Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
"Sorry to hear that too." This time it's Buck who speaks, and Piper gives him a warm smile. He rests his hand on her thigh. The love they share is palpable.
"Thanks."
"Tell me more. I would like to know all about you. Where did you go to school?" I give her the CliffsNotes of getting into college and how I dabble in finance and investments. I tell her the names of a few invention items my name is attached to that she's likely heard of or might even have. "You're very driven, Pierce." I feel a strange twinge in my chest at her approval.
"When I see something I want or know it's worth the chase, I don't hesitate. That's how things can slip through your fingers." That same intuition is why I'm here in New Hope.
"Tinsley can be like that. She has two modes: full force ahead or getting the hell out of Dodge." A small laugh leaves her. "But the run-off is short-lived. She'll hatch a new plan and be heading for it once again. She’s always been that way.”
"I've noticed." Tinsley will be crawling all over me one second and then trying to get the hell away from me another.
"She can be hard to keep up with, but I can tell you one thing: New Hope is a part of Tinsley."
“She’s a part of the charm around here.” I take my voice up a few notches. “You think she’ll stop hiding in the hallway?” My little spitfire will learn very soon that I can sense when she’s near.
“I wasn't hiding.” She pops right into the opening to the living room. The house is older but holds a rich history, the same as the bed and breakfast. “I was lingering.”
“I take it you had a good evening,” Piper says before glancing at me. “I’ve never caught her sneaking out of my window here, but the town caught her creeping out of yours.”
“It was daylight. When I used to sneak out of here, it was in the cloak of shadow deep into the night.”
“Eleven, she means around eleven p.m., and she was back by one,” Buck says. Picking up the remote, he flips the channel.
“At least I’m not sneaking around making out in corners like teenagers,” Tinsley tosses back at her dad. Last night she told me about her parents and their growing PDA. She may have been complaining about it, but I can tell that she loves the way they love each other.
“I guess she hasn’t seen the pictures from the bar because that’s a bold accusation to assume.”
“There are pictures!” Tinsley squeaks, her eyes going wide. “Mom.”
“My favorite is the one of you dipping her on the dance floor,” Piper says, turning to her husband. “We should go dancing one night.”
“Any night you want, cookie,” he tells her.
“What are you even doing here?” Tinsley puts her hands on her hips. She knows exactly what I’m doing here, but if she wants to play it this way, I’m more than happy to.
“Buck and Piper invited me.”
“The hell?!” Her ire swings over to them. I don’t think she meant to say that out loud.
“I guess they wanted to meet their new son—-” Before I know it, she launches herself at me, slapping her hand over my mouth. I kiss her palm. She’s quick on her toes.
“He’s a bloodsucking lawyer, and you just let him into our house.”
“He’s also your husband.” Buck counters by dropping the remote onto the coffee table with a loud thud.
“How did you…” She trails off, her hand dropping away.
“You have a ring on your finger,” her mom points out to her.
“It was a joke, all in good fun.” Tinsley nods adamantly like that will make her words more true. “You know, these things happen.” An awkward laugh leaves her.
“I’m not mad, honey,” her mom tells her.
“Really?” She glances between her parents.
“I would have liked to have been there, but I know how you can get wrapped up in a moment. We can still do the whole wedding.” Piper reaches under the coffee table, pulling out two thick books.
“Mom, no!”
“What? It will be easy to plan a quick make-up wedding when you’ve been planning this one since you were a kid.”
Fuck, that does make me feel like an asshole. Her parents should have been there, and she should have gotten all the bells and whistles. Of course a girl like Tinsley would want that.
"We're getting an annulment."
"Why?" Piper's eyes flick from me to Tinsley.
"What do you mean, why? He's my enemy." Her mom waves her off, likely no clue why I’m the enemy.
"She has a knack for the dramatics. When she's with Katherine, it's a whole other level. You've been warned." Piper laughs. "Here." She hands me one of the books. "Where in the city did you meet? How long have you been dating?"