Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
I whimper, clinging to his shoulders.
He presses his lips to mine in a hard kiss.
"You ready?"
"No. Yes." I huff a breath, my soul shaking. "Yes."
I am so not ready, but there's no stopping this now.
We find my dad on the back porch, staring at a palm tree like it holds the answers to the universe.
"Dad?" I whisper, my voice cracking.
"Hey, baby girl."
"I'm so sorry!"
My dad turns to face us, his gaze running over me and then over Kingston. I can't read his expression, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
"Ah, hell, Evie," he finally rasps, stalking forward to pull me into his strong arms. "I'm the one who should be apologizin'. I just waltzed in like I own the goddamn place. Olivia's been warnin' me for years that I need to learn to knock."
I cling to him, my heart pounding a million miles a minute. "You never have to knock."
"Yeah, I do." He tips my chin back like he always did when I was a kid, afraid to meet his gaze. "You're a grown woman now, baby girl. You deserve your privacy."
I burst into tears. I don't know why. It's the way he's looking at me like he's proud of me and sad at the same damn time.
"Hey, now. None of that." He wipes my eyes, grinning at me. "You still have to introduce me to this hockey star who stole your heart. I'd like to pretend none of that other shit happened if you don't mind."
"P-please," I sob, crying and laughing at the same time.
Dad glances over my shoulder at Kingston, then back at me. "He's the one, huh?"
"Yes," I whisper.
He nods, smiling. "I knew it when I saw the way you were looking at him at the game. I had to come see for myself if he was worthy of you."
"You should be in bed!" I cry. "Mom is going to be so mad."
"Who are you tellin'?" He grins at me. "She's mad as a hornet right now. I snuck out."
"Dad!" I groan, faceplanting into his chest. "You can't just sneak out and fly across the country!" Only he would think that was a reasonable thing to do.
"Don't worry. I've got Cash's jet. I'm goin' back. I just had to come have a quick chat with your man."
I groan again, not in the least bit surprised. "Please tell me that you at least asked to borrow Uncle Cash's jet."
Dad just shrugs, which makes Kingston chuckle.
"Mom could have warned me that you stole the jet and were on the way," I grumble.
"She tried." Dad grimaces. "I believe you were otherwise engaged."
So…I guess that's why Everly has been calling all morning. I groan, burying my face in my hands. "We can't talk about this. It never happened."
"Agreed," he growls, dropping a kiss to my forehead. "Some things, I don't need to know, Evie Jolene. I might have a fuckin' heart attack."
I smile despite myself. "Your heart is fine, Dad."
"Won't be if I see much more of that," he mutters before turning his gaze on Kingston. "You're lucky she likes you, Monroe. If she didn't, this conversation would be goin' a lot different right now."
"Believe me, sir, I'm aware," Kingston says, his voice somber. "I'm the luckiest motherfucker on the planet."
"Yeah?" Dad arches a brow. "You really believe that or are you just sayin' what you think I want to hear?"
"Dad," I whisper.
"It's okay, princess," Kingston murmurs, taking a step forward. "He's got a right to ask. In his shoes, I'd be asking, too. Hell, in his shoes, I'd probably be hitting me right now."
"Thought about it," my dad mumbles. "But that'd piss her off. And if I piss her off, I piss off my wife. She's already mad as hell. I'm tryin' not to rock the boat too much."
Kingston smiles before he grows somber again, more serious than I've ever seen him look. "I knew your daughter was special the moment I set eyes on her, sir. My goddamn heart tried to climb out of my chest. I've never felt anything like that, and I'm not in the habit of ignoring when my heart tries to tell me something. I've made a nuisance of myself, trying to convince her to give me a chance. Still don't know why the fuck she did because I'm just an asshole who knows how to skate. I'll never be good enough for her, but I'll be damned if I don't try.
"I'm willing to sign anything you want me to sign to protect her," he continues. "I don't want her money. I've got enough of my own. I don't want her fame—yours either, for that matter. I've never had much use for the fame I've got. I just want her." He pauses, his eyes locking with mine. "And I want her happy. I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to ensure she is."