Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“I can’t.”
“I don’t think you get to decide, sweetie,” Alyssa says.
“Maybe in a few months,” I tell them my earlier thoughts. “If they renew my contract, I can say yes to dinner and just see where it goes from there.”
“It’s going straight to pound town,” Palmer says dramatically.
Ramsey giggles. “I think we’re drunk.”
“Quite possibly.” Kennedy nods, tipping her wineglass to get every last drop.
“Shit,” I mutter. “How am I going to get home?”
“You could call Rushton.” Alyssa offers helpfully.
“He’s drinking too.”
“How do you know?”
I wave my cell phone at her. “He told me.”
“Wait. You’ve been texting him?”
“Yep.” I drop my phone on my lap and tilt my head back.
“Deacon, Sterling, Rushton, Ryder, and Archer are drinking. The others are our drivers,” Jade offers helpfully.
“You planned this?” Kennedy asks.
“Nah, but I knew we needed to let loose, and you know how our husbands are. They won’t touch a drop unless they know we’re taken care of. So, those who have kids to tend to and the twins stayed sober. The others got to let loose like we did.”
“Maybe I’ll organize an Uber.” I grab my phone from my lap to open the app, and the ladies start laughing.
“You’re in Willow River,” they remind me.
“No Ubers,” Alyssa says.
“I’ve got this.” Jade dials her phone. “Babe, we’re ready,” she tells him. She listens and then giggles. “I had a drink,” she confesses.
“More than one!” Palmer calls out, and we all start laughing again.
“Does that make me a bad mom?” she asks. Worry lines her features.
I watch as she listens to her husband, and the lines of worry disappear, followed by a slow smile. “Love you.” She ends the call. “They’re on their way. They just need to load up the babies. Kens, Maverick is going to drop you off since Blakely and Beckham are both sleeping.”
“Aw, my babies,” Kennedy coos.
“Merrick is taking you, Crosby. Maverick will take Ramsey because they live close to Declan and Kennedy.” Jade grins. “I hope I got that right,” she says in a fit of laughter, and because when you’re tipsy, and your friend laughs, even if it’s not funny, you laugh too, we all dissolve into laughter, and ten minutes later that’s how the guys find us.
I watch as Orrin goes to Jade, as they peer down at Orion, who’s sleeping in his seat. Orrin kisses his wife, and she accepts it with ease. I turn slightly and take in Brooks and Palmer. Remi is wide awake and all smiles at her parents. Brooks kisses the top of Palmer’s head, and my heart squeezes in my chest. I’m envious of what they have. My eyes move to Ramsey, who is now sitting on Deacon’s lap. He’s smiling at her as she talks animatedly. He only has eyes for her.
“Tink!” Sterling comes into the room, walking a little off balance, and heads straight for his fiancée. “I got us a driver,” he tells her.
Alyssa giggles, and she, too, accepts the sloppy kiss he presses to her lips.
“You ready, Kens?” Maverick asks. “We have to get these two in the car.” He points to Deacon and Ramsey.
I feel hands on my shoulders, and I turn to see Rushton smiling down at me with glassy eyes. “Hey, gorgeous.” He beams.
“Rushton.”
“I think I’m supposed to kiss you,” he says, leaning over the back of my chair.
“You think so?”
“Yep. That’s what my brothers did. I feel left out.”
“Come on, Romeo,” Merrick jokes. “Let’s get back in the car. I’ll help Crosby.”
“No.” Rushton shakes his head. “She’s my girl. I’ll help her to the car.”
My heart skips a beat at his words. I open my mouth to tell him I’m not his girl, but then I decide that maybe I can pretend. Just for the car ride home, I can pretend like Willow River is home to me and that Rushton Kincaid is mine.
“Jesus, it’s like herding cats,” Brooks titters. “Come on. Load it up. We have babies to get to bed.”
Rushton steps in front of me and offers me his hand. I accept it, letting him pull me to my feet. He wraps his strong arms around me and nuzzles my neck. “You smell good, baby,” he tells me softly.
“Come on, lovebirds.” Merrick ushers us outside to his truck. Rushton opens the back door and helps me climb inside. When he tells me to move over and takes a seat next to me, I’m surprised. “You two good back there?” Merrick asks.
“Yep.”
“Crosby first,” Rushton tells him.
“That’s silly. Merrick’s my neighbor.”
“But then you’re alone with my brother.”
“He’s your brother,” I remind him.
“I’m not going to hit on your girl, bro,” Merrick assures him.
“Crosby first.” Rushton slides his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his chest. The heat of his skin warms me instantly, and I remember that I’m pretending he’s mine for the drive.