Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“Is it something in the water up here?” Laurel muttered as I snatched my hand back before Lincoln broke it.
“What?” I asked, confused.
“You’re all a bunch of cavemen!”
“Truer words,” Iris—my friend Jack’s fiancée—snorted as she walked up to stand beside Laurel.
“Hey,” Jack grumbled as he joined the group. “I’m offended.”
“You are not,” she said, rolling her eyes.
He grinned and slipped his arms around her waist. “Not really,” he admitted, making us all laugh.
A gust of bitter cold blew in through the doors, followed by Raven’s sister Cammie and her man, Soren. “Sorry, I got called out to an emergency on one of the slopes.” Cammie was the resident medic at the resort. She glanced at me and sighed, “I can’t wait for your brother to start working here.”
Miller was a doctor with an office in Winter Falls, but he’d recently decided to close his practice and work at the resort. Now they’d have two full-time medics, which meant a less stressful job and the ability to take time off.
Soren draped his arm over Cammie’s shoulders and grinned. “Then I’ll be able to have you all to myself.”
My parents arrived, bringing Gwynne, so we headed into the restaurant.
Everyone exchanged greetings and took their seats while Laurel and I stood at the head of the table. I looked around at our group and couldn’t help laughing. “Major blizzards have been something we’ve always dreaded in Winter Falls. Except when we were kids because we all prayed for snow days.” There were chuckles all around the table at that. “But I’m starting to think maybe they’re actually good luck.”
“A blizzard?” Laurel asked in surprise.
I looped my arms around her waist and stared into her gorgeous green eyes. “Definitely, baby. It seems like love rolls in right along with it. It’s the whole reason we are here, about to get married”—I put my hand on her stomach—“and start our family.”
There was a giant gasp from my mother, and I closed my eyes, cursing at myself.
“Now who isn’t being discreet?” Bethenny quipped with a giggle.
I shot her a glare, then turned to face my mom, who was practically bouncing in her seat.
“I’m going to get a daughter and a grandbaby?!”
Laurel giggled and nodded.
“Well, God bless us, everyone!” My dad said with a booming laugh.
Laughter and congratulations were passed around, and I wondered how many other couples here would be sharing the same announcement soon. Blizzards not only brought weddings, they also had a tendency to bring what Laurel had started referring to as “snow babies.”
“Anyway,” I said when the chatter died down again. “I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for celebrating with us.” I looked down at my wife-to-be and felt my heart practically burst with love. “And to my beautiful Laurel, you are the best present I’ve ever gotten. I love you.”
To my horror, Laurel burst into tears.
Before I could freak the fuck out, Raven waved her hand toward my girl. “Hormones,” she said with a shrug.
Laurel nodded and wiped at the moisture on her face. “I love you, too. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“To many more snowed in days!” Jack shouted.
There was a chorus of “Hear, hear!” but I wasn’t listening. I was too busy kissing my love.
Later, as the night began to wind down, I noticed Laurel frequently watching Gwynne with an odd expression. Eventually, I leaned down and asked, “Why are you staring at your friend?”
“I’ve never seen her so quiet,” she whispered back. “And she keeps glancing at your brother when she thinks no one will notice.”
Surprised, I turned my attention to Miller, curious to see if he’d noticed. It soon became clear that he was acting similarly. To the casual observer, they looked as though they were completely ignoring each other. But if you watched them for a while, you’d see them throwing covert glances at the other when they thought no one would notice.
Eventually, my parents stood to say good night and exchange hugs. “Gwynne, honey,” my mom said. “Don’t feel like you need to leave with us. Miller can bring you back home.”
A look of panic flashed across Gwynne’s face before she popped up from her chair as if it were on fire. “I’m ready now,” she squeaked, practically running to the entrance from the steakhouse to the lounge area of the lodge.
Miller scowled after them, then growled congratulations and good night before jumping to his feet and stalking to the exit. I briefly wondered if something had happened between them. But it was a fleeting thought that was quickly replaced by the problem of how to get my fiancée back to our room without her girlfriends stealing her for the night.
“Did you see that?” Raven stage whispered.
“Do you think something happened between them?” Laurel wondered.