Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“You okay?” Mattie breaks me from my thoughts once we’ve found a place to wait inside. I inhale sharply, trying to calm my heart.
“Yeah. It’s only a week, right?” I say, a bit tearfully.
“It’s only a week,” she confirms with a smile. “You’re fine, Jane. You only met them!”
“I know,” I say ruefully. “But they were my first, and now I feel connected to Kade and Brandon.”
Mattie looks at me thoughtfully.
“It’s almost like one of your romances, isn’t it?”
I smile cheekily at her.
“It is,” is my arch reply. “Maybe I should write a book about it.”
We laugh while boarding the train, but I feel the tears beginning to pool again. I’m not sure when I became this girl – the one that pines after her love interests when they aren’t in her immediate vicinity. Writing romance novels means I’ve always dreamed of these kinds of feelings, but I never really thought I’d actually find it. The fact that I’ve found it with not one, but two, perfect men is shocking. And exciting. I just want to get to next week so that we can continue our exploration together.
When I finally walk into my home a few hours later, it feels good to be there. Somehow, though, something feels like it is missing. Can that something be my two men? I feel like if Brandon and Kade were to walk through the door right now, nothing could make me feel more at ease. It makes me wonder if my home is no longer this particular location, but rather with the men I’ve known for one weekend.
This is ridiculous. No one should feel this way after one darned weekend. And yet I do, and tears prickle my eyes again.
Mattie comes over as promised and we binge on cheesy rom-coms and Ben & Jerry’s.
“With the book sales at the convention, you can afford to eat like a king every night for the rest of your life,” she jokes.
“Sales were that good?” I ask, genuinely curious. Mattie laughs.
“I know you were a little distracted by Hunk Number 1 and Hunk Number 2, but sales were through the roof. Seriously – you’ve made it big, Bestie.” I find myself distracted once more at the mention of Kade and Brandon, smiling to myself as I think of their shirtless torsos coated in a layer of sweat. Mattie laughs again, nudging my leg with a thigh. “There you go again!”
I clear my throat, trying to focus on the present. Despite missing my men, we have a good night. We manage to laugh as Bridget Jones gets into her umpteenth escapade, only to tumble into the arms of Mr. Darcy in the end.
For the next week, I take care of business and get some work done before I find myself back on the train to NYC a week later. Sure enough, when I exit Penn Station, Brandon is waiting for me, standing outside of a sleek black BMW. He’s absolutely gorgeous in dark jeans and a dark sweater. His hair is charcoal, and that bronzed skin looks absolutely lickable. Of course, we’ve talked every single day via text, phone calls, and video chat, but it can’t compare to seeing him in person. I pick up the pace as I get closer and his arms open to accept me as I crash into his chest.
“I missed you, Beautiful,” he whispers as he folds his head down toward mine. We hug for a moment before I’m drawing back and pulling him in for a heated kiss, right there up against the car.
“I missed you, too,” I smile. “And Kade. Where is he?” I question, noticing he is not in the car.
“Got held up at the office. He’ll meet us at home about the time we get there,” Brandon explains.
We reach the loft Brandon and Kade call home after being stuck in traffic for far too long. When Brandon leads me into the penthouse apartment, I realize the level of success these men have reached. High ceilings, exposed brick, and a professional kitchen catch my eye immediately. I can’t help but whistle at the beauty of the space.
“Wow,” I say. “Nice digs.” I recognize pieces and parts from our video calls but seeing it in person is breathtaking.
“Technically, the apartment belongs to Kade,” Brandon says. “But it’s home to both of us.” He drags my bags to a room at the end of a long hall as I continue spinning in circles to take everything in. Just then, the door opens behind me and Kade walks in, his huge form dominant and dark.
“Jane,” he breathes before walking over to me and grabbing me up in a hug. “You’re here.”
“I’m here,” I parrot. “I’m here.” The kiss he places on my lips sends shocks down my spine. I’m with Kade and Brandon, in their home, after a week away from them. The week was difficult, but I realize now just how worth it the wait was. I’m sure the things to come will remind me even more so.