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)
“What process?” Chassie asked, folding a leg under her as she took her seat by Battle and put her plate on the table.
“I get obsessive when I write,” I explained. “I usually write at home, so it’s going to be interesting, having a space just for writing that’s away from everything. But it’s good Battle brought it up, because you guys should know, I’ll probably hole up in the studio for long periods of time.”
“We don’t want to mess with your process, Vivi, so whatever you need,” Prue said.
“And don’t forget, just buzz to the house if you need anything,” Chassie added.
“Thanks, guys,” I replied. Then, “Listen, speaking of the book,” I turned to Prue, “when you were searching for Charlie’s letters, did you look in all the bedrooms?”
Prue was confused. “Bedrooms?”
“Like yours and Tempie’s…and Chassie’s?”
This was the way I decided to play it rather than share about what happened the evening before with the cats.
I was falling for their brother; I didn’t need to give them reasons to move me out of The Downs and into an asylum.
“I would notice some letters hanging around,” Chassie remarked and took a bite of toast.
“I would too, as would Tempie,” Prue said. “Especially since I’ve been looking for them for months.”
“A journal? Something tucked in books? Anything?” I asked.
They both stared kindly, but ruefully at me while shaking their heads.
It was Battle who spoke.
“All the family bedrooms have been redecorated in the last few years, love. And except me, we’ve all been in the same rooms since we were children. They would have noticed something like that after several decades, and definitely when things were moved out so the redecorating could happen.”
I frowned and forked into some eggs.
“The letters will turn up when you most need them, Vivi,” Prue said. “Ravenna never lies. They’re here. We just have to happen on them when the time is right.”
I hoped so.
It was then, wearing smart red capris, a white sleeveless top and white Versace pumps with the flat bow on the toe, Tempie strolled in.
Her expression was bland when she did, but it shifted instantly to cross when she looked at Battle.
So I looked at Battle.
He was gazing at her with a smug expression so extreme, it turned me on as much as it confused me.
“Don’t start,” she warned, melting into a chair and reaching for the coffeepot.
“I said nothing,” Battle purred, and even his purr was smug.
“Let me see,” Prue began. “We all heard Battie’s door slam at…what? Eleven o’clock on a Friday night? And we didn’t see Battie and Vivi until Sunday morning. So that makes it…” She started counting on her fingers.
“Yes, dear,” Tempie drawled. “But I just left a Scotsman immobile on his stomach in my bed.”
“I still win,” Battle said into his coffee cup.
Good Lord.
Were they competing about who was the bigger sex god?
“Thirty-four hours!” Prue crowed after she stopped counting.
Battle smirked.
“You’re at only fourteen hours, Tempie,” Chassie rubbed it in. “Battie beat you by a whole twenty hours.”
“They took a break to go to the pub,” Tempie pointed out.
“Maybe so,” I chimed in. “But it was a miracle that happened considering Battle induced a lot of immobility in me. This meant he was forced to do quite a bit of the work, also forced to take me to fuel so I could move.”
Prue’s giggle peeled through the room.
But Battle turned his head and gave me a look so magnificent, I knew I’d never forget it.
Not all my life.
And it didn’t make my nipples tingle.
It made my heart skip a beat.
It said both I was officially one of them…
And he was falling in love with me too.
I already knew that last part.
But the first part felt nearly as amazing.
“A warning,” Tempie broke into our moment and fluttered a disparaging hand Battle’s and my way, “that will never happen with Hamish and me.”
“What won’t happen?” Chassie asked.
“Being gooey-eyed at the breakfast table.” Tempie paused. “Or anywhere, for that matter.”
“We’ll see,” Battle murmured.
“Are you and Hamish all right?” Chassie asked, her words threaded with worry.
“Although I’ll never forgive you, dearest,” Tempie stated, and Battle got stiff beside me, “I’ll also never be able to find the words to thank you.”
Battle relaxed.
Chassie grinned.
Tempie sipped coffee.
I shoved bacon in my mouth.
Fifteen minutes later Hamish sauntered in.
And with a light kiss on Tempie’s upturned lips, she belatedly introduced him to everyone.
And he joined the family.
I leaned my weight against the handle of my mallet, stating, “All right, this is a shade too far.”
Prue, standing next to me, asked, “What?”
I looked down at her. “We’re playing croquet.”
“And?” she inquired, openly perplexed.
“Do you play croquet often?” I asked in return.
“Yes, in the summer. Why?”
“My darling!” Tempie cried before I could say word one about the Bridgertons, and we both turned that way to see her planting a lavish kiss on Hamish’s beard.