Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“I need pie, Wong Man, and you in our bed for a solid week.”
I shook my head as I pulled pies from the oven, sliding them onto the racks to cool.
“I can give you the first two. The last one needs some adult time.”
“That’s what I’m saying.” He winked lewdly. “Adult time.”
“Grown-up time, then. We have a house being renovated, this one going up for sale. A wedding to plan, and the Dill is crazy. I can’t keep up with the pies Quinn needs.” I slid more into the oven. “I’m going to hire an assistant to help me bake them.”
“Good idea,” he mused. “They can take over when the babies come.”
“One thing at a time, mister.”
He became serious, leaning close to the monitor. “I don’t want you stressed. Use the wedding service Quinn told you about. Book a date you want. Buy a pretty dress, and leave the rest up to them. You loved the venue that Quinn caters for. As long as you’re happy, I’m good.” He met my eyes. “I’d marry you next week at city hall, but I want you to have a perfect day.”
I smiled and touched the screen. “I know.”
“Your ring is sparkling today.”
I glanced down at the slim band. It was set with emeralds and diamonds. All small, perfect little gems with no beginning and no end.
“Like us,” Oliver had claimed when he’d slipped it on my finger. “This is the first one. I know you work with your hands and you don’t like showy diamonds, but I thought these would suit you. They’re stackable.” He had shown me pictures of others he planned to add. They were all unique and beautiful, and he was right. I preferred those to a large diamond I would worry about all the time. And he chose emeralds because he loved my eyes.
I loved him. So much it boggled my mind. I had forgotten how much I loved him, and now he filled my entire days and nights. I missed him terribly, but knowing he was coming back made the goodbyes easier.
And he was taking a long break, refusing any other movies aside from the one he was going to work on with Davis next year. And I would go with him, since Oliver had decided to rent a house and asked me to be there. It was another reason I needed to hire help. And he was right—once we started having children, I wanted to stay home with them. And be here when he was home.
“Lovely?” he asked. “Did you hear me?”
“What?”
He chuckled. “God, I love you. You get lost when you look at your ring.”
“I love it. It suits me.”
“You suit me.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Dammit, they’re calling me.”
“Go and act. I’m going to make some more pies and then head to the house to meet with the contractor. He has the kitchen plans.”
“Great. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. I love you.”
He smiled. “I will never get tired of hearing you say that. I love you too, lovely. And I’ll see you soon.”
“Not soon enough.”
Six months later
“Are you sure?”
I grinned at Norman, my limo driver. He had become my regular ride. We still played the game of less than an hour. I was putting his kid through university now. “Yeah, I’m home early, and I want to surprise Kassie. Drop me at the corner.”
He chuckled and did as I asked. I slung my bag over my shoulder and sauntered toward the house. The SOLD sign made me grin. We were moving in to the new place next week. We were both excited, and the new owners of Kassie’s house had visited several times, measuring, and simply visiting. Kassie had hired Tara as an assistant baker, and now she and her husband Rich were buying the house and planned on using it as a business the way Kassie had. Tara was taking over as the main baker for Quinn, and Kassie was going to help out when needed. I was happy she wouldn’t be working so hard, and we could have more time to devote to us when I was home.
I had been away with Davis, scouting locations for the upcoming movie. I discovered quickly why he was such a great producer/director. He was involved in every decision. Every locale. We’d had a productive trip, but Kassie wasn’t well when I left, having picked up a stomach bug from Quinn, who was suffering the same malady. And when I’d spoken with my wife yesterday, she had been no better. Davis had seen my concern and sent me home.
My wife.
The words made me smile, despite my worry. We had married in a simple ceremony here in Richton at a venue Quinn did catering for. It was pretty and quaint, and we married in the early evening with candles and flowers surrounding us. Kassie wore a lacy, flowery dress and looked so beautiful it took my breath away. We had only close friends in attendance, with Annie front and center, actually beaming, her vape nowhere to be seen. Quinn and John stood up for us, and it was an evening of love and friendship.