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)
“Oh, Stella, you didn’t.” Mom groans, closing her eyes.
“As it turns out, it was a real wedding place, and when Danny went to get his marriage license with Brandon, he couldn’t do that because he was already married. To me. Because…drunk Las Vegas.”
I watch my dad’s face and expect him to get pissed, but he just watches me for a moment and then bursts into laughter.
I share a look of surprise with my mom.
“So, Brandon and Gray are partners at the law firm, and Gray agreed to help us annul the marriage so the happy couple can get their license.”
“And then Stella walked into my office,” Gray says as he smiles down at me. “I knew that my life would never be the same, no matter what happened next.”
“Okay, that’s sweet,” Mom says.
“It’s true.” Gray looks over at my father. “And how did you and Mrs. McKenna meet?”
“Please, call me Jules,” Mom says.
“We worked together,” Dad says. “And it wasn’t exactly allowed in our office.”
“Nonfraternization policy,” Mom adds.
“And I said, ‘fuck that’ and pursued her anyway,” Dad continues. “Because she was immediately the light of my life, and I knew that I couldn’t be without her.”
“They say mushy stuff like that all the time,” I inform Gray.
“I don’t think it’s mushy,” Gray says, slowly shaking his head. “I think it’s just facts.”
“I like him,” Mom announces as Dad stands and hurries out to take the steaks off the grill. “He can stay.”
Dad slips back through the door, a platter full of steaming steaks in his hand.
“Dinner’s ready,” Dad says, and we move to the table to dish up and eat.
“Where are you from?” Dad asks Gray, and for the next thirty minutes, we eat and talk about his family, northern Idaho, and our family.
We laugh about the shenanigans the cousins have pulled.
“Speaking of cousins,” I say as I bite a stalk of asparagus. “Who told you?”
“Told me what?” Dad asks.
“That I was dating Gray. Obviously, you heard through the grapevine. And since Gray’s only met the cousins, it had to be one of them. So, who was it? I need to know who to torture.”
“I feel like I should protect my sources,” Dad says thoughtfully. “Besides, I want to talk about something a bit more serious. Like this age gap.”
“Are you kidding me?” I ask as I lift my glass of wine and take a sip.
“Not at all,” Dad replies. “My daughter is twenty-five, and you’re clearly much older than that.”
“Thirty-four,” Gray confirms.
“He’s not old,” I add. “He’s not old enough to be my father.”
Dad’s eyes narrow, and Mom hides a laugh behind her napkin.
“Stella is an adult,” Gray says. “She’s a successful businesswoman and an intelligent, vibrant, funny person. I’d think she could date whomever she chooses.”
“I didn’t say otherwise,” Dad replies easily. “I simply pointed out there is an age difference.”
“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Mom says, shaking her head. “It’s not like he’s in his nineties and in a wheelchair, for God’s sake. He’s a handsome, smart man who knows value when he sees it. Besides, you’re seven years older than me.”
Dad narrows his eyes on my mom. “We’re not talking about us.”
“But your relationship has survived more than a quarter of a century, and you’re still ridiculously in love,” I point out. “You buy Mom croissants at her favorite market just because she likes them. And you’re really gross with the PDA.”
“Sometimes, age doesn’t really factor in,” Mom agrees and gives my dad a look that says: Drop it.
“What’s for dessert?” I ask.
“Chocolate cheesecake, of course.”
“So, it wasn’t a complete disaster,” Danny says the following morning as he slouches in the chair by my desk.
“No. And my dad could have been way worse. You should have seen how he treated my senior prom date. I thought for sure the poor kid was going to pee himself. Why does he have to be so…alpha?”
“Because he just is,” Danny says reasonably. “Some men are like that. B is, too. And Gray, of course.”
I look at my friend as if he’s lost his marbles. “Gray is not alpha.”
“Oh, honey, you need to open those pretty blue eyes of yours. Gray is absolutely an alpha male. He’s bossy and in control and very protective. How have you not noticed that by now?”
My jaw drops open, and then I close it again and stare through my office window, thinking it over.
Gray can be intense. I guess it never occurred to me to label him as an alpha man.
“Huh,” is all I say when my computer pings with an incoming email. “Shit, this is from Florence.”
“Oh, the ice queen. Is it just me, or does she seem like that character from The Devil Wears Prada?”
“Miranda Priestly?” I ask with a laugh. “Oh my gosh, that’s exactly who she’s like. ‘I’m so disappointed.’ She even purses her lips in the same way. That’s hilarious. Now, I have to open this email.”