Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“No way. Not after what happened with my family.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He nodded and continued driving. “I’d understand, you know? I probably should have just told him at work this morning, but I didn’t want to deal with it at the office. So I’d told him I had a girlfriend, but not that you’re a Wright. Am I a coward?”
“No, you shouldn’t have to deal with any of this,” I said with a frustrated sigh. I twiddled the H necklace he’d given me so long ago around my finger. “It shouldn’t even be a big deal.”
“Everything with us is a big deal. Wrights and Sinclairs don’t mix.”
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Unfortunately.”
“If your family can come around, then so can mine.”
“Are we sure my family has officially come around?”
Chase shrugged. “Probably not, but they’re working on it.”
“Then, that’ll happen with your dad, too.”
“Here’s to hoping.”
Chase flipped on the radio, and Queen blared through the speakers. We sang along together, forgetting the impending doom of his father on the horizon. It was just us living our best life. This was all I’d wanted with Chase for so long when we were apart. This moment right here.
It was over too soon as Chase pulled into the gated community on the south side of town. In a place like Lubbock, there weren’t very many gated areas. Most people didn’t have anything to hide behind their gates, but of course, his dad lived in one. The place was a total McMansion. Two stories with tiered balconies and a circle drive behind another gate with a four-car garage. There was an inner courtyard as well as at least an acre fenced in. I could peek a pergola and swimming pool in the backyard.
“Whoa,” I muttered.
“Yeah. It’s a lot.”
“You grew up here?”
He nodded. “My dad had the house built when I was a kid. It’s like a fortress.”
“Hmm,” I said softly. “Looks more foreboding than welcoming.”
“That’s the point.”
Chase pulled the Porsche through the second gate and into the giant drive. He parked before one of the many garages and cut the engine.
“Not too late to bail.”
“I think it is,” I said, taking his hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “We can do this.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
We got out of the car, and for a second, my breath caught at the sight of him. He was wearing a gray suit coat over a sky-blue button-up and khaki slacks. The Rolex on his wrist was briefly visible as he buttoned the top of his coat. His dirty-blond hair had been styled, and I could smell the scent of his favorite cologne. And though I loved every inch of what I saw, I knew how much of his appearance tonight was nerves.
He was more than comfortable in a suit. I’d never seen one wear him and not the other way around. But tonight, it was close, only because he fidgeted with the length at his wrists and adjusted the collar. I could practically see him wondering if he should have worn a tie.
We were so similar in so many ways. Our fathers were unfortunately one of them. I was glad that Owen was out of my life. That he didn’t have a way to make me this nervous or impact my relationship anymore. I wanted that for Chase, but with the company still controlled by his father, there were still strings attached.
If I could cut them for him, then I would.
Instead, I stood in a little black dress, doing my best to walk the path with him.
“Ready?” he asked.
He turned back to face me, holding his hand out. The other held a bottle of wine. I’d chosen it based on my mom’s favorite vineyard in Willamette Valley. I’d thought it would be better than bringing something local with all the tension we were trying to avoid. This was more of a peace offering.
“Are you?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
I took his hand, and he tucked me into his side. That was going to have to be good enough.
We walked up the entranceway that led to the enormous front door. It had double wrought iron doors, each larger than a regular door. It was as if we’d shown up at the Beast’s castle, trying to rescue someone from the dungeons.
I gulped as Chase rang the doorbell. He squeezed my hand for reassurance.
A minute later, the door pulled open, and a young woman stood on the threshold. She was a stunner. Petite and lithe, like she lived in a ballet class, with classic blonde hair and a narrow face. Her makeup was picture-perfect with neutral lipstick, and she had freshly painted red-lacquered nails. She wore a cream designer dress and nude heels. The spitting image of a trophy housewife.
Except there was no ring on her finger.
Arnold refused to make it official. Despite his late-twenties mistress giving him a child.