Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
She breaks off a tiny piece of her cookie and offers it to Lily, who’s sitting patiently like a good girl.
“I’m glad you like them,” I say with a chuckle. “They were always a hit when we were kids.”
“They’ll go right to my already too-wide hips,” Summer says with a shrug. “But I don’t seem to care.”
“Nothing wrong with your hips.”
I love her curves. She has a phenomenal body. Today, her long blonde hair is down around her shoulders, wavy and begging for my fingers. She’s in jeans that hug those curves perfectly, and a green T-shirt that shows off breasts that would make any red-blooded man sit up and beg.
Summer Quinn is a gorgeous woman, and I’ve been attracted to her since the first day I laid eyes on her years ago.
Summer smirks at my hips comment and pops the last of a cookie into her mouth. “Thanks for that snack. I was hungrier than I thought. I guess I forgot to eat lunch.”
“What do you normally eat for lunch?”
“Oh, I just grab a sandwich from the deli or something. With it being the busy season, I eat while I work.”
“She works too much,” Ida says as she comes out of the back and snags a cookie.
“Where are the other girls?” I ask, looking around. “It’s quiet in here.”
“Sharla and Margie are both out on deliveries,” Summer replies. “And my new gal, Vickie, is working over at Charlie Lexington’s office on a wedding we’re doing in early September.”
“You know better than to mention a Lexington when a Wild is around,” Ida reminds Summer, whose eyes widen.
“Oops, sorry.”
I laugh at that and shake my head. “The family rivalry isn’t that bad.”
“Oh, yeah, it is,” Ida disagrees. “I went to school with your father, and let me just tell you that it’s worse than that.”
“For the older generations,” I reply with a shrug. “They may not be my favorite people in town, but you can speak about them in my presence. It’s fine. I’m not going to pull out my gun or anything.”
“I wonder if Erin would hire Charlie for their wedding. She’s the best event planner there is,” Summer wonders, and that makes me bust up laughing.
“Okay, that might be a line that we wouldn’t cross.”
“But why? Charlie is the best in this part of the state. She’s super organized and listens and works so well with all the local vendors. I was just talking with Erin yesterday, and she’s so overwhelmed. She needs the help, Chase. More than Millie or even I can give her. It’s a big wedding, with really famous people coming, and her family lives far away.”
“Well, when you put it like that,” I mutter, thinking it over. “I just don’t think that Rem will go for it. We’ve mellowed out a bit where the Lexingtons are concerned, but hiring them? That’s altogether different.”
“Mention it,” Ida suggests. “Just don’t mention it to your father. I think there are a few other wedding coordinators in town, but none hold a candle to Charlie. That girl can work magic out of a dandelion and a paperclip.”
“So, she’s the MacGyver of weddings?” I laugh at their nods and then reach down to pet Lily, who’s still hoping for more pieces of cookie. “I’ll mention it. None of us wants Erin to be under too much stress. This should be fun for her.”
“Ha,” Ida says, shaking her head. “Says a man who’s never had a wedding. Of course, she’s stressed out, honey. But Charlie can at least help.”
“Good to know.” I glance back at Summer. “What kind of sandwich?”
“Huh?” She blinks those blue eyes at me.
“What kind of sandwich do you order from the deli?”
“Turkey on rye with mustard.”
I wink at her and turn to leave. “Good to know. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Bye, Chase.”
CHAPTER THREE
SUMMER
“You know,” Ida says thoughtfully as she reaches for another delicious peanut butter cookie that I swear is laced with an addictive, possibly illegal substance, “I used to be squarely in the Team Evan category.”
“I didn’t realize there were teams.” My voice is dry as I cross my arms over my chest, wondering where she’s going with this.
“Well, he’s a nice kid. Definitely has the tall, dark, and handsome thing down, and he’s so charming. Not to mention, we all know that Evan has political aspirations, and you know all about that life.”
Yeah, and I have no intention of ever being with anyone who reminds me of my father.
“Evan is just a friend,” I remind her. “I’ve never said anything different, especially to him.”
“Oh, I’m not insinuating that you’re a tease, honey,” Ida continues, munching on the delicious cookie. “Not at all. I just like him. But you don’t look at Evan the way that you look at Chase.”
“And how is that?”
“Like he’s a big piece of chocolate cake, and you’d like to eat him alive.”