Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
I snarl at the beautiful bouquet of flowers at the end of the aisle. “Your mother’s found me again,” I hiss, and Ava chuckles. “Hurry up.” I hang up, slap on a smile, and face Elizabeth. “Hey.”
“You shouldn’t be in here,” she says, taking my elbow and guiding me out.
“Why?” I ask, looking back.
“It’s bad luck.”
“Stop making shit up, Elizabeth,” I say, laughing. “How else do you expect me to get to my office?”
“You go through the spa.”
“How do you know that?”
She shrugs, and I breathe in my patience. “We need your help.”
“With what?”
“The cake.”
“Kate’s taking care of the cake.”
“But where is it going?” she asks, leading me into the bar.
“I really don’t give a shit where the cake goes,” I say, looking at my watch again, jolting when she smacks my arm. I smile through gritted teeth. “In that corner,” I say, pointing, pulling my phone out and texting Ava.
“What?” Her face bunches. “Don’t be silly. No one will see it.” She goes to another corner and assesses. I click send on my message.
It’s a good thing I adore you or your mother would be squashed.
“It should go here,” Elizabeth says. “Agreed?”
“Wherever you want it to go, Elizabeth.” I smile, reading Ava’s reply.
Keep your trampling under control, Ward.
I REALLY love you.
I REALLY know.
I back out of the room, bumping into Kate. “All right?” I ask, noting, not for the first time recently, her lack of sparkle.
“I’m fine,” she says, carrying a bunch of calla lilies to the bar.
“You sure about that?” I ask, but I get no answer. She’s definitely off, and something tells me Ava’s brother is the cause. And, again, not for the first time recently, I ask myself how much Sam knows. Because if he does, he’s not letting on, and I definitely don’t want to be the one to share the news of Kate’s and Dan’s history. Especially since there’s clearly unfinished business. I’m also wondering if it’s why Dan’s stuck around.
I still for a moment. Wait. Was Ava texting and driving? Because that’s not acceptable. I go back to my phone, but just as I’m about to call her—not text—I hear the crunch of wheels on gravel. I back up, looking out of the open door. I see her Mini.
“Oh, the bride’s arrived,” Elizabeth sings, passing me, going to greet her daughter.
I don’t think so.
I rush past her, hearing her shocked gasp, and pull Ava out of the car, hauling her gently up onto my shoulder.
“Whoa!” she yelps. “Jesse, what the hell are you doing?”
I’m getting my fix before some fucker robs you from me.
“Jesse Ward!” Elizabeth shrieks, tottering alongside me as I haul Ava into The Manor. “For Christ’s sake, put her down.”
“Nope.” I take the stairs two at a time.
“But she has guests to welcome!”
“I’m sure you’ll manage, Elizabeth,” I call back.
“God damn you, Jesse Ward!”
I smile as Ava chuckles, not fighting me as I carry her around the gallery landing and take us into my suite. I hear the echo of Ava’s mother’s scornful voice hit the wood of the door as it closes, and I lower Ava to her feet. “How’s your back?” I ask, taking her hands.
“Better. Yours?”
“Better.” I ease her down to the carpet and spread myself all over her, settling, breathing easy, but I refrain from resting all of my weight on her stomach. “We made it,” I whisper.
“We made it,” she breathes, smiling, and it’s fucking dazzling. She’s happy. She wants to marry me. How could I have doubted that?
“Don’t make me sleep away from you tonight,” I beg. It’ll feel like my limbs have been cut off. I won’t get a wink of sleep, and Ava won’t have me cuddling her all night. Wrong. So wrong.
“It’s one night,” she says. “It’s bad luck. I don’t want any bad luck.”
I sigh, burying my face in her neck. Compromise. One night in exchange for thousands. “Fine. But I get you until midnight.”
At that very moment, there’s a knock at the door before it swings open. I don’t look up. The horrified gasp tells me who it is. “Please, you two, won’t you leave each other alone for just a few minutes?”
“Fuck off,” I whisper into Ava’s skin.
“We’re coming,” she says, chuckling.
“Are we?”
“Yes.” Ava wriggles, trying to move me, and I grunt, rolling onto my back. Elizabeth stands over me, her face a picture of disapproval. Could give a fuck. But I absolutely do not. She helps Ava to her feet while I remain on my back, moody.
“Get up,” Elizabeth says, offering her hands.
“I’m just going to stay here.”
“Why?”
“Well, because this is where I’m sleeping tonight.”
She swings a horrified look Ava’s way, and Ava rolls her eyes. “He’s not sleeping in here tonight, Mum,” she says. “He’s winding you up.” Ava tilts her head, giving warning eyes. “Stop it.”