Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Olivia leaned over, whispering Nic’s way. “Dad’s sperm donor was a married politician. When he tracked him down, he got the money to buy this ranch in exchange for him staying quiet about the circumstances of his birth.”
“Years later, his father got caught doing all kinds of shady shit. He died in jail, but we did get a real nice uncle out of it,” Josh said like it was a normal thing to confide.
“Yeah, Lucas is awesome,” Grim acknowledged. “But I’m still trying to figure out how Abby’s daughter married Jack’s brother and it’s okay. It still feels weird to me. Like how does that tree work?”
“It’s also weird because Lucas is Dad’s half brother,” Olivia added. “So he’s our uncle but also our brother-in-law.”
“The branches get real twisty,” Josh agreed.
“It’s perfectly legal,” Abigail said, eyeing her kids. “And you know it. There’s not a bit of blood between them.”
“No, but Uncle Aidan sure is,” Josh quipped. “And why do we call him uncle? Because he is really just our brother-in-law. You want to take that one, Dad?”
Jack laughed, the sound booming through the room. “Fine. I’ll quit asking questions.” He smiled Nicole’s way, and the man was so beautiful when he smiled. It made her understand how gorgeous Josh would still be thirty years from now. “Nicole, my children are pointing out that maybe we should ease into getting to know each other. They think I’m being too nosy. I don’t mean anything by my questions beyond sheer curiosity.”
She could almost believe him. Almost. “It’s all right.”
“I thought they were doing that thing where they hit a new friend with all the weirdness of our family in one go to see if she or he can handle it,” Sam said. “More than one newbie has fled in terror.”
She had to smile at the thought. Though she was still trying to wrap her mind around the stepdaughter marrying half brother thing, and apparently someone else had been thrown in, too. This was a complex family. “I’m made of stronger stuff, sir.”
“Just Sam is fine,” Sam Fleetwood said with a sunny smile. “The Sir thing does not work with me.”
“Sam,” Jack said, his name a warning.
“Yes, Jack.” Sam had the sweetest smirk on his face as he looked to Jack like he had a secret. “I’ll behave.”
It hit Nic what he’d meant. “Oh, because I meant polite sir because you’re a guy and you meant capital S sir because you’re a…” What the hell was she saying? “I mean. Of course, I’ll call you Sam. It’s a nice name.”
“She blushes frequently, Josh. She’s never going to be able to play poker,” Jack pointed out with a chuckle. “But she’s also correct.” Jack looked to Josh and Grim. “Am I going to get in trouble for going down this road?”
What road? She didn’t want to be on a road.
She wanted to enjoy this excellent food. She wanted to be excited about meeting her boyfriends’ parents. She wanted to be able to believe she had some kind of future with Josh and Grim.
“She’s okay with the lifestyle, Dad. She’s taking to it well, and that’s all I will say about the subject,” Josh explained.
“We’re taking her to Austin this weekend.” Grim seemed decidedly ungrim. He was practically cheery.
They’d told his parents they were taking her to a sex club. Not in so many words, but it was obviously a code.
She felt a warm hand on her wrist. Abby gave her a soft smile. “Sweetie, parents always know. If you were vanilla and Josh had told me you were going away on a trip, I would expect you would be intimate. It’s a part of life, and a good part of it. No one’s going to ask invasive questions about it, but know we support you as you explore this lifestyle, and there’s no judgment at all here. I’ve been in your position. It can feel odd to be so open, but I think you’ll find it’s freeing once you embrace the idea there’s no shame in loving someone the way they need to be loved, in allowing yourself to be loved the way you need to be.”
She was not going to cry. She was absolutely not going to cry.
In mere moments Abigail Barnes had been more of a mother than she’d ever had. Nic was certain she hadn’t meant to be, but a deep well of longing opened inside her. Had she ever truly been loved?
It felt like it when Josh tossed her over his shoulder or when Grim grinned down at her and offered her a chocolate because he’d tied her hands together. The sex was phenomenal, but it was the sweetness of those in-between moments that were getting to her.
It was the genuine intimacy of being with them that made her long for something more.