Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
A thud sounds from outside the door.
"Shit," I mutter, yanking the blanket up over us half a second before Lucy waddles into the bedroom.
Her blue eyes land on me and then go comically wide.
"Hey," I murmur, not sure what the fuck else I'm supposed to say.
Her gaze drifts from me to Paisley and then back before her lips curve up into a grin. "So…I guess this means we aren't feeding you to the sharks?"
"Do I even want to know which of you decided that should be my fate?" I ask.
"It was me."
I glance down at Paisley to find her blinking bleary eyes at me. She looks so sweet and sleepy. My damn heart rolls in my chest, my cock hardening. Christ, she's gorgeous.
"You were that pissed, huh?"
"Just a little," she says, her voice still raspy from sleep. And then her gaze drifts toward Lucy, her cheeks turning pink. "Um, hi."
"You didn't come over for breakfast, so I thought I should come and make sure that you didn't get wine drunk and drown in the tub last night," Lucy says, barely managing to contain a smile. "But I guess you're good."
"Yeah, I'm good."
Laughter burbles from Lucy's lips. "I'm going to assume that we're not still hanging out today."
Paisley peeks over at me, biting her lip, and then back at Lucy. "Can I take a raincheck?"
"Yep," Lucy says cheerfully. "But you aren't getting out of karaoke tonight. Mama Gracie is watching the girls so Oliver and I can go." She flicks a gaze at me. "You're coming too."
"Uh, I am?"
"Yes. We're all going. It's tradition."
Paisley must notice the confusion on my face because she quickly fills me in. "She convinced Oliver to take her out dancing the night before she had Lyra because she was overdue and wanted to induce labor. But Oliver was convinced it wasn't safe, so he dragged everyone along with them. And it's a good thing he did because her water broke on the dance floor. Now, she drags everyone out to the same bar the night before Lyra's birthday every year and calls it a tradition." Paisley's lips quirk into a grin. "We go under duress."
Lucy gasps like she's offended. "Uh, rude. I do not call it a tradition. It is a tradition. And you guys freaking love going out with me."
"We'll be there," I promise her.
"We, huh?" Lucy beams at me. "I like the sounds of this."
"Your brother-in-law is naked under this blanket, Lucy," Paisley says.
"Oh my gosh!" Lucy spins around with a squeak. "I'm leaving. Don't tell Oliver that I saw Ridley naked!"
"What the fuck? You didn't see me naked," I mutter.
Paisley just laughs as my sister-in-law scurries from the room like her ass is on fire. I dip my head, narrowing my eyes at her. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Yes," she confirms. "I love her, but I need to pee, and she wasn't going away without a reason to go."
I chuckle, brushing my lips across hers.
She melts beneath me, her eyes fluttering. "You stayed," she whispers against my lips.
"Yeah, I stayed." I brush another kiss across her lips. "Did you think I wouldn't, Dimples?"
"I don't know." She shrugs.
I sigh, curving my hand around her jaw to force her to look at me. "I'm not going anywhere," I say once her eyes are locked on mine. "You aren't waking up without me again."
"Ridley, you can't just say that."
"I already said it."
"You have a job to do."
"Not today, I don't. My only job today is to be right here with you."
"Really?" Her lips curve into a happy smile. "You're taking the day off?"
"I am."
"In that case…" She crawls on top of me, dragging the blanket up with her.
"I thought you needed to pee."
"Changed my mind," she whispers as the blanket flutters down over our heads, shutting out the rest of the world. Her lips touch the side of my throat…and I change my mind about her going pee, too.
"So you guys are expanding into the alcohol industry?" Paisley asks as we stroll across the vineyard after lunch, our hands linked together.
"We're already in the alcohol industry, Dimples."
She rolls her eyes at me. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah." I chuckle, lifting her hand to my lips to brush a kiss across her knuckles. "I know. And yes, we are. Since we acquired the vineyard in Italy, our wines are now global. I figured it was time to tackle a new challenge."
"Interesting."
"How so?" I ask, dipping my head to peek down at her.
She shrugs, running the toe of her shoe through the dirt. "You're very driven. I always knew that. I guess I just…" she trails off without finishing that sentence.
But I can guess where her mind is. She can't hide the anxiety crinkling her brow.
"You worried I'll be too busy for you, baby?" I ask, pulling her into my arms.