Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“I can have adult ears!” she insisted.
“Oh, you have to grow into them, sweetie,” Roger replied.
She argued with him because she was her mother’s daughter and I felt eyes burning into my face. Looking up, I found Rafe leaning against the doorway to the family room, soft gaze on me. I beamed at him.
His expression grew even warmer, more tender.
Everyone I cared about was in this room, and it made me content, which made Rafe Whitman happy.
If we were going to do this for real, I’d wanted his family to know who I really was, and so did he. He also wanted them to know that I wasn’t going anywhere. So I’d asked if my family could come to family dinner so they could meet them. Roger, Kendall, and Jude.
Despite the horrible conversation I’d had with Kendall weeks ago, they forgave me immediately as soon as I apologized and explained what had been going on in my head. Even Jude let it go and we all knew he could be a grudge holder.
They’d also agreed to have dinner with Rafe’s family.
While they’d been visibly shocked at the size of his parents’ sprawling home when they drove up, they weren’t intimidated by money. Jude was a little quiet, but that was only because he was like Rafe when it came to meeting new people.
I’d introduced the three of them as my family to the Whitmans, and while Pippa was visibly uncomfortable (though trying her best not to be), Jen, Greg, Gigi, and even Hugo were warm and welcoming to them.
It was going better than I could have ever hoped.
Rafe jerked his head subtly in a “c’mere” gesture, and I got up and crossed the room to him.
“What’s up?” I took hold of his hand.
“I want to show you something.”
That something was apparently in his old bedroom. Rafe closed the door behind us and guided me over to the bed. He stopped me at the foot of it, his hands on my biceps. He studied my expression, his hands sliding slowly down my arms. The silky fabric of the sleeves smoothed his way.
“Have I told you I like your dress?” His eyes danced with humor.
That was probably because I was wearing a silk cotton hippie dress in autumn colors. It had massive bell sleeves and an exaggerated skirt with a slit up the side. I’d paired it with cowboy boots I’d left at the front door.
“I’m glad, but I like it even if you don’t like it.”
“Good to know.” Then he commented with a slight question in his tone, “You look happy?”
“I’m pretty blissed out,” I promised him.
“That’s all it takes? Bookshelves at home, you in that dress, your friends here with my family? You’re easy to please.”
“Don’t forget doing you every day. That makes me happy.”
“Doing me?” He grinned, stepping close to press me to him. “I can see I’m going to be the romantic between the two of us.”
“Doing you isn’t romantic? Not even the way I did you last night?” I cocked an eyebrow.
I might have gone down on him when a movie we were watching got sexy. Rafe burst out laughing. “It was very romantic for me, thank you.”
“Hey.” I glanced around his room. “Did you ever have sex in here with your high school sweetie?”
“No. This was our summer place and she always vacationed in Europe with her family.”
“So . . . you’ve never had sex in this room?”
“Well.” Wicked humor gleamed in his eyes. “I did dry-hump this one woman and it was hot.”
Knowing he was talking about me, I grinned. “That sounds like a very romantic story.” I slipped my hands under his sweater and he sucked in a breath. “But you know what would be even more romantic?”
“What’s that?” His voice was gruff, eyes low-lidded.
“Making love in this bed. Right now.”
“Your friends and my family are downstairs.”
“Hasn’t stopped you before,” I reminded him.
He nudged me against the bed. “Well, if one of them walks in on us, we’re paying for their therapy.”
“Not if it’s Jude or Kendall. They’ll love it.”
Rafe groaned. “Don’t tell me that.”
I laughed and lowered myself to his bed. “C’mon, take off your pants and make love to your girlfriend in your parents’ house while they’re all downstairs.” I reached beneath my skirts and whipped off my underwear, dangling the lacy bit of material between my fingers like a prize. “I’m ready to make love.”
Rafe’s shoulders shook with laughter. “Yes, I’m definitely the more romantic of the two of us.”
“What? I said ‘make love.’ ” I yanked him by a belt loop toward me. “Now quickly, before someone comes to check on us.”
“You’re right, this is so romantic,” he replied dryly as he unzipped his pants. “A quickie on my childhood bed.”
“You cannot possibly be complaining about getting some in the middle of the day?” I looped my arms around his neck as he came down over me.