Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 129951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
I rolled my eyes.
But my pussy got happy.
He bent and kissed my nose again.
When he sat back, he said, “Shower for you. And nap. We’ll play it by ear after.”
“Doable,” I replied.
He smiled and got up.
He also helped me tidy all Harmony’s and Aileen’s stuff before he helped pull me out of the sofa.
And more helping, this being me to the bathroom even if I was totally fine to walk.
I didn’t share that.
I asked, “Are you okay with Chassie and Christian?”
He heaved a sigh. “I’ll always see her as the curly-haired, six-year-old my mother, and essentially my father, left me to raise. I understand she’s an adult. That doesn’t mean my heart will ever come to terms with it. But my head must, for Chassie.”
Man, he was going to be such a good dad.
“Yes, it must, for Chassie,” I agreed, feeling all melty, because my guy was so great. “And Christian, because he really is a solid bloke.”
He focused on me. “Do you understand half the shit that comes out of his mouth?”
“Not even a quarter of it.” I paused, “But Chassie does.”
“It’s like the skies opened up and dropped the perfect man for her in the gamekeeper’s cottage,” he noted.
It was just like that.
“Much like they opened so you could walk into my study,” he continued.
Aw!
I loved him so much!
This made me kiss him.
He let me.
Then he forced me into the shower.
I took a nap and woke to my villainously handsome Battle taking off his glasses, making him look the handsome villain, before he left his laptop on the coffee table between the couches where he was working to join me in bed.
I got magnificent head, which led to an equally magnificent orgasm.
But Battle refused to allow me to return the favor.
Ah well.
It was almost time for cocktails anyway.
EPILOGUE
THE REST
Before we hit the plum parlor, Battle texted the girls to meet us in his room, without Hamish and Christian.
I was lounged in a couch with good hair, a bum knee and a post-orgasm glow as they started parading in.
Prue was first.
Chassie was second.
And Tempie came last, doing it bitching.
“Whatever this is, I’d first like an explanation of why Hamish cannot be here,” she demanded.
One could say Tempie had done a total turnabout in the whole arm’s length thing with Hamish.
I loved it.
“Did you read the letters, Vivi?” Prue asked before anyone could answer Tempie.
“I did,” I answered.
“And considering Vivi uncovered irrefutable evidence a member of the Talyn family committed justifiable homicide, this is the reason why Hamish and Christian aren’t here,” Battle put in.
Tempie hissed in shock, Prue and Chassie gasped.
But on that intro, they didn’t mess around and found seats.
When they did, I told the story.
Battle followed me up with, “And it’s been decided we’ll not be going to the authorities so they can put the case of the missing viscount to bed. As family, we’ll do what Harmony’s immediate family did. We’re going to protect her secret.”
“Of course,” Tempie agreed easily.
Prue and Chassie also quickly agreed, though they did it by just nodding.
Battle looked between Tempie and Chassie. “I’ll leave it up to you whether you share this with Hamish and Christian. Hamish won’t breathe a word, I know.” He focused on Chassie, and his voice gentled. “But you and Christian are new. He’s rather a straight arrow, so I’d request you please be cautious.”
Chassie nodded again.
At this point, I asked her, “How’s your ankle?”
“It’s totally fine,” she answered. “And I knew it was. Christian was overreacting.”
So she traded one overprotective man for another.
Good on her.
“Can we get a drink now?” Prue requested. “After that story, I need one.”
I was with her on that.
Apparently, so was everyone else, since we all headed out to join Hamish and Christian in the plum parlor.
And get this, I didn’t have to walk down the stairs because my unofficially, soon-to-be-official fiancé carried me down them.
Wasn’t he the best?
Battle waited until everyone had drinks in their hands and were lounged in the seating area before he announced, “Mum phoned me.”
I stared at him because we agreed Sunday lunch.
And this was not Sunday lunch.
Then again, both Hamish and Christian were there, and I knew it was weighing heavily on his mind, so might as well. Especially if he could take that weight off his mind.
“Excuse me?” Tempie asked ominously.
“She’d heard I was in a serious relationship, and she wanted to know, if I were to marry, if she was still able to refer to herself by her title,” Battle finished.
No one said anything, except Fitzy, who, in a tight voice, announced, “I need to check on something with Cook.”
And then with a stiff body, he strode out.
Just to say, Fitzy and Patsy had been there a long time.
I didn’t know precisely how long.
I just knew they held affection, and even love, for the Talyn family. As such, they couldn’t miss the four of them had been forced to navigate life essentially without parents.