My family has never wanted for a thing, but with everything our money can buy, warmth and kindness and love are not among them. It’s a sobering thought. Yet I had all that with Darcy.
Had.
The impact from realizing that I was thinking in the past tense causes me to drain my drink, and I growl as I pour another full serving into my well-used glass.
“Goddamn, you’re in a fucking state.” Cole walks into the living room and plops onto the leather couch next to me. Sam and Zane follow him in, cackling like hyenas over something or other. “Getting drunk alone is never a good look, brother.”
“Fuck you. Shut the fuck up.” The threat is clear in my voice. I just want some goddamn peace and quiet.
“What’s wrong big bro, thinking about the girly?” Zane snickers. Something is not right in his head, I think to myself. In response, I turn back to the window, determined to ignore their jibes.
“Oh come on, Rock,” Cole coos. “Don’t you want to tell us what it was like?”
“You’re the only one of us married, brother. Tell us your secrets.” Sam grabs my decanter and pours himself a whiskey. “It’s genius, obviously. I wish I’d have thought of it. We sent you over there for the land, and instead, you’ve gone and snagged both the land and the pussy. Fuck yeah!” He clinks my glass with his and sits next to Cole on the couch.
“Maybe he doesn’t want her anymore. Maybe now that the gig is up, the pussy’s up for grabs!” Cole howls at his statement. Inside, I can feel my anger starting to boil.
“Bet she tastes real nice. Looks clean enough. And those tits, I’d rub ‘em all over my naked body.” Sam raises his glass to me. “Bet you’ve done that, haven’t you, brother?”
“She’s a real beauty.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zane lick his lips. “You know if I’d known Darcy was going to be that fucking hot, I would done a lot more than rub up on her back in middle school. Maybe torn her shirt to take a peek at those big tits.”
“The fuck you say?” I spin around in my chair and glare hard at Zane.
“Ah finally a reaction!” Cole hawks his tobacco into the spittoon next to him, some of the juice dripping into his unkempt beard.
Zane chuckles loudly, a nasty sound. “Oh yeah, you ain’t the first McLaughlin brother to try and get a taste of that juicy Fields pussy. We were young’uns, but I could already tell them titties were gonna be big ones. Maybe after you’re done with her, Darcy will want a piece of all of us. Some women are like that, you know. They’re fucking sluts who like being gang-banged, especially by a group of brothers.”
Without hesitation, I get up from chair, cross the room, and slam Zane into the ground. “Don’t you ever talk that way about my wife again.” I snarl the words, my voice seething with rage.
“You punched me!” Zane cries out as he clutches his bloody nose. Cole and Sam start laughing as if they’ve never seen anything funnier.
“I can hit you harder you son of a bitch” I say as I raise my fist again.
“Okay, relax, brothers. Zane, you get punched all the time; it’s your own damn fault. But really, Rock, we don’t mean no harm.” Cole throws a napkin at Zane and I lower my fist.
I return to my post by the window and take a long pull on my whiskey.
“Besides, it doesn’t matter anymore,” Sam ventures. I glare at him hard. “Your marriage was just a ploy to get the farm. Obviously, the Fields girl is done with you now that she knows.”