Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 66(@250wpm)___ 55(@300wpm)
“Please?”
Smiling, I turn on my signal, pull into a driveway, and turn back around. There isn’t much she could ask of me that I wouldn’t give her if it were within my power. “You’re setting the bar high,” I tell her.
“What do you mean?” she asks as we pull back into her driveway.
“My brothers, the women they bring home when they find their own Jade, they’re going to have big shoes to fill.” Leaning over the console, I kiss her. “Go grab your cookies, sweetheart.”
She runs up the front steps, unlocks the door, and is right back outside with a clear container with a red lid in her hands. She makes sure the door is locked before she jogs back to the truck. Opening the door, she hands me the container and takes her seat next to mine.
“Hey.” She smacks my hand when I reach into the container for a small sample. “Those are for your family.”
“I’m your boyfriend. Do I not get to eat my girl’s cookie?” I grin and wag my eyebrows.
“No, you do not, and if you don’t listen, you might not ever get my er… other cookie either.”
I immediately drop the cookie back into the container and shove the lid back on. Jade’s laughter fills the cab of my truck. I hand her the container and put the truck in Reverse. I can wait until after dinner. Nothing is worth her cutting me off before I’ve had the chance to taste her everything.
CHAPTER
SIX
Jade
I try to hide my nerves as Orrin, with his hand locked tight around mine, leads us into the house. I have my container of cookies in my other hand, clutching them to my chest. I’m scared to death that I’m going to drop them.
This isn’t my first time being at his parents’ place. I’ve been here several times with the girls, but this is my first time as his girlfriend, and it feels different. I know his brothers, hell, I know his parents. It’s not like I’m walking into a room of strangers, but it still has my belly in knots and my palms sweating. Hence the reason I’m clutching the cookies to my chest and cutting off the circulation in Orrin’s hand from my tight grip. I don’t want either of them to slip out of reach.
“Breathe, sweetheart,” Orrin whispers in my ear. “It’s just my family. You know them. They know you. It’s all going to be fine.” With that, he stands back to his full height and leads me inside.
As soon as we open the door, we’re greeted with boisterous laughter, and I start to feel my body relax. These are people I know. They know that we’ve been dating. This isn’t a big deal. At least, that’s what I try to convince myself. Two hours ago, was fine coming here for dinner. When Orrin showed up at my door and told me he loved me, that changed everything.
I knew that I loved him, but him loving me back? That’s a game changer. I’m not just some girl he’s been dating. He said forever. That’s one word, seven letters that change the course of both of our lives. It hasn’t even been two months since our first date, and he’s dropping those seven letters like they’re written in stone. I’m good with it. It’s crazy and fast, but when you know, you know.
Orrin and I are solid. It’s his family I’m not sure about. Do they know what we just confessed to one another? How do they feel about this whirlwind relationship we’re both jumping into feet first?
“Finally!” I hear a female voice call out.
Orrin laughs from beside me as his mom appears in front of us. “Jade, I’m so sorry my oldest son was keeping you from us. I’m glad he finally came to his senses.” I’m shocked when she leans in and hugs me tight. “I’m so glad that you’re here. I’m outnumbered. Ramsey and Blakely are not enough to balance out this crazy brood of mine,” she says, releasing me from her hug.
“Thank you for having me,” I say, finding my voice. I shove the container toward her. “I made cookies.”
“Cookie?” I hear from behind me. I don’t have time to see which brother it is because he’s suddenly next to me, tossing his arm over my shoulder. “I like cookies,” Archer says, grinning.
“Hands off my girl,” Orrin says, picking Archer's arm up from my shoulders and letting it drop.
“Cookies?” Rushton says, pushing Archer forward, and he too drops his arm over my shoulder.
“Fuck off,” Orrin grumbles. When he reaches for Rushton, his brother is faster. Rushton pulls me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me.
“No way, bro. She bakes. I’m calling dibs.” Rushton smiles down at me. “It’s a match made in heaven.”
“I think we should let her choose,” Sterling calls out. “I mean, there are nine of us.” He shrugs his shoulders like it’s the most logical reasoning that there’s a choice.