Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“I love that you’re close to your whole family,” Maya says and snuggles down in her blanket when the sun hides behind a cloud. “We don’t really have a lot of cousins.”
“Not all of mine are related by blood,” I admit. “The Montgomerys believe in bringing everyone into the fold, whether they’re born into it, married into it, or are brought in via friendship. I mean, Leo Nash isn’t my biological uncle, but I will always call him Uncle Leo.”
“Wait.” Sidney holds up a hand. “Leo Nash is your freaking uncle?”
“He is.” I wink at her. “We have a colorful family.”
“I don’t get starstruck very often anymore,” Sidney admits. “I mean, no matter how many times I meet Dolly Parton, I feel like I’m going to cry and throw up all at once. Still, for the most part, I can hold it together. But Leo Nash? I’ve had a damn crush on that man since I was ten.”
“You and most of the women in the world,” I say. “It’s a good thing his wife, Sam, has a thick skin and lets so much roll off her back.”
Before I can say more about my family, the sliding door opens, and Gray pokes his head out, frowning at the three of us.
“It’s forty degrees out here,” he says.
“But the sun is out,” I reply. “And it feels nice.”
“Are you up to going to the hospital with me to meet my mom?” he asks and leans his broad, muscular shoulder on the doorjamb.
“Sure.” I’ve been here for two days. Gray and I are headed back to Seattle first thing tomorrow morning, and I know that his mom wants to meet me before we go.
I want to meet her, too. We would have gone yesterday, but she wasn’t doing well with the pain in her hip, and we all felt it was best to wait.
“Is she feeling better this morning?” I ask him.
“Dad called and said that she seems to be, so we should go up and see her.”
I stand with my coffee and walk toward him, but he doesn’t move to let me inside. He just smiles and then dips his head to kiss me softly.
“Don’t do that in front of Mom,” Maya suggests, making me laugh.
“Actually, do,” Sidney disagrees. “It’ll make her ridiculously happy. She keeps talking about seeing us all get married and have kids, and I’m like, no. Absolutely, not.”
“We’ve known each other for about a week,” I remind them all.
“Yeah, well, that’s a week longer than the two of us have been seeing anyone,” Maya says reasonably. “Tell her we’ll be up later today.”
“Will do,” Gray replies and steps back so I can walk into the house. I rinse my mug, set it in the dishwasher, and then hurry upstairs to the room I’ve been staying in to get dressed and put on some makeup. I have it down to fifteen minutes from start to finish, and then I comb my fingers through my hair and give myself a once-over in the mirror.
I’m wearing a blue, flowy blouse and jeans with white sneakers. Very casual, but still put-together.
My Louis Vuitton bag completes the outfit, and when I walk back downstairs, Gray’s waiting for me. He looks amazing in a black sweater and jeans, and I want to pull him upstairs and have my way with him.
Later, Stella.
The ride to the hospital only takes about ten minutes, and Gray knows exactly where to go for parking. On the way inside, he takes my hand and gives it a little squeeze.
“No need to be nervous,” he says.
“I’m actually not,” I reply and smile at him when he glances my way. “I probably should be, but your dad and sisters have been so nice to me, I know that I have nothing to worry about.”
“You’re right. And I’m glad you feel so comfortable with them all.”
We climb into the elevator with two other people—one is crying, the other is patting her back. They get off on the third floor, leaving us alone in the car.
“Someday,” Gray says conversationally, rocking back on his heels, “I’m going to pin you against an elevator wall and fuck you blind.”
If I had a drink of anything in my mouth, I’d have spit it out.
Instead, I press my lips together and then slowly turn my head to look up at him.
His jaw is tight, and his eyes are narrowed. When I thread my fingers through his, they tighten around mine.
I can almost smell the sexual tension.
“Do you have a specific elevator in mind?” I ask after clearing my throat.
Gray licks his lips and then shifts his gaze to mine. “Yes, actually. I do.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open.
“No,” he says as we walk out onto the floor.
This man is just so…intriguing. Sexy as hell but also interesting. The sex is not just the best of my life; it’s also more. More intense, more intimate.