Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Hunter grinned at his friend. “Of course, she told me. Willa tells me everything.”
Kyle shook his head. “Damn women.”
“What kind of book club is it?” I asked.
“Romance,” Hunter answered, trying not to laugh.
“You’re an asshole,” Kyle said. “Luke is new to the group. Can we not have him thinking I’m a pansy ass right off the bat?”
I held up my hands. “No judgment from me. I was in a romance book club in college. The only guy with about thirty single women. That was a good semester,” I said, looking up in thought.
Pointing his beer at me, Kyle said, “I knew I liked you. We’re going to be good friends.”
There was a quick knock at the door before it opened and three men walked in. Kyle stood, and I did the same.
“About damn time you guys got here. The pizza will be here any minute.” He turned to me and said, “Luke Morrison, this is Aiden O’Hara. He’s married to Hunter’s sister, Willa.”
I reached for Aiden’s hand and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you, Aiden. Thank you for your service.”
He looked taken aback for a moment. “Um, thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Luke.”
“Brighton talked a lot about all of you. I feel as if I’ve known you for a while.”
They all exchanged a look before all eyes were back on me.
“She didn’t say shit about you, dude,” the taller one with blond hair and blue eyes said. “The name is Bishop Harris. I’m married to Abby.”
“The Christmas tree farmer,” I said. “Pleasure to meet you, Bishop.”
He nodded and gave me a warm smile.
“And last but not least is the man who’s going to marry my sister, Greer. This is Hudson Higgins.”
“The writer,” I said as we shook hands. “I’ve read your work and really enjoyed it.”
He gave me a grin. “Thank you. I’ve enjoyed your work as well. Especially The Time Before Us. Very powerful performance.”
“I thought we weren’t mentioning the fact that he’s an actor?” Bishop said.
I laughed. “Was. I’m officially retiring after I finish up this last movie I’m filming. We’ve only got a few days left, and then it’ll be done.”
“Wow,” Aiden said as he took the beer Kyle handed him. Bishop and Hudson also took one from their host. “You’re walking away from it all?”
“I am,” I said with a nod. “If it means being able to have Brighton in my life, then it’s a no-brainer.”
“What took you so long to come back for her?” Kyle asked.
I exhaled. “It took longer than I thought to finalize things, and honestly, I was an idiot for staying away as long as I did.”
Kyle looked at me with a serious expression. “Brighton is probably one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. It was hard to see her with so much sadness in her eyes.” Before I could say anything, he added, “And if you ever tell her I said that, I’ll deny it and call you a lying bastard.”
I drew my brows in. “I really don’t understand the relationship you two share.”
Bishop hit me on the back as he made his way over to the card table that was set up on the other side of the large living room. “Welcome to the club.”
Two hours later, I reached for the middle of the table and pulled my latest winnings toward me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever lost this many hands of poker. What the fuck, dude?” Kyle said as he threw his cards down on the table.
Bishop tipped back a beer and shook his head. “I haven’t won a damn round yet.”
All I could do was smile and look around the table. “Should we deal again?”
Aiden laughed. “I’m broke, so count me out.”
“I’m expecting a baby in October, so I think I better save my coins. Good playing, Luke,” Bishop said, tapping his beer bottle to mine.
Hunter chuckled. “Same.”
“Congratulations to you both,” I said. “When’s your baby due, Hunter?”
His face morphed into a look of pure happiness, and a strange pang hit me right in the middle of my chest. Was that jealousy?
“November ninth.”
“Are you finding out if it’s a boy or girl?” I asked them both.
They both said no at the same time, then grinned at each other.
“What about you, Luke? Do you want kids?” Aiden asked.
Nodding, I answered, “Yes. More than anything. That’s another reason I want a simpler life. I don’t want my kids growing up with cameras shoved in their faces. Again, not that I’m not grateful. I knew what I was getting into when I moved to LA. Once Brighton walked into my life, though, my eyes were opened to a whole other world I never even knew I wanted.”
“Has she mentioned if she wants to practice law here in Boggy Creek?” Hunter asked. “I know Earl Watkins, the one and only lawyer in Boggy Creek, is well past his retiring years.”