Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
“Did they get the sensors for the heated driveway fixed?” I ask Kindred, who is now over by one of the filing cabinets.
“They’re coming tomorrow,” Kindred says without glancing up.
I keep watching the screen, starting to grow restless for some reason. Whoever this girl is, she’s a tiny thing. I want to zoom in, but why when I can go see for myself? I leave Kindred to wrap up with whatever the hell she is searching for, making my way to the entryway.
When I pull the door open, she’s already almost to the porch that covers the front of the house. White Christmas lights are wrapped around the pillars and flicker on.
She pauses when she catches sight of me. Her eyes widen. They’re an icy blue encased in thick lashes. Her mouth parts open and then closes.
Neither of us says a word. I’m still struck speechless with how breathtakingly beautiful she is. She might be small, but you can see the outline of her curves even through her jacket. What is even more eye-catching is her hair. It’s so blond that it’s almost white like the fresh falling snowflakes. That paired with her creamy skin makes her eyes stand out even more.
“Oh, you must be the party planner,” I hear Kindred say from behind me. "Your mom works fast." Kindred laughs. Yes, she does. It makes me think she already had the girl on the way here before I ever agreed. "I'm Kindred." She steps past me, holding out her hand. "Hollis’s fiancée."
"Fiancée?" the girl asks tentatively. Her voice is soft and sweet, and may I say, innocent? She sounds like I imagine an angel would. The hell? Am I losing it?
"Oh right, we haven't told anyone about the engagement yet. Please don't tell Mary."
"I won't." Those blue eyes bounce between mine and then to Kindred. I have to fight the urge to not order her to focus them back on me.
"What is your name again? I don't think Mary told us. Just that she was sending a party planner from the city."
"I'm Gwen." She takes Kindred's hand. Gwen can’t be more than twenty-one at best. Her full cheeks and dusting of freckles make her appear younger. Okay, maybe I’m saying a silent prayer that she is twenty-one so that I don’t feel like a creep with my cock hardening the more of her that I take in.
"Come in, come in," Kindred encourages her. I stand there like a dumbass as they pass by me into the house. Gwen glances back toward me, quickly jerking her head back around when she sees that I'm still watching.
I close the door and quickly follow them like a lost kitten. My mother might have gotten one right. It hits me at this moment that Kindred told her she was my fiancée. Fuck me, that's not good. I find myself wishing I could go back in time to before I asked Kindred to agree to fake it.
“Is this the only bag you brought?” Kindred asks her. “Or did you leave them at a hotel? It was my understanding you’re staying here.” She motions for Gwen to take a seat on the overdone stuffy couch in the parlor. It’s a room that no one ever uses.
“This is all I brought. I wasn’t planning to be here long.”
“But you’re planning the party and will attend.” I speak for the first time before I can think about what I’m fully saying. Why is she trying to leave so quickly? Furthermore, why does that irritate me?
“I suppose we could play it by ear.” She finally turns those eyes back on me but only for a brief moment. Her full cheeks start to tint a soft shade of pink. If I thought my cock was hard before, now it’s painfully uncomfortable. Never in my life have I had such a visceral reaction to another human being. I didn’t think it was possible for me, but Gwen here has shot that all to shit in a matter of seconds.
“Whatever works for you.” Kindred gives her a bright smile.
“I ah—” Those eyes flick to me again, and her tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. “I suppose I could stay here.”
“Then, it’s settled,” I say before minds can be changed. There was no way in hell I was going to allow her to leave anyway. Her agreement to stay makes this a whole lot easier. Now I don’t have to buy out the bed-and-breakfast and make sure there is not a room available in a hundred mile radius.
“Hollis. Let her be. She can stay wherever she’s more comfortable.” Kindred nudges me with her elbow. I didn’t miss the way she was looking at me either. Like I’d lost my mind for pushing Gwen to stay here. “Don’t pay attention to him.” She gives her another smile.