Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
The words are on my tongue, ready to slip into the air and world. But I’m not sure if she’s ready to hear them yet.
My life has been so lonely, so incomplete, without her. I can see that now. I’ve survived but barely lived. I’ve worked hard and built my business, and I’ve had fun with my family. I’ve even gone on dates. But this? Having Laina in my house to welcome me home, to be eager for me to get here? There’s absolutely nothing better. I’m sure of it.
We have to be at Mom’s in two hours, and I need a shower and a shave. But I can’t convince myself to get up with her in my lap.
This is what I always imagined it would feel like to have Laina here. Warm and full … like a home.
“I fired my dad today,” she whispers.
I flinch. “What?”
“It’s true. I called Anjelica and talked to her and Coy, and they’re getting the ball rolling. Coy has someone who might be a good fit for me to meet with next week. Regardless, I’m no longer having my father involved in my business.”
Oh fuck. I lace my fingers together at her chest. “Did something happen? Or is this just something that needed to be done?”
“Both.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m tired of everyone making decisions for me like I’m a child that can’t possibly know what’s best for herself. And I heard that Tom and my father were at a golf thing together.”
I bristle at the information.
How could her dad be in the same room with Tom Waverly? I don’t give a shit that he’s a powerful movie star. Tom obviously hurt his daughter. How is he not throwing punches, let alone playing golf with the fucker?
“It gets worse, if you can imagine that,” she says, her body going rigid. “A reporter apparently brought up the wedding, and Tom, with my dad standing right there, said we decided to do something more intimate. That I just got cold feet.”
I take a breath to keep myself from exploding.
“Are you mad?” she asks.
“I’m pissed.”
Her head falls forward. “I’m sorry. I had no idea, or I would’ve warned you, and I never imagined he would—”
“Whoa,” I say, twisting her until she’s facing me. I hold her face in my hands. “What are you doing?”
“I’m apologizing.”
“For what?” I kiss her forehead. “Don’t apologize for other people’s bullshit. I know you had nothing to do with that.”
Her eyes widen. “You do?”
“Of course, I do. What did you think? That I’d believe a punk that’s bitter that his beautiful girl realized what a clown he is and left him?” I tap her on the nose. “Come on. You know I’m smarter than that.”
Relief melts off her. The worry is replaced with a sly smile.
“How much time do we have before we have to go to your mom’s?” she asks.
“A couple of hours. Why?”
“I know a way you can kill an hour.” She hops to the floor. “What did we decide to do with that cake?”
My balls tighten. “It’s up to you.”
“I’ll bake your mom another one. This one is tilted anyway.”
She scoots into the kitchen, leaving me laughing behind.
God, I love this woman.
I really, really do.
Chapter Twenty
Laina
“What in the almighty is happening?” Maggie Marshall clutches her chest, her jaw hanging on the floor. “Laina Kelley. Is that you, honey?”
I shrug, giggling. “It’s me. Ta-da!”
“What? Luke? What the … Oh, the hell with it.” She rushes toward me with her arms spread wide. “Get over here and hug an old woman, will ya?”
Luke laughs as Maggie all but envelops me in her arms.
“Lonnie, get in here,” she shouts, nearly taking out my eardrums. “We have company!”
“It is so good to see you, sweetheart,” she says, pulling away. Her eyes are the same color as Luke’s. “Let me get a look at you. You’re just as pretty as a picture.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Maggie. How have you been?”
“I’ve been wonderful. Kate moved back, Chase got married, and you are here.” She laughs in disbelief. “Why didn’t someone tell me you were still in town?”
My stomach twists, and I look at Luke. I’m not sure what to say. Do I bring up the wedding fiasco? Or do we slide over it and pretend it didn’t happen? This would’ve been a great thing to consider before we were in the moment.
“No,” Maggie says, smacking my arms. “Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” I ask, my nerves bouncing around like kangaroos.
She glances at Luke, then at me. “I’m going to take the blanket off the baby. Or I should really say take the veil off the bride.” She waits for a reaction, but I’m unsure what to give her. “It’s a joke. I was kidding.”
“Too soon, Mom. Too soon,” Luke says.
“Anyway,” Maggie says, “all joking aside, we’re not going to dance around what happened. You were supposed to get married. You didn’t. It happens to a lot of people. Now let’s move on.”