Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
I nod and turn back to the front door. I push it open and stick my head out. “Come on in.” I wait for him to enter the house and nod toward the recliner. “Have a seat.” I move to the couch and sit next to Monroe. Leaning over, I peck her cheek with a kiss. “Gorgeous, this is Mr. Mullins. He’s my late grandparents’ attorney.”
Monroe snuggles up to me, looping her arm through mine. She doesn’t seem to mind that I’m hot and sweaty. “It’s nice to meet you,” she tells him.
“What can we do for you, Mr. Mullins?”
He eyes Monroe before his gaze comes back to me. “May I speak freely?”
“You can. I don’t hide things from the love of my life.”
Monroe rests her head on my bare shoulder, and I reach down, placing my hand on her thigh.
“You have a year from the date of the letter delivery to get married. It’s my job to drop in over that period and your first year as a married couple.”
I glance over at the woman next to me. “Not married yet.” I wink, and her blush fills her cheeks, and her smile—damn, I love this woman’s smile when it’s all for me. Who am I kidding? I love her smile anytime, but I want to beat on my chest when I know it’s all for me.
“I see. Well, I won’t keep you. I just needed to do my due diligence.”
“We understand,” Monroe tells him.
“I’ll be in touch.” He stands and sees himself out.
I should have walked him to the door, but damn if I don’t want to soak up a few more minutes of being wrapped up in Monroe. “That went well,” I tell her. I give her thigh a gentle squeeze.
“We’re good at this.” She grins and removes her arm from mine.
I feel the loss immediately. “That we are. I need to put the weed eater up. Then I’ll grab a shower and we can go get something to eat.”
“How long will that be?”
“Fifteen minutes or so?”
She looks down at her Kindle. “Can we make it forty-five?”
“Yeah, gorgeous. Finish your book. We’ll go when you’re ready.” Not able to stop myself, I lean over and place a kiss on the top of her head. She smiles up at me, and I catalog this as another smile that’s all mine before forcing myself to head to my room to shower and get cleaned up. I take my time, since she’s got a book to finish. I can’t help but smile that this is my life now.
I don’t hate it.
“What are you having?” I ask Monroe. She’s sitting across from me at the small diner here in town. I told her we could go anywhere she wanted, and this is what she chose.
“Waffles.”
“Breakfast for dinner. I like it.” I smile at her.
“It’s not just breakfast, Legend. It’s an experience, a party in your mouth, a strawberry masterpiece.”
I chuckle at her. “Maybe I should get them too.”
“Oh, you should. They’ll change your life. How have you lived in Ashby your entire life and never had the strawberry waffles?”
I shrug. “I always go for the eggs, bacon, and toast.”
“Not a bad choice, but I’m telling you. Life. Changing.” Her smile and enthusiasm are infectious. So when the waitress approaches for our order, I motion for Monroe to go first.
“I’ll have the same,” I tell her, handing her our menus.
“So, we should talk about the next step.”
I nod. “Yeah, moving you in.”
“What are you thinking?” she asks.
“Soon. I know you’re giving up a lot for me, so the sooner we move this along, the sooner you can get back to your life.”
She rolls her eyes, the smile never leaving her lips. “I’m all set, Legend. I told you it’s not a big deal. I’m not dating, anyway.”
“Why not?”
She shrugs. “The last guy was an asshole. He wanted more than I was ready to give him.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“No.” She shakes her head as she says it.
I study her eyes, and I’m relieved to see she’s telling the truth.
“He got mouthy, but I ended things with him. I know I deserve better. Hell, every woman and man deserves better than to be in a dominating relationship.”
“Name and address?” I ask, only half joking, and she cracks up laughing.
“Stop.”
“Monroe?” a male voice asks.
I look up to find a guy about her age standing next to our booth.
“Henry,” she says stiffly.
“I’ve called you,” he says, not bothering to hide his irritation with her.
“And I didn’t answer.”
He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “Legend.” I point at my chest. I’d offer him my hand, but I don’t like the way he’s talking to her. “Monroe’s fiancé. You are?”
“Henry. We dated.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
He furrows his brow. Dumbass doesn’t know what he had.
He starts to speak, and again, I cut him off.