Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I sighed and rubbed my temples. He had no idea about the shit I’d do to make Aspen happy. “Not here. But I offered to supply them with a larger kitchen and workspace. That way, I can control the security.”
He let out a laugh. “Look at you, helping the good church folks.”
I took my phone out and checked Aspen’s location. She was still at Blaise and Maddy’s. The women were having a pool day, which was also Trinity’s bachelorette party before she and Huck eloped in two weeks. As much as I hated being away from Aspen, it gave me time to handle some things.
“Where to next?” Kye asked me.
“The vault,” I told him.
“Underground?”
“Yes.”
“You have something to put in there?”
I glanced at him. He was a nosy fucker. “I have something to get out.”
Kye raised his eyebrows. “You have shit in the vault?”
“Is this fucking Twenty Questions?”
He shrugged. “I just thought it was the old families who kept stuff there. Other than Garrett.”
I sighed and laid my head back. “My family is the oldest family that isn’t a Hughes.”
“Shit, that’s right. So, you get to keep things in there?”
“I only intend to take one thing from the Shephard family belongings in the vault.”
When I didn’t say more, he hit the steering wheel. “You can’t just say that and not tell me!”
I turned my head to look at him. “You are annoying as fuck. You know that?”
He just grinned. “Just tell me.”
“My great-great-grandmother’s engagement ring. No woman in the family has worn it since she passed away because the men in my family couldn’t find a woman they felt worthy enough for it.”
Kye slowed down, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see him looking at me.
“Watch the damn road,” I told him.
“Fucking hell,” he said. “You’re gonna ask Aspen to marry you.”
A slow smile spread across my face. “Yeah, I am.”
My phone rang, interrupting Kye’s next words. It was the church. They didn’t waste any time, but I hadn’t expected them to. They were probably afraid I’d change my mind. If they only knew I’d have offered more if they’d asked.
Thirty-Eight
Aspen
The text I’d received from Levi two hours ago said for me to pack an overnight bag and wear the blue romper he’d bought me. I planned on bringing up the volunteering thing again with him tonight since my cast had been taken off yesterday. I was ready to work again, but I was excited about going somewhere with him. I also packed my white sundress because other than the romper, it was the most expensive piece of clothing that I owned. When I asked about what I would need, he had been vague, saying that I didn’t need much.
I had just slipped on my sandals when the door to my bedroom opened and Levi filled the entrance. He was wearing a pair of jeans, a light-blue button-up shirt, and boots. His hair was pulled back neatly in a bun. I was breathless. This man was beautiful, and he was mine.
“You’re only allowed to wear that with me,” he said, leaning against the doorframe as he took me in slowly.
“You were the one who told Six to buy it for me,” I replied.
His eyes met mine. “I told him to buy whatever it was you seemed to like. He didn’t tell me that the blue romper was so damn short.”
“I told you I didn’t need it.”
His arm dropped from the frame, and he walked into the room toward me. “But you wanted it. When you want something, I want to give it to you.”
I bit my tongue to keep from arguing that wasn’t true. I wanted to do volunteer work. I wanted to give back to the community. To help. To have a purpose. There was a time for that, and this wasn’t it. He had made plans for us, and I wasn’t going to cause an argument.
His hand slid down to cup my butt as he pulled me against him. “We have a stop to make before we need to be at the airport,” he said, lowering his mouth to mine and pressing a kiss on the corner, not messing up the lip gloss. “Ready?”
“We are getting on a plane?” I asked, surprised and a little anxious.
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
He held my face in his hand. “Is something wrong?”
“I’ve never flown,” I blurted out.
A soft smile touched his lips. “If you get nervous, I’ll distract you.”
I blinked, trying not to get mesmerized by his eyes. They reminded me of caramel when they were light, like they were now. I was almost positive the man had two rows of lashes. They were impossibly thick.
“How, uh … how will you distract me?” I asked, sounding breathless.
He ran his knuckle down my face. “There’s a bedroom.”
I frowned. Had I missed something? “On the plane?”