Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Ace cracks a grin, jerking his chin. “I stand corrected.”
We pile out of the back room and make our way through the offices to the parking garage.
“Anyone want a drink?” Robbie stops by his SUV. “I’m buying.”
“What happened to getting home to family?” Ace asks.
“Ember and the kids were in bed hours ago. As soon as the sun goes down, her switch goes off.”
“Jewls too. I’m in,” Major adds.
“Me too. Harley was up before dawn. She’s out.”
“Presley and Winnie are having a movie night. I’m definitely up for a drink.” Finn joins.
“I’m always up for a beer. Especially if the bossman is paying.” Talon wiggles his eyebrows.
“I’m out.”
Smirks spread across their faces.
“Don’t want to hear it from any of you.” I gesture to everyone except Talon.
“Not saying a word. Been there before. All of us were new at some point.” Finn's smile widens. “Although Presley never lived with two other guys. Still not sure how you let that happen.”
I don’t give him the satisfaction of getting to me. “Nothing to do with that. In about twelve hours, Hotch and Cassie will be in my house.”
“Man, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d sleep with one eye open if Hotch was in my house while I was sleeping with his daughter.”
“Hell yes. And that’s saying a lot, considering my father-in-law was in prison when I met him the first time with Ember.” Robbie shakes his head. “Hotch has Thad beat.”
“Hotch and I have a mutual understanding,” I inform them.
“Good luck.” Finn wishes. “Let us know if you need anything.”
“Appreciate it.” I flick a half wave, heading to my truck and shooting off a message to Rowan.
She responds immediately.
By the pool.
I lay on the gas, ready to get to her. Cruz shared Rowan was working fourteen to sixteen-hour days while I was away. Between the legalities and launch of her product line and the day-to-day responsibilities at the salon, she’s approaching burnout.
My first instinct was to call my mom and have her come down to help in the salon. With a little training, she could bear some of the burden.
Then Hotch called me. He felt his daughter sinking in the minutia and wasn’t happy. Her schedule was only getting busier with the production coming fast.
The trip this weekend was my idea. Cassie was determined to get here and hire someone to help at the salon.
At first, Rowan was resistant until I stepped in, agreeing with her parents.
I pull into my drive and go directly to the back, finding her in a lounger. Soft music plays from her phone as she sips her wine, staring at the sky.
“Hey.” She drops her gaze, inching over for me to sit beside her.
“You good?”
“Better than good. This is my relaxation zone.”
“I like that.”
“Did you halt the sale and distribution of unlawful drugs and firearms?”
I chuckle at her terminology. “Something like that.”
“Would you like me to get you a beer?”
“I’ll grab one in a minute. How was your night?”
“Stocked the kitchen, made dinner with Jewls, then went to the new house to measure for furniture.”
“She filled every room in the house yet?”
“This was for the nursery. She’s made some adjustments.”
“What adjustments?”
“She decided the babies will be in the same room for a while.”
“Five bedrooms and she’s shoving them together?”
“All their stuff will be in one place, and it makes sense if they’re the same sex.”
“Logical.”
“She fell asleep on the sofa, and I got my parents’ room ready before coming out here. It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
She grins shyly. “I’m a hot mess.”
“Not from where I sit.”
“You’re very biased, Mr. Whitman.” Her hand goes to my cheek, caressing it gently. “And I’m lucky.”
The love and kindness in her eyes take hold and spark the familiar burn deep inside.
“I’m the fortunate one, Rowan.”
Her face grows thoughtful. “Have I ever told you about my grandmother?”
“Not much outside of her knack for creating products with you.”
“She was amazing. Loved my grandpa, dad, and uncle like crazy. Mom told me the first time they met, she was scared. Literally shaking in her boots. But they molded perfectly. When I came along, things changed.”
“They didn’t get along anymore?”
“Just the opposite. My grandmother says her heart grew bigger when I was born. In her words, I completed her life. She never let Mom forget how much that meant to her.”
“Know how she feels.”
Her hand curls around my neck, and she leans in for a quick kiss. “I spent a lot of time with Grandma Ellis. She knew early on I differed from other girls. My intelligence, my need to create things, my attention to detail—she said I was a brilliance the world wasn’t ready for.
“It was hard for me to connect with people because of my shyness. She taught me it was okay to be different. But she taught me something else more important.”
Her pause has my skin prickling. The contemplative gaze is far off, lost in thought. My instincts kick in, knowing she’s about to give me something big.