Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“Well,” James said, jerking his head toward the front doors. “It looks like our chariots await. Literally.”
I grinned. “This was one of the things I was most excited about when I decided on this venue.”
Richard Wellington, Dick, the three handsome brothers, and a few of the other Wellingtons I hadn’t met yet moved outside. Our family’s side of the wedding party was only me, Lily, my mom, my dad, and I guess James counted.
My dad was the type to spend all day in his room doing crossword puzzles while muttering to himself, so I was hardly surprised I hadn’t seen him once since arriving. If he had his way, he’d probably stay hidden until the wedding day.
I’d spotted my mom at the hotel bar a few times, but she also seemed to be hiding out in her room as much as she could. If I had to guess, I’d say she felt guilty about having James here, and she was probably a nervous wreck about how the day of the ceremony was going to go. I didn’t blame her, but I didn’t have the luxury of getting to hide away and wait for the big day. As the wedding planner and the sister of the bride, I had to keep making appearances.
With James.
Charity Wellington came up to me as the men in her family headed outside. She was Dick and Marcus’ little sister. She had platinum blonde hair, big blue eyes, and pursed, full lips. Her outfit was the kind of over-the-top ridiculous that probably cost a small fortune.
She came up to us and pulled Lily into a hug. “Lily! I’m so sorry we haven’t got to chat yet. I just got in last night. I work with a few fashion designers out of Paris, and they had some last minute emergencies they needed my opinion on. I know you understand!”
Humble brag, much?
“Oh, no worries,” Lily said, smiling up at the taller woman. To Lily’s credit, she didn’t look like she wanted to claw Charity’s eyes out or even kick her between the legs.
That was more than I could say for myself.
I always thought one of Lily’s best qualities was her innocent outlook. She was practically immune to female cattiness and jealousy. And why should any of that bother her? She was the girl everybody was always jealous of, and she never had to try to be the one people wanted to impress. That’s just how Lily was, and the effortlessness of it made it impossible to resent her for it.
“Who is this?” Charity said, drifting toward me and James.
Oh, hell no.
Her long-lashed eyes fell to James legs and swept up his body slowly as her lips curved upward. She put her mouth into a playful pout. “Don’t tell me you’re taken. Let me guess, by, um… her?” she said.
Somehow, she managed to inject so much disdain, dismissal, and outright “ew” into the single syllable I was almost impressed.
“This is my girlfriend,” James said. “Emma. We’re absolutely crazy for each other.” He added, lowering his lips to my ear. “Passionate kiss?” he whispered.
I didn’t wait. I just turned and cupped his face, launching into a hard, heavy kiss that was brief, but made absolutely no secret of the fact that we were together.
Except we weren’t together, I reminded myself as we pulled back and I delicately swiped the corner of my mouth with my thumb.
“Get a room,” Lily joked, but I saw her give Marcus a playful squeeze on the butt as the two of them headed outside, leaving us with Charity.
The beautiful woman’s nose wrinkled like she’d smelled something unpleasant. “Well, congratulations. I suppose.”
She stalked off.
James met my eyes. “You alright?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, voice embarrassingly breathless.
“Because you feel like your knees are about to give out. I’m going to assume it’s from rage at that woman and not at how hard you’re swooning for me.”
I punched his chest, which was basically like a brick wall beneath his jacket. “Let’s just hurry up before they leave without us.”
James, as usual, was quick to put his arm around me and lead me outside. Even if it was all just for show, I had to admit there was something about a big, tall man who jumped at every excuse to put his hands on me. Combined with the cold and cozy atmosphere, it was like having my own giant, sexy blanket to carry around everywhere I went.
The sleighs waited out front, glistening in the sunlight and looking impossibly comfortable on the inside of their open cabins. The benches were plush leather and thick, fuzzy blankets were folded neatly in every seat. White horses with flowing hair and misting breath waited in front, occasionally stomping their feet and whinnying.
A driver sat in the front of each chariot with the reins in hand and a ridiculously formal little driver’s outfit on.